Failed But Not Finished - 11
Care For My Sheep - Mark 14, Luke 23 and John 21
Let’s listen to another message of hope and encouragement in the series "Failed but not Finished"!
Have you ever felt that you were a failure? You’ve handled a situation in a particularly bad way, and you just can’t forget it! Or perhaps you have fallen to temptation, and the sense of guilt is constantly with you; you can’t get away from it. Well, this message is for you. In this series we’re studying Bible characters who went through a similar experience; they failed! The only difference is that they failed but they weren’t finished! God tenderly picked them up, cleaned them up, and set them up. And many of them were able to serve God in even greater ways than before they failed.
This time we’re going to look at Peter, a really well known disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was used by God in special and powerful ways … but that was after he had failed. Our story is found in three passages in the Gospels, Mark 14 verses 27 to 31 and 66 to 72, Luke 23 verses 61 to 62 and in John 21 verses 15 to 17.
We will divide it into three parts, The Claim, The Calamity and The Commission.
The Claim – Mark 14 Verses 27 to 31
Jesus knew that "His hour had come" and the shadow of the cross was already falling upon His pathway.
The religious leaders had laid their plans for His crucifixion, and in a matter of hours He would be brutally executed, a totally innocent Man, dying as a sacrifice for sin. He was, of course, God in human form, but He was also a real man, and He would experience the suffering in all its horror, "tasting death for every man", as the writer to the Hebrews put it so graphically. If ever there was a time when He needed the support of His friends it was now. As He began to unfold a little of the coming events to His disciples, He told them that they would all fall away because of Him. Peter was quick to respond, claiming that he would never fail Christ "Even if all fall away, I will not … even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You" (Mark 14 verse 29) - and he meant it! I’m sure that Jesus looked at him very tenderly, as He told him "today … before the cock crows twice, you will disown Me three times" (verse 30).
It may be that you can recall the time when you told the Lord that you were willing to do anything, go any-where, for Him. And you, too, meant it. In those days you would do anything for Christ, you would go anywhere He directed. Well, you can understand how Peter felt, as Jesus told him that whilst he might mean it, he didn’t have the strength to fulfil it, which leads us on to our second point …
The Calamity – Mark 14 Verses 66 to 72
It was the worst day of Peter’s life. He had seen His Lord and Master violently arrested. He had seen Him arraigned before a mock court, condemned as worthy of death, and then subjected to brutal treatment which no human being should ever have to endure. Peter was devastated; he didn’t know which way to turn or what action to take.
And it was just at that moment in his life, a really low point, when the worst temptation hit him. It started when he was warming his hands by the fire, as Jesus was being blindfolded and struck by the guards. And it was a little servant girl who caught him out, as she looked at him and said "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus" (verse 67). Before he knew what he was saying his answer was out "I don’t know what you are talking about" (verse 68). Oh, if we could only recall words…if we could wipe the slate clean. Who hasn’t at some time or other uttered words which they have wished a thousand times had never been said? Well, Peter was no exception. The trouble was, that he had the opportunity to "stand up for Jesus" on two subsequent occasions, as others around that little fire challenged him, but each time he denied his Lord. Finally, in order to make the point crystal clear "He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about’" (Mark 14 verse 71). What a calamity, to deny his Lord with oaths and curses, just when Jesus needed him the most!
Then it happened! "The cock crowed a second time and Peter remembered … " (Mark 14 verse 72). Just put yourself in Peter’s shoes for a moment and think how he must have felt. He had failed his best friend, and after all the claims he had made about standing by Him. Life was finished; he would never lift up his head again! The gospel writer concludes with the very telling words "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered … And he went outside and wept bitterly" (Luke 23 verses 61 to 62). And this was the big fisherman! The man who had said he would die for Jesus fell at the first hurdle, as a little servant girl accused him of being a friend of the Master! Life could never be the same again … he was finished! But no, just listen as we come to our last point …
The Commission – John 21 Verses 15 to 19
A few days have passed since the sad events we’ve been recalling. Jesus has risen in power from the grave and has appeared to the disciples on several occasions. Peter has actually been present, although still feeling very uncomfortable; his position as one of the leaders of the little group seemed very uncertain.
He wasn’t quite sure of his relationship with the Lord. Oh, the Lord smiled at him, included him in the conversation and never referred to his failure, but the thought was always there. Could he ever serve Jesus again, as he really desired. Surely the big cloud of his failure would for ever hang over him! Then, in wonderful grace and mercy, Jesus had a special, private meeting with him. A number of them had enjoyed an overnight fishing trip and then breakfasted with Jesus on the beach. Notice that Jesus didn’t question Peter until he had eaten. Perhaps that’s a lesson we need to learn!
Then, when the disciple who had failed his Master was comfortable, Jesus asked him three times if he loved him. Three times Peter had denied Him, and three times He gave Peter the opportunity of declaring his love for Him. The first time he asked Peter "Do you love Me more than these?". He may have been referring to the fishing boats and nets; in other words are you prepared to give up your secular job in order to work for me? It’s more likely that he was gently reminding Peter that he had said that if all the other disciples let Jesus down, he wouldn’t, and he was now asking "Do you love me more than the other disciples?". Peter responded by telling Jesus that He knew that Peter loved Him. On each occasion, there was a gracious commission to shepherd His lambs and His sheep. There was work for Peter to do! He had failed but he wasn’t finished!
If you have failed your Master, it isn’t the end of the road. Just as the Lord took Peter up and used Him again, even more powerfully, in His service so He is willing to do for you. Come back to Him in repentance and faith, and He will restore you and use you for His glory!