Let’s take a walk to the mess of personal failure. Disappointment in ourselves. Let’s bravely and resolutely walk to the sin that we have committed and let’s deal with it. On the last night before the crucifixion Jesus gathered all of his disciples together for what we call the Last Supper. Jesus reveals that all the disciples will fall away. This is the moment that Peter declares; Mark 14:29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. Luke 22:54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. This is an epic failure. He is a betrayer. He is a weakling. He is a traitor. This is certainly me and you at times. What kind of Jesus will you find in the mess of your personal failure? The Bible has an answer… Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 5:2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward… The Jesus who is awaiting you is… - A restorer - a sympathizer - one who has been tempted in the same way - gracious - rich in mercy - ready to help - gentle - inviting - and a way maker. Romans 5:20 But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He meets abundant sin with overwhelming grace. Let’s get back to Peter. What happens when Peter finally has to face Jesus? If you know the story, after Peter’s denial Jesus is hung on a cross and dies. But three days later he is alive again! And on that day Jesus appears to the disciples. Eight days later he appears again. But Peter is still living under the condemnation of what he had done. John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” By the way, have you ever thought about what God does with your sin? Here’s a few things that you can find in the Bible about that… 1. He tramples them underfoot. Micah 7:19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 2. He throws them into the sea. Micah 7:19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 3. He blots them out. Isaiah 43:25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. 4. He forgets your sin. Hebrews 8:12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 5. He removes your sin. Psalm 103:12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 6. He takes away your sin. John 1:29 “behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 7. He cancels the debt of your sin. Colossians 2:14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 8. He washes your sin. Isaiah 1:18 9. He forgives your sin. 1 John 1:9