The Cup of Acceptance

Day 3

When we choose to follow Christ and be in covenant with Him, becoming His Bride, we too are offered gifts, authority and must drink The Cup of Acceptance.

The Final Yes!

Jacob and Sarah’s minds were spinning…the price was set, the Ketubah, the covenant contractual agreement was signed. This was indeed a life-changing event.

Jacob looked at Sarah, she is so beautiful, so pure, joy fills every part of her being, Yes! She is worth the price I must pay. But four years, that is almost a quarter of my life thus far. Will she be able to wait that long? Will she consider ME worth the wait; is this covenant worth setting herself apart from all others? The Rabbi interrupted his thoughts….”does the Bridegroom have any gifts to offer the bride?”

Jacob had the traditional coins to offer Sarah and a ring for her to wear as a token of his faithfulness; another sign they were betrothed but wait…he would be gone so long…what if she needed something her father could not provide? Sarah’s disability kept her from going into the fields to work. What if something happened to her family in those four years?

Jacob looked at the Rabbi, “yes, I have the ring and the coins”. He handed them to the Rabbi who declared Sarah and Jacob to now be “Kiddushin”, and offered up a prayer over them declaring them sanctified, set apart to each other. Then Jacob said the traditional words of a Bridegroom…

I go away to prepare a place for you

“Sarah I will be away for many years, I go now to prepare for our life together. I will prepare a room for you in my father’s house that we may enjoy our wedding week. I will come again and take you back to my father’s house with me so we will be together forever.”

“But wait”, Jacob said, “there is more” Jacob looked so deeply into Sarah’s eyes she blushed. “I’ve left you with my maid to comfort and counsel you. I’ve made promises to your father for the price of the bride. I’ve given you a ring to show others we are set apart for each other. But I want to be sure you are taken care of while I am away.”

Hushed silence fell over the room…this was unheard of! Family and friends leaned in to hear what Jacob would say next.

“My father is a very successful man. He has given me authority over all his business and all his assets. With this special ring I am able to access anything that belongs to my father.

Because I love you and want to be sure you are taken care of, my father has given me permission to transfer this authority to you as well.” murmurs filled the room.

Jacob handed Sarah a heavy piece of paper. “Here is a document, sealed by my ring, signed by my father and by the helper we are leaving with you, Hannah. Anything you need Sarah, ANYTHING, is available to you with this document. I am giving you the full authority of a wife now; you don’t have to wait until our marriage is complete. Use this authority, it is yours, no one can take it from you.”

For a moment shocked whispers filled the room as the guests commented among themselves at this unusual union. “She is well-loved”, “does she deserve such treatment?” “why would a crippled girl receive such a blessing?”

The Rabbi Spoke: “It is time for the ‘Cup of Acceptance’.” This was the final -YES- from both Jacob and Sarah.

The Cup of Acceptance

The cup Jacob and his father purchased from the village silversmith stood on a table between Jacob and Sarah. The silver cup was so beautiful it took Sarah’s breath away. It was etched with Pomegranates, signifying righteousness, prosperity and the fruitful love between a husband and wife.

This was the cup they would use on the Sabbath to bless their family. This was the cup they would use for Passover and other spiritual celebrations. This cup would serve as a weekly reminder of their covenant with each other and their covenant with God.

The groom’s father first offered the cup to Jacob. This was Jacob’s time to consider the price he must pay for this bride. It is a costly sacrifice to work hard, to provide everything she needs, to be sure she is clothed and fed and her needs are above his own, to love her as his own body.

Jacob must carefully consider this price. He looks at his father, whom he trusts. “Father knows the depth of this sacrifice, in fact, he offered Sarah full access to his wealth and resources; therefore she must be worth it.” and Jacob drank of the “Cup of Acceptance”.

It was now time for the final “yes” from Sarah. If she picked up the cup and drank from it the marriage was in force. If she changed her mind, and refused the cup there would be no covenant marriage. Jacob held his breath…”would she drink of the cup?”

