Revived By Failure

Revived by Failure

Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I’ve lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over. . . . And that is why I succeed.” To Jordan, failure was fuel.

When Jesus’ disciple Peter failed, it was a big-time failure. After declaring that he would never betray Jesus, Peter caved to the pressure of the moment and denied Jesus three times after Jesus’ arrest.

What I want you to consider today is how Jesus met Peter in his failure. He didn’t tell Peter, “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” In this crisis, Jesus gave love and forgiveness to Peter and then expanded his vision.

John 21, which takes place after Jesus’ resurrection, shows Peter and the disciples out on the boat, throwing out their nets all night without any luck. When Jesus appears, he tells the disciples to cast the nets on the other side.

This is the second time we see Jesus telling the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. The first time happened at Peter’s calling. In the first story, the catch was so plentiful that the boats began to sink and the nets began to break. The second story records that 153 fish were caught because this time, the nets held.

After the disciples returned to shore, John 21 tells us that Jesus repeatedly asked Peter if he loved him. Verse 17 tells us, “A third time [Jesus] 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.’”

In Peter’s failure, Jesus met him at the place of his original calling to remind him that there was a bigger plan for his life. Don’t get stuck in your mistakes. Go back to that place where he called you, and meet with him again. You, too, will be humbled and amazed!

A third time [Jesus] 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.”

John 21:17