The apostle Peter was a man who failed many times, but
he also had great successes.For this
reason, he is someone that relates to all of us, for we all suffer failures and
garner successes.
Let us learn from some of his failures and successes
in the present study.These are by no
means all of his failures and successes, but these are some that hold valuable
lessons for us.
PETER'S FAILURES
Peter failed when he sank in the sea (Matt. 14:22-33).
Peter and the
other disciples of Jesus saw the Lord walking on the Sea of Galilee.
They were in a
boat far from the shore.The waves were
rough, and the wind was contrary.It was
between 3AM and 6AM.
Jesus came to the disciples walking on the sea.At first, they thought He was a ghost.
Peter began to
walk on the water to Jesus, but he sank into the sea.
When Jesus identified Himself to the disciples, Peter
said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."Jesus said, "Come!"
Peter started well, but he sank when he saw the
effects of the wind and became afraid.
Why did Peter
fail?
Jesus explained Peter's failure when He said, "O you
of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Peter did not trust the word of Jesus, who told Him to
come.Instead, he became fearful of the
wind and took his eyes off the Lord.
Do we fail to
trust the word of Christ like Peter?
Peter failed when he rebuked Jesus (Matt. 16:21-23).
Jesus taught His
disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and
chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Rather than
believing Jesus, Peter rebuked Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord!This shall never happen to You."
Why did Peter
fail?
Jesus explained Peter's failure when He said, "Get
behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block
to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Peter rejected Christ's word because he was offended
by the message.He was not concerned
about God's will, but rather he sought for his own will to be done.
Do we fail like
Peter by seeking our own will when it conflicts with God's will?
Peter failed when he denied Christ (Matt. 26:30-35,
69-75).
Jesus predicted
Peter's denials only hours before they happened.
Just before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He told
His disciples, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is
written, 'I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be
scattered.'"
When Peter insisted that he would be the exception,
Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster
crows, you will deny Me three times."
Peter was
adamant, saying, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You."
Later that night,
as Jesus was being tried before the high priest, Peter denied Him three times.
Outside the high priest's courtyard, Peter was
identified as a follower of Jesus three times.Each time, he denied knowing Jesus with increasing vehemence.
After the third denial, Peter heard a cock crow, and
he went out and wept bitterly.
Why did Peter
fail?
Peter was prepared to die with a sword in his hand
fighting for Jesus, but the Lord prevented him.Notice the Lord's words in Matthew 26:52-54:
52Then
Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take
up the sword shall perish by the sword.53Or
do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My
disposal more than twelve legions of angels?54How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that
it must happen this way?"
Peter had been certain of himself, but this situation
was not what he anticipated.Everything
happened as Jesus had said, but Peter had his own mistaken concepts.
Do we fail like
Peter by believing in our own concepts rather than the word of God?
PETER'S SUCCESSES
Peter succeeded when he confessed Christ (Matt.
16:13-19).
When Jesus asked
His disciples who people were saying that He was, they listed John the baptist,
Elijah, Jeremiah, and the prophets.
When Jesus asked
them who they thought He was, Peter gave the great confession: "Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God."
Why did Peter
succeed?
Peter's success is explained by Jesus, who said, "Blessed
are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven."
God revealed Christ's identity to Peter by His signs
and His words.Men drew the wrong
conclusions about Jesus, but Peter believed the truth of God's revelation.
Do we succeed
like Peter by believing the revelation given by the Father in His word?
Peter succeeded when he preached the gospel (Acts
2:14-41).
Peter received a
special commission from Jesus.
When Jesus was predicting Peter's denials, He said to
Peter, "...when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke
22:32).
After Christ's resurrection, Jesus asked him three
times whether he loved Him.When Peter
answered, Jesus said, "Tend My lambs," "Shepherd My sheep," and "Tend My sheep"
(John 21:15-17).
After Christ
ascended to heaven, Peter boldly preached the gospel of Christ.
All of the apostles preached, but it was Peter who was
at the forefront in the early days and whose words are recorded in Acts
chapters 2-5 and 10-11.
Peter continued to preach the gospel throughout his
life, which is evidenced by 2Peter, a letter written late in his life (see
2Pet. 1:12-14).
Why did Peter
succeed?
Peter carried out the Lord's will according to the
Lord's words.Jesus had told him when he
confessed Jesus, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and
whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19).
Peter relied on the guidance of heaven via the Holy
Spirit (Acts 2:4, 14-21) and preached the name of Jesus (Acts 3:16; 4:10,
12).It was this power that gave him
success.
Do we succeed
like Peter by relying on the guidance of heaven through the name of Christ?
Peter succeeded when he patiently suffered as a
Christian (Acts 5:40; 12:1-5).
Before Jesus
ascended to heaven, He foretold Peter's suffering and death.Notice John 21:18:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old,
you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you
where you do not wish to go."
Peter suffered
much in the service of Christ.
Peter, who had abandoned Jesus while He was on trial
before the Sanhedrin, stood himself before the Sanhedrin and defied them for
Christ's name (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-42).
He was beaten with the other apostles, and rejoiced to
be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name (Acts 5:40-41).
He was imprisoned
by Herod for preaching the gospel (Acts 12:1-5).
The Bible does not record Peter's death, but we can be
certain (and tradition holds) that Peter suffered death for his service to
Christ, just as Jesus foretold.
Why did Peter
succeed?
Peter's success can be described by his own inspired
words from 1Peter 3:14-16:
14But even
if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. and do not
fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15but sanctify
Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone
who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with
gentleness and reverence; 16and keep a good conscience so that in
the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in
Christ will be put to shame.
Peter's commitment to Christ as Lord empowered him to
withstand his trials.
Do we succeed
like Peter by sanctifying Christ as Lord when we suffer as Christians?