“彼得又不承认，立时鸡就叫了。” - 约 18:27

　　彼得曾经对耶稣承诺，无论怎样，他一定会留在主的身旁，就是牺牲性命也在所不惜。此刻，在黎明前最寒冷的时候，他站在大祭司院子外烤火取暖。彼得在院子外面，耶稣在里面，没有人知道耶稣将要面对怎样的结局。

　　在等待的过程中，彼得有三次机会去回想他曾经向耶稣许下的诺言。“你不也是这人的门徒吗？”“ 你不也是他的门徒吗？”“我不是看见你同他在园子里吗？”

　　彼得就这样错过了一个又一个的机会，否认他认识耶稣。马太福音记载说，彼得的反应一次比一次强烈，最后他竟然发咒起誓说：“我不认得那个人”！

　　这是彼得的故事。彼得曾承认，“耶稣是基督，是永生神的儿子”（马太福音 16:16）；彼得也曾见过被天上荣光覆庇的耶稣，曾听到神从云彩里说话（马太福音 17:1-5）。

　　彼得的确曾作过这样的承诺：“耶稣，我必定永远在你身旁”。然后，他竟然在黑夜里无影无踪地消失了。

祷告

耶稣，我们知道祢是弥赛亚，是永生神的儿子。圣灵啊，求祢在我们里面动工，好叫我们周围的人能看到我们是耶稣的跟随者、门徒，和朋友。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

 

约翰福音 18:12-18，25-27

12那队兵和千夫长，并犹太人的差役就拿住耶稣，把他捆绑了，
13先带到亚那面前，因为亚那是本年作大祭司该亚法的岳父。
14这该亚法就是从前向犹太人发议论说“一个人替百姓死是有益的”那位。
15 西门．彼得跟着耶稣，还有一个门徒跟着。那门徒是大祭司所认识的，他就同耶稣进了大祭司的院子。
16彼得却站在门外。大祭司所认识的那个门徒出来，和看门的使女说了一声，就领彼得进去。
17那看门的使女对彼得说：“你不也是这人的门徒吗？”他说：“我不是。”
18仆人和差役因为天冷，就生了炭火，站在那里烤火；彼得也同他们站着烤火。25 西门．彼得正站着烤火，有人对他说：“你不也是他的门徒吗？”彼得不承认，说：“我不是。”
26有大祭司的一个仆人，是彼得削掉耳朵那人的亲属，说：“我不是看见你同他在园子里吗？”
27彼得又不承认。立时鸡就叫了。

Promises Broken

"Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow." — John 18:27

英语音频 English Audio

Earlier that night, Peter promised to be there for Jesus, no matter what—even at the cost of his own life. Now, in the coldest hours before dawn, Peter stands idly by, warming himself at the courtyard fire outside the high priest's house. Peter is outside while who-knows-what is happening to Jesus inside.

While he waits, Peter has three opportunities to show some recall of at least a fraction of his promised support. "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" "You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?" "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?"

And Peter lets each opportunity slip by as he denies even knowing about Jesus. In Matthew's account of this scene, Peter's responses grow more forceful each time, and he finally calls down curses and exclaims, "I don't know the man!" (Matthew 26:74).

This was the testimony of Peter, who previously had recognized Jesus as "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Peter had also seen Jesus clothed in heavenly glory and had heard the voice of God speaking from a cloud (Matthew 17:1-5).

"I will always be there for you, Jesus," Peter had promised, in effect. Then he disappeared into the night.

Prayer

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