THE MESSAGE OF FAILURE

The Gospel of Mark #50

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

(Mark 14:66–72, NLT) “Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.” But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!” But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.”

1.  SOMETIMES, UNDER FIRE, WE FAIL THE LORD

“…Peter warming himself at the fire.” (Verse 67)

a.  Peter capitulates

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” (Verse 68)

b.  Peter’s three failures match his failure to watch and pray in Gethsemane

(Mark 4:16–17, NLT) “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.”

2.  BELIEVE AND SUBMIT TO THE WORD OF GOD TO LIVE STRONG IN FAITH

(Mark 8:31–32, NLT) “Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.”

a.  Peter’s pride

(Mark 14:31, NLT) “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.”

b.  Satan attacks Peter

(Luke 22:31–32, NLT) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

c.  Peter’s prayerlessness

(Mark 14:38, NLT) “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

d.  Peter followed his sinful nature

(Galatians 5:16, NLT) “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

e.  Peter’s speech

(Mark 14:71, NLT) “Peter swore …!”

“Hidden and unknown temptations are the most dangerous…. Signs of such temptations are that we can no longer pray, take refuge in grace and forgiveness, or have anything conclusive in which to believe. The whole Christian terminology is known and even respected; it rolls out of our mouths without a hitch, but it has no grip on our hearts.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer

3.  JESUS TRANSFORMS PETER FROM FAILURE TO FAITHFUL WITNESS

(John 21:19, NLT) “Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

a.  Peter remembered Jesus’ Words

(Mark 14:72, NLT) “And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

b.  Peter, convicted of sin, repents

(Mark 14:72, NLT) “He broke down and wept.”

c.  Peter goes free because Jesus was condemned

(Mark 14:22–24, NLT) “Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”

d.  Jesus is our Advocate

(1 John 1:9, NLT) “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

(Romans 8:33, NLT) “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.”