Passion Week - Day 7 十架七言 (七)

Saturday 4/15 Kyle

經文

“父啊，我將我的靈交在你手裡”（路加福音 23:46）

“我父愛我，因我將命捨去，好再取回來。 沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了，也有權柄取回來，這是我從我父所受的命令。”（約10:17-18)

19 弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血得以坦然進入至聖所， 20 是藉著他給我們開了一條又新又活的路，從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體； 21 又有一位大祭司治理  神的家，22 並我們心中天良的虧欠已經灑去，身體用清水洗淨了，就當存著誠心和充足的信心來到  神面前。 23 也要堅守我們所承認的指望，不致搖動，因為那應許我們的是信實的。(來10：19-23) 

詩篇31:1-8

 

信息分享 

當我們在十架前靜默思想耶穌這最後一句話時，會發現祂的死非同尋常。耶穌之前告訴我們說，沒有人能奪去祂的命，除非是祂自己因著順服願意捨命(約10:17-18)。對耶穌而言，死亡並非祂對仇敵無能為力。不管當時環境看似多麼得令人絕望，祂都清楚地知道天父與祂同在，要接受祂，保守祂，並且很快就會叫祂從死裡復活，祂因此將靈魂交付在天父慈愛的手中。耶穌相信自己的救贖和頌讚都在天父永恆的懷抱中，而且祂也知道天父接納並讚許祂整個在世界上的生命。

這句話被認為是耶穌在進入天堂之際的開場白。從亙古就與父神同享榮耀的耶穌，終於要重新回到祂完全的榮耀中，滿有尊貴、能力、和權柄，並且坐在天父的右邊 (約17:5)。耶穌在世間生命的拐點，全人類歷史的偉大巔峰，是真實可見的：午正時日頭變黑，遍地黑暗，殿裡那厚重的幔子從當中裂為兩半。對猶太人而言，這預兆著一個全新屬靈時代的開始，也意味著在殿中獻祭時代的終結。一個新的時代來臨了。

因著耶穌在十架上的工作，我們被他吸引和救贖，得以來到父神面前。耶穌現在在祂完全的榮耀中與父神合一，如今我們也可以進入這榮耀，享受 神的同在。隨著殿內幔子的裂開，人與至聖所之間不再有阻隔。藉著耶穌完美的贖罪祭，我們與  神同在的阻隔被永遠除去了，因為耶穌自己成了我們的公義。我們得以坦然無懼地進入 神榮耀的同在皆因主耶穌的寶血。

 

靜思

保羅在提摩太後書1章12節說“因為知道我所信的是誰，也深信他能保全我所交付他的，直到那日”。思想你在基督裡對救贖絕對的把握，與加在你身上的義。同時，思想這個事實：如今你可以坦然無懼地進入至聖所，並且毫無指摘地站在  神的面前，皆因耶穌基督開了一條又新又活的路 （希伯來書 10：19-23）。沒有任何東西可以讓你與  神的愛隔絕，或讓你喪失基督的救贖，也沒有任何東西可以奪取你生活中聖靈的同在。如果這一切都是真的，請思想一下這麼偉大的保障、與 神的親密和友誼今天都屬於你，而且也將永遠屬於你。

 

我們能做什麼

1. 耶穌在這裡引用了詩篇31篇中，大衛在極大的痛苦裡對  神拯救充滿信心的宣告。今天，以耶穌的話為救恩的保障，向  神禱告，並求祂將你的信心建立在祂的拯救之上，使你無論經歷何等的難處(工作，婚姻，家庭，友情，財務，與神的關係)，都可以憑信心把自己放在  神的手中，經歷祂的拯救。
   
   
2. 求聖靈來鑒察你的心，看你是否單單相信祂。詩篇31章中對比了我們將自己交託給  神和交託給偶像的不同。花三到五分鐘，在  神面前求聖靈光照，看看我是否將自己的心、希望、安全感放在基督以外的事情上？若有，懇求聖靈幫助我們轉向主。
   
   
3. 就近神並明白耶穌的寶血已付清了一切。沒有罪疚感或羞恥感能隔絕你和 神之間的親密友誼。最確實的是因著祂在十字架上受死，耶穌已經潔淨了你的罪。今天，還有什麼事來攪擾你的信心嗎？還有什麼罪攔阻你使你不能親近 神嗎？或者還有什麼罪惡使你的良心虧欠嗎？信實的耶穌今天要原諒你，要洗淨你的罪，使你可以以一顆清潔的信來就近 神。

詩歌: H136 耶穌基督親愛救主, Take Me In (To the Holy of Holies)

 

Scriptures

“Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”(Luke 23:46)

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God,  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)

Psalm 31:1-8

 

Message

As we stand at the foot of the cross and hear this final saying, we realize this is not any ordinary death. Jesus had earlier told us that he would not die at the hands of men but by his own obedient volition (Jn. 10:17-18). For Jesus, death is no out-of-control enemy. No matter how bleak the moment, he knows his Father is present with Him and there to accept, protect, and will soon resurrect Him and so into God’s loving hands our Lord the Christ entrusts His spirit. Jesus both trusts His redemption and glorification into the Father’s everlasting arms as well as knowing that the Father accepts and approves of Jesus’ whole earthly life.  

These words have been called Jesus’ entrance-greeting to Heaven. Jesus, who had been with the Father in glory from eternity past, is going to step back into his full glory (Jn. 17:5) in honor, power, and authority at the Father’s right hand. This amazing turning point in the earthly life of Christ and the pinnacle of all human history was actually visible: the sky turned an ominous black in the middle of the day and the heavy, thick temple curtain was torn in two (the new reality in the heavens and on earth that the sacrificial system of the temple was at a close). A new era had begun.  

It is here through Jesus’ cross-work that we are both drawn to the Christ and redeemed before our Father. At this moment our Lord Jesus is restored to His full glory and we are given the chance to enter into that glory, into the very presence of God. As the temple curtain that had separated mankind from the holy of holies is removed, so too is the separation between our lives and God’s presence through Jesus Christ’s final sacrifice and imparted righteousness.  We have the confidence to enter the holy presence of God by the blood of Jesus.

 

Meditation

Paul said in II Tim. 1:12, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that day." Meditate on the absolute security you have in Christ’s salvation and imparted righteousness. Think too on the fact that you can now confidently enter into the holiest of holies, standing before the Lord with no condemnation -- all because of the new and living way Christ has opened up (Hebrews 10:19-23)! This news is not too good to be true but the wondrous gospel that now you have no obstacle stopping you from coming to the Father. Nothing can tear you away from God’s love, nothing can forfeit Christ’s redemption, and nothing can ever steal away the Spirit’s presence in your life. If this is true, think about the spectacular security, intimacy, and fellowship with God that is yours today and for eternity.

 

What we can do

1. Jesus here quotes from Ps. 31, when David in distress expressed full confidence in the Lord’s deliverance. Today pray Jesus’ words as the truth of your salvation and ask the Lord to ground your trust in His deliverance from any overwhelming distress you’re suffering in your career, marriage, family, friendships, finances, and relationship with God.

1. Ask the Spirit to examine your heart today--is your trust primarily and exclusively in God? Ps. 31 contrasts entrusting our lives to God with trusting in idols. Spend 3-5 minutes before God, asking the Holy Spirit to show you where you are putting your security in things other than Christ. If yes, then humbly ask the Holy Spirit to turn your heart to trust fully in Christ.
   
2. Draw near to God knowing Jesus’ blood has paid it all. No guilt or shame should keep you from the sweet fellowship of the Father as most assuredly Jesus cleansed you from sin in His death on the cross. Today is anything disturbing your faith, any sin hindering you from drawing near to God, or any evil troubling your conscience? Christ is faithful to forgive you today, washing you clean, so that you might draw near with a pure heart.

