The Success Of Failure Series

Introduction:

A. How many of you have ever failed at something? We all have experienced failure, right?

1. Bob Hope, when asked about his early failures in stand-up comedy, said, “I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn’t for the stuff the audience threw at me.”

2. Do you consider Abraham Lincoln’s life a life of success or failure?

a. Lincoln once said, “I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so.”

b. Lincoln’s life is the best example of his own words, because he experienced more failure than success in most of his life.

c. Lincoln failed twice in business and had a nervous breakdown.

d. Lincoln was defeated in elections 8 times for the seats in government that he ran for, and only won in the elections 3 times.

B. The truth of the matter is that failure doesn’t have to be final or fatal, because there can be success in failure.

1. Malcolm Forbes said, “Failure is success if we learn from it.”

2. Marilyn vos Savant said, “Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.”

3. Here’s a poem about failure that contains many truths:

Failing does not necessarily mean you have accomplished nothing;

It may mean you have learned something.

Failing does not necessarily mean you have wasted your time;

It may mean you have an opportunity to start afresh.

Failing does not necessarily mean you are inferior;

It does mean you are not perfect.

Failing does mean you are perfectly human;

It means you are part of the imperfect human race.

C. All of us have felt the anguish of failure.

1. The ironic thing about failure is that “hindsight is 20/20 vision,” and with hindsight we see very clearly how we would do things differently if we could do them over again.

2. There are many different ways that we experience failure.

a. We make mistakes.

b. We let others down and hurt those we love.

c. We don’t live up to our goals and expectations.

d. We fail to live up to the life God intends for us to live.

D. But the most important question we must answer is: What can we do about our failures?

1. In our text today from the Gospel of Mark, we will see how Jesus dealt with rejection (failure) in His hometown, and we will see how He prepared His disciples for the rejection (failure) that they would face when He sent them out.

2. As we examine this section, we will find several valuable lessons that will help us deal with our own failures.

I. Experiencing Failure

A. Mark wrote: 1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him. (Mark 6:1-3)

1. Jesus left Capernaum and arrived at the small town of Nazareth where he grew up and matured into manhood.

2. Jesus had likely been gone from His hometown for a year or more at this point in His ministry.

3. Nazareth was a small, insignificant town located about 25 miles southwest of Capernaum, about halfway between the Mediterranean sea and the Sea of Galilee.

4. Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the OT, or the Jewish Talmud, or by Josephus the historian.

a. It was truly a small, obscure village in an out of the way location, population less than 500.

b. The common attitude about Nazareth is what Nathaniel expressed in John 1:44: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

B. Jesus had left His hometown as truly a “nobody” an ordinary member of their small town, but now a year later, He was returning as someone who was being declared (at least in some places and circles) as the Prophet of Israel sent from God.

1. I’m sure the people of Nazareth had heard the stories about His teaching and His miracles.

2. I’m sure they were eager to see Him and hear Him in person when He came to town.

3. So, I’m sure attendance at the synagogue that Saturday had to be a record attendance knowing that Jesus was in town and would likely come to the synagogue service.

4. And as was the custom, traveling rabbis were often invited to read the Scriptures and address the synagogue congregation on the Sabbath.