The Unfair Love of God (Chapel Version)

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Help us to hear Your Word today, to trust what Jesus has done for us, and to rejoice in Your mercy. By Your Holy Spirit, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Matthew 16:21–23 ESV

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Students, teachers, and friends in Christ: have you ever said, “That’s not fair”? Maybe someone got the bigger piece of cake. Maybe someone cut in line. Maybe someone got praised when you thought you worked harder. Maybe someone did something wrong, and it felt like they got away with it.

We care a lot about fairness. Fairness says, “Good should be rewarded, and wrong should be punished.” And that makes sense to us. But today Jesus shows us a kind of unfairness that is not bad news. It is the Gospel - Good News!

Jesus tells His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem. He must suffer. He must be killed. And on the third day He must be raised. Peter hears that and says, “No, Lord. That should never happen to You.” Peter thinks he is helping Jesus. He thinks the cross sounds wrong. He thinks suffering and death do not belong in the plan.

But Jesus knows why He came. Jesus did not come to avoid the cross. Jesus came to save sinners. He came to save Peter. He came to save you. He came to save me.

Matthew 16:24–28 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Now, when Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow Me,” He is not saying, “Save yourself by being strong enough.” He is not saying, “Earn My love by being good enough.” He is saying that following Him means trusting Him more than we trust ourselves.

And that is hard for us. We often want things our own way. We want people to notice us. We want to be first. We want to be right. Sometimes we blame others. Sometimes we are unkind. Sometimes we hide the truth. Sometimes we want fairness when someone else has done wrong, but mercy when we are the ones who have sinned.

It’s unfair that God would love us like that, but love doesn’t keep score about fairness. Love doesn’t need a fair exchange. Love sees the need and meets it. Love does what is best for you even though you don’t do what is best for yourself. And love never fails - Hallelujah.

And the peace of God that passes understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.