There is something about forgiveness when we fail that enables us to feel the love of Jesus in a new way. Failing can be humbling. We may think that we would never fall into that trap by the enemy, and then, in weakness, we do.
On Thursday evening, the day before Jesus was crucified, Peter boldly proclaimed he would never fall away. Matthew 26:34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. [1] Sometimes, we miss that the other disciples vowed the same thing. Just as Jesus said, they would all fall away.
Jesus’ Words Come True
The Temple Guard captured Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and took Him to the High Priest’s home for questioning. As Peter sat in the courtyard of the High Priest’s house, he denied Jesus three times.
Luke 22:61 At that moment, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. [2]
Peter had spoken boldly just a few hours before, and now he had betrayed Jesus, whom he loved. As Peter walked away from Jesus, his failure must have seemed as large as a billboard.
Jesus Reaches Out to Forgive
When Jesus died on the cross, He was well aware of our sins and failures. Psalm 40:1-3 gives us insight into what God is like. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [3]
When Jesus stepped down from heaven, He came down to our muck, mire, sin, and failures. Something about failure heightens our awareness of our need for a Savior. The disciples had failed, but now what?
Matthew 28: 9 And as women went from the tomb went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” [4]
The word “brothers” must have lifted the disciple’s spirits. Jesus had forgiven them and wanted to see them. Like the disciples, we fail; the Lord forgives us and lifts us up when we repent and turn from our sins. Praise the Lord!
To learn more about forgiveness when we fail, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-resurrection
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.