We hate the word “failure.” No word is more biting. We want to achieve our goals; we want to succeed in our ventures; we want to finish the tasks and get ahead. But the truth is, we do fail. In fact, if you think about it, we have failed throughout our entire lives. The first time you tried to walk, you probably fell down. The first time a ball was tossed, more than likely, you dropped it. In his epistle, James says, “We all stumble in many things” (James 3:2). Failure is a normal part of life, yet we still dread it. For Christians spiritual failure brings the most grief: a failure to make a stand for the Lord. Peter knew all about that. Though he had pledged to stay true to Jesus ‘til the bitter end, he failed. Jesus predicted he would! He said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (Matt 26: 34). Sure enough, after Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied his Lord just as predicted. As soon as the rooster made its early morning cackle, the realization of what Peter had done swept over him. He fled the courtyard, went out to a lonely place, and wept bitterly. When his Lord needed him the most, Peter had failed. Have you ever felt this way? Have you felt that you’ve denied the Lord before men? Maybe you feel that you’ve sinned in such a way that you’re now of no use to God. It’s easy in these moments of guilt and anguish to give up. But Jesus has a better way. It’s called restoration. Peter’s restoration began when the angel at Christ’s empty tomb appeared to the two women following the resurrection. The angel said, “Go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee” (Mark 16:7). Jesus wanted to make sure that of all his disciples knew He had risen. Peter was still included, despite his failure. Then Jesus arranged a special interview with Peter—a time to restore him. Since Peter failed in the ministry he returned to his former career of fishing. Jesus came one morning and called out to the fishermen from the shore. Peter wasted no time, “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he…and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat” (John 21:7-8). Peter probably swam the fastest 100 meter in history to get to shore. The One he loved, the One he had denied, the One he thought he’d never see again was alive! When Peter arrived with the others they discovered that Jesus had prepared breakfast. Peter was sitting next to a fire that Jesus had built and looking into His face. For Jesus to invite Peter to share a meal with Him, even after he’d denied Him, revealed that there was still hope (See Revelation 3: 20). Then Jesus publicly interviewed Peter. Why in public? Because when Peter denied Christ, it was in public before Jesus’ enemies. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said a person’s repentance must be as notorious as his sin. If you have sinned privately, confess it privately. If you sin publicly, confess and be restored publicly. Jesus asked Peter the same question three times, “Do you love me?” (see John 21:15-17). Peter had denied Jesus three times and now Jesus gave Peter the chance to reaffirm his love three times. His affirmation would correspond to his denial. Jesus distilled the essence of His relationship with Peter down to one simple question, “Do you love me?” He didn’t ask, “Do you know Me?” even though Peter denied the Lord by saying “I don’t know him!” In His mercy, Jesus simply asked, “Do you love me?” Then with utmost graciousness Jesus showed Peter that his ministry wasn’t over. He was prepared to use Peter again. Jesus replied to each of Peter’s affirmations of love with commands, “Feed My lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” Feed my sheep.” That’s mercy! That’s grace! In essence, Jesus was saying, “Peter, I love you so much, I want to restore you fully, so I’m willing to trust you with what is dearest to my heart, my flock.” If, like Peter, you’ve failed the Lord in some way, it doesn’t have to be a dead-end, it can be a new beginning. Allow your failure to be your instructor rather than your undertaker. Let Jesus restore you to full fellowship and then serve Him again. He has a job for you, “Feed my lambs.”
