Following After Failure

Last updated on: May 30, 2018 at 2:07 pm by Jim Erwin

Following After Failure 2018-05-30T14:07:51-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Following After Failure

This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
(John 21:19 NKJV)

The last words to Peter were of forgiveness. Peter had betrayed Jesus Christ and it hurt Jesus. Jesus had poured His heart into Peter, expecting Peter to gently follow Him. But when the time as tough, Peter failed.

Do I feel worthy to follow Jesus after I know that I have failed Him? No, but that doesn’t matter.
Do I feel like I am able to follow Jesus? No, but that doesn’t matter. Why?

Because Jesus knows that it does not take willpower, but love. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Three times Jesus was betrayed, so He asked Peter three times – to restore the relationship.

Some people concentrate on the words that were used in this exchange. There were two different words used for love. What kind of love did Peter really have for Jesus? The point is not what kind of love Peter had for Jesus, but what kind of love Jesus expected from Peter.

Jesus expected Peter to learn and grow. Jesus expects all to learn and grow after failure. This is an important test of our love for Him. We all make mistakes. We all sin and fail God.

The last words to Peter were: “Follow Me”. The resurrection teaches us that Jesus gives us the power to learn from our failure and to continue to follow Him.

Other Posts:

3 Lessons I Can Learn From Failure

2 Samuel 12:1-23 Learning from Failure

Previous Post

February 14, 2007

Google Christianity

Next Post

February 22, 2007 Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7 Connection

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the largest Christian denomination in the world?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Orthodox Catholic Lutheran Protestant