 

Song: Take Me In (To the Holy of Holies)

Kyle R. Allen on behalf of the English ministry

 

Passion Week - Day 6 十架七言 (六)

Friday 4/14 Ming

經文

耶穌嘗了那醋，就說：“成了！”，便低下頭，將靈魂交付  神了。（約19:30）

信息分享

賓路易師母曾經這樣形容各各他的十字架：「各各他是世界歷史的轉捩點，一切在它之前的都是指向它，一切在它之後的都是歸回它，一切未成的也都基於它，在天上那些蒙救贖的人所看見的，乃是在天上的中心，在寶座中間，『有羔羊站立，像是被殺過的』。」

「成了！」- 這也許是耶穌『十架七言』中最重要的一句話。當耶穌說「成了」的時候，不是一個將亡之人痛苦的呼號，而是這位偉大的救主在信心中發出的一個偉大的得勝宣告：「你所託付我的事，我已成全了」（約17:4)。

這位道成肉身的人子完成了祂在地上的使命：

• 耶穌藉著死，敗壞那掌死權的的魔鬼；
• 滿足了所有律法的要求，並成為挽回祭來滿足聖潔的 神對罪的憤怒；
• 如今，每一個罪人藉著接受耶穌基督成為他個人的救主，就不僅僅可以與  神和好，更是與基督聯合成為 神的後裔，與基督同作後嗣，並以  神為樂。

或許更特別的是，中文的翻譯並沒有完全表達當時耶穌說這句話的意思。按著希臘原文- τετελέσται（tetelestai） - 的意思，主耶穌救贖的工作不僅僅只是在那一刻『成了』，更是『一次而又永遠地』付清了所有的罪債！這個字在新約時代還代表了“所有的債務都付清了。哈利路亞，讚美我們的救主耶穌基督！因為耶穌說：「成了」，我們的救恩永遠穩固，完全不需要再做什麼！

靜思

試著思想聖經中主要關於耶穌基督在十字架上所成就的舊約預言和新約的教導，並為此向 神獻上讚美與感恩。例如：

• 但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在 神的右邊坐下了。 從此等候他仇敵成了他的腳凳。 因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。(來 10:12-14)
• 神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為 神的義。(林後5:21)
• 女人的後裔要傷你的頭；你要傷他的腳跟。(創 3:15b)
• 神設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑著耶穌的血，藉著人的信，要顯明 神的義。(羅 3:25a)
• 他死是向罪死了，只有一次；他活是向 神活著。(羅 6:10)
• 兒女既同有血肉之體，他也照樣親自成了血肉之體，特要藉著死，敗壞那掌死權的，就是魔鬼，並要釋放那些一生因怕死而為奴僕的人。(來 2:14-15)

Our response 我們能做什麼

• 用幾句話寫下為著耶穌基督十架救恩的感謝、讚美之言，將此字條夾在你的聖經中，成為你隨時的提醒與向  神的感恩。

• 站在耶穌得勝的地位上，用一個不一樣的眼光來看待自己目前所有的難處和捆綁。試著寫下它並與你的屬靈同伴分享。

詩歌: It is finished (V1, V2). H196 主替我還清

Scriptures

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

Message

“Calvary is the very pivot of the world's history. All prior things pointed forward to it; and all subsequent things point back to it. Even the future rests upon it, for the redeemed in heaven find it the center of heaven as they behold a Lamb in the midst of the throne, ‘standing as though it had been slain.’” - Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis

“It is finished,” is probably the most critical sentence out of the seven last sayings of Christ from the cross. When Jesus said, "It is finished” (“τετελέσται” in Greek), it was not a dying groan of pain, but rather Jesus was speaking of the glorious truth that He had completely accomplished what the Lord had given Him to do (John 17:4). The work of the Incarnate Word had been completed:

• Satan was defeated;

• Every requirement of the Law was fulfilled and God’s holy wrath against sin has been satisfied;
• By simply believing in Christ and receiving Him as Savior, not only are sinners reconciled with the holy God, but they are also united with Jesus Christ. They are called children of God and made co-heirs with Christ. Their joy is in the Lord.

