7 Failures of Peter

~ Peter’s 7 Downward Steps to a Fall ~

Many Christians identify with Peter and his failings. Consider some of the Peter’s failings in order that we might learn from them.

Doubting  ~  We see Peter doubting His Lord on at least two different occasions. [1] “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:28-30).  [2] “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying,  ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’” (Matthew 16:22-23). 

Boasting  ~  “Peter said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ But he spoke more vehemently, ‘If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’” (Mark 14:29-31a). The Scripture warns all of us about pride and boasting: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).  

Sleeping (at the wrong time)  ~  “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?’” (Mark 14:37).  Again Scripture warns all of us about sleeping when we should be obeying Christ: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).

Striking  (inappropriately)  ~  “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’” (John 18:10-11). 

Following (at a distance)  ~  “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance” (Luke 22:54).   

Associating (with the wrong crowd)  ~  “Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, ‘This man was also with Him’” (Luke 22:55-56).

Denying  ~  “But he denied Him, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him.’ And after a little while another saw him and said, ‘You also are of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, ‘Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are saying!’” (Luke 22:57-60a).

Consider the results of Peter’s downward spiral ~  “Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 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” (Luke 22:60b-62).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW