Jesus Is Risen!

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 24:30-43. Let’s go!

Luke 24:30-35 (NIV) 
30  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34  and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

On verses 30-35: These two disciples recognized it was Jesus not when he was teaching Scripture but rather when they saw Jesus breaking bread and giving thanks (v30-31, 35). I believe there is a lesson for us as followers of Jesus: we help people see who Jesus is not just by teaching the Scriptures, but by the way we do life and give thanks.

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潔淨和不潔淨之動物(下)

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利未記11章44節   我是耶和華─你們的　神；所以你們要成為聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。

神的聖潔和以色列人吃東西有關係嗎？神的聖潔和基督徒的飲食有關係嗎？很想說怎麼會有關係，主耶穌不是說：「入口的不能污穢人，出口的乃能污穢人。(太15:11)」又說：「豈不知凡入口的，是運到肚子裡，又落在茅廁裡嗎？惟獨出口的，是從心裡發出來的，這才污穢人。因為從心裡發出來的，有惡念、凶殺、姦淫、苟合、偷盜、妄證、謗讟。這都是污穢人的。(太15:18-20)」

但是入口的真的不能污穢人嗎？這裡的污穢代表什麼呢？我相信舊約和新約的污穢有一字之別。主耶穌的意思是凡入口的不能污穢「別」人，出口的才會污穢「別」人；和舊約的意思是相似的，入口的會污穢「自己」。假如你吃壞了東西，就會拉肚子；假如你長期喝酒，就會傷肝；痛風、糖尿病、高血壓、膽固醇，過敏，等等，有許多病多是吃出來的，不是嗎？

神造人原是好的，就是不穿衣服也很好看；人犯罪以後，還是同一個肉體，可是因為心靈的眼光不同了，同樣的肉體看起來也不一樣了，看到的不再是起初的榮光，取代的是情慾和羞恥，因此需要不停地包裝。

神要的聖潔，就是不被玷污的本相；用淺白的話說，神希望我們保有祂給人的健康。所以祂希望我們遠離對人體有害的東西。潔淨和不潔淨的動物，就含有合適和不合適食用的意思在內。

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潔淨和不潔淨之動物(上)

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利未記11章44節   我是耶和華─你們的　神；所以你們要成為聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。

曾經有位做餐飲業的從業人員，為了要研究知名人物的用餐習性，特別花精神去了解個別人物的愛好。她發現當年的國務卿，猶太裔的季辛吉的習性：「不喝酒，愛喝沛綠雅﹝Perrier﹞ 礦泉水，不吃有殼的海鮮，不吃豬肉。」因而若季辛吉到她服務的餐廳，她總是特別為季辛吉準備沛綠雅礦泉水，並且避免向他介紹有殼的海鮮或豬肉方面的菜單。這就是猶太人在飲食方面的堅持，因為這是神給他們的規定。

在〈利未記〉11章裡，神教導以色列人怎樣分別潔淨和不潔淨的動物，潔淨的可以食用，不潔淨的就不可以食用。其中大部份是為了食用的安全和人體的健康。例如：死了的爬物，掉在甚麼東西上，這東西就不潔淨，無論是木器、衣服、皮子、口袋，不拘是做甚麼工用的器皿，須要放在水中，必不潔淨到晚上，到晚上才潔淨了。若有死了掉在瓦器裡的，其中不拘有甚麼，就不潔淨，你們要把這瓦器打破了。其中一切可吃的食物，沾水的就不潔淨，並且那樣器皿中一切可喝的，也必不潔淨。(利11:31-34)

現在我們知道因為那些死了的爬物，很可能身上有致病的菌或毒，若沾上了我們使用的器皿，沒有洗乾淨，就會使人生病或死亡。

但是動物倒嚼或分不分蹄，對我們食用真的有影響嗎？凡在海裡、河裡，並一切水裡游動的活物，無翅無鱗的，為什麼都不可以吃呢？為什麼有翅膀用四足爬行的物中，有足有腿，在地上蹦跳的，都可以吃；有翅膀有四足的爬物，卻當以為可憎？

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Becoming More Aware of Jesus’ Presence

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 24:13-29. Let’s go!

Luke 24:13-16 (NIV) 
13  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 
14  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 
15  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 
16  but they were kept from recognizing him.

On verses 13-16: How many times have we been in conversations with others, failing to recognize that Jesus is present, listening and watching? Remember what Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) Whenever we’re having conversations with one another, may we speak and act knowing that Jesus is in our midst..

