彼得可悲地跌倒
马可福音十四章66至72节
66彼得在下边院子里，来了大祭司的一个使女，
67见彼得烤火，就看着他，说：“你素来也是同拿撒勒人耶稣一伙的。”
68彼得却不承认，说：“我不知道，也不明白你说的是甚么。”于是出来，到了前院，鸡就叫了。
69那使女看见他，又对旁边站着的人说：“这也是他们一党的。”
70彼得又不承认。过了不多的时候，旁边站着的人又对彼得说：“你真是他们一党的，因为你是加利利人。”
71彼得就发咒起誓地说：“我不认得你们说的这个人！”
72立时鸡叫了第二遍。彼得想起耶稣对他所说的话，“鸡叫两遍以先，你要三次不认我。”思想起来，就哭了。
信息分享
马可能够详细记述彼得在大祭司园子不认基督一事，彼得实在是功不可抹。马太和路加的记述与马可相类似，约翰则记述得最少；也许约翰不想对他的老朋友作太多负面记述。
彼得为何会跌倒呢？问题之一就是过于自信。你还记得他在楼房上的夸口吗？「众人虽然跌倒，我总不能。」（十四29）主耶稣立即警告他，但他却坚持说：「我就是必须和你同死，也总不能不认你。」多么豪迈啊！可是，过了不久就重重地跌倒了。
类似的经历，我们岂不是也有过？对于某些工作或责任，我们自以为胜任有余；却最终一败涂地。可是，主却满有恩典，总是赦免我们。我们也亲身经历过了。
在复活的那个忙碌的星期天，耶稣还记挂着彼得。祂吩咐守着坟墓的天使，告诉妇女去通知门徒祂已复活，而且特别提到要通知彼得（十六7）。
我们不知道彼得与复活主会面的细节，我们只能想像。你能想见彼得流泪跪在耶稣跟前，求祂赦免的情景吗？你能听见基督对他说「起来吧，彼得，我赦免你了」吗？
我们岂不也听见主赦免我们的话吗？多少次我们犯罪跌倒，只要我们在祂面前认罪悔改，祂必赦免我们，我们便与主恢复美好的相交。多么奇妙的救主！
牢记经文：「我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。」约翰壹书一章9节
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.