基督给门徒的话
约翰福音十三章31至38 节
31他既出去，耶稣就说：如今人子得了荣耀，神在人子身上也得了荣耀。
32神要因自己荣耀人子，并且要快快的荣耀他。
33小子们，我还有不多的时候与你们同在；后来你们要找我，但我所去的地方你们不能到。这话我曾对犹太人说过，如今也照样对你们说。
34我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。
35你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。
36西门彼得问耶稣说：主往那里去？耶稣回答说：我所去的地方，你现在不能跟我去，后来却要跟我去。
37彼得说：主阿，我为甚么现在不能跟你去？我愿意为你舍命！
38耶稣说：你愿意为我舍命么？我实实在在的告诉你，鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。
信息分享
我们一定记得，彼得在五旬节后满有能力地为主作工；可惜，我们也一定记得，他曾经三次不认主。他后来得着主的赦免和挽回，实在是新约之中，最让人激励的一件事。然而，彼得为何会三次不认主呢？以下是三个可能的原因：
彼得过于自信。我们相信，彼得是出于真诚地说出37节所记的那句话，可是，他却不晓得自己的软弱。他不知道自己会被一时之间的恐惧所控制而背信弃义。
此外，按照马可福音十四章54节的记载，当基督在客西马利园被人捉拿的时候，彼得并没有紧紧地跟随主，他只是「远远的」跟着。我们也深深地知道，当我们不紧靠基督的时候，我们就很容易在试探中跌倒。
最后一个原因，是彼得走到炉火中间取暖，却不察觉围着炉边的人，都是攻击基督的敌人；面对他们的严词质询和严厉指控，他才发现自己招架不来──在他未及制止自己之前，那些否认基督的话已经冲口而出。
让我们小心反思上述这三个原因，在我们身上也会发现这些毛病吗？我们过往的失败，也可以用上述的其中一个原因来解释吗？无论如何，我们都要把基督对彼得的严词警告引以为鉴，把它看作是基督给予我们各人的深刻提醒。
牢记：
当彼得再次面对复活了的基督，他便得着基督的赦免。
CHRIST'S WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES
John 13: 31 - 38
31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.
33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
Message
It seems a pity that we remember Peter almost as much by his denial as we do by his mighty work after Pentecost. His restoration is one of the most encouraging stories in the New Testament. But why did that denial ever take place? Here are three possible reasons:
Peter was foolishly self-confident. He meant every word he said (v. 37) but he didn't know his own weaknesses. He didn't realise how suddenly fear of man can take hold of us and bring us down.
Then when Christ was taken prisoner in the Garden, Peter did not openly put himself close to Christ, but followed 'afar off' according to Mark 14:54. We know ourselves when we are not close to Christ, we often fail too when temptation comes.
The final reason was that when he found himself at a fire among those who were the enemies of Christ, their company proved too much for him. When they questioned him and accused him of being Christ's disciple, the terrible words of denial flowed from his lips before he could stop them.
Think carefully over those three reasons. Do any of them apply to you, to me? Are any of them the explanation of failure in our lives? If so they have a message for us today that is a solemn warning to us even as Christ warned Peter so long ago.
REMEMBER:
Peter found forgiveness when he came face to face with his risen Saviour and Lord.