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大喜大悲的一天

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利未記10章3節    於是摩西對亞倫說：「這就是耶和華所說：『我在親近我的人中要顯為聖；在眾民面前，我要得榮耀。』」亞倫就默默不言。

那是非常喜樂的一天，萬里晴空。在西乃山剛造好不久的會幕前，摩西按著神的吩咐，揀選亞倫和他的四個兒子供祭司的職份。

在〈出埃及記〉28章裡，神己經安排一切心中有智慧的人為亞做衣服，胸牌、以弗得、外袍、雜色的內袍、冠冕、腰帶。這祭司和大祭司的衣服所用的材料是：金線和藍色、紫色、朱紅色線，並撚的細麻。再用巧匠的手工做以弗得，以弗得就是大祭司胸前的那塊布袋，它有兩條肩帶可以相連，又取兩塊紅瑪瑙，在上面刻以色列兒子的名字，六個名字在這塊寶石上，六個名字在那塊寶石上，都照他們生來的次序；

又用刻寶石的手工，彷彿刻圖書，按著以色列兒子的名字，刻這兩塊寶石，要鑲在金槽上。再把寶石安在以弗得的兩條肩帶上，為以色列人做紀念石。亞倫要在兩肩上擔他們的名字，在耶和華面前作為紀念。

然後，用金子做二槽；拿精金，用擰工彷彿擰繩子，做兩條鍊子，把這擰成的鍊子搭在二槽上；再做一個決斷的四方型胸牌，分兩層。在上面鑲寶石四行：第一行是紅寶石、紅璧璽、紅玉；第二行是綠寶石、藍寶石、金鋼石；第三行是紫瑪瑙、白瑪瑙、紫晶；第四行是水蒼玉、紅瑪瑙、碧玉。這都要鑲在金槽中。這些寶石都要按著以色列十二個兒子的名字，彷彿刻圖書，刻十二個支派的名字。

以弗得的外袍，顏色全是藍的。袍上要為頭留一領口，口的周圍織出領邊來，彷彿鎧甲的領口，免得破裂。袍子周圍底邊上要用藍色、紫色、朱紅色線做石榴。在袍子周圍的石榴中間要有金鈴鐺：一個金鈴鐺一個石榴，一個金鈴鐺一個石榴，在袍子周圍的底邊上。亞倫供職的時候要穿這袍子。他進聖所到耶和華面前，以及出來的時候，袍上的響聲必被聽見，使他不至於死亡。

還要用精金做一面牌，在上面按刻圖書之法刻著『歸耶和華為聖』。用一條藍細帶子將牌繫在冠冕的前面。這就是神為大祭司所預備的一切榮華。

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The Greatest Miracle of All Time

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Hi GAMErs,

Tday’s passage is Luke 24:1-12. Let’s go!

Luke 24:1-12 (NIV) 
1  On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 
2  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 
3  but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ……

Which is the greatest miracle of all? Many Christians would point to the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross. The crucifixion-resurrection event is, after all, the basis for our salvation. But why would we consider the death and resurrection of Jesus so great an event? After all, others have died and risen again. Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, Eutychus. Why is the resurrection of Jesus a greater event than the raising of Lazarus from the dead?

Make no mistake, Jesus’ resurrection is a greater event than the raising of Lazarus. Lazarus eventually died again, but Jesus rose to eternal life and glory. When Lazarus rose, a great deal changed for him, but little changed for the world. But when Jesus rose, everything changed.

What was so different about Jesus’ resurrection? The key lies in who died and rose. In the case of Lazarus, a human died and rose again to continue a mortal life. But in the case of Jesus, someone much more than a human died and rose again. Jesus was human, but not just a human. He was both God and human — God in the flesh, God incarnate, both divine and human.

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五祭

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利未記6章9-13節  你要吩咐亞倫和他的子孫說，燔祭的條例乃是這樣：燔祭要放在壇的柴上，從晚上到天亮，壇上的火要常常燒著。祭司要穿上細麻布衣服，又要把細麻布褲子穿在身上，把壇上所燒的燔祭灰收起來，倒在壇的旁邊。隨後要脫去這衣服，穿上別的衣服，把灰拿到營外潔淨之處。 壇上的火要在其上常常燒著，不可熄滅，祭司要每日早晨在上面燒柴，並要把燔祭擺在壇上，在其上燒平安祭牲的脂油。在壇上必有常常燒著的火，不可熄滅。

當神住在人的中間，卻因為人的罪，成為了人與神之間的隔閡，有如萬丈高牆，難以攀越。因此神設立了五祭，使以色列可以藉著這五祭來親近祂。一般在人所創立的宗教裡，都盡量給人不食煙火的感覺，好讓人幻想在天界是何等地清靜無瑕。但是耶和華神卻有不一樣的想法，因為祂知道真正的天堂是怎樣的，祂更知道誰才能去那裡。所以在耶和華的殿裡，祭是最原始的敬拜。

