【双语灵修】彼得再来一次PETER ONE MORE TIME
约翰福音 21:15-25
他们吃完了早饭,耶稣对西门彼得说:“约翰的儿子西门,你爱我比这些更深吗?”彼得说:“主啊,是的,你知道我爱你。”耶稣对他说:“你喂养我的小羊。”耶稣第二次又对他说:“约翰的儿子西门,你爱我吗?”彼得说:“主啊,是的,你知道我爱你。”耶稣说:“你牧养我的羊。”第三次对他说:“约翰的儿子西门,你爱我吗?”彼得因为耶稣第三次对他说“你爱我吗”,就忧愁,对耶稣说:“主啊,你是无所不知的,你知道我爱你。”耶稣说:“你喂养我的羊。我实实在在地告诉你:你年少的时候,自己束上带子,随意往来;但年老的时候,你要伸出手来,别人要把你束上,带你到不愿意的地方。”耶稣说这话,是指着彼得要怎样死荣耀神。说了这话,就对他说:“你跟从我吧!”彼得转过来,看见耶稣所爱的那门徒跟着,就是在晚饭的时候靠着耶稣胸膛,说“主啊,卖你的是谁”的那门徒。彼得看见他,就问耶稣说:“主啊,这人将来如何?” 耶稣对他说:“我若要他等到
我来的时候,与你何干?你跟从我吧!”于是这话传在弟兄中间,说那门徒不死。其实耶稣不是说他不死,乃是说:“我若要他等到我来的时候,与你何干?”为这些事作见证,并且记载这些事的,就是这门徒。我们也知道他的见证是真的。耶稣所行的事还有许多,若是一一地都写出来,我想,所写的书就是世界也容不下了。
4月27日
彼得再来一次
“第三次对他说:‘约翰的儿子西门,你爱我吗?’彼得因为耶稣第三次对他说‘你爱我吗’,就忧愁……” -约 21:17
耶稣的提问与彼得的三次不认主相似。在耶稣被捕的当晚,彼得三次被问到是否与耶稣有关系,他每次都否认了(约翰福音 18:15-18,25-27)。现在,耶稣三次问彼得:“你爱我吗?” 彼得显然为此深感忧伤,但毫无疑问,耶稣也曾因彼得的否认而深感忧伤。
重建彼得与耶稣的关系至关重要。耶稣想要听到彼得仍然爱祂。在耶稣不断增长的国度里,彼得仍然可以发挥作用。彼得需要知道他被宽恕了,并且有份参与耶稣国度的事工。事实上,彼得可能认为自己在否认主之后就不能跟随耶稣了——这可能至少是他在耶稣死而复活之后这么快就回去打鱼的部分原因。无论如何,彼得需要知道他仍然是被接纳的。
彼得所做的一切都不能使他与耶稣的爱隔绝。我们也是如此(罗马书 8:38-39)。我们可能会以各种方式否认耶稣,背弃祂。但耶稣永远不会这样对我们。祂总是在等待着我们,询问我们是否爱祂,让我们在祂的国度里有一个持续的目标。耶稣的爱永不止息。这是我们每天都可以信赖的应许。
祷告
耶稣,感谢你宽恕我们,并持续呼召我们跟随你。感谢你赐予我们救恩和与你同在的新生命!阿们。
PETER ONE MORE TIME
"The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. . . ." - John 21:17
Jesus’ questions parallel Peter’s three denials. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter was asked three times if he was associated with Jesus, and each time Peter said no (John 18:15-18, 25-27). Now Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And while Peter is obviously hurt by this, no doubt Jesus was hurt by Peter’s denials as well.
The rebuilding of Peter’s relationship with Jesus was important. Jesus needed to hear that Peter still loved him. Jesus still had a role for Peter to fill in his growing kingdom. And Peter needed to know he was forgiven and still welcome in Jesus’ kingdom work. In fact, Peter might have thought he wasn’t welcome to follow Jesus anymore after his denial—and that might have been at least partly why he went back to fishing so soon after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whatever the case, Peter needed to know that he was still welcome.
Nothing Peter could do would separate him from Jesus’ love. The same is true for us (Romans 8:38-39). We might deny Jesus and turn our backs on him in any number of ways. But Jesus never does that to us. He is always waiting for us, asking us if we love him, and giving us a continued purpose in his kingdom. Jesus’ love never fails. This is a promise we can depend on every day.
Jesus, thank you for the gift of forgiveness and for continuing to call us to follow you. Thank you for providing us with salvation and a new life with you! Amen.