Perhaps what is even more worth noting is that the original Greek word τετελέσται actually means that "it has been now and forever finished.” The word was also written on business receipts in New Testament times to indicate that a bill had been “paid in full.” Since Jesus proclaimed that God’s salvation plan is now and forever accomplished, we have the full assurance that our redemption is eternally secured. He left no unfinished business behind.

Hallelujah! It is finished …… indeed!

Meditation

Try to recall all of the related prophecies from the Old Testament and the teachings from New Testament about what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and give your praise and thanks to God as you meditate on them. Such as:

• Hebrews 10:12-14: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Genesis 3:15b: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
• Romans 3:25a: (3:24 ...Jesus Christ,) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness.
• Romans 6:10:  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
• Hebrews 2:14-15: Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Our response

• In several words, write down your gratitude and praise of the Salvation of Jesus Christ. Put it in your Bible so that it can keep reminding  you to be grateful for God.

• Standing in Jesus’ victorious position, look at your present difficulties and bounds from a new perspective. Write them down and share them with your spiritual partner.

Song: It is finished (V1, V2), Jesus Paid It All.

Passion Week - Day 5 十架七言 (五)

Thursday 4/13 Jianxun

經文

28 這事以後，耶穌知道各樣的事已經成了，為要使經上的話應驗，就說：我渴了。29有一個器皿盛滿了醋，放在那裡；他們就拿海絨蘸滿了醋，綁在牛膝草上，送到他口。30耶穌嘗（原文作受）了那醋，就說：成了！便低下頭，將靈魂交付  神了。 (約 19:28-30)

信息分享:       

我渴了！

是的，耶穌渴了！這位除去世人罪孽的逾越節羔羊、神的兒子，在夜晚漆黑的客西馬尼園被賣、被抓、被棄、被打、被辱、被多次審問、被帶到各各他、被釘上十字架，連續歷經一夜一天的折磨和十字架殘酷的刑罰。祂在人性的肉體上受到了極大痛苦的煎熬，耶穌渴了！保羅論到耶穌說：“既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。” （腓2:8）何等大愛！神的兒子竟甘為我死，流血捨命為叫我罪赦。

是的，耶穌渴了！在十字架上卻沒有一杯涼水給祂；僅有兵丁拿海絨蘸滿了醋，綁在牛膝草上，送到祂口裡。這也見證了祂就是舊約預言的那位彌賽亞,「他們拿苦膽給我當食物；我渴了，他們拿醋給我喝」 (詩69: 21)。 這位親身經歷各樣苦楚的  神的兒子，卻高聲對世人說：「人若渴了，可以到我這裡來喝。信我的人，就如經上所說：從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。」（約7：37-38） 神的兒子，成了我們的永不乾涸的活水泉。主耶穌，我們感謝袮！袮將自己的生命為我們傾倒，使饑渴慕義的人得飽足！

 

靜思：

帶著信心和感恩來到主耶穌的面前，思想主耶穌在十字架為何肯為我受苦？感受主耶穌對我們體貼的愛，若是今天你我聽到主耶穌說：我渴了？你會如何做呢？

 

我們能做什麼：

求主幫助我們帶著愛主耶穌的心，今天就採取具體行動去關心、幫助身邊有需要的人……。

“……於是，王要向那右邊的說：你們這蒙我父賜福的，可來承受那創世以來為你們所預備的國。因為我餓了，你們給我吃，渴了，你們給我喝，我作客旅，你們留我住；我赤身露體，你們給我穿；我病了，你們看顧我；我在監裡，你們來看我。義人回答說：主啊，我們什麽時候見你餓了，給你吃，渴了，給你喝……王要回答說：我實在告訴你們：這些事你們既作在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上，就是作在我身上了。”（太25:34-40）

詩歌：H297 為你，我捨生命

 

 

 

Scripture

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30)

Message:       

I thirst.

Yes, Jesus was thirsty. He, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, is the Son of God. He was betrayed, was arrested, was struck, was insulted, and suffered in an illegal, rigged trial by the Sanhedrin. He was later brought to Golgotha and was crucified. For a day and night, he had been experiencing the excruciating torment and brutal punishment of the cross. He thirsted as His human body went through such anguish. When talking about Jesus, Paul says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).” How great is the love of Jesus! The Son of God was willing to die for me. He laid down his life and shed his blood for the forgiveness of my sin.

