• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

A Declaration of Firm Commitment

Text: John 13: 37-38

A DECLARATION OF FIRM COMMITMENT

Peter continued to insist that he was going to be able to follow Jesus no matter what he may have to go through. His heart was in the right place. But he did not realise his limitations.

“Peter said to Him, ‘Why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.’ 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.’” 

John 13:37-38

1. Peter: “Why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

a. Peter’s heart

i. Peter loved the Lord Jesus

ii. He meant what he said

iii. He was indeed willing to lay down his life for the sake of the Lord

b. But he had not factored in other things:

i. The strength of his faith

ii. The depth of his courage

iii. The quality of his character

c. The tests in life

i. They would come

ii. The hidden fears may arise

iii. Courage can fail a person

iv. Faith may not be as strong as we imagine

v. Time and testing will prove the worth of our verbal declaration of commitment

2. Jesus: “Will you lay down your life for My sake?”

a. This was not putting Peter down

b. It was a word of caution

3. “The rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times”

a. These were sobering and humbling words

b. Peter was forewarned that he would deny the Lord three times

c. It was difficult to reconcile these words of Jesus with the strong feelings Peter felt in his heart

经文：约翰福音 13：37-38

坚定承诺的宣言

彼得坚持他无论经历什么困难都会跟随耶稣。他的心意是对的。但他却没有意识到自身的局限。

“彼得说：‘主啊，我为什么现在不能跟你去？我愿意为你舍命！’耶稣说：‘你愿意为我舍命吗？我实实在在地告诉你：鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。’”

《约翰福音 13：37-38》

1. 彼得说：“主啊，我为什么现在不能跟你去？我愿意为你舍命！”

a. 彼得的心

i. 彼得是爱主耶稣的

ii. 他的话是真诚的

iii. 他确实愿意为主而舍命

b. 可他没有考虑到：

i. 他信心的力量

ii. 他勇气的深度

iii. 他性格的品质

c. 人生的考验

i. 考验必定会来

ii. 隐藏在心中的恐惧可能会出现

iii. 我们可能丧失勇气

iv. 我们的信心可能没有自己想象中那么坚强

v. 时间以及考验将会证明我们承诺宣言的价值

2. 耶稣说: “‘你愿意为我舍命吗？”

a. 这不是在贬低彼得

b. 这是一句告诫的话

3. “我实实在在地告诉你：鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我”

a. 这番话发人深省，令人感到卑微

b. 彼得被预先警告，他将会三次不认主

c. 彼得心中带着强烈的感情，要接受耶稣的这番话并不容易