GREAT FAILURES OF THE BIBLE

“Peter - The Character Failure”

 

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard.  And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”  But he denied it before then all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”  And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”  Immediately a rooster crowed.  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him.  “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.  Matthew 26:69-75

            Every Christian will at times come before the Lord overwhelmed and broken by the awareness of his sinfulness.  To never experience such a thing indicates that we are very cold spiritually or not a Christian at all.  One thing that will shatter our confidence more than anything else is when we realize that we have denied   our Lord either by what we have said or what we have not said.  To recognize that we have failed the Lord who has done so much for us should break our hearts.

            However, neither Peter’s or our denials are merely the spontaneous responses to an unexpected pressure.  Peter had already laid the groundwork for defection before he entered the courtyard of Caiaphas just as we do in our lives.

• ? Self-confidence

            When Jesus told His disciples that they would all forsake Him that night, Peter responded…

…even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.  Matthew 26:33

            Peter felt that he was devoted to Jesus.  He considered himself incapable of disloyalty.  He was sure that he had reached a place of spiritual maturity and had grown in his faith as to be invulnerable to giving in to such temptations. 

• ? Prayerlessness

            When Jesus took Peter, James, and John farther into the garden, He left them to pray while He went on alone to pray.  When He came back, they were asleep.

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter.  What?  Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:40-41

• ? Impulsiveness

            When the soldiers came for Jesus in the garden, Peter did not seem to see a need to ask for Jesus’ advice or help but took matters into his own hands.  He drew his sword and whacked off the ear of the slave of the high priest.  However, Jesus had repeatedly taught the disciples that it was the Father’s plan for Him to suffer, die, and be raised.  Peter ignored the words Jesus had spoken and took it upon himself to solve the problem.  How often do we do the same thing by ignoring God’s Word and trying to solve our problems through our own wisdom.

            Peter was not a new believer.  He had been following Jesus for over three years at this point and had sat at the feet of the greatest teacher in all history for his instruction.  His education was far beyond what any Bible college or seminary can offer today.  When the soldiers came for Jesus, he was ready to defend Him, probably with a strategy in mind even if it was seriously flawed.  But when a young girl approached him in the courtyard, he was caught completely off guard.  The arrogant hero had shriveled into a cringing coward.  His self-preserving instincts prevailed, and his boldness evaporated.

            A person’s involuntary response to the unexpected is a more reliable indicator of his character than his planned reaction to a situation he anticipates.  When we are caught off guard our true character is most likely to show itself.  In other words, if we live without a day-by-day, moment-by-moment dependence upon Christ, we will depend on our own wisdom and strength and not upon Him when we are put to the test.  And when we trust in our own strength, we will fail every time.

            Peter’s weakness led him to do something he never thought he would ever do.  Peter hit rock bottom. 

… he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

            In essence Peter was saying, “May God kill and damn me if I am not speaking the truth.”  But while he was still speaking the rooster began to crow.  At this time, according to Luke’s gospel,

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.   Luke 22:61a

            Apparently Jesus looked out of one of the windows overlooking the courtyard.  The look must have penetrated the disciple’s very soul, burning deep into his heart and conscience the evil of his sin.  There stood his Lord, His face bruised and covered with spit, and his hands bound.  Peter no doubt experienced the most excruciating pain of his life as he looked into his Lord’s eyes.

            It was not until Peter saw the Lord’s face and remembered the Lord’s words that he came to his senses, acknowledge his sin and helplessness, and repented.  Merely acknowledging our sin without surrendering it to Christ for forgiveness and restoration will only lead us to despair and hopeless and even deeper into sin.  Forgiveness and restoration come only from turning from sin to God. 

            To know the total forgiveness of our sins has to be one of the greatest things we could possibly experience.  However, the forgiveness would not be complete without the restoration. 

            After the Resurrection, Peter was still struggling with the knowledge of his great failure.  He perhaps feels that because of his denial he could never be used of God again.  He had failed Jesus when he was put to the test.  Surely the Lord was through with him.  So as he and the other disciples made the trip to Galilee, he made this statement.

“I am going fishing.”  John 21:3a

            He was not suggesting that they do some recreational fishing but rather that he was returning to his former occupation.  He was giving up; he was quitting.  He had failed.  But Jesus wasn’t finished with him yet.  It was at this time that Jesus appeared on the shore of the lake and invited Peter and the other disciples with him to breakfast.  You see Jesus is in the restoration business!

