Mark 14:66-72 failure
Notes
Transcript
Good morning friends. My name is Steven Dunne and I am the student pastor here at rivertree. It is such a joy to be with you. Whether you are at the cove campus, at south or even watching at home I am so grateful to just be with you this morning.
If you have your Bibles go ahead and open up to 6 as we continue our series in the gospel of Mark.
Let’s Read
English Standard Version Chapter 14
66 wAnd as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter xwarming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway8 and ythe rooster crowed.9 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed za second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, a“Before the rooster crows twice, you will bdeny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.10
As we dive into the text together this morning we are going to see a picture of betrayl, brokeness, unreaveling and ultimently a person who comes to the comeplete end.
Here it is. One of those places in scritpure people are familiar with. One of those places in the Bible that as long as the church has been around people have preached, taught, wrote books about this passages.
There has been and continues to be a fasancating with Peters Denial of Jesus.
Most likely it’s because we can all see ourselves in peters place.
Doing the oppisote of what we said we would do. Feeling like with let down God and let down others.
Maybe it’s even more relateable then that. Maybe we look at peters friendship with Jesus and we relate to peter becasue we have failed our friends before.
We’ve had deep meangiful relationsips that didn’t turn out the way we wanted them to.
Maybe we can even relate to Jesus. It’s one of Jesus worst moments. All his friends have abandoned him except for peter. And when Jesus needed peter the most he was betrayed by even him.
and i would suggest to you that’s why this passage of scritpure is so meaningful.
becasue it’s a story we have found overselves in also.
The whole account of Peter’s fall leaves the reader helpless, powerless to intervene, as the story develops, stage by stage, until Peter has passed the point of no return
When this passage is set in context of the enitrety of scritpure its a story that gives us great hope. Becasue as much as this story is about Peter
The hero of the story is in the next room willfuling laying down his life.
yes Peter had courage. I think it’s easy to read these words and look at his failure and think this guy is a coward. But I think when we examine the gospels we see a man who is the most daring of all the disciples.
Yet as courages as he is when he looked away from Jesus he was no longer a man of courage. Whether it was when he walked on water and took his eyes off Christ he began to sink
Or when he was in the courtyard outside of the high priest house
or even after the resurecction when he was opposed by paul for adding things to the gospel
suddenly the rock who peter was cracked.
no longer was it enough for Peter to cling to christ because in all hi effort, in all his trying, in all his courage his ability to Cling to christ was enough.
He needed something more. He needed the reminder that Christ would cling to him no matter what circumstances would come his way.
and it’s a great reminder for us this morning! Because we can come to this text and think okay so the point is if peter hadn’t taken his eyes off of Christ, if he had just kept clinigng he wouldn’t have failed.
So the application for us is just stay close to Jesus, keep looking at Jesus and we won’t fail.
but that’s not enough. Jesus had already told Peter he was going to fail
Let’s look at it this morning with fresh eyes and fresh heaerts.
It’s ultemently the testomonay of Jesus about himself that casues the high preist to give him the guilty verdict.
and then we see verse 65
in some ways it feels a little hopeless.
English Standard Version Chapter 14
65 sAnd some began tto spit on him and uto cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him vwith blows.
and those expierences are what it means to be human and be in relationships with other humans.
We know peter is close. We know
and as we look at the complete undoing of peter I think we will be able to relate to him.
Peter’s determination to be loyal to Jesus (vv. 29, 31) has brought him much further than the other disciples
I know what it’s like to feel broken, I know what it’s like to feel undone and I know what it feels like to feel like I have failed my closets friends.
He had made this promise to Jesus back in v 29
and mabye it’s something we all have in common this morning.
English Standard Version Chapter 14
29 oPeter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.
English Standard Version Chapter 14
31 But rhe said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same
Yet as he makes His rpomise to Jesus. Jesus tells him he wouldn’t be able to keep it.
English Standard Version Chapter 14
30 And pJesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before qthe rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
How dishearting would this be? Like I tried to put myself in peters postion.
I was thinking if Ross kicked off staff meeting this week saying you are all going to betray me(I’d think that was strange)
but I would be like peter. I would be like bro....I know some of these other guys might but there’s no way I would do that.
and then if Ross was like Steven I tell you the truth before the rooster crows 2 times you will deny me twice.
I’d tell him I don’t even know what a rooster sounds like.
which is ridcoclus but I’d just be like no way
so I get it when peter says
English Standard Version Chapter 14
31 But rhe said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
He is doubling down. I get it. It’s what I’d do. Yet moments later they move into the garden....and Jesus’ call to peter is to stay awake and pray. Even this is too great of a task.
