John 13:36-38

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

I’ve always appreciated Peter’s zeal. He put himself out there, and in doing so, he is the only human being to ever have walked on water. He also had some epic failures. But at least he tried…and he tried (and failed) in the right direction. How often do any of us do big things for God? How often do we make big promises to him that we fail to follow through on? Or how often do we just fail at life…in general…in one way or another? Perhaps as a parent, or a spouse, or as a friend. Even within the pages of Scripture, failure seems to be a pretty common occurrence.

“When Peter protested, our Lord showed him that He knew all the weakness lurking within him better than he himself could know it” (Morgan).

Peter’s impending failure came just hours after his emotional outburst of allegiance. The courage he had displayed when he stepped out of the boat onto the water had folded under the scrutiny of a little girl. He said he was willing to die for his Lord…but he couldn’t even stand a little ridicule. And then came to moment when Peter made eye contact with Jesus…after the rooster had made its third announcement. I can hardly imagine the devastation he experienced. How small and weak he must have felt. Have you ever been there? Maybe it was a moral failure that found the light of day, or a betrayal that broke the heart of someone close to you. Jesus knew you would do it, but he never stopped loving you—before, during, or after.

God does not glance over our failures, but He does not condemn us for them, either. He loves us through them. He teaches us through them. He walks with us through them. He corrects us through them. Peter denied Jesus that night, but Jesus never denied Peter. And when the proper moment came, Jesus lovingly restored Peter and gave him an even bigger charge to keep…and keep it, he did. History records that when it came time for Peter to die a martyr’s death, he requested to be crucified upside down. The sting of his denial was probably at the center of his thinking, and he didn’t consider himself worthy to be crucified exactly like his Master had been.

I’m sure Jesus appreciated his point, but he most likely didn’t agree with it. He had already forgiven Peter…which meant there was nothing left for Peter to do, except to worship and walk forward in freedom. Jesus wants that for you, too. Perhaps you are experiencing the sting of failure today. I know that sting well. Don’t waste it, but don’t let it define you. Your worth is defined by your Creator and was forever expressed on an old rugged cross two thousand years ago. And don’t be afraid to fail, either. Attempt big things for God. Attempt big things to show His love and grace and compassion. And when you succeed, He is glorified, and the Kingdom is expanded. But if you fail, at least you failed in the right direction, and the King will still be cheering you on from his throne room in Heaven.