Day 5: Cup

Read

Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-23

Set the Scene

The Passover meal was sacred and familiar, the same every year and in a prescribed order called a Seder. Scripture was read, symbolic foods were eaten, and four different cups of wine were drunk.  It all helped recall the Exodus when God rescued His people out of Egypt. Each cup of wine at Passover represents one of God's promises to rescue His people in Exodus 6:6–7. Two of those cups were before the meal and two were after the meal was eaten. Given the pattern of the Seder, "the cup after they had eaten" (Luke 22:20) would be the third cup, known as the Cup of Redemption. It represents God's promise to the Israelites before the Exodus, "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment" (Exodus 6:6). Jesus was saying that his blood is the Cup of Redemption. He was making the connection that God was about to redeem His people again, this time through Jesus' arm outstretched on the cross suffering the judgment of death on behalf of sinful people (1 Peter 2:22–24). Redemption now comes through the spilled blood of Jesus.

Reflection Questions

1. Jesus asked his disciples to go ahead of him to prepare the Passover for them to celebrate and they did as he instructed (Luke 22:10-13). What has Jesus, through His Word in the Bible, instructed His believers to do now?

2. Jesus reclined at the table with the one He knew would betray him (Mark 14:17-21).  How does this challenge you to treat the people in your life who might have hurt you?

3. Jesus took bread, broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you” (Mark 14:22). There are other times when Jesus calls himself bread, like in John 6:35: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”.  In what way does coming to Jesus take away hunger and thirst?

4. Jesus refers to “this cup”, the Cup of Redemption, saying that it is poured out for his disciples (Luke 22:20). In what ways would Jesus “pour out” the cup of redemption for them?

For Preschoolers: “A Special Cup” (Hands-On Learning)

📖 Read Luke 22:19-20 in simple words: Jesus shared a special meal with His friends. He took a cup, gave thanks, and told them to remember Him every time they drank from it.

🥤 Activity:

• Find a Special Cup – Let your child pick a favorite cup and fill it with water or juice.

• Pretend Passover Meal – Sit together and take a sip, saying, “Thank You, Jesus!” like Jesus did at the Last Supper.

• Talk About It – Jesus used the cup to help His friends remember His love. We can remember Jesus every day!

🙏 Pray Together: Thank Jesus for loving us and giving us a way to remember Him.

For Elementary Kids: “Remembering Jesus”

📖 Read Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, or Luke 22:7-23 and talk about how Jesus used the cup as a symbol of His sacrifice.

🍷 Activity:

• Family Toast – Pour juice or water in a cup, raise it like Jesus did, and say, “We remember Jesus and His love for us!”

• Create a Reminder – Have kids draw a picture of a cup and write, “Remember Jesus” inside it. Hang it up to remind them of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

• Ask: Why do you think Jesus wanted His disciples (and us) to remember Him with the cup?

✨ Family Reflection Question:
What are some ways we can remember Jesus every day, just like He asked His disciples to do?