Yes, Jesus was thirsty. However, no water was given to him. Only a soldier ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. This also witnesses that Jesus is the Messiah who was predicted in the Old Testament,  as it fulfills what was written in Psalm 69:21: “They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” The Son of God, who personally suffered so greatly, cried out to the world, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). The Son of God is the living water which never dries up. Jesus, our Lord, we thank you for you have laid down you life for us and filled those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

 

Meditation：

Come to Jesus with a faithful and grateful heart. Think about the reason why Jesus would suffer on the cross for us and feel the love of Jesus, our Lord. Today, if he says to you, “I thirst” what will be your response?

 

What we can do：

Pray that God helps us take action so that with our love for Jesus Christ today we can care and help people who are in need.

Matthew 25:34-40

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Song: H297 I Gave My Life for Thee

Passion Week - Day 4 十架七言 (四)

Wednesday 4/12 Pastor Nancy

經文

耶和華使我們眾人的罪孽都歸在祂身上。（賽53:6b)

神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在祂裏面成為  神的義。 (林後5:21)

從午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。 約在申初，耶穌大聲喊說：「以利！以利！拉馬撒巴各大尼？」就是說：「我的  神！我的  神！為甚麼離棄我？」(太27:45-46)

 

信息分享

這是耶穌在十字架上最痛苦的一句話！因為祂是  神的兒子，與父原為一，從來沒有與父神分開過。但是在這三個小時裡，父神掩面不顧並且離棄了祂至愛的獨生子，因為耶穌代替我們成了所有人的、歷世歷代、還有未來的罪。聖潔的  神與罪無法並存，卻因為愛的緣故，捨了祂的愛子，為了成全祂自己公義的要求。罪何等的可怕！任何的罪都是　神無法容忍的。若不流血，罪就不得赦免。而為我們流血的，是  神的兒子，親自成了  神的羔羊。(Nancy)

默思：

1. 如果連  神的兒子為了我們承擔罪，父  神都要離棄，我如今對罪的態度是如何呢？
2. 你是否有蒙受不白之冤、替人代罪，而且付出極大代價的經驗？如此，試著想想耶穌基督為我所付的代價何等的大啊！

我能做什麼:

我這個人如何能與  神和好，是因為耶穌為我成了罪的祭牲，代替我為罪付了代價。我豈能容忍還有任何罪惡留在我身上？「父  神啊，求袮使我恨惡罪如同袮恨惡罪，絕不與罪為伍。今天，如果還有任何罪的權勢存留在我的身上或生活中，在這一刻，我已經決定與牠們不再有交集。願為耶穌作見證的聖靈，鑒察我的心，讓我為罪、為義、為審判，自己責備自己。奉耶穌基督得勝的名禱告！」

詩歌：真神羔羊

 

Scriptures:

The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53:6b)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mat. 27:45-46)

 

Message Sharing:

This is the most painful moment for Jesus!  Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God, never sinned, yet bore the iniquities for the whole world, and is the propitiation for our sins. The Father forsook the Son because the Son took upon Himself all of our iniquities. Jesus Christ not only bore man’s sin but actually became sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21), in order that those who believe in Him might be saved from the penalty of their sin. He is the substitute for you and me, and for all mankind. Without this substitute, we would not be able to be reconciled with the Father. Yet, this “substitution” caused such excrutiating pain in Jesus - for He had to be separated from Father! The holy God can never coexist with sin!  If God the Father even forsook Jesus, His only begotten Son, because sin was on Him, how is it possible that we can run away from God’s wrath if we sin?  Yet, wonderfully, we are all sinners now saved by grace.

Meditation:  

1)  What is my attitude toward sin after I understand that God can not tolerate sin?  

2)  Have you ever been wrongly accused for something that you did not do and have to suffer greatly for it?  Think today of how great a price Jesus has paid for you.