This was a time of serious contemplation for Sarah. She heard the conditions and promises of the marriage covenant contract. The “price of the bride” was set. Sarah looked at the amazing gifts, the ring and the cup, the maid Hannah and the document giving Sarah full access and authority to Jacob’s family resources.   It was so much. Could she uphold her end of the Ketubah; to be completely set apart and wait, for years, for Jacob’s return?

“Did she really want to enter into this life-time relationship and leave her old life behind?” While her father had made the negotiations and the contract for her marriage, the decision was completely hers. This was her time to say no if she could not fully commit to Jacob.

If she drank of the cup without giving heavy consideration to these things; if she drank hastily she could face a lifetime of regret. There was much more to consider than the looks, personality and character of a boy she grew up with and liked very much. She could not make this decision based on the social and family pressure of this covenant ceremony. Sarah looked at her father. He was fully aware of what kind of family she would be living with. He examined the Ketubah and approved it.

Yes, Sarah trusted her father had her best interests at heart when he made the agreement with Jacob’s father. Yes, she trusted Jacob was true in his promises and would make good on them. Yes Sarah new she could keep herself set apart for this wonderful kind young man.

Yes – Sarah took the cup and drank. Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. At the ages of 13 and 15 Jacob and Sarah were declared husband and wife.

The Decision of Honor

When we choose to follow Christ and be in covenant with Him, becoming His Bride, we too are offered gifts, authority and must drink The Cup of Acceptance.

Zola Levitt, a messianic Jew, devoted follower of Jesus Christ and author of A Christian Love Story says this of the Betrothal Ceremony.

Levitt pointed out, the most Important Consideration in the contract was the price the bridegroom was willing to pay. It was costly and he would pay dearly. His father offering him the Cup of Acceptance was the last time he could back out of this contract.

Jesus also considered the price he would pay for His bride. After the last supper with his disciples, Jesus took them to the garden to pray. In Matthew 6:37-39 Jesus told his disciples in verse 38:

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, stay here and keep watch with me.” Then in v 39 He referred to The Cup of Acceptance; “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus chose to drink of The Cup and pay the huge “price of the bride”

According to Levitt, The most Significant consideration was The Cup of Acceptance. Drinking from the cup signified the Groom’s willingness to pay “the price of the bride” and the Bride’s willingness to enter the marriage and accept the terms of The Covenant contract.

The Honor Life

In 1 Corinthians 11:34 the Apostle Paul gives direction for taking what we call communion, another Cup of Acceptance, our accepting the sacrifice Jesus paid for our sin. He warns in v27 “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of The Lord. v 30 continues “that is why many among you are weak and sick and a number of you have fallen asleep.”

Every time we take communion we are once again drinking “The Cup of Acceptance”. We are saying Yes! I am the Bride of Jesus Christ. I keep myself only for him, forsaking all others. I Honor Him with my body and my spirit for they belong to him. He “paid the price” for me. If we take it casually or with a divided heart it is the same as entering into a marriage when our heart belongs to another.

This is serious stuff. Understanding the depth of The Cup has made a huge difference in the way I take communion.

I must admit I have casually taken communion many times, but no more. I use that time to acknowledge Jesus as my covenant partner. I confess my sins and weakness and ask Him to search my heart and forgive my sin and remove the division, the unfaithfulness, the idols in my life. I thank Him for the stripes he took on His back for my healing and receive His healing power in my life and my body. I thank Him for His blood that removes my sin as far as the east is from the west.

I determine in my heart to never take communion, The Cup of Acceptance lightly again. It is my time to once again say YES! to my bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

How about you?

References

A Christian Love Story by Zola Levitt

Bridal Consent byReverand Marjorie, Sweet Manna Ministries

Pomegranate

About the Author: Celeste Davis, is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ with a heart to walk fully in Covenant with Him. As Founder of The Wellness Workshop, Celeste’s heart is to teach women and impact their families to “Be Nourished” as opposed to dieting or trying different life strategies. We nourish our bodies with God-Made Food, our Souls with God-Made Relationships and our Spirits with the Word of God and Prayer. More Info about Celeste