“Successful Failure” - Luke 23:13-25

• “After examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.” (v.14b-15)

1. God begins new things through our failures.  

a. Restoring identity through rejection. 

• Jesus vs. Barabbas

• “But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’” (v.21)

b. Putting a new cloth of mission through nakedness. 

• “And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’” (v.34b-35)

• Charles Colson

c. Winning the heart of people through weakness.

• “And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head” (John 19:2a)

• “They came up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and struck him with their hands.” (John 19:3)

• “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b)

2. God’s persistent love restores until the end.

• “But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.” (v.23-24)