What we can do:

“Father God, please let me see sin the way you see it. Please help me not to take it lightly.  If there are any sins in my life right now, I promise to cut off all ties to them. May the Holy Spirit who testifies for Jesus Christ convict me of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.  In the victorious name of Jesus I pray.”

Song: Lamb of God 

Passion Week - Day 3 十架七言 (三)

Tuesday 4/11 Pastor Yu

經文

25 站在耶穌十字架旁邊的，有他母親與他母親的姊妹，並革羅罷的妻子馬利亞，和抹大拉的馬利亞。 26 耶穌見母親和他所愛的那門徒站在旁邊，就對他母親說：「母親，看，你的兒子！」 27 又對那門徒說：「看，你的母親！」從此，那門徒就接她到自己家裏去了。 （約19:25-27）

信息分享

今天的經文是主耶穌在十架上所説的第三句話，我們將從兩個角度來體會這句話的寶貴意義：  

A. 它充分地表達了耶穌美麗的人性

 

耶穌基督道成肉身之後，祂不僅在肉身中完全遵行 神的旨意，完成了 神所給祂所有的托付，祂的一生也更是在肉身中彰顯了 神的榮耀，也在衪一切的生活言行中流露出最榮美的人性。正如老約翰所見証的：「從來沒有人看見 神，只有在父懷裏的獨生子將祂表明出來。」（約1:18），也如希伯來書作者所説的：「祂是 神榮耀所發的光輝，是 神本體的真像，」(來1:3）。聖經中關乎祂那親切、柔和、謙卑、充滿愛與體恤...等完美人性的記載很多，不勝枚舉。然而，正當基督在十字架上承受最可怕的刑罰與經歷最深痛苦之時，祂仍然顧念祂母親的痛苦與需要，特別將她托付給所愛的門徒來照顧。聖靈似乎在此為我們開了一扇小窗，使我們得以一窺祂那無微不致的愛與完美的人性。祂不僅是真 神，祂也是真人 - 唯一擁有且真正活出完美人性的人，也只有祂能完全體恤我們所有的軟弱與需要 - 因為「我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱...」(來4:15）。

靜思：

試著思想聖經中一切關乎耶穌美麗人性的記載，並為此向祂獻上讚美與感恩。

我們能做什麼：

效法基督，請花兩三分鐘，為著自己的父母或最親的家人禱告，並且寫下你的禱告。

 

B. 在基督裡『我們都是一家人』

 

主耶穌在十字架上不僅僅藉著為我們流血捨命流露了祂的大愛，也藉著這句話可以讓我們看見在基督裡、在祂偉大的生命裡，因著愛，我們都成為了一家人。十字架不僅為我們廢掉了一切的冤仇，也為我們除去了一切隔斷的牆 (弗2:14-15)，使我們『不再作外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是 神家裏的人了。』主耶穌在世時也特別提醒我們說：「凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姊妹和母親了。」 (太12:50)

靜思：

為什麼需要藉著耶穌基督的十字架才能使我們成為 神家中的一員？

我們能做什麼：

身為神家中的一員，請在本週對主內的一位肢體，表達你如同對自己父母親或對自己兒女的愛。

詩歌：H291 哦，我要像袮

 

Scriptures

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother,“Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)

 

Message

Today’s scripture is the third saying spoken by Jesus on the cross.  We will dive into its precious meaning from two angles.

A) It fully expresses the beautiful humanity of Jesus

After Jesus, who is the Word, became flesh, not only did He obey God’s will in His human body and thus fulfill what God had entrusted to Him, but His life speaks to glorifying God in the flesh.  In His everyday life and speech, we see the most glorious of humanity.  As John testifies, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18).  The author of Hebrews states, “[Christ] being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3).  The Bible has a great number of depictions of Jesus’ kindness, gentleness, humility, love and empathy; all of them illustrate His perfect humanness.  Here, as Christ is about to endure the cruelest of trials and the deepest of sufferings, He still thinks of His mother’s pain and needs, and He entrusts her to His beloved disciple.  In this account, it is as if the Holy Spirit cracked open a small window for us to peer through, and we witness His most attentive love and perfect humanity.  Not only is He the true God but also the true human.  He is the only one that can live out perfect humanity, and He alone is able to understand all of our weaknesses and needs - “for we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15).

