What did Jesus mean by "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink"?

In the Gospels, one phrase that stands out for its depth and challenge is found in Matthew 20:22 and Mark 10:38, when Jesus asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” This enigmatic question has sparked centuries of theological reflection. What did Jesus mean by this? Was He referring to suffering, responsibility, or something even deeper?

The Context: An Ambitious Request

The incident occurs as Jesus and His disciples are journeying toward Jerusalem, where He has repeatedly foretold His impending suffering and death. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approach Jesus with a bold request: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory” (Mark 10:37, NIV). Their request reveals an expectation of power and prestige in Jesus’ coming kingdom—perhaps picturing a political or earthly reign.

Jesus’ response is both gentle and profound: “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Mark 10:38). By answering with a question, Jesus invites them—and us—to reconsider the true nature of greatness and the cost associated with following Him.

The Symbolism of the Cup in Scripture

To grasp the significance of Jesus’ metaphor, we need to explore how the image of a “cup” is used throughout the Bible. In biblical literature, a cup often symbolizes a person’s fate or destiny, especially as it relates to God’s will. The cup can represent both blessing and judgment.

For example, in the Old Testament, the cup frequently signifies suffering or the outpouring of God’s wrath. Psalm 75:8 says, “In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.” Similarly, Isaiah 51:17 speaks of the “cup of his wrath.”

At the same time, the cup can also refer to one’s assigned portion or lot in life. Psalm 16:5 declares, “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.”

Within this rich tapestry of meaning, Jesus’ reference to the cup draws on both themes—suffering and divine assignment. He is alluding to the unique mission the Father has given Him, which involves both obedience and agony.

Jesus’ Cup: Suffering and Sacrifice

The clearest meaning of the cup Jesus refers to is found in His own experience of suffering, culminating in the crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before His arrest, Jesus prays, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Here, the cup is unmistakably associated with the suffering He is about to endure—the betrayal, mockery, torture, and ultimately, the bearing of humanity’s sin on the cross.

Drinking the cup, for Jesus, means wholeheartedly accepting the path of suffering and obedience that the Father has set before Him. It is the acceptance of the role of the Suffering Servant, described in Isaiah 53, who would “pour out his life unto death” for the transgressions of many.

The Disciples’ Response: “We Can”

When Jesus asks James and John if they can drink the cup He is going to drink, they respond confidently, “We can” (Mark 10:39). Their answer reflects a sincerity of devotion, but also a lack of full understanding. They do not yet grasp the extent of Jesus’ suffering or the true nature of His mission.

Jesus acknowledges their willingness, but He also predicts that they will indeed share in His sufferings: “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39). Tradition holds that James was the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:2), and John endured exile and persecution. In this sense, Jesus’ words foreshadow the path of self-denial and sacrifice that awaits His followers.

The Cost of Discipleship

By invoking the image of the cup, Jesus redefines what it means to follow Him. Discipleship is not about seeking honor, privilege, or earthly authority. Instead, it involves a willingness to embrace the hardships, sacrifices, and often suffering that come with aligning oneself with God’s purposes in a fallen world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was executed for resisting Nazi tyranny, wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The cup, in this context, is a symbol of the cross each disciple must bear—the daily surrender of self, the laying down of one’s rights, and the readiness to serve rather than to be served.

The Cup and Christian Leadership

Significantly, Jesus’ conversation with James and John occurs within the broader theme of leadership among His followers. The other ten disciples become indignant at the brothers’ request, prompting Jesus to teach about true greatness: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).

Here, the cup is directly connected to servant leadership. True leadership in Christ’s kingdom is not about lording authority over others, but about embodying humility, service, and sacrificial love. To drink the cup is to follow Jesus’ example of self-giving for the sake of others.

The Cup and the New Covenant

Another dimension of the cup emerges during the Last Supper. Jesus takes the cup of wine, gives thanks, and gives it to His disciples, saying, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Here, the cup signifies the new covenant established through Jesus’ sacrifice.

This act ties together the themes of suffering, redemption, and participation. Believers are invited to drink the cup in remembrance of Jesus, signifying their identification with His death and resurrection, and their commitment to live in the light of His sacrificial love.

Implications for Believers Today

What does it mean for us to “drink the cup” Jesus drank? First, it is a call to share in Christ’s sufferings—not necessarily through physical persecution, but by being willing to endure hardship, rejection, and even loss for the sake of the gospel. It means aligning our lives with God’s will, even when the path is difficult or costly.

Second, it is a summons to servant leadership. Wherever we find ourselves—in families, workplaces, churches, or communities—we are called to lead by serving, to put others’ needs above our own, and to love sacrificially.

Third, it is an invitation to participate in the new covenant. Through faith in Christ and through the regular observance of the Lord’s Supper, we remember and proclaim His death, drawing strength from His grace to live as His disciples.

A Personal Reflection: The Challenge of the Cup

The question Jesus posed to James and John is one that confronts every follower of Christ: Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? It is a challenge to consider our willingness to embrace not just the blessings, but also the hardships and responsibilities of discipleship. It is a reminder that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross, and that true greatness comes not through power or prestige, but through humble obedience and sacrificial love.

Each of us has a cup to drink—a unique calling, a path of service, and, at times, a share in Christ’s sufferings. The promise is that, as we walk this road, we do not go alone. Jesus, who drank the cup to its dregs, walks with us, offering grace, strength, and hope.