The Tale Of Two Failures Series

Sin: That Nasty Three Letter Word

The Tale of Two Failures

How Two People Handled Their Failure With Jesus

For some of us this innocent picture of a bar of soap brings back some horrible memories.

Many of us can remember what it was like to get caught saying one of those nasty words we had heard another child or an adult say.

In the church we have words that we are no longer comfortable with people saying. I'm not talking about curse words or base or ribald expressions.

No in the church today we are very uncomfortable talking about one nasty three letter word--SIN

We don't like to talk about sin. We'll admit we are sinners, but lets not talk about the sin in my life. Let's just talk about sin in a ambiguous and general way.

We can be quick to call other peoples sin wicked, evil despicable, immoral, nefarious, reprehensible, disreputable, but we tend to treat our own sin with a laze faire attitude. It's not a big deal.

So as we continue our journey with the forgiver this summer I want us to boldly face that nasty three letter word.

Not beat us up emotionally, not to accuse each other, not to produce false guilt, not to make us feel like worms, but to help us to remember the motivation Jesus had in coming to Earth was to address this Nasty Three Letter word, to break it power in our lives, to free us for it and its consequences.

Together we will face the Reality of Sin and the power of the Forgiver over it.

 JESUS CAME TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIN, BUT SOME FOLLOWERS NEVER FACE ITS REALITY AND THEREFORE FAIL TO DISCOVER VICTORY.

So this morning I want us to begin by looking at lives of two failures. Two individuals who blatantly sin and how they respond to their guilt.

This morning I want us to look at the Tale of Two Failures.

The Setting

1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." Luke 22:1-2

It is interesting that a lesson on sin and failure is one of the last lessons Jesus will teach his disciples before he dies.

* Despite all that he has taught them He knows that they must face the reality of sin head on.

* How they respond to their sin will either make them or break them. Success or failure as his followers will hang in the balance of the drama that unfolds.

The Characters

14 Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--

35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."

Both of these men were disciples. They have followed Jesus for three years. They have seen the miracles and wonders he could do. They have heard him preach. Yet on this night they will both end up as failures before Jesus.

At this point Judas and Peter are very similar. They are both sinful men who will sin on this night.

Judas--The Sin of Betrayal

14 Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests 15 and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Jesus new Judas was going to betray him. This sin did not come as a surprise to him. He identifies Judas as the betrayer during the meal.

Peter--The Sin of Betrayal

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, . . . 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."