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him.  “Tend My sheep.”  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”  John 21:15-17

            It is here that Jesus shows us the steps to restoration.

1.  GENUINE LOVE FOR CHRIST

            The primary mark of the redeemed has always been love for God.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  Matthew 22:37

            Peter learned the hard way what it means to love Jesus Christ.  He had declared his unfailing devotion to Christ several times only to fail when facing a threatening situation.  His failures highlight the truth that obedience is the essential evidence of genuine love. 

If you love Me, keep My commandments.  John 14:15

            Peter needed to be restored.  He needed to understand that although he had forsaken Christ, Christ had not forsaken him.  Since Peter’s denials were public knowledge, he needed to be publicly restored. 

            Jesus initiated the restoration by confronting Peter.  That He addressed him as “Simon, son of Jonah, suggests a rebuke.  Jesus had given Simon the nickname of Peter.  But whenever Peter did something that needed rebuke or correction, Jesus referred to him by his former name because he was acting like his former self.  Peter had decided to go back to his former life of a fisherman and Jesus challenged him to permanently abandon his former life and be exclusively devoted to following Him, based on his love.

…do you love me more than these?…

            Jesus was referring to the boat, nets, fish, etc.  Which do you really love the most?

            The Greek words used for love in this text add an interesting insight.  Jesus used the word agapao - the highest love of the will, love that implies total commitment.  Peter probably felt to guilty to profess that kind of love answered with the word phileo which signifies affection.  Jesus accepted Peter’s humble acknowledgement that his love was less that he had claimed and Christ deserved and began his restoration by recommissioning him - Feed My lambs.  The word implies pasturing and feeding those who are vulnerable and immature.  It is the responsibility of every pastor.

            Again Jesus asked Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?  Once again using the word for the highest form of love.  Peter again answers using the word for affection.  Jesus once again gives him his commission, Tend my sheep.  The word tend comes from the Greek word which implies the idea of shepherding.  The noun form of this word is the word pastor.

            The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loves Him, He used Peter’s word for love which implied He was questioning even Peter’s claim of affection.  The implication that his life did not support even that level of love broke Peter’s heart.  All Peter could do was to humbly depend on Christ’s forgiveness and knowledge.  Jesus accepted Peter’s recognized failure and imperfection and graciously charged him to care for His flock.  His restoration was complete.

2.  COMPLETE SURRENDER TO CHRIST

            A few days before this event, when Jesus told His disciples that they would all forsake Him, Peter had arrogantly objected.  He would never do such a thing - at least he thought.  Now he has seen what can happen when he relied on his own power.  From this point on his life would be totally given over to the Master.  The Scripture will never again describe Peter fishing for fish but rather for men.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7

            To surrender you life is to let God have absolute control of your entire being.  Instead of trying to run your life in your own power and in your own way, turn your “rights” over to Him.  To dwell on our cares or worries indicates that we have not truly given everything over to Him.  Therefore, we are to continually “cast our cares upon Him.”  However, we can do so in complete confidence because “He cares for us.” 

3.  CONTINUAL OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST

            After Jesus restored Peter and spoke the prophecy of his death…

He said to him, “Follow Me.”  John 21:19b

            To follow Christ is not only to love Him, and surrender to His will for our lives, but to also obey Him.

            Peter learned the hard way what it means to love Jesus Christ.  He had declared his unfailing devotion to Christ several times only to fail when facing a threatening situation.  His failures highlight the truth that obedience is the essential evidence of genuine love. 

If you love Me, keep My commandments.  John 14:15

            We often talk about loving God.  In fact some of the most popular hymns and songs of praise talk about loving God.

O, How I Love Jesus.

I Love You, Lord.

            But how often does our life fail to match up with what comes out of our mouth?  Everyone of us has failed at some time in our walk with the Lord.  If we indeed have cried out to God for forgiveness, he has forgiven and cleansed us therefore restoring us in our relationship with Him.  Why should we not continue to obey Him?

            The Lord’s Supper serves as one of the greatest reminders of forgiveness and restoration.  Join us tonight as we once again remember what Christ did for us on the cross and recommit ourselves to live for Him.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.  1 Corinthians 11:26