We all have good intentions. Peter is the perfect example of that.
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [32] But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” [33] Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” [34] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” [35] But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Matthew 26:31-35 NIV
But then just a few hours later…
[69] Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. [70] But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. [71] Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” [72] He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” [73] After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” [74] Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:69-75 NIV
We all have good intentions. But we all have a limited capacity to live up to them.
To understand Good Friday, you need to understand one word: Covenant.
Jesus believed that word described why he had to die.
[26] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” [27] Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. [28] This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28 NIV
A covenant is an agreement between two parties where they pledge to meet certain requirements and spell out what happens if they don’t. God made a covenant with the people of Israel through Abraham.
[17] When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. [18] On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— [19] the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, [20] Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, [21] Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Genesis 15:17-21 NIV
God didn’t choose Israel because they were better.
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 NIV
[7] The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. [8] But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Not because they were strong. Not because they were impressive. Because he loved them.
And he makes it even clearer:
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
Deuteronomy 9:6 NIV
From the beginning, God’s plan was bigger than one nation.
[1] The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. [2] “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. ”
Genesis 12:1-3 NIV
They were meant to be God’s representatives … a kingdom of priests
[5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Exodus 19:5-6 NIV
The story is not: “Be good enough so God will love you.”
The story is: God chooses… God loves… God makes a way.
Religion says: Measure up. Try harder. Do better.
But Good Friday reveals the truth we all know… we can’t.
[26] Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. [30] It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV
God had to make a way. God had to find an answer for the inner division we all know too well
That is not what this is about.
And this is where Good Friday becomes personal.
26] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” [27] Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. [28] This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28 NIV