When We Fail

Have you ever made a mistake that people recall years later? Maybe it was something that someone recorded on video? How embarrassing! Now imagine if one of your greatest failures in life was remembered for two thousand years. That is what Peter’s denial of Jesus is like.

Has anyone ever denied knowing you? Maybe in a friendship or work relationship? Maybe someone said they would be loyal to you, and they weren’t? It can hurt! In the TV sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray embarrasses his wife, Debra, while they are at a potluck where she is running for president of the PTA. Ray was being himself and started eating before everyone else, until the crowd started to stare at him, and he began to stuff his pockets with the sandwich he just made. Debra is mortified and denies knowing Ray to another parent. Later that night Ray learns of Debra’s behavior. He says, “I don’t care what I was doing. You denied knowing me at the potluck?”

Mark 14:27–31 ESV

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Peter was loyal to Jesus and was astonished that Jesus would even suggest that he would deny him. But Peter did deny Jesus three times. Now, why would Peter do this? He had been with Jesus since the beginning. He had seen miracles and been empowered to do miracles himself. But put yourself in Peter’s sandals. He sees the Messiah being arrested and not fighting back. The Messiah was supposed to be a strong figure who wasn’t pushed around by the religious leaders and Romans.

Be Mindful of Fear

Fear creeps into Peter’s heart and he flees … because he doesn’t want to be crucified along with Jesus. A servant girl sees Peter

Luke 22:56–57 ESV

Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

Two other times people associated Peter with Jesus and he denies it robustly

Luke 22:58–60 ESV

And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

After this third denial, Jesus looks at Peter, and Peter remembers what Jesus had said (v. 61). He is so ashamed (v. 62).

Luke 22:61–62 ESV

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Fear is a powerful emotion that causes the most courageous and loyal to become cowardly and abandoning.

The 2014 war movie Fury tells the story of a World War II tank crew behind enemy lines (directed by David Ayer [Columbia Pictures, 2014]). By the end of the movie, the commander Wardaddy and the youngest member of the crew Norman are trapped inside the tank and surrounded by German troops. Realizing they are going to have to fight to avoid capture, young Norman looks at Wardaddy and says, “I’m scared!” Wardaddy coolly looks at him and says, “I’m scared too, son.” We all get scared. Some of us want to be tough and put together, acting like we can always be strong. But in the end, we have moments when we’re scared and make bad decisions.

How Do We Deal with Fear

So how then do we deal with fear? As believers we know, or we should know, that we are not called to be living in fear. That does not mean that fear will never come to us, but if we know that from time to time fear will come our way, that leads us to the question that I just asked….how do we deal with fear in a Christ-like; Godly manner?

Psalm 27:1 ESV

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2 Phil 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Fear or Failure is not the End

Commenting on Peter’s denial, scholar Walter Liefeld states, “Peter was now like a cornered animal. He called curses on himself if he was lying and swore that he didn’t know ‘this man you’re talking about’ (v. 71). The first two times Peter had denied being identified with Jesus. The last time he denied Jesus himself” (Walter L. Liefeld, “Luke,” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Expositor’s Bible Commentary 8 [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984], 771).

Peter’s story doesn’t end with him publicly denying Jesus. We see the resurrected Jesus restore Peter, telling him to feed his sheep and take care of the disciples (John 21:15–19). Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for his moment of denial and struggle. He showed him love and reconciliation. For those of us who have let Jesus down, he still shows open arms to forgive us and restore us to a better hope.