Failure and Grace
By Pastor Steve Peich
Mark 14.28-31 “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with You, I will not deny You.” And all of them said the same.”
Peter is probably one of my favorite biblical characters to talk about, mostly because I can totally relate to how he mangles things up in His walk with Christ. Or more to the point, how he can go from getting it so right one minute then stepping into utter failure the next.
In the last hours before His arrest, Jesus makes the prediction that very soon all the disciples will desert Him (Mark 14.26). Immediately, Peter makes a bold claim about how he would never abandon Jesus. In Mark 14.29 Peter said to Him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” How’s that for confidence?
Then after Jesus tells Peter how he will deny Him three times, Peter doubles down by vehemently saying: “‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same” (Mark 14.31). Of course, we all know what happened shortly thereafter.
What is interesting here is that even as Jesus is predicting the impending failure of these guys, He is also communicating grace to them. Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters… but after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Pause on that for a minute. Do you see what is happening there? Jesus is saying even though you will fail Me, I will not abandon you. In fact, after you guys blow it, I will meet up with you again to continue this Kingdom of God adventure. Your failure will not mean you won’t have a future with Me. (See also John 20.19-21)
Raise your hand if you find that encouraging?
How many of us would be so gracious after the total failure of someone we walked with, worked with, or served with, etc. for several years? How many of us blame, deny, rationalize, minimize, or excuse our own failures?
Try to take a few moments today reflecting on the divine reality that your failure, however epic, is not the last word over you. Ponder how our failure does not mean we won’t have a future with Jesus. That’s what the death and resurrection of Jesus does, it gives a future where there has been failure. Not because our love is so strong and consistent for Him, but because His love is so strong and unwavering for us.
Moreover, if others have failed you, pray for the soulful strength and fortitude to show mercy to them. Yes, they may need correction or even discipline, but don’t let them believe that failure is the last word over them. Demonstrate to them the powerful, failure-erasing grace of God.
Prayer: Lord, I confess my failures before You. Come and uproot the shame that keeps me trapped in my sense of failure, as well as all the excuses, rationalizations, and blaming I have used to buffer my heart from feeling the deep regret of missing the mark. Help me to experience Your grace today, and may I display that same grace to others who have failed me as well. In Your Gracious Name we pray, Amen.
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