Many Designers Shape Trophies as a Cup

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Why do many designers shape trophies in the form of a cup? No one knows for sure, but some think it denotes the pain athletes often endure to win. In the Bible, God often depicts suffering as a cup. In John 18, Jesus used the term to refer to His coming suffering. On the evening before His crucifixion, He went to the Mount of Olives to pray with his disciples. He knew Judas would come that evening with soldiers to arrest Him. Judas and the religious leaders evidently thought Jesus and His disciples might resist. Rather than resist, Jesus identified Himself as the one they were looking for. Three times, He said to the soldiers, “I AM the one you want.” How ironic that these wicked people were arresting the Creator of universe in His own garden. As He was yielding to their arrest, Peter drew his sword and swung at the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.  Jesus rebuked Peter telling him, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given Me?” Jesus knew exactly why He had come into the world. He came to offer Himself as God’s lamb to take away the sin of the world. He was willing to drink this cup of suffering. We cheer athletes who bring home winning cups. But we bow in gratitude before Jesus — the One who endured the cup of suffering for our sins.