The Empty Cup
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can't pour from an empty cup”? Essentially, the saying means that in order for us as humans to effectively take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves. The notion is intuitive in nature, but can be more difficult to put into practice.
Today, I sit on a concrete bench and stared at an empty cup. Dr. Pecota would have been so proud of me.
I had a professor in college, Dr. Pecota. I walked in to Christian Doctrine one day and he was in front of the class holding a plastic communion cup. He explained to us how important the empty cup was. He explained how he was often baffled by how quickly we take the communion cup and place it back in the small circular slot on the pew in front of us. He explained to us that day how we need to reflect on the empty cup.
The empty cup symbolizes love.
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
‘Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
Amen
Charles Wesley 1738
We took communion at the Garden Tomb and I sat there reflecting on the empty cup. The cup that represents so much.
We entered the Garden, walking past Golgotha, the place of the skull. It is a bus station with noise and traffic. We walk past the empty wine press and into the quiet of the garden.
Philippians 2:6-8
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
There in the garden it is empty of noise, there sets an wine press, an empty tomb and an empty cup.
Doc Pecota taught me about the Kenosis of scripture. In Kenosis (Greek: κένωσις, kénōsis, lit. [the act of emptying]) is the 'self-emptying' of Jesus' own will and becoming entirely receptive to God’s divine will.
He emptied himself for love.
The Garden Tomb, reminded me to reflect on not just the empty Tomb, but the empty cup.
"How Can It Be"
I am guilty
Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become
These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up to the Holy One
You plead my cause, you right my wrongs
You break my chains, you overcome
You gave your life, to give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be? Yeah
How can it be? Yeah
I've been hiding
Afraid I've let you down
Inside I doubt, that you still love me
But in your eyes, there's only grace now
You plead my cause, you right my wrongs
You break my chains, you overcome
You gave your life, to give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be? Yeah
How can it be? Yeah
Though I fall, you can make me new
From this death, I will rise with you
Oh, the grace reaching out for me, yeah
How can it be, how can it be?
You plead my cause, you right my wrongs
You break my chains, you overcome
You gave your life, to give me mine
You say that I am free, yeah
You plead my cause, you right my wrongs
You break my chains, you overcome
You gave your life, to give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be? Yeah
How can it be? Yeah
AMAZING LOVE! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
We can’t pour from an empty cup. He filled it with love and grace. He emptied himself for me.
