彼得可悲地跌倒
馬可福音十四章66至72節
66彼得在下邊院子裡，來了大祭司的一個使女，
67見彼得烤火，就看著他，說：“你素來也是同拿撒勒人耶穌一夥的。”
68彼得卻不承認，說：“我不知道，也不明白你說的是甚麼。”於是出來，到了前院，雞就叫了。
69那使女看見他，又對旁邊站著的人說：“這也是他們一黨的。”
70彼得又不承認。過了不多的時候，旁邊站著的人又對彼得說：“你真是他們一黨的，因為你是加利利人。”
71彼得就發咒起誓地說：“我不認得你們說的這個人！”
72立時雞叫了第二遍。彼得想起耶穌對他所說的話，“雞叫兩遍以先，你要三次不認我。”思想起來，就哭了。
信息分享
馬可能夠詳細記述彼得在大祭司園子不認基督一事，彼得實在是功不可抹。馬太和路加的記述與馬可相類似，約翰則記述得最少；也許約翰不想對他的老朋友作太多負面記述。
彼得為何會跌倒呢？問題之一就是過於自信。你還記得他在樓房上的誇口嗎？「眾人雖然跌倒，我總不能。」（十四29）主耶穌立即警告他，但他卻堅持說：「我就是必須和你同死，也總不能不認你。」多麼豪邁啊！可是，過了不久就重重地跌倒了。
類似的經歷，我們豈不是也有過？對於某些工作或責任，我們自以為勝任有餘；卻最終一敗塗地。可是，主卻滿有恩典，總是赦免我們。我們也親身經歷過了。
在復活的那個忙碌的星期天，耶穌還記掛著彼得。祂吩咐守著墳墓的天使，告訴婦女去通知門徒祂已復活，而且特別提到要通知彼得（十六7）。
我們不知道彼得與復活主會面的細節，我們只能想像。你能想見彼得流淚跪在耶穌跟前，求祂赦免的情景嗎？你能聽見基督對他說「起來吧，彼得，我赦免你了」嗎？
我們豈不也聽見主赦免我們的話嗎？多少次我們犯罪跌倒，只要我們在祂面前認罪悔改，祂必赦免我們，我們便與主恢復美好的相交。多麼奇妙的救主！
牢記經文：「我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗净我們一切的不義。」約翰壹書一章9節
PETER'S SAD FAILURE
Mark 14: 66-72
66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.”
70 But he denied it again.
And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”[g]
71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
72 A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.
Message
It is to Peter's credit, that he gave Mark the full details of his denial of Christ in the high priest's courtyard. Matthew and Luke gave a similar story. John gave the least mention of it. Perhaps John didn't want to say much against his old friend.
Why did Peter fail? Self-confidence was one problem. Do you remember what he said in the Upper Room? (13:29) “Even if all fall away I will not.” The Lord immediately warned him but Peter insisted, “Even if I have to die for you, I will never disown you.” What boasting! Only to fail badly later.
But we've known times like that, haven't we? We thought we were self-sufficient for some task, some opportunity, only to fail badly. But isn't the Lord gracious? Isn't his forgiveness complete? We know that too.
On busy Resurrection Sunday, Jesus took time out to find Peter. He had even told the angels at the tomb to include Peter's name in the list of those to whom the good news was to be given.
We have never been told the details about Peter's private interview with Christ. We can only imagine it. Can you see Peter kneeling in tears before Christ? Can you hear Christ's words, “Stand up Peter, you are forgiven.”
We've heard those words too, haven't we? How many times have we failed? But confession brings forgiveness and then fellowship is restored. What a wonderful Saviour!
A VERSE TO LEARN BY HEART: 1 John 1:9 - Learn it today.