Failed but not Finished
During the broadcast of Super Bowl LIX, Tom Brady commented on the disappointment of losing the championship game. The iconic NFL quarterback, whose teams won an astounding seven Super Bowls, remarked on the pain of losing the season’s ultimate game, “I think about, unfortunately, the three losses probably more than I think about the seven wins. It hurts to lose this game."[1] Brady reflects on a truth of life: Losing hurts. But … consider this: do you think Brady worked harder after winning the big game or losing the big game? Brady does not say, but I expect losing provide an extra jolt to his off-season training. Disappointment, anger, and hurt can combust into an intensity that cannot materialize in the exuberance of cheers, parades, and trophies. In an ironic truth of life, failure avails even greater achievement – a triumph only attained via a loss-fueled ferocity.
Jesus’ closest disciple, Peter, experienced a significant loss. Following the Last Supper, Jesus gathered with his disciples for prayer and lamented to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me” (Matthew 26.31). Not knowing the immanence of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, Peter boasted, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Mt. 26.33-34). Despite the prophetic utterance, the forthcoming disowner boldly pronounced, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mt. 26.35). While Peter surely believed his bold declaration, the subsequent actions revealed the truth of Proverbs 16.18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Following Jesus’ arrest, they brought him before the high priest and other religious leaders. While the kangaroo court entertained false evidence to accuse Jesus, Peter lurked safely in the nearby courtyard. Then, a servant girl approached Peter, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about” (Mt. 27.69-70). That’s one denial. Another servant girl queried him again. This time, Peter denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” (Mt. 27.72). That’s a second denial. Later, the crowd noted his accent and rightly assume Peter’s connection to Jesus. Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” (Mt. 27.74). That’s a third denial, this time punctuated by swears. Upon Peter’s final disavowal, the rooster crowed – just as Jesus predicted. The bold disciple who confidently heralded his unwavering commitment to Jesus, even to the point of death, was undone by two servant girls and a feeble crowd.
On this night, Peter failed. Once the sun rose, he faced a choice: how would he respond? Would he become tethered to this failure, or would he allow this failure to become a teaching point? Peter chose the latter. Sure, he failed spectacularly, but with Jesus’s restorative help (See John 21.15-19), Peter channeled his furor, disappointment, and humiliation to moved forward and become a great church leader. As we see in the Book of Acts, a bold yet humbled leader spoke courageously before the religious leaders (see Acts 4.1-21) and curious crowds (see Acts 3.11-26). A faith-filled but humbled leader performed a Jesus-Esque miracle – healing a man born lame (Acts 3.10-11). While failure chastened Peter, it did not define him. Rather, he embraced that dose of humility to become better disciple of Jesus – not perfect, just better. Later (and to no surprise), we find Peter once again needing another measure of humility (See Galatians 2.11-21).
For us, how do we respond to our spiritual failures? Some people choose self-loathing and tether themselves to their failure. They let failure define them: “I refuse to forgive;” “I can’t change;” “I’m just an addict/liar/adulterer/sluggard/manipulator.” Failure becomes their identity. They forget an important truth: as followers of Jesus Christ, our identity emerges from our relationship to God. This relationship provides our defining characteristic. And when we fail (and we will fail), let’s us channel that frustration, disappointment, and humiliation toward developing an even greater foundation in God.
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/tom-brady-patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-lix-loss/