神設立了五祭，雖然我們不是猶太人，不必獻祭；即使是猶太人，現在也沒了獻祭的地方。但是理解這五祭，可以幫助我們要怎樣敬拜神，親近神。現在我們要用複習的方法來看這五祭，答案都在《聖經》〈利未記〉1-7章裡。這些有的是多選題，有超過一個的答案。

1.(        ) 神設立了那些祭是血祭 : (a.贖罪祭b.燔祭c.平安祭d.素祭e.贖愆祭f.以上皆是g.以上皆非)

2.(        ) 人的供物若以牛為燔祭，就要在(a.約櫃前b. 會幕門口c. 祭壇上)獻一隻沒有殘疾的公牛。

3.(        ) 哪一種祭要把整隻祭牲全部燒在祭壇上？(a.贖罪祭b.燔祭c.平安祭d.素祭e.贖愆祭f.以上皆是g.以上皆非)

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When the Curtain Tore (Plus, Jesus’ Last Words)

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 23:44-56. Let’s go!

Luke 23:44-45 (NIV) 
44  It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45  for the sun stopped shining…

On verses 44-45: It is only fitting that when Jesus, the light of the world, was fading, the sun also stopped shining and darkness came over the entire land.

Luke 23:45b (NIV) 
45  …And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

On verse 45b: In the temple in Jerusalem, there was a curtain that separated the most holy part of the temple, called the Most Holy Place, from the rest of the temple. The Most Holy Place was regarded as the place where God’s presence resided. Only the high priest could enter that Most Holy Place and no more frequently than once a year. Yet when Jesus died, the curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple was torn in two. This signified that because of Jesus’ death we now have full access to God’s most holy presence.

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神在呼叫

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利未記一章1-3節     耶和華從會幕中呼叫摩西，對他說：你曉諭以色列人說：你們中間若有人獻供物給耶和華，要從牛群羊群中獻牲畜為供物。他的供物若以牛為燔祭，就要在會幕門口獻一隻沒有殘疾的公牛，可以在耶和華面前蒙悅納。

從〈創世記〉一開始，神創造這個世界，賜給人生命氣息，然後人犯罪，獻祭就開始了。亞當和夏娃吃了善惡果樹的果子之後，就看見自己赤身裸體，並感到羞恥，便拿無花果樹的葉子，為自己編做裙子。神知道以後，為亞當和他妻子用皮子做衣服給他們穿。哪裡來的皮子呢？當然是動物的皮了，這便是獻祭的開始，神為他們的罪殺了動物，動物的血遮蓋他們的罪，也遮蓋他們的祼體。因為罪的工價就是死。

在亞當的家裡，孩子們都懂得獻祭，該隱獻素祭，亞伯獻燔祭。為什麼他們都知道要獻祭呢？因為罪使人與神隔絕，當他們想親近神時，就要先獻祭除罪，才能親近神。

〈創世記〉結束時，以約瑟的死為結束。一開始是生命的賜予，結束時，神收回生命。人不再享有永生。在〈出埃及記〉的開始，也是一個生命的誕生，原是該死的，卻在神的恩典中活了下來。正代表以色列人這個民族，原是該滅亡的，卻因著神的大能，起死回生，脫離奴隸生涯，成為神揀選的子民，建立起自己的國度。更美的是，在〈出埃及記〉的結束是神用雲彩每天的帶領，使以色列人成為一支充滿希望的隊伍。〈出埃及記〉，是一本從絕望到充滿希望的過程。

〈利未記〉的第一章第1節，「耶和華從會幕中呼叫摩西」，會幕己經造好了，神住在以色列人中間，摩西不用再上山下山了。神只要呼叫，摩西即刻就到。這就是〈利未記〉的書名(ויקרא)，希伯來文的意思就是「祂呼叫」。當然，神不只是呼叫摩西，祂呼叫以色列百姓到祂面前來親近祂。神的家立好了，沒有人來的話，有什麼意思呢？神的會幕在人間就是為要住在人中間，百姓若不來就失去了會幕的功用。

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What Kept Jesus on the Cross

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 23:27-43. Let’s go!

Luke 23:27-31 (NIV) 
27  A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 
28  Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 
29  For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 
30  Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”‘ 
31  For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

On verses 27-31: I am amazed by the compassion of Jesus. Even as Jesus is going through the most painful humiliation and torture that anyone would ever have to go through, Jesus still goes out of his way to speak his heart for the women of Jerusalem and their children. You can tell what is truly in a person’s heart when they are under pressure. In Jesus’ case, when under the most pressure anyone would ever face, Jesus looked past his own immediate suffering and focused on the suffering that others were slated to face years later. I believe Jesus did this not because he was in denial about his own suffering or because he was trying to look spiritual in front of others, but simply because Jesus is love and compassion personified. 

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