WHAT IS MEANT BY THE CUP PASSING? FULFILMENT OR ESCAPE?
*Parérchomai* can be translated to mean *“pass through"*
Matthew 26:39 KJV And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, *LET THIS CUP PASS (parérchomai) FROM ME* : nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:27-28 KJV And *HE TOOK THE CUP* , and gave thanks, and *GAVE IT TO THEM* , saying, Drink ye all of it; [28] For this is *MY BLOOD* of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Jesus was praying for the *cup to pass from him onto his disciples*. In order to pass the cup onto his disciples he first had to provide the blood (wine). When Jesus said "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." he was not suggesting that he had another will, he was simply demonstrating that he is doing the Fathers will.
Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not *PASS (parérchomai)* away from me, except I drink it (fill it), thy will be done.
In Matthew 26.42, Jesus is simply saying if this cup cannot be passed from me onto my disciples except I first drink it, then so be it, the Fathers will be done.
Another point to make is that after Jesus prayed for the cup to pass, an angel came to strengthen him. Hebrews 5:7 reveals that the prayer of Jesus was answered, demonstrating that he was praying for the cup to pass from him to his disciples, not for him to escape the cross which would contradict everything he had previously said and went on to say after.
Luke 22:43 KJV And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
When Simon Peter tried to save Christ from the fate of the cross, what did Jesus say? He tells Peter that he could pray for the Father to deliver him by angels, yet he asks the question of how can the scriptures be fulfilled if he did so. They can't. It is a rhetorical question. Jesus knows this. Prior to that Jesus did pray, and an angel was sent to him, but not to save him from the cross but to strengthen him. This was his answered prayer.
Matthew 26:52-54 KJV Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. [53] Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
In Matthew 16:22-23 Jesus goes so far to call Peter Satan when he speaks against the suffering Christ must endure. When Jesus refers to the one with this in mind as being Satan and a person claims that this was in the mind of Jesus then that person has a very serious problem.
Matthew 16:22-23 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Jesus was asking for the cup that he must fill to be passed from him onto the disciples so that they and others may have everlasting life.
John 12:27 KJV Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
John 18:11 KJV Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Hebrews 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and *WAS HEARD* in that he feared;
2 Kings 20:5 KJV Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, *I have heard thy prayer,* I have seen thy tears: behold, *I will heal thee* : on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.