Church of the Nazarene East Rock
Over The Walls: Failure
There is no wall that can separate us from God when we seek Him, not even the wall of failure. Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at the life and ministry of Jesus to see more clearly His heart and His call for us to go beyond the 4 walls of our church to bring hope to our communities. Through Best Week Ever and Vacation bible school, we have done that! We have taken the tangible hope of Christ into our community, planting seeds in God’s Kingdom. We have been over the walls together. Through the life of Christ, we see that there is no wall that can separate a seeking heart from the healing, redeeming love of God. Not even the wall of failure. As we conclude our series today, we will see the heart of Jesus for those who have failed, even those who have failed big.Luke 22:54-62Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. We begin to understand the wall of failure is complex, it’s multifaceted, and it has affected us all in different ways. What if today, Jesus is calling us to follow him over the wall of failure? If you are one that has failed, the call is to embrace his hand as he is reaching out to you, to go over that wall to restoration and redemption with Christ. Follow me Jesus says.Luke 22:61-62The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. I don’t know about you, but I can FEEL this text. We grieve with Peter because we have been there, we know what bitter tears are like. Like graffiti on a train car, your wall of failure might have many things painted on it. The question of the morning is: Is there a failure that haunts you? If not, that’s wonderful. But if you are staring at that wall of failure…you’re in the right place. The good news today friends is that because of God’s great grace, Peter’s story doesn’t end here at the wall of failure, and yours doesn’t have too either.Mark 16:5-7As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Over the wall of failure, came a voice, a voice calling Peters name. In the middle of the despair, playing over and over that moment in his mind, kicking himself, resolving that it was over, he was done. In that place- a voice calls out. Not with condemnation, but invitation. Peter had a choice in those moments. He could stay behind the wall of failure forever or he could take hold of the hand of grace that Jesus was extending over the wall. In that place of brokenness, shame, and guilt, Peter took the hand of Jesus, and went over the wall of failure to restoration and redemption. That choice to embrace grace, changed the trajectory of his life forever.John 21:15-17When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. The failure that could have been the end for Peter. That could have been the last chapter. But Jesus wasn’t intimated by Peter’s wall of failure. And He’s not intimidated by yours. Just as our Lord reached out His hand to rescue Peter…He’s doing the same, right now, to you. No wall. Just grace and mercy. Will you follow Jesus over the wall of failure? Will you embrace him? Jesus doesn’t stop at the wall of failure, so why should you?