The Prince's Poison Cup
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We too know the Prince who had to die.
The Prince and the Poison Cup is a story that little Ella Cobb's wise, old Grandfather tells her one day when she was not feeling well. Ella is questioning how such "terrible" tasting medicine can possibly make you well. Grandpa reminds her that âÂÂSome things that look or taste or smell wonderful are really awful."
"But sometimes things that seem terrible are actually very good." Grandpa adds. "I even remember a story in which both of these strange things were true. Would you like to hear it?âÂÂ
He then begins to weave the story of the King of LIFE, whose archenemy enters into the King's country and tempts the King's subjects to drink the pure looking water of a poisoned fountain, promising that it will make them as great as the King. What the water does is gives them hearts of stone and causes them to hate their King. They leave the beautiful park that He had created just for them and fled to the desert to build the city of Man, a city of rebels.
"The King of Life was angry that the people had disobeyed Him. He knew that because of the peopleâÂÂs terrible violation of His command, He would be justified in destroying their city. But the King still loved His people and felt sorry for them in their pain." How can the heart of stone that they chose ever be removed so they can return to the King as his people? Only if the King's own Son, the Prince, goes to the rebel's city and drinks from their fountain with the cup His Father gave Him can the curse be removed. The Prince will die from drinking the poison, but it will make the water of fountain sweet again and the people will have the opportunity to drink and heal their hearts.
When we read the of the anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, we often, like the disciples, want to run from the suffering of God's Son. Justin Gerad illustrated this account to show the anguish of the Prince, who longed to put away the cup from Him. It was not He that desired the poison- it was not His sin that needed atoning- the people did not deserve a Savior. They desired their fate- yet the bitter cup was pressed to His lips! And he chose to drain it for the salvation of the people who hated Him!
If Anyone is Thirsty, Let Him Come to Me and Drink.
This book by R C Sproul is one I am looking forward to using with children. For adults it reminds us that along with little Ella we too know a Prince who died for His people. I was blessed to be given a copy of the Prince's Poison Cup for this review.
January 7, 2013
Incredible Book!!
Book Review:
The PrinceâÂÂs Poison Cup
The book begins with a little girl named Ella. Ella is sick and her Father wants her to drink some medicine, which does not taste good. Ella asks her Father, âÂÂwhy medicine always taste bad?â EllaâÂÂs Father tells her that this would be a good question to ask your grandfather when he arrives. Grandpa arrives at their house and Ella asks the question. Grandpa sits her down on his knees and tells her a story, which explains why medicine tastes so bad.
Once upon a time there was a king named âÂÂThe King of Life.â This king created a park and everything within it. This park was very extravagant and had a beautiful fountain at its center. Every day the King would visit this beautiful park and spend time with all the people, plants, animals that inhabited it. He told all the people that they could drink from anything in the park except from this fountain. At first everyone ignored this fountain, but over time the people began to get curious. One day a stranger with a long dark coat entered the park. This stranger was the arch enemy of the king. The stranger told the people that the water wasnâÂÂt bad at all. He told them that the water would make them as great as the king himself. The stranger filled up a cup of water and gave it to the people. The people then drank from it. When the people drank from it, their hearts became stone. The people no longer loved the king. The people stopped coming to the park and created a city and named it "The City of Man." The king knew all this would happen and he already had a plan for the people. The king went to his son, the prince, and told him that he wanted him to help the subjects. The king told him to go to the City of Man and there he would find a fountain. This fountain was ugly and filled with poison. He told the prince that he would have to drink from this fountain. When the prince arrived at the city, he noticed that the city was not pretty and the people were not loving. Upon arrival he was treated very badly, because the people noticed him for who he was, the king's son. The prince begin wish he didnâÂÂt have to drink from this cup. Greater than his fear of drinking from this cup was his desire to please the king. Next to the fountain in this city was standing the king's archenemy. He handed the cup to him and the enemy filled the cup with the poison. The prince drank from the cup and it was bitter. He drank the entire cup, even while it was burning. As a result of this he died and the man in the black coat laughed. All of a sudden the king of life walks in and his light fills the city. The archenemy tells everyone to run. Everyone runs in fear.The king touch the prince and brought him back to life. At the moment the water became clear and beautiful. The prince then filled up a cup and offered it to the people. The prince said to them, "If anyone thirst let him come to Me and drink." All those who came to him hearts changed. The people's lives were changed. All the people return to the park and joyfully rejoiced in what the king had done. Grandpa then told Ella that people get sick as a result of sin. This is why the medicine which makes our bodies well tastes so bad. The prince's had to drink something far more terrible, so that his people might be healed. Every time you have to drink terrible tasting medicine, remember what the prince had to do for his people. Ella concludes this story, by telling Grandpa of how she knows a similar story saying, "And do you know what? I know another Prince who died for His people.âÂÂ
Once again, I absolutely love R.C. SproulâÂÂs childrensâ stories. All of SproulâÂÂs stories are saturated in scripture and point the children to Christ. I would highly recommend this to all parents. I think this story is a great tool for those parents who desire to develop memorable theological themes within the lives of their children. The book additionally is full of great pictures. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone.
Publisher: Reformation Trust
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 46
Binding Type: Hardback
Book Grade: A+
~Reformed Reader~
November 21, 2011
The book and DVD are wonderful.
The story is a beautiful parallel to the story of Christ and His sacrifice of love on man-kinds behalf.
October 9, 2011
This story begins with a little girl who is sick and must take some medicine. This causes her to wonder why something that is supposed to make you better tastes awful. Her grandfather answers her question by telling her a story about a prince who had to drink a terrible poison. As the story unfolds children can see that like Jesus this prince is obedient to his father even to death and they can see the wonderful gift of salvation that is offered.
I would highly recommend this book. It is very difficult to find children's books like this one that accurately portray the truths of Scripture. The story is interesting and the illustrations which are by Justin Gerard are captivating. In addition, at the end of the book are great questions with Bible verses that will help parents teach their children the Scriptural truths that are presented in this story.
(Reformation Trust Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair critique.)
July 18, 2011
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