Failure-1640s, failer, “a failing, deficiency,” also “act of failing,” from Anglo-French failer, Old French falir “be lacking; not succeed” (see fail (v.)). The verb in Anglo-French used as a noun; ending altered 17c. in English to conform with words in -ure. Meaning “thing or person considered as a failure” is from 1837.

Introduction: Last week in my Sunday school class with the saints, a friend from class said something that struck me and the rest of the class because of its insight. His remarks came on the heels of my teaching from Matthew 26:30-46. This is the passage in Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus told His disciples that they would all bail at the moment of greatest testing. Here’s the text:

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Mt 26:30-46, ESV)

The remark was something along these lines. This is not a direct quote, mind you, but this was the gist of his insight: “This is one more piece of evidence for the divine origin of Scripture. The Bible is filled with examples like this of people in their failures. Peter swore he would not fall away, and he did. Three times in one night, even. It’s the same with others. David, great as he was, sinned grievously. Solomon, wise as he was at times, blew it. Moses, gentle and patient as he was at times, was also a murderer and had a serious anger problem.” You get the idea, I hope.

Jesus’ disciples all said they’d be faithful. And yet, that very night, Judas would betray Him into the hands of the Sanhedrin and other wicked men. Peter would deny Him three times and the prophesied rooster did indeed crow. And Peter wept. Bitterly. Peter was learning about Peter, and it broke his heart.

Encouragement/takeaway: Were the Bible a made-up book of tales, a concoction of moralism and/or fables, men would be portrayed as heroic. Instead, we get the truth. We men are much more often failures. We’re a lot more like Moses and David and Judas and Peter on their bad days than we are like Christ on any of His days.

We need to be careful about adopting a position of being anointed or special or above others; we’re the sinners. Christ came for those of us who are broken over what we are. We need redemption, and Christ is the Redeemer and Hero.

Let us be appreciative of the failures given to us in the pages of sacred Scripture. We’re much more like them than we might care to admit.

(Credit goes to D.D. in class for inspiring this piece. Thank you, brother.)