Is Failure Really Not An Option?

Is Failure Really Not An option?

Matthew 26:31-35

Intro: Failure is not an option. I’m sure you have heard the phrase. That phrase is linked to NASA and their space program. It originated when the makers of a documentary interviewed NASA officials about the problems that arose out of the Apollo 13 mission. When asked, one of the officials stated that when there were problems that needed to be addressed, they would lay out possible solutions and that failure was never one of them.

. We as a people here in the United States have taken this failure is not an option and given it a whole new perspective.

.You see, we have very little patience for failures don’t we.

. A team starts having a losing season, ticket sales plummet. A certain sports star, who has the reputation for excelling, when they hit a drought, or difficult time, the fans turn into fault-finders. There’s a famous American expression: “When you’re hot you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.”

.In America, we hate losers and we love winners. Failure is considered the unpardonable sin. We canonize champions, we adore achievers. We worship winners, and we sanctify the successful. Everybody wants to succeed. The fact is, I’ve never met anybody in life who’s said, “My life goal is to fail.” Everybody strives for success because failure comes all to easy.

.The emphasis on success puts enormous stress on our society, because failure is a part of life. Yet nobody wants to be called or considered a failure. I suppose that’s a part of life as well. But many people will do anything - lie, cheat, steal, lower their standards, or morals - in order to succeed. It really is that important to people.

."Failure" is the one thing you don’t want to be labeled as. And as a result, we fear failure. We’re afraid of what it might do to us. If I fail what will happen to me? What will other people think? Will I be rejected? Will anybody love me? Will I be considered worthless? The fear of failure is a universal fear. And it causes many people and enormous amount of stress in their lives.

.The fear of failure can cause you to be indecisive, you’re worried about what choice to make. What if I make the wrong choice? So you can’t decide. The fear of failure can cause you to be a workaholic - you work and overwork, trying to keep up, trying to get ahead, trying to stay ahead.

.The fear of failure can cause you to be a perfectionist where you’re always worried that it’s never good enough to meet the critiquing of people. And you’re never quite satisfied because you’re afraid people won’t like what you did, or how you did it, you’ll be looked on as a failure.

. The Bible teaches us that failure is a part of life and I dare say a part of success.

. Our scripture this morning highlights one of the greatest failures in the bible.

. Let me give you a little background.

. Matthew 26 begins with Jesus reminding His disciples that it was two days before the Passover and that He would be turned over to the Priests to be crucified but the disciples still didn’t understand what was going on.

. Jesus instructs them as to where He will share the Passover with them.

. We see one of the accounts of the last supper and then Jesus and the disciples leave the “upper room” and are walking toward the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane and they have a conversation as they are walking along.

. Lets look at that conversation.

. Mt 26:31-35

. 31On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,‘God will strike the cShepherd,and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

33Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

35“No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

. These Guys have just spent three years learning from the master himself. Jesus was their teacher. He had been teaching them how to minister and how to serve.

. He had just given them the great example of servant hood by the washing of their feet in the “upper room”

. Now it was time to teach them about failure.

. They had seen the success of their master in his miracles and through the throngs of supporters that followed Jesus wherever He went.