It’s at this moment we beginning to see the unravling of Peter.
as he approachs the courtyard of the high priest we realize
He has come so much futher into danger then anyone else.
mark turns us from Jesus being beat up
to peter who is warming himself by the fire in the courtyard.
Imagine this with me for a moment. You’ve followed Jesus this far. You have scene him arrested, you’ve promised to never forsake him and his so close but you can’t do anythnig to save him.
Just in the other room Jesus is being beat. Mocked and spit on.
this is unsettling. Peter is stuck and unsure what to do.
Here the first confrentaiton comes. A servant girl of the high preist sees him, looks at him and realizes he was someone who was with Jesus(Acts these men have been with Jesus)
Even with the thousands of people who would have been in jerusalm for the passover the servant still realizes someone form the region of Nazareth.
Peter has been outed. and he doesn’t like it.
I get this to some degree. There are moments when I try to keep what I do as a job from people when I first meet them. It’s not that I am ashemed of what I do but I know it changes the relationship.
Sometimes I just want people to know me as Steven....the guy with a beard before they learn I am a pastor.
It’s because wierd things happen when they learn I am a pasotr.
One time I was in an elevator in Delware with my dad and we people got in....and my dad looks at them and says my son is a pastor.
I was thinking great here we go
and the people just start confessing their sins to me. It was really strange.
Like I was not sure what to do with that. Like elevators aren’t ackward enough right?
and then other times people start apoligizne for cussing.....not cussing in front of me....just in general.
it can change the relationship before I know it and it can rob me of an oppurtunity to let them know I am also a real person.
and as much as I dont’ like being outed right away as a pastor. I usally don’t have as much on the line as peter did the night we are studying this morning.
and in concern for his own saftey and comfort. Becasue of anxiety in the moment. He literally does the one thing he promises he wouldn’t do.
He denies knowing Jesus.
imagine hearning or reading this story for the first time as a new beliver. I am rooting for peter. I want him to succed. he just cut a guys ear off in the garden surely he will be bold again and rescue Jesus.
but it’s in this moment we begin to see peters greatest failure. And it takes place while his best friend is utterly helpless.
and this seems dishearting.
. Peter is seeking his own saftey and approval from the people in the courtyard that night. He doesn’t want to be arrested or killed.
so in an effort to stay safe he does the very thing he swore he woulnd’t do.
and in some ways I relate to him. I’ll be honest. I don’t want to go to jail.
I’ve watched prison break and jail docutmetriaes. I wouldn’t last 2 seconds even with my awesome beard.
So I understand what’s happening with peter.
His denial is interesting also. He says I am not even sure what you are suggestioning. He is trying to play it cool. and he continues to move away.
Just a little further but close enough to where he can still see what is happening to Jesus. but in his mind at a safer distance.
and as he moves into the courtyard we are told the rooster crowed.
and once again as the reader of this passage I become hopeful. It’s a waring sign. It’s what Jesus said was going to happen.
I want peter in this moment to realize what’s going on and to understand this is what Jesus was talking about.
Something interesting is a rooster normally crows 3 times in Jerusalme.
The first time is about half an hour after midnight and it last for 3-5 mins.
So it’s not like the rooster just crowed real quick and then stops
It’s almost like your alarm going off on your iphone yet just ingnore it without even hitting the awesome snooze button on it.
Illustrate it this way
Last Monday. I was having some eye problems. Alarm went off. I told elziabth I was getting up in 5 mins. Put my headphone in. Put on my favorite song and got ready to get up for the day.
The next thing I know Elizabeth taps me on the shoulder. Standing over me and she says......that 5 mins was an hour ago.
Super socking and suprising. Apparently I was just sleeping with my headphone in my ear. Song going loud and alarm going off. Yet I was sleeping right through it.
to say the least it become a pretty rushed morning.
and I think the reality is in this passage peter is sleeping right through his alarm. Right through his waring.
I wonder how many times this is true for us. How many times does God try to send an alarm, a waring our way and we just sleep right through it?
maybe it’s becasue of fear, maybe it’s becasue we are comfrtable, maybe it’s for our own safety and self preservation.
my hope and prayer today is if the Lord is trying to grab our attention we will awaken to how he is working.
after the rooster has crowed the girl keeps pursuing peter. But this time she gets more of the group with her and she says this man is one of them.
