Title: Peter's Failure (Luke 22:54-62)
Content: If we don't try anything, we won't fail. But if we try something, we will succeed as well as fail. Peter, who followed Jesus, experienced miracles but also failed. If Peter, the chief disciple of Jesus, failed, we too can fail. When the Word is preached today, I pray that you will know what was the cause of Peter's failure, understand it, and win.
Peter Denies Jesus
In Luke 22:54-55, Peter followed Jesus at a distance. And I sat down next to the people in the middle of the yard.
You can see some of Peter's character from this. First, Peter was a man of courage. Second, he was not afraid and was not shy. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they actually drew their swords and cut off the ears of the priest's servant horse. Third, he was a bold person. In verse 33, he boldly said, risking his life to say, “Lord, if I am with you, I am ready for prison or death. Fourth, he has a very good personality. When Jesus cut off Malchus' ear and said, "Stop it," Peter did not get angry or hate Jesus because of it. Even when Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16, “Get behind me, Satan,” I followed the Lord. Fifth, there was determination. In Luke 5:11, when Jesus said, “Follow me,” Peter left everything and followed Jesus. Sixth, Peter is a challenger. When Jesus was walking on the sea on a stormy night, Peter walked on the water like Jesus did. Seventh, I was raised by Jesus for three years.
At this level, it seems unlikely that you will make a mistake. However, in today's text, it is recorded that even such a Peter made a mistake. In fact, this is a failure that only comes to the brave. Ladies and gentlemen, if you sit noblely and do nothing, there is no failure. Therefore, we must always be humble. You have to realize that you are not a great person. Realizing that I also have the potential to fail, I must bow down before the Lord without being arrogant and without stopping.
cause of failure
Peter said to the crowd, “Woman! I do not know him”, “This man! I am not!”, “This man! I don't know what you're talking about!” He denied the Lord three times (Luke 22:56-60). In Matthew, it is recorded that he cursed Jesus the third time he answered. Why did he deny the Lord? What was the cause of Peter's failure?
First, between human approval and the Lord's approval, Peter chose human approval. Second, I chose the moment between moment and eternity, thinking that it would be okay if I just passed this moment of crisis. Third, I trusted myself too much. People who say “I never do it” are more likely to fail at it. Fourth, Peter chose sleep between sleep and prayer. I fell asleep when I needed to pray. Between physical demands and spiritual demands, the physical demands followed. Fifth, I chose safety between safety and righteousness. Peter gave up the righteous act of declaring himself a disciple of the Lord, thinking, “If I deny the Lord at this moment, my life will be safe.”
There are many times in our lives that we choose human recognition, we choose the moment, we overconfident in ourselves, obey our physical demands, and choose safety. That's why you always make mistakes and fail. I bless you that you always choose God's approval when you are contemplating whether to fall in the eyes of men or in the eyes of God. If you choose the wrong behavior to catch people's eyes, people think, 'That person is fake.' People want the real thing. I bless you to always choose what pleases the Lord. Moments pass, but eternity goes to the end.
And don't be overconfident in any part. Be careful of the parts with ‘never’ in it, such as money issues, sexual issues, and loyalty. We must acknowledge our weaknesses and pray humbly so that we do not fail. Pray and be temperate when there are physical demands. Choose the path that is acceptable in the Lord's sight rather than the familiar and safe path. We can overcome failure when we choose by faith and boldly challenge ourselves.
Jesus loves you till the end
Peter, who had lived like that up until now, had failed at this moment. The Lord turned to the failed Peter and looked at Peter. (Luke 22:61-62) He looked at Peter who courageously followed, but Peter who denied himself three times.
How did the Lord look at Peter? You must have seen it with eyes of trust and eyes of love. ‘I believe that your confession that you will follow me even if you die is sincere. You made a mistake for a moment, but you must have looked at me with a look of 'follow me again'. If the Lord had seen Peter at that moment and sent his eyes, 'I knew it would be so', Peter would never have been able to return.
If I were an artist, I would like to draw the eyes of Peter, who is crouching, and Jesus looking at him from a distance. If I were a musician, I would like to make a song called ‘When He Sees Me’. The lyrics are: 'I couldn't breathe. I sat with his back, but he was looking at me. Those eyes looking at me who betrayed me were the same as before. I stopped crying. It's not because I couldn't keep the oath that I won't deny it, but because of the way you look at me, which I hate to see."
This situation was not easy for Jesus. When Judas Iscariot betrayed, the religious leaders, scribes, and Pharisees tried to kill him, but no one was greeted with a waving of palm branches and those who had been healed by eating five pieces of fish. The disciples ran away, and even Peter, whom he believed, denied himself three times. Jesus was completely alone. Even in this situation, Jesus looked at Peter with warm eyes. I pray that this love of Jesus will flow into your hearts today.
love greater than failure
Jesus' love is greater than Peter's mistake. God's love is greater than our mistakes. Because the Lord has accepted us, we come to the Lord during this time of worship, praise, and tears. The letters written by Peter, who realized that love, are the first and second letters of Peter, and there are these words.
“Above all, love one another deeply. Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Love covers a multitude of sins. I hope you can cover the mistakes and failures of your family with great love. There is also this saying.
“Calm down and stay awake. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Dear brothers and sisters, stay awake. Be sober. Don't be overconfident in yourself, don't be arrogant, always be sober and watchful in every way, and come before the Lord. Always be conscious of the Lord's gaze, think of the eternal kingdom of heaven, and live righteously. Even so, there are mistakes. Come back to the Lord's forgiving love each time and start over. I bless you to embrace people with that love and live a victorious life that is pleasing to the Lord.