Mark 14:66 - Failure

August 2, 2026

Failure #

Mark 14:54, 66-72

Introduction

I covered this last week, but I felt impressed to re-visit this passage and cover it again. You may be aware of a well known baptist preacher who fell in sin. My friend Sam Robinson said this, “The pulpit has failed the pew, but the pew has also failed the pulpit.” It is a two way street. I’m not going to address a particular situation, but suffice it to say if you are in church for any length of time, you will find that people will fail you. Sometimes you will be very discouraged or hurt by those who fall. It will blindside you, you will never see it coming, and it will hurt. I have always said, the taller a tree grows the more damage is does when it falls. The more influence you have, the greater the disappointment that goes with it. It doesn’t matter if you know of the situation or not, there will be another in the news, and another. It is not new, and as long as Christ tarries his coming, it will not end.

Last week, we discussed the details given in the Bible surrounding Peter’s failure, today I want to think about the circumstances surrounding Peter. There are many messages that have been preached out of this passage.

I. Peter’s Fame #

  • By fame, I mean Prominence. Peter was a prominent disciple.

A. Miracles #

  • Peter is mentioned in conjunction with more miracles than any disciple in the Bible.
  • Luke 5:5-6 – Peter had fished all night, Jesus said, let down thy nets, and they had more fish than they could bring in!
  • Luke 4:38-39 – Peter’s Mother-in-Law healed
  • Matt 14 – Peter walked on water – NONE of the other disciples did that!
  • Mark 9 – Peter was at the Mount of Transfiguration
  • Matt 17 – Peter was instructed to pull the coin out of the fishes mouth
  • Mark 5 – Peter was allowed to be present for the healing of Jairus daughter
  • John 18 – Peter drew his sword, and cut off Malchus’ ear… Jesus healed him!

B. Inner Circle & Order #

  • There were three disciples always mentioned, Peter, James and John… that order!
  • Mount of Transfiguration, healing of Jairus Daughter, Prayer in the garden
  • Mark 3:15-16 – Sent to preach, and cast out demons, Peter is listed first
  • In all the gospel accounts, Peter is always the first in the list. – Prominent!

C. Some of the disciples are hardly mentioned at all! #

  • They are not less important, just less prominent
  • Some preachers are well known, some are less prominent, but all are important

II. Peter’s Failure #

A. Peter’s last moments #

  • I personally think that John was around somewhere… perhaps a little further away
  • Those who enjoy the limelight of fame, sadly, it often shines on them in failure too!

B. Peter Denied Jesus #

  • Mark 14:68 (1), 70-71 (2&3)

III. Peter’s Flesh #

  • As we think about Peter’s failure, we must consider the WHY of Peter’s failure???

A. Boasting (Mark 14:29) #

  • Peter said, If all the other disciples fail, and deny Jesus, he wouldn’t

Proverbs 27:1 — Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

i. The Arrogant flesh of Peter was talking! #

  • Nobody sets out with intentions of failing.
  • Peter’s desire to do right, I would argue took him farther than the rest of the disciples!

Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

ii. Arm of flesh will fail you! #

Jeremiah 17:5 — Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7 — Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

B. Flesh (Gal 5:19-21) #

i. Your flesh is capable of things that you would be ashamed to even speak! #

Romans 7:18 — For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

    • In Paul’s flesh…. Dwelleth no good thing!, Peter’s flesh, your flesh!!!

ii. Key to overcoming your flesh #

Gal 5:16 — This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • You cannot fix your flesh, you cannot overcome your flesh, you NEED God!

  • Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)

  • Crucify the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:24-25)

    • It is necessary to do this over and over and over

  • Don’t desire Prominence (Gal 5:26)

IV. Peter’s Forgiveness (Mark 14:72b) #

A. The Word of God corrects! #

2 Timothy 3:16–17 —16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

i. Peter remembered the Words of Jesus! #

  • You can deny the Word of God all you want

  • Men do it all the time, that won’t be me Preacher!

  • I won’t do that, I won’t fall, it won’t happen to me! –

    • Many a man has wept bitterly, finding the Word of God to be true, and they played the part of a fool!

B. The Weeping #

  • Matthew and Luke both record that he “wept bitterly”
  • Admission of failure is extremely hard for a proud, arrogant man! – Not his intention

i. Regret #

    • Peter immediately regretted his choices!
    • Peter chose to sin, every person choses to give in to the flesh

ii. Repentance #

    • This was not a manufactured tear for a show, and asking forgiveness, this was genuine sorrow for having failed God!

iii. Restoration (Psalm 51:1-12*) #

  • You can be forgiven, but not all positions can be restored.

    • David was forgiven for his sin with Bathsheba, but it plagued him for the rest of his life…. Some things simply couldn’t be restored.
    • Judas, could have been forgiven, but never would have been the same!

V. Peter’s Future #

  • Jesus literally told Peter, “Feed my sheep” – Went on to pastor, write 2 books of the Bible, and serve the Lord. There is life after failure!
Tags: Mark Preaching Outlines Failure Sin Forgiveness Impact Influence