21 Days In John - Day 21: Failure Need Never Be Final

Please Read John chapter 21

Key Verse:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs’” John 21:15

Simon Peter had denied Jesus! He had promised him that he would not let Him die alone, and that he would always stand by Him, but three times after Jesus was arrested Peter denied even knowing him. Peter was in the house where Jesus was being tried and at that moment their eyes met. Then Peter remembered and went out, weeping bitterly [Luke 22:54-62]. Failure is always painful!

The steps of Peter’s failure are clear:  Self-confidence; sleeping when he should have been praying; operating in the flesh as he cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant; following afar off [Luke 22:54]; and finally denying Jesus

Peter decided to return to his old life as a fisherman [verse 3]. Is he in denial but deep down hurting through his failure? Is it an escape mechanism?  All night the fishermen fished without success but then a “stranger on the shore” told them where to cast their nets. It was a similar miracle to the one when Jesus first called them, and they recognized the same Jesus on the shore.

Peter couldn’t wait to get to Jesus, but it was breakfast first! It must have been so tough for Peter. After breakfast Jesus challenged Peter three times then and restored him. Peter had denied the Lord three times, and the Lord re-commissioned him three times before renewing that original call to follow Him. Failure does not need to be final!

Questions:

Is there a failure that has dominated your life? You have tried to leave it behind but somehow it keeps raising its ugly head. Would you bring that failure to Jesus, and let Him forgive and heal your heart?

Will you follow Jesus wherever He calls you to go, and whatever it may cost?

What other people think of you is none of your business. You Follow Jesus!