The King’s Cupbearer

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Neh. 1:11b “Now I was the cupbearer to the king.”

Nehemiah was the King’s cupbearer. This was a very important position, as he would taste the King’s wine to make sure it was not poisoned. He was therefore a trusted and close ally to the king. Obviously, checking for poison meant being willing to give up his own life for the king’s sake.

Nehemiah is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was Jesus, who was willing to give up his life and take the poison of the cross for us. Did he not know the consequences of the cup he had to drink? We read in Matt 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as you will.” Like Nehemiah leaving the palace and coming down to Jerusalem to build its wall, Jesus had to come down for this cup to be drunk. And yet through it, the walls of salvation would be built and ALL enemies would be defeated!