         Meditation

Try to recall and meditate on every description of Jesus’ beautiful humanity in Scripture. Give praise and give thanks to God for each of them.

         What we can do

Imitate Christ.  Please spend two to three minutes and pray for your parents or your closest family.  Write down your prayer.

 

B) “We are a family” in Christ

Not only did the blood of Christ show His great love for us, but through these words, we see that in Christ, through His glorious life and love, we have become His family.  The cross not only abolished all enmity, but it also removed all dividing walls (Ephesians 2:14-15).  We “are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).  This is just as Jesus reminded us when He was on earth, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

         Meditation：

Why is the cross of Jesus Christ necessary for us to become a member of the household of God?

         What we can do

In this week, as a member of God’s household, please express your love to one member in church as you would express such love to your own parents or own child.

Song：H291 O, To Be Like Thee

Passion Week - Day 2 十架七言 (二)

Monday 4/10 Dajun
經文
“39 那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他說：「你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們吧！」 40 那一個就應聲責備他說：「你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？ 41 我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。」 42 就說：「耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我！」 43 耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裡了！」(路23:39-43)

信息分享：
我們可曾想過？第一個强盜的情形正是你我原本的情形。不單不認識耶穌，而且是輕視祂、抵擋祂，與祂爲仇爲敵的人（西1：21）。這個强盜滅亡的結局也理應是我們每個人的結局。但第二個强盜卻承認自己是一個罪人，同時相信耶穌是無罪、神的羔羊，願意接受耶穌成爲他的救主。所以當耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你，今日你要同我在樂園裡了“，作爲一個一生犯罪，瀕臨死亡的强盜，這話勢必成爲他臨終前最大的喜樂，也帶給他永恒的盼望。同時，這一個罪人的悔改，也帶給耶穌基督何等大的安慰，因為這是祂斷氣之前看見祂勞苦功效所結的果子。
今天這十字架犧牲的大愛也一樣臨到了我們每一個人。無論我們之前有多少的失敗、污穢與罪惡, 相信耶穌，接受祂作爲我們個人的救主，永遠都不會太遲。任何時候我們回轉，天父都要張開雙臂歡迎我們回家。

靜思：
回想曾經我們在最低谷的時候，耶穌祂如何的恢復我們，激勵我們。讓我們一同獻上感恩和讚美。我們身上是否還有任何的罪使我們常常處在恐懼的裏面，使我們失去得救的喜樂？請藉著禱告、認罪，完全的把自己交托給主。

我們能做什麼：

1. 求聖靈光照並顯明我們心中一切任意妄爲和隱而未顯的罪（不順服，驕傲，癮，撒旦的權勢和肉體的權勢）。藉著禱告，得着赦罪的平安。
2. 在受難週裡，對一個福音朋友訴説耶穌愛我，拯救我的見證。

詩歌：H164 照我本相

Scriptures:
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Message:
Have you ever realized that all of us once despised and rejected Jesus, not knowing Him, and were even enemies of Him (Col 1:21), just like the first robber in this passage? We are all destined to be perishing sinners. However, the second robber confessed that he was a sinner and believed that Jesus was the holy lamb of God, acknowledging Jesus as his savior. As a dying criminal who sinned his whole life, it must be his ultimate joy and hope to hear Jesus say “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”. At the same time, the repentance of this robber was also a great comfort to Jesus, as He got to see the fruit of His labor.
The same sacrificial love on the cross is still there for everyone of us today. It’s never too late to accept Jesus as our savior no matter how broken, filthy, or sinful we are. Any time we can make a U-turn to our Heavenly Father, who always welcomes us home with open arms.

Meditation：
Think of how Jesus restored and encouraged us when we were in our spiritual valley, and offer thanksgiving and praises to Him for that. Search your heart to see if there is still any sin that makes your fear or keeps you from the joy of your perfect salvation. Commit yourself completely to the Lord through prayers and repentance.

