Fail Forward - follow Jesus
Water cooler conversation:
What was your biggest win this week? What was your biggest challenge?
How was your Thanksgiving?
Unpack the Message:
In Matthew 26:31-35 and Luke 22:31-34, we read the account of Jesus' predicting Peter's denial. Earlier, Jesus and His disciples had celebrated Passover and shared communion. Now, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus tells the disciples they will all turn their backs on Him before morning. Peter declares, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you, And all the other disciples said the same."
Jesus leaves the disciples to pray alone in such despair and anguish that His "sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." He returns to find the disciples asleep and says, "Why are you sleeping?" As He's speaking, Judas arrives with a crowd to arrest Jesus. Jesus is taken to the home of the High Priest for questioning. The disciples scatter, though Peter follows at a distance and waits in the courtyard outside the house. He huddles beside a charcoal fire with others, hoping to blend in. But before long, a servant girl recognizes Peter as one of Jesus' disciples. His response is reactionary and over the top, "Woman, I do not know Him." Later, another person recognizes Peter, and he denies Jesus a second time, saying, "Man, I am not!" Finally, Peter denies that he is from Galilee, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Matthew 26:74 tells us that Peter even began to curse and swear no doubt in his last denial, hoping that it would further distance himself from any association with Jesus. Just as Peter utters his final denial, the rooster crows. Jesus, being escorted through the courtyard, locks eyes with Peter. Peter remembers Jesus' words and goes outside weeps bitterly.
Days later, Peter and some other disciples are fishing on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-19). After a long night, they return to shore. A figure on the beach calls to them, asking if they've caught anything. They reply, "No," and the figure instructs them to cast the net over the other side. They do as they're told and soon catch so many fish they can't haul the net into the boat. John discerns that the figure onshore is Jesus, and Peter responds by wrapping his outer garment around himself and jumping into the water, races to shore to meet Jesus.
When they reach shore, Jesus sits beside a charcoal fire, a scene reminiscent of Peter's denial. Jesus invites them to sit down and eat with Him. After their breakfast, Jesus spoke directly to Peter. Jesus had already met with Peter individually on the day of His resurrection (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5). We don't know what they talked about at that first meeting. But clearly, it was important for Jesus to restore Peter in the presence of the other disciples. Jesus saw that as Peter's failures had been public, his restoration should be too.
Three times Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Each time He asks carries different connotations. Jesus challenges Peter, the one whose bravado pushed him to the front of every situation, every encounter, the one whose bravado has been knocked out of him even though he consistently failed forward.
Satan prepared the way for Peter's failure. We have an enemy that wants us to fail. Peter speaks from experience when he warns us to "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
But, just as Satan wants us to fail, Jesus prepares the way for victory and recovery. Every time Peter failed, God made a way for him to fail forward. Philippians 3:13-14 promises, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
However, not repenting of failure often gives way to increased failure. For example, Peter denied Jesus three times in one night - the longer he refused to repent, the greater his failure. Yet, as followers of Christ, we need to remember that repenting of failure is both painful and necessary for recovery. When Peter came face to face with Jesus after his denials, his repentance was as deep as his brokenness. Just as he denied Jesus three times, Jesus questions his love three times until Peter comes to the end of himself and repents.
There's only one way from failure to victory, and we see it in John 21:19: "Follow me!" Peter moved from failure to victory because he chose to fail forward. Peter decided to learn from his failures rather than allowing them to take him out of the race. Peter failed forward all the way to his death as a martyr. (John 21:18 - 19).
Why do you think the disciples went back to fishing?
Peter went back to the Sea of Galilee to fish. Describe a time when life seemed crazy, and you wanted to surround yourself with the familiar and go back to your comfort zone.
Take a few moments and remember a time when you completely failed Jesus. Why is it important to revisit that time and bring it before God to be restored? How can harboring past failures hinder future ministry?
Read Matthew 16:8. Discuss the significance of Jesus calling Peter by his formal name: Simon, son of John.
Read John 21:15-17. A command follows each affirmation of love. Describe a love without any action to support it versus a love that is demonstrated by action.
Catching fish (witnessing) is different from shepherding (discipleship). Why is it so important to not only lead people to Christ (casting the net) but to help them grow in Christ (tending the sheep)? What's the difference?
When has God miraculously and abundantly provided for your needs?
Make a Move:
Think of a time you failed. Do you still carry guilt or shame for your mistake? Ask God to forgive you, to heal your heart, and to show you what you can learn from your mistake so you too can fail forward.
Prayer Prompt:
Father, I am so grateful that you are not just the God of my successes but the God of my failures too. Your word promises that you are our help in times of trouble, and I thank you that it’s your desire that I fail forward. Help me to remember the many people in the Bible who failed miserably yet still fulfilled Your plan for their lives. Help me to see myself through Your eyes, letting go of my past mistakes. Help me to strive toward the goal of becoming more and more like Jesus. Amen