By Olubunmi Adebayo
In the true reality of life, Peter, the disciple of Jesus Christ is a perfect example of failure and success living together.
May I let you know that no disciple of Jesus Christ, out of the 12, failed publicly as Peter did. And yet, no Apostle, out of the 12, was used as powerfully as Peter was.
His life is proof that God does not cancel you because you failed. Rather, he restores you and reuses you.
Let us look at the two sides of the journey of Peter.
A) PETER’S FAILURE : Peter was impulsive,loud and proud.
He was always quick to speak, quick to act, and quick to make promises. Consider the following :
I) When Jesus said He would suffer and bear the burden of the world, Peter was quick to rebuke him :
Mat 16: [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee”.
[23]But he turned, and said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”.
ii) At the last supper table, Peter boasted: “Even if all fall away, I will not-” Mat 26:33.
iii) He even went to the extent of saying :”I will lay down my life for you-“John 13:37.
What are we to learn from these?
Many of our failures are products of poor reflections and overconfidence. We think we are too strong to fall, forgetting what the word of say to us :
1 Cor 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”.
Peter thought his love for Jesus was enough. He had not yet learned that love without dependence on God will fail under pressure.
iv) Peter’s greatest failure : He denied Jesus three times – a whole three times.
This is the type of failure that would have finished most human beings completely.
Jesus had earlier warned him – “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times -” Mat 26:34.
That same night :
1) A servant girl said: “You were with Jesus.” Peter said: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
2) Another one said: “This fellow was with Jesus.” Peter denied it with an oath :
Mat 26:[71]And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
[72]And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
3) Finally, a group of people now said to him : “Surely you are one of them.” Peter began to curse and swear: “I don’t know the man!” Mat 26:69-75.
Then the rooster crowed. And the Bible says: “He went outside and wept bitterly.”
These are no small tranches of failure in the life of a man : flagrant denial of his Master, his Friend, his Saviour, in his very darkest hour, to save his own skin ( almost unthinkable) – but that is human being for you.
Peter failed in public, in front of people, with curses on his lips.
TAKE AWAY FROM THE ABOVE: If failure was final, Peter’s story would have ended there and then.
Peter’s turning point : failure broke him no doubt, but did not define him.
Please note that there is a difference between Judas and Peter. Both failed Jesus – both betrayed Him.
Judas felt guilty and went to hang himself – Mat 27:5.
Peter felt godly sorrow and wept bitterly, but waited on the Lord.
The difference between a failure that destroys you and a failure that develops you is what you do after you fall. Judas ran from Jesus. Peter wept, but ran to Jesus.
Failure did not make Peter a failure. It made him humble. The proud, boastful fisherman was broken. And God can use a broken man far more than a proud person.
PETER’S RESTORATION AND JOURNEY TO SUCCESS :
To be continued tomorrow, God willing.
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
