受难周周四（濯足日）

彼得远远地跟着

——路加福音廿二章五十四节

晚餐之后，主往橄榄山去；客西马尼园中，他心极其伤痛。我虽随主来到园中，但却未能与他一同儆醒；我竟沉睡，任他独自忧伤。

主被带进大祭司的院内，我因惧怕，只是远远跟随。主遭戏弄，主受羞辱；我竟三次不敢认他，任他遍体伤痕。

彼拉多的衙前，主被判以极刑。十架如此沉重，我主何能背负？西门代背，随主而去；我竟旁观袖手，任他步履蹒跚。

主已远去，城外青山；他将在彼受苦受死。受苦为我，受死为我；我竟不能跟随他到十字架下，任他苦杯独饮。

每念及此，我心何等忧伤。纵使粉身碎骨，何能报主厚爱！

Maundy Thursday

Luke 22:54

Peter followed at a distance

 After supper, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane. His heart was deeply troubled. Though I followed Jesus into the garden, I was not able to keep watch with him, but fell deeply asleep, leaving him alone with his worries. I am Peter.

When he was taken to the high priest’s house, I only followed at a distance, because I was afraid. When he was mocked and insulted, I denied him three times and allowed him to be beaten black and blue.

Before Pilate, Jesus was condemned to death. How heavy that cross must have been. How was my Lord to carry it? Simon of Cyrene carried it behind Jesus. But I watched from the sidelines, letting him stumble along as he went.

Jesus has now gone far away, to a hill outside the city where he will suffer and die. It is for me that he suffers, for me that he dies. But I could not follow him to the cross, and so I let him drink the cup of bitterness alone.

When I think of these things, my heart is deeply troubled. Though I would give my body to be broken, how can I return the love of Christ?