Where did the phrase "take this cup away from me" initially come from ?

Question

I know Jesus used it, but in what situation was it used first? Some group of people was drinking poison from the same cup and one of them actually knew it was poison?

Was it the quotation from Jesus or did it exist before?

Was it actually a set expression before Jesus used it?

Answer 1

People have correctly identified the setting in which Jesus spoke these words (his prayer to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane). But so far no one has mentioned the BACKGROUND of this specific image in the Old Testament ... and it's quite a striking one.

In the Psalms and Prophets the "cup of God's wrath" which nations are forced to drink is used as an image of God's carrying out judgment against them.

Note the following:

You are filled with shame instead of glory.
You also—drink!
And be exposed as uncircumcised!
The cup of the LORD's right hand will be turned against you,
And utter shame will be on your glory (Habakkuk 2:16)

You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.' "Thus says the Lord GOD:
"You shall drink of your sister's cup,
The deep and wide one;
You shall be laughed to scorn
And held in derision;
It contains much.
You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.
You shall drink and drain it,
You shall break its shards,
And tear at your own breasts;
For I have spoken,'
Says the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 23:31-24)

Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup (Psalm 11:4)

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them."

So I took the cup from the LORD's hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it: . . . and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach [i.e., Babylon] will drink it too.

"Then tell them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.' But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: You must drink it! (Jeremiah 25:15-28)

(The image reappears in the book of Revelation.)

In other words, Jesus is asking not to have to drink "the cup of God's wrath" against sin, but will accept God's will.. and so he DOES drink it in the place of those who deserve it.

By the way, this imagery probably also explains the reference in John 19 where Jesus, on the cross cries "I thirst" and we are told it is "in order that Scripture might be fulfilled". What he is fulfilling is prophecies that Messiah must bear the sins (curse for sins) of his people.
____________________

Actually, there are other images connected to all this. The main thing that pulls them all together is the idea of sharing a meal with someone (esp. a meal used to make a "covenant")... and, when it is with the 'wrong' person, it is an image of ADULTERY or IDOLATRY.

The FIRST example of a "cup of wrath" is when the people of Israel are forced to drink water at God's mountain in which the remains of the golden calf have been scattered... followed by judgment (many are put to the sword). The same idea is behind Numbers 5 -- the woman suspected of adultery and made to drink a "bitter cup" used by God to reveal IF she has sinned by bringing judgment (viz., barrenness).

("Drinking" from the wrong cup or stream is also used elsewhere as an image of idolatry and adultery -- in Proverbs, Jeremiah 2 and 1 Cor 10 for example. Taking part in the feast of IDOLS, drinking the cup dedicated to an idol

As for the Lord's Supper suggestion -- there's something there as well, as you may have seen in the examples just cited. The bitter cup of Exodus 32 is the opposite of the cup of wine that would have been shared at the COVENANT meal (see Ex 24), symbolizing the relationship with its promises, and esp of God's BLESSINGS.

Answer 2

Jesus drops to the ground and with his face to the ground begins earnestly praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.” What does he mean? Why is he “deeply grieved, even to death”? Is he backing down from his decision to die and provide the ransom?

Not at all! Jesus is not appealing to be spared from death. Even the thought of avoiding a sacrificial death, once suggested by Peter, is repugnant to him. Rather, he is in agony because he fears that the way he will soon die—as a despicable criminal—will bring reproach upon his Father’s name. He now senses that in a few hours he is going to be impaled upon a stake as the worst kind of person—a blasphemer against God! This is what sorely troubles him.

Answer 3

before his Crucifixion, Christ asked go to take this cup of poison away from me. He didn't want to die, but then said, It is YOUR will, not mine, and went on with his planned death.

Answer 4

It's in the bible:
Ref: Luke 22:42
"Father, if it be Thy will, take this cup away from me; yet not my will but Thine be done!"

Answer 5

Jesus?
Last supper?