What we can do：

• Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal and cleanse all our presumptuous and secret sins (disobedience, pride, addiction, enslavement to Satan, and the lust of the flesh). Embrace the peace of salvation through prayers.
• Tell at least one seeker that Jesus loves them and share with him/her your testimony.

Song:  H164 Just As I Am/I Come Broken

Passion Week - Day 1 十架七言 (一)

Sunday  4/9 Jeff

經文

“父啊，赦免他們，因為他們所作的，他們不曉得” (路 23:34)

信息分享:

今天是棕櫚日，在紀念主耶穌受難日和復活節的這一週，我們回憶並紀念主在十字架上的痛苦經歷和為我們所成就的全備救恩。主耶穌在棕櫚日騎著驢駒榮耀的進入耶路撒冷，百姓高喊“和散那”（​和散那是​「請​救​我們」​的​意思）盼望主耶穌救他們脫離外族奴役，誰也沒有想到，祂來是要順服 神的旨意，將自己獻上成為贖罪祭，救每一個人脫離罪，死亡，和永遠的審判。當主赤身露體的被釘在十字架上，祂忍受著痛苦和羞辱，仰著滿是血污的臉對著天祈求，“父啊！赦免他們，因為他們所做的，他們不曉得”。這是主在十字架上的第一句話。 當我們意識到主耶穌不僅僅是在對釘祂的猶太人和羅馬的官兵說這話，同時這也是對我們每一個罪人說的話，因為是我們的罪將主耶穌釘在十字架上，主卻赦免了我們，而且還為我們代求。所以，我們的心就無比的震撼。感謝主，因著羔羊的代罪，我們都得以稱義！

靜思：

讓我們今天花一些時間，帶著悔改的心安靜在主面前, 思想：

1）是我的罪把主钉在十字架上，因著進入主在十架上經歷的痛苦，使我個人對罪更敏感。

2）祂的赦免是隨時的，無條件的和完全的。

我們能做什麼：

• 承認自己是個罪人，感謝神豐富的恩典，使我可以藉基督的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免。（弗1:6)
• 從心裏接受主完全的赦免，並願意讓主修剪的手藉著十字架工作在我的身上，除去一切不討主喜悅的東西、喜好和習慣，使基督的生命在我裡面掌權，多結果子，使 神得榮耀。

 

詩歌：H69  我每静念那十字架

Scriptures

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Message

Today is Palm Sunday.  In this upcoming week where we remember and honor the passion of Jesus Christ, we recall once more the complete salvation that Christ has accomplished through his suffering on the cross.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowd shouted, “Hosanna” (which means “save us”), in hopes that Jesus would deliver them from being subjugated by the Gentiles of Rome.  No one knew, however, that Jesus came into Jerusalem to obey the will of God and to give himself as a sin offering so that people everywhere can be set apart from sin, death, and eternal judgement.  As Christ was nailed to the cross in his bare flesh, he withstood pain and shame, and with a face covered in blood, he looked to the heavens and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  This is the first sentence spoken by Christ on the cross.  Let us consider that Jesus was not only referring to the Jews and Roman soldiers who put in the nails, but it is our sins too that have nailed Jesus to the cross.  He forgave the sinners standing before Him and He too forgives us our sins from the inside out.  His forgiveness is for all of time, unconditional, and complete.  

Meditation：

Let us spend a little time today to repent  and be still before the Lord.  Meditate on: 1) It was for my sins that Christ was nailed to the cross, and through entering his suffering on the cross, may I become more sensitive to my own sin.  2) His forgiveness is always present, unconditional, and complete.

What we can do：

• Confess that I am a sinner and thank God for the riches of His grace, so that I have the redemption in Christ through His blood and the forgiveness of sins. (Eph.1:6)

• Accept in my heart His complete forgiveness. Allow the Lord also to prune me through the work of the cross, and rid me of everything, including hobbies and habits, that do not please Him, so that the life of Christ may reign in me and that I may bear much fruit for His glory.

Song:

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross