Part I: Introduction
To discuss the failures of Peter, I must start with the book of Judges. But first, imagine watching a movie that’s almost at the end, not just the end but that part where the hero saves the day by defeating the enemy. Then you say, “That sure looked easy.” A few months later, you find yourself watching that same movie again; however, this time, you start in the middle and get a better insight into how the hero rose from a hopeless situation and then saved the day.
Part II: The Movie
The end of the movie (That sure looked easy part— Judges 7:15-23): After hearing about the dream and its interpretation, Gideon worshiped the Lord. Then he returned to the camp of Israel and said to his army, “The LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” Soon after, the battle began, and the Israelites achieved a victory. Before long, the movie credits rolled across the screen with the setting sun in the background showing the hero strong and mighty.
The middle of the movie (The hero rose from a hopeless situation and then saved the day part— Judges 6:27-7:14): A few weeks later, you turn on the TV, and there is that same movie again; this time, it’s somewhere in the middle. Then you watch the hero, Gideon, take ten of his servants during the night and take down the altar of Baal. He did it at night because he was afraid of the people of his village. In the next scene, the hero begins to doubt himself as he puts a fleece before God, not once but twice. Just when you think the hero is ready to give the order to attack, he still lacks the confidence to lead his army. So, the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.” Once there, Gideon overheard the men in the enemy camp speaking about a dream one of them had. That’s when he knew his enemy was fearful of him. Now, this is the point that you started watching the movie the first time when Gideon ordered his army to attack the enemy with boldness and confidence. But after watching the movie for the second time, you have a better understanding of the hero. He wasn’t a hero until he overcame his struggles. But then, you say, “What a minute. I still haven’t seen this movie from the beginning.”
The beginning of the movie (The Angel of the Lord part—Judges 6:12): A few years later, after many struggles and failures in your own life, you are again watching that same movie, but finally, you are watching it from the beginning. You discover that the Midianites are oppressing Israel, Gideon’s homeland. This time you see the scene where the Lord appears to Gideon and says to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Now keep in mind, “The LORD is with you, and you mighty man of valor,” is that part of the movie that you missed the first two times. It’s a greeting with two distinct parts: The first, The LORD is with you, indicates, in its simplest form, that God was with Gideon from the beginning of the movie. (Acts 27:21-25, Daniel 10:10-12). And the second, you mighty man of valor, is that part of the movie that our hero failed to acknowledge initially. If he believed God fully, Who said he was a mighty man of valor, he would not have feared the men of the city (Judges 6:27), he would not have fleeced God (Judges 6:36-40), nor would there have been any lingering doubt in his heart (Judges 7:9-14).
Part III: The Failures of Peter
First encounter/introduction part: Peter, like Gideon, was very aware that he was in the presence of God/Jesus when he encountered the Lord. Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Jesus said to Peter, despite his shortcomings, “Follow Me.” He left his occupation as a fishermen and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, Mark 1:16-18, Matthew 4:18-20).
There are no regrets part: Jesus didn’t regret choosing Peter as a disciple. He later clarified His decision by saying to His Father while praying, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” Therefore, choosing Peter was no mistake (John 17:6).
Walking on the sea part: It’s hard to categorize this as a failure; however, after Jesus said to Peter, “Come,” he joined Him on the water. But Peter took his eyes off Jesus and sank into the sea, crying out in great fear, “Lord save me!” Then, immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Clearly, this wasn’t a victory for Peter (Matthew 14:25-31).
The rebuke part: Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Peter answered Him, saying, “You are the Christ.” However, Peter couldn’t take that accomplishment and be satisfied; he had to REBUKE Jesus, taking Him aside and correcting Him on discussing His death. Then Jesus rebuked Peter saying, “you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Mark 8:27-33).
One more failure part: This failure is Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly. This time, there was no rebuke from Peter’s Lord and Savior, only a look. Peter FAILED BIG that time while looking into the eyes of Jesus. (Matthew 26:69-75, Luke 22:54-62).
Final part/Peter’s victory: Peter and John were walking to the temple one day when they came across a lame man asking for alms. Peter said to him, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength (Acts 3:1-10). After suffering many failures, Peter learned to trust Jesus Christ, relying on the Holy Spirit rather than himself to accomplish what God had appointed him to do.
Part IV: Conclusion
Gideon didn’t write any books of the Bible as Peter did. Yet, both of these men had a similar turn of events in their own lives: they both had a powerful greeting from God, multiple failures and doubts as to their ability to do the work of God, and finally, they both accomplished, through the Holy Spirit, great and mighty things.
Part V: DiscussionWhat scriptures would you insert into your story if you watched a movie about your life? And could you name a few Bible characters where you could place your name into their passage? For example, in Job 1:8, God said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” How often has God used this passage and inserted your name in place of Job’s? (Acts 9:10-18). So remember, these men were smarter than the average bear, but only when they allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them, especially when they became the man God said they were at their introduction.
The Cabin 