The bystanders were most likely the group of people who arrested Jesus. She is trying to confimr with them they saw him. But as quick as she could accuse him he denies what she is saying.
but as the bystanders think about it more they realize he is a Galilean
and it’s in this moment peter flips out. It’s like that moment on a reality tv show where everyting seems to be going normal for someone and then they are confroted with a lie and instead of admitteing others are right and confessing the truth
they absoultly lose it. they go off on the produceers, the other contestance and themselves.
he begins to invoke a curse on himself and them.
he begins to swear
he is completly UNDONE in this moment.
and as he gets louder, as he swears more, as he is coming unglued
he more he does this without even realizing he is saying to all those standing around “ I am a liar”
They know it and he knows it. He has failed. He can’t cover up the fact he knows Jesus
and make no mistake he has failed. Sometimes when think of this story we can make excuses for peter.
We can see our own weakness in him but what we can’t miss is the seruousness of his sin.
because when we miss the serious of his sin we miss the depth of his repentance and the grace of his restoration.
To cheaping this moment, to cheaping peters denail is to cheaping the grace that’s going to be offered to him
it's the moment I relate to peter the most. Maybe it's something we have in common with him. We've made big promises....never to FILL IN THE BLANK....and then we've blown it.
but the good news is Jesus doesn't leave peter in the midst of his denail
In his infinite and tender mercy the Lord, who in his sovereign providence controls all things, including even roosters, comes to the rescue
and it’s at the second crowing of the rooster peter realizes his failure and we are told “
And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, a“Before the rooster crows twice, you will bdeny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.10
He had come to an end of himself. The rocked had finally cracked.
b [, ]
and as he begins to crack he breaks completly.
10 Or And when he had thought about it, he wept
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
friends make no mistake the rooster crowing wasn’t I told you so moment. It wasn’t jesus rubbing it in peters face.
No it was a great reminder Jesus already knew this and still loved peter.
In Luke when Jesus is predcting Peters denial remember what he said
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
English Standard Version Chapter 22
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, bSatan demanded to have you,4 cthat he might sift you like wheat, 32 but dI have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, estrengthen your brothers.
He says this is going to happen. You are going to disown me. But I am praying for you that your faith may not fail.
in other words you will fail. But I am praying that your faith in me will stay strong.
and it may seem like peters faith may be failing as he denies Jesus but I would offer you this. Just because he failed doesn’t mean his faith is a failure.
because his faith in himself and his ability to keep his promises may be lost
but I think it’s as his faith in himself fails. His faith in Jesus the rock that doesn’t crack. The firm foundation. The cornerstone his faith is being strengthed.
Luke gives us another detail mark has left out
Luke 22:60
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
imagine that. your biggest failure, your biggest denial of Jesus and when it happens he turns and looks at you.
oh man. The shame and guilt that could prodcue is profound.
but I want to suggest to you Jesus doesn’t look at peter to provide guilt and shame
no he looks at him to provide hope.
As peter has taken his eyes off Jesus and failed
Jesus has put his eyes directly on Peter to remind him I see you.
Battered and bruised Jesus.....blood runing down his face looks at peter to remind him of his love for him
It’s almost like when Jesus is looking at peter he looks past what’s on the outside, and looks at his heart and loves him.
He loves him in the midst of his failure. Because Jesus sees who peter is becoming. He understands that this failure won’t define peters future.
This brokenss will allow Jesus to take the cracked Rock and mold him into his masterpiece as epehsians 2 says.
He looks at peter through the eyes of love
David Benner in his book called “the gift of being youself” says this in chapter 3
“God cannot help seeing you through eyes of love.
and friends
This is why Jesus went to the cross. Becasue he knew how deciful the human heart is without him.
he knew that we needed help and we need rescue.
That no matter how big our pledges to him and how great we claimed our alliegence to him being that we couldn’t keep our promises without his help.
So what do you do when you fail? What to you do with the pain it brings? How do you deal with hurt it brings in your life and the lives of others?
I was talking to Ross about this idea and he shared these thoughts with me.
Let it take you deeper. Experience real thirst. Ache. Hurt openly in the presence of God. Hurt openly in the presence of safe community. Allow the brokenness to reveal something more. Brokenness is the longing to be something you are not and cannot be without divine help. Our soul is exposed and what is most true surfaces- that we need an encounter with God first and foremost and if He will come, not because He owes us or because we deserve it, but if God will breath into us - it will make us more grateful worshippers.
Bankrupt business men can discover a desire for God. Men whose wives have left them. Widows, cancer patients, parents whose children of breaking their hearts, children whose parents couldn’t make the marriage work.
When Peter, someone publicly denied relationship with Jesus, would seek God first, then Peter would later be able to represent Him in the world more authentic and heart felt. Peter would know what friendship was with Jesus, to later reject him, renounce him, hurt Jesus, and also know the embrace and homecoming God prepares for those of us who know shame and regret, and to later be useful for others in the service.
See pater isn’t left weeping outside the courtyard of the high priest
no after this moment we are told that he goes back to the others and prayers. Then once Jesus is reasied form the dead He is one of the first to hear the good news.
and he is restored and sent out with purpose
It’s the picture John gives us in his gospel.
English Standard Version Chapter 21
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples idid not know that it was Jesus. 5 jJesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 kHe said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple lwhom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, mhe put on his outer garment, for he was nstripped for work, and othrew himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards1 off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, p“Come and qhave breakfast
English Standard Version Chapter 21
15 When they had ufinished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, v“Simon, wson of John, xdo you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed ymy lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, z“Tend ymy sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him athe third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, byou know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed cmy sheep. 18 dTruly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, eyou used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show fby what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, g“Follow me.”
Don’t you love that. Jesus invites him to have a meal with him. Even though peter had failed, in the exact way Jesus predicted Jesus invites him to the table.
And it’s at around a charcoal fire Jesus restores peter.
What a meal that must have been. It would be a moment peter wold never forget.
When we get to the book of Acts we see restored peter being the first to proclaim Jesus and preach the gospel.
No longert is he afraid.....no longer is he failing. No he is sharing the good news of the gospel with anyone who will listen.
And the very thing he was afraid of outside the hgih preist house would happen.
He would be arrested....
and as he was arrested Luke tells us in acts
4:13 what happens
English Standard Version Chapter 4
13 eNow when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
It was the same claim the servant girl made on the night of Jesus arerest
but this time peter wouldn’t back down.
They told them to no longer speak in the name of Jesus.
English Standard Version Chapter 4
20 for lwe cannot but speak of what mwe have seen and heard.”
This time it was undenible. The difference the crucified and risen Jesus in their life was worth staking thier very life on.
The grace and mercy they had recived was so transformational they had to share it with everyone.
What a story! What an amazing story of the power, grace and mercy of God.
This is what God loves to do even today.
He loves to take our brokness and shape us into someone who could be used for his glory.
It’s what hudson taylor the great missionary to india knew
“God chose me because I was weak enough. He trains somebody to be quiet enough, and little enough, and then uses him.
This morning if you have failed, come to
an End of yourself.........unreavled and undone…coming to the point where you are cracking.
an End of yourself.........unreavled and undone...
You are in good company. You are in a place where God can mold and make you into the person he longs for you to become.
It is the picture God gave Jeremiah
Potters house - This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
God is shaping us, turning, folding, smoothing, so that we would discover what we most want and what would truly satisfy us.
and as you expierence heis tender mercy in shaping your life through he love you will be someone God uses.
He loves to use broken people.
Larry Crab's Shattered Dreams.- “Some of your fondest dreams will shatter, and you will be tempted to lose hope. I will seem to you callous or, worse, weak- unresponsive to your pain. You will wonder if I cannot do anything or simply will not.
As you struggle with dashed hopes, you will fail, just as My servant Peter did. You will feel discouraged with yourself to the point of self-hatred. And I will seem to withdraw from you and do nothing.
When all of this comes to pass, My word to you is this: Do no lose hope. A plan is unfolding that you cannot clearly see. If you could see it as I do, You would still hurt, but you would not lose hope. You would gladly remain faithful to me in the middle of the worst suffering. I guarantee you the power to know me and knowing me will bring you great joy.
In the deepest part of your soul, you long more than anything else to be a part of My plan, to further My kingdom, to know Me and please Me and enjoy Me. I will satisfy that longing. You have the power to represent Me well no matter what happens in your life. That is the hope I give you in this world. Don’t lose it.”
but I know this today also.....maybe it’s not you who failed in this moment. but you feel like someone has failed you, someone has betrayed you, someone has disowned you and you don’t know what to do.
Go to Jesus. He knows what you are walking through and it’s why he went to the cross. Offer you hope that he can heal and restore all things in our lives.
he knows what it’s like to be disowned, he knows what its like to have friends fail you, he knows what it’s like to be along and abadon
and he sees you. And as he sees you he longs to remind you just how much he loves you and Just how faithful he is to you.
Let’s pray
Cling to christ
Christ clings to us