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.
. Now they needed to learn about failure.
. Look at verse 31 again: 31On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me….”
. Notice Jesus didn’t say that tonight, maybe you will desert me.
. He didn’t say that some of may choose to desert me.
. He said with certainty that all of them would desert Him.
. What we need to see here is that Failure is Inevitable.
. As humans, we will fail.
. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need God.
. If you are perfect, you don’t need this sermon.
. You see, this sermon is for the parent who did their best but it seems they are losing the battle for their kids.
. This sermon is for the couples who struggle in their marriage.
. This sermon is for those who struggle with addictions and bad habits.
. This sermon is for the young who struggle with saying no to their friends who influence them negatively.
. This sermon is for the family who is struggling to make ends meet and parents who feel as though they are failing their family because of this.
. This sermon is for Christians who have sometimes failed their God and are now timid and unsure for fear of failure again.
. Jesus knew that His disciples would fail Him that night.
. This conversation was for them to realize that He knew and understood their failures.
. Folks the bible is full of examples of peoples failures.
. It starts with Adam and Eve in the garden.( Genesis 3)
. Then Abraham, not having enough faith to believe that God would provide him a son so he uses his wife’s handmaiden to produce a son. ( Genesis 16 )
. David and his failures as a husband and a father. He coveted another man’s wife and in that committed adultery and murder. His relationships with his sons and daughters are full of strife and deceit. ( 2 Samuel 11 and forward )
. Yet David is called a man after God’s heart.
. Why, not because of his failures or successes; but because of his heart and his willingness to repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
. I could go on and on about the failures of God’s people this morning.
. Our story revolves around Peter though.
. Jesus told peter that he would fail Him that very night.
. Let’s explore what happened.
. Right after this conversation they arrived at the Mount of Olives and Jesus goes into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Judas arrived with men to arrest Jesus and take Him to the Jewish high council.
. Peter does show some courage for a minute and tries to fight off the arresting men and cuts the ear off one of them. Jesus stops him and heals the man’s ear and allows them to arrest Him.
. As they take Jesus away, everyone scatters. Scripture isn’t clear how Peter Got into the courtyard outside the Temple.
. My guess is that when they took Jesus, Peter followed from a distance.
. The account of this failure is found here in Matthew 26: 69-75.
69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
73A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”
74Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
75Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
. Oh my God, Peter must have been saying to himself.
. Jesus was right; I did deny Him three times.
. I am a failure. I wouldn’t even acknowledge that I knew who Jesus was much less tell people that I was one of his followers.
. Many times in my life I have failed.
. How about you.
. Many times I have failed God. I have failed Jesus.
. How many can say that they have never let God down in their life.
. I can’t. You see, Failure is inevitable and Jesus knew it and knows it.
. It not through our successes that we grow folks, it is in our failures.
. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time said this.
. “ I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
. We don’t choose to fail but that’s life in our frailty as humans.
. God uses our failures to transform us into a new life.
. He uses our failures to strip us of this pride that we have in ourselves and bring us into a closer walk and relationship with Him.
. Look at what He told the disciples and especially Peter in verse 32.
. 32But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
. Jesus told them that He knew they were going to fail Him and He understood and that He would be there for them.
. After the resurrection, after your utter failure to stand up for me and with me, I will still be there for you.
. We will go back to the beginning. Back to where it all started. I will meet you in Galilee and even though you deserted me:
. I will never fail you. I will never forsake you. I will be there for you. I will forgive you and we can start new.
. Don’t let failure keep you from continuing to abide in me.
. The apostle John finishes our story about Peter in John 21:15-17
. Jesus has risen and is preparing to go back to the Father and he is sharing one last meal with His disciples. He has prepared breakfast for them and then He speaks directly to Peter.
. 15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
. This is known as Peter’s restoration.
. Jesus was assuring Peter that even though he had failed Him that He still loved him and wanted him to continue in the work that He had for him to do.
. In the midst of failure, Peter was assured of Jesus love for him.
. Now what does this tell us this morning.
. It tells us that we will all fail at times in our lives.
. We will fail as Fathers and Husbands, Mothers and Wives, Sons and Daughters.
. We will fail as friends and co-workers.
. Yes we will fail or disappoint God as Christians.
. Amid our failures though, Jesus is there for us.
. If we are like Peter and love the Lord, He will forgive us our failures and help us be the Christian that He intends us to be.
. Folks, Jesus loves us as a friend of mine says “warts and all”.
. He is always there in the midst of our highest highs and our lowest lows.
. If you are here this morning and struggling Jesus is there for you.
. The song that we played for the offertory by Third Day this morning says it all, Just call my name, and I’ll be there.
. Jesus is always there for you.
Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
Facing the facts about failure, Keith Linkous : ( sermon central )
What If I Fall, Randy Bataanon : ( sermon central )
