Fantastic Failure
When was the last time you failed at something? I mean a colossal, fall flat on your face, smack your forehead with the palm of your hand failure. Lucky for me, I recently experienced such a failure.
As a communicator my mind and mouth are my most powerful tools. They are also what trips me up the most often. In those moments when my filter is overworked or simply overridden, my words become harsh and cutting. My point is made, but it is made at the expense of the feelings of others.
No doubt, the apostle Peter also experienced this kind of failure. He was slow to listen and quick to speak, the opposite of what James 1:19 admonishes.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
Peter, like so many of us, was of the habit of speaking first and thinking second. He was reprimanded by Jesus after one such outburst. This heated exchange between Jesus and Peter is recorded this way in Mark’s gospel:
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Mark 8:31-33 (NIV)
Peter had just come off the high experience of receiving the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Peter was the only one that had the correct answer in that moment and he must have felt pretty good about himself (Mark 8:29). When Jesus then began to tell the disciples about His mission of salvation, of fulfilling prophecies, and what that was going to look like, Peter took it upon himself to pull Jesus aside to correct and rebuke Him. Did you get that? Peter was rebuking Jesus. That was a bold move to be sure. And to be sure it backfired on Peter.
Peter tried to rebuke Jesus in a private conversation, but instead Peter was rebuked in front of all the disciples. Jesus’ correction to Peter was stern, direct, and we know it was justified. I can imagine all too well the pit that formed in Peter’s stomach, the embarrassment he felt, and the sorrow that came from disappointing Jesus.
Thankfully for Peter, and for me, his outburst did not disqualify him. Jesus did not put him out of the group, or even out of His intimate circle. In fact, just a few days later Peter was invited to accompany Jesus up a high mountain where he saw Jesus transfigured and heard the audible voice of Almighty God (Mark 9:2-7).
It was Peter’s same pit in the stomach, embarrassment, and sorrow that I experienced last week. My mouth went where it should not have and I needed correction. Correction from the Lord Jesus, however, does not come with condemnation and rejection; but instead it comes with love, truth, and an opportunity for repentance and restoration. When I bowed my head, humbled my heart, acknowledged my mistake, and asked for forgiveness, Jesus was ready with enough mercy and grace to cover me, and enough power and love to restore me.
My experience of repentance and restoration is why I am thankful for the failure. How grateful I am that He is not stingy with His mercy, and that He is abounding in love for me! He does not have to budget His mercy, it is not going to run out or ever not be enough for my failures. God is rich with it! He has plenty for me, and for you too. On our best days, and on our worst too, He has saving grace that is enough for us all.
…Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
Eph. 2:3b-5 (NIV)
