Simon Peter loved Jesus with all his heart. Yet he failed Him many times both in public and privately. 

About a year before Jesus' crucifixion, He began teaching his disciples about the cross. Peter objected vehemently and told Jesus this would never happen. Jesus had to rebuke Peter strongly and called him Satan.

After that, Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain and was transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about His death and resurrection. Peter misunderstood and, in his fear of the vision, started rambling on when God the Father spoke to him saying “This is my Son…listen to him.” So Peter was politely told to stop talking and start listening.

In Luke 22:24, Peter and the other disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.  Later Jesus sought to teach them what humility really was by washing their feet. Peter became adamant that Jesus would never wash his feet. Jesus told Peter that if he refused, He would not have anything further to do with him. Peter wisely chose to back down and become submissive to the Master.

After washing the disciple's feet, Jesus told them He was going away and they couldn't come with Him. Peter boasted that he would follow Jesus to the death. Later, in Gethsemane, Peter and the others forsook Jesus and fled.

Peter’s failures still weren't over. Three times he denied knowing Jesus.

Our hearts break for Peter. He had the best of intentions and truly loved Jesus, but he messed it up numerous times.

The final flaw we look at in Peter’s career is noted in Galatians 2:11, where Paul had to publicly rebuke him for not living as he should have in the midst of Gentile Christians.

Can you identify with Peter as you review your life? Perhaps you feel that you've made too many mistakes for God to keep you as His own? That is a lie from hell. Peter made numerous and colossal mistakes. He really messed up here and there but Jesus still loved him.

Jesus' special love for bumbling Peter is seen in the resurrection message sent to the disciples in Jerusalem, “go tell his disciples and Peter” (NIV).

Jesus made special reference to Peter as the Lord knew Peter would be terribly embarrassed by his sins of a few days before.

It doesn't matter how you've messed up in life, Jesus loves sinners in spite of their ways. You can't be too much of a failure for Jesus to love. John 13 tells us that Jesus loved His disciples (and Peter) unto the end. Nothing Peter did wrong caused the love of Jesus for him to diminish or cease.

If you come to Jesus and offer a broken, messed up life to Him, He'll wrap His arms of love around you and make you His forever.

Are you a believer who feels like life has passed you by and nothing good has been accomplished? Don't feel that you're unworthy to come. Jesus loves the Peters of this world and has proven it. Come to Jesus just as you are and ask Him to take your broken life and make something of it.

Peter became a great man for God and his life was a blessing to many. Yours may be also, if you come to Jesus without excuse and confess your failures to Him. He loves us as we are and will certainly make something wonderful of us if we trust in Him.