漁夫彼得
約翰福音一章35至42節
35再次日,約翰同兩個門徒站在那裡。
36他見耶穌行走,就說:“看哪,這是神的羔羊!”
37兩個門徒聽見他的話,就跟從了耶穌。
38耶穌轉過身來,看見他們跟著,就問他們說:“你們要甚麼?”他們說:“拉比(“拉比”翻出來就是“夫子”),在哪裡住?”
39耶穌說:“你們來看。”他們就去看他在哪裡住,這一天便與他同住。那時約有申正了。
40聽見約翰的話,跟從耶穌的那兩個人,一個是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈。
41他先找著自己的哥哥西門,對他說:“我們遇見彌賽亞了(“彌賽亞”翻出來就是“基督”)!”
42於是領他去見耶穌。耶穌看著他說:“你是約翰的兒子西門(註:“約翰”馬太16章17節稱“約拿”),你要稱為磯法(“磯法”翻出來就是“彼得”)。”
信息分享
彼得顯然成為門徒中間的領袖,或充當發言人的角色。
「西門」是彼得的希伯來名字(徒十五14),而基督則為他起名叫「彼得」,這是一個希臘名字,意思是石頭或磐石。「磯法」是亞蘭文的叫法,在基督的時代,亞蘭文是巴勒斯坦地的一種通用語言。
我們許多人都可以在彼得身上見到自己的影子。他性急、衝動,時常未經細想便衝口而出或作出行動。他有樂於助人的性格,縱使會因此惹上麻煩。他既剛強,但同時又軟弱。最初是他的兄弟安得烈帶領他認識耶穌。
基督看著他(42節),就立即知道他的性格和潛質了。彼得顯然是從北邊的加利利遠道南來,聆聽施洗約翰的講道。但當他遇見耶穌,他就忠誠跟從基督。他永不會忘記基督看著他並為他改名的那一刻。
我們在彼得身上看見一個美好的例子,就是人只要承認耶穌基督就是神的兒子和救主,基督就能使用他。
若你將生命交在祂的手裡,祂就會在你的裡面、並透過你去達成祂的旨意──由今日直至回天家的日子。
今日禱告:「主啊,我願意將我的一生分別為聖歸給你。」
PETER THE BIG FISHERMAN
John 1: 35-42
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah.[i] You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Message
It was characteristic of Peter that he seemed to have been the leader or the spokesman for the whole group.
His given Hebrew name was Simeon. (Acts 15:14) That became Simon and then Christ called him Peter, which was really Greek and meant a stone or rock. Cephas is the same name in Aramaic, the common language of Palestine in Christ's day.
Many of us see ourselves in Peter. He was quick, impulsive, sometimes saying the wrong things, and sometimes acting first and thinking afterwards. He was all the time wanting to be helpful even if it got him into trouble. He seemed to have been both a strong and a weak man. His brother Andrew brought him to Jesus.
Christ looked at this man (v.2) and immediately knew both his character and his potential. No doubt Peter had come south from Galilee to hear John the Baptist’s preach. But when he met Jesus, his allegiance was transferred to Christ. Peter never forgot that moment when Christ looked at him and changed his name.
Peter is a wonderful example of how Christ can use anyone who will recognise Him for what He is - Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour of all who will believe in Him.
If you have yielded your life to Him, there is no limit to what He can do in and through you - now and until He calls you home.
SAY IT TODAY: “Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee.”

