【双语灵修】彼得的新使命PETER’S NEW COMMISSION

约翰福音 21:15-19

他们吃完了早饭，耶稣对西门彼得说：“约翰[a]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！”

4月12日

彼得的新使命

“（耶稣）就对（彼得）说：‘你跟从我吧！’” - 约翰福音 21:19

彼得曾犯过一些令人伤痛的错误。今天的经文向我们显明了耶稣是如何温柔地处理这些错误的。

在耶稣被捕和受难之前，彼得曾经承诺绝不会不认主或离弃耶稣。他甚至说过：“我愿意为你舍命！”（《约翰福音》13:37；参阅《马可福音》14:31）。然而，就在耶稣被捕后不久，彼得三次否认自己认识耶稣（《马可福音》14:66-72；《约翰福音》18:15-27）。他害怕与耶稣扯上关系。

主耶稣死而复活之后，多次与包括彼得在内的门徒见面—而在今天的经文中，他与门徒在加利利海边。耶稣来到这个曾经三次不认主的彼得面前，三次问他这个问题：“你爱我吗？”每一次，彼得都回答“是的”。接着，每一次耶稣都嘱咐他要牧养祂的羊。

就这样，彼得的“三次不认主”被满有恩典地赦免了，而且更被肯定地重新差派了职份。耶稣甚至对彼得重申了三年前初次呼召门徒时所说的话：“跟从我！”（参阅《马可福音》1:17）就好像彼得的那些否认从未发生过一样。

彼得的回转向我们表明，若有人在基督里，不仅会有新的创造，也会有新的使命：就是在我们当下的处境和生活中，跟随耶稣进入祂呼召我们去做的任何工作中。

旧事已过，都变成新的了！

祷告

主耶稣，求赐给我们眼光，看见你今天呼召我们进入的领域，并引导我们顺服。奉你的名，并心怀对新创造的盼望，阿们。

John 21:15-19

SUNDAY, APRIL 12

PETER’S NEW COMMISSION

Then [Jesus] said to [Peter], “Follow me!” —John 21:19

Peter had made some hurtful mistakes. And our text for today shows how Jesus gently addressed them.

Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter had promised never to disown or abandon Jesus. He had even said, “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37; see Mark 14:31). But then, soon after Jesus was arrested, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus (Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15- 27). He was afraid to be connected with Jesus.

After his death and resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples, including Peter, several times—and in our text for today he is with the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Three times Jesus approaches Peter, the three-time denier, with this question: “Do you love me?” And each time Peter says yes. Then Jesus tells him, each time, to care for his sheep.

Just like that, Peter’s denials are graciously forgiven, and Peter is powerfully recommissioned. Jesus even repeats to Peter what he had said to his disciples when he had first called them three years earlier: “Follow me!” (see Mark 1:17). It’s as if Peter’s denials had never happened.

Peter’s restoration shows us that if anyone is in Christ, there is not only a new creation but also a new commission: to follow Jesus into whatever work he calls us to in our context, in our lives.

The old has gone. The new has come!

Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see what you are calling us into today, and guide us to obey. In your name, and in the hope of the new creation, Amen.