☆ＮＯ61.The Cup (Sir, make a choice)
This painting is based on The Gospel of Matthew chapter 20.
Now Jesus and His party stayed in Jericho before they went up to Jerusalem.
Now, when the evening came, Mary Magdalene said in secret to two brothers, John and James.
"Our teacher is going to go up to Jerusalem soon. He is serious. So, I am amazed and afraid.
I perceive that the hour has come when He will be king on the earth. The teacher always took you everywhere.
So, I suppose that which of you may sit down on His right hand in His kingdom? And he can be my husband. So, we will together settle down there. "
They asked her in excitement. "How to ask Him?" She answered and said," Your mother will pleasantly help you as she is here for that."
So, the mother of brothers came to Him with her sons, kneeling and asking something from Him.
And He said to her. "What do you wish?" She said to Him,
"Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."
But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
They said to Him, "We are able. Sir, make a choice." So, He said to them,
"You will indeed drink My cup, but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
They asked Jesus, "Sir, who are they?" Jesus answered and said
"We are going to go up to Jerusalem. A certain king who used to live in there said,
'I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.' He is one of those whom you asked."
Also, Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and I in you, you shall not be moved. You are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
So, my kingdom is not of the world." And when Mary Magdalene heard that, she began to get anxious, wondering if Jesus was going out of the world soon.
Also, two brothers heard that and were amazed and afraid. Because they perceived that Jesus's kingdom was bigger than they expected.
After that, they indeed shall drink the cup that Jesus is about to drink.
Because James was killed by King Herod with a sword, and he drank the cup in heaven and became the first Christian martyr of the twelve disciples.
But John was longevity, and he had the Revelation of Jesus Christ on Patmos Island.
Jesus said in His Revelation, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
And the Christian as a bride of Jesus with the Spirit says "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Because, Jesus who rose as the first fruit from the dead, said "I thirst!" on the Cross.
Then He drank the first cup of eternal life in heaven.
This painting represents the cup that every Christian can drink and represents their expectancy and anxiety that the kingdom of Jesus is drawing near.
Canvas Oil 983mm 1240mm. 2021.January.