10/29/2024
Jesus is Lord! – Part 2 (What happens when we fail?)
The twelve Apostles certainly had their ups and downs. They saw Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, but they still doubted and questioned. Sometimes their faith was lacking, often they were afraid, sometimes they were confused. But, what can we learn about big failures?
Let's look at Peter and Judas--How did they respond to epic failure?
Judas first...
Judas conspired with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver.
Jesus knew it was Judas who would betray him. He spoke of it a number of times that someone would.
As they were eating their final Passover meal together, Jesus said again, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." (Matthew 26:21) They all wondered who it was.
Jesus told them, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly." (John 13:23-27)
Judas went out and then brought soldiers and some officials to the Garden of Gethsemane, betraying Jesus into their hands.
We see Judas’ response to his failure in Matthew 27:3-5: When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Judas tried to make amends for his mistake/sin—he thought he could pay for his wrongdoing by returning the money. But, he couldn’t so he gave up, even of life—he had no hope.
Now, Peter’s response to failure…
[Mat 26:31-35 NIV] 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.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
In verses 69-75 of the same chapter, we see Peter indeed denied knowing Jesus 3 times. As Jesus foretold, a rooster then crowed.
And Peter “went outside and wept bitterly.”
When Peter realized his failure/sin, he was broken. He didn’t try to pay for his wrongdoing, to work his way out of his situation. He totally blew it, was sorrowful, then “went outside and wept bitterly.”
Then, enters grace…
After Peter’s epic failure, Jesus was crucified, rose again, and appeared to his disciples at least twice (once without Thomas present, once with him present).
Some days later, the disciples went out fishing again. Jesus called to them from the shore. Peter recognized him and swam to him. (John 21:1-8)
Despite Peter’s epic failure, he knew he had no hope other than Jesus. Jesus is the one who paid for his sins and made a way to the Father, to forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.
He went to Jesus, rather than run from him.
This is how we must respond to failure.
Just as Jesus knew in advance the failures of Judas and Jesus, so He knows all of our failures, past, present, and future. He knows we will fall short. That is why He died and paid for every sin.
Finally, we see in John 21:15-19 how Jesus reinstated Peter.
In this same way, God will continually draw us back to Him and welcome us with loving arms. No matter how great your sin or failure, if you repent and turn back to Jesus, you will be welcomed with loving arms, forgiven, and have all your sins washed clean.
Come to Jesus as Savior and Lord!
