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愛在西羅亞池畔

2024-03-18 in , /by

約翰福音 9:1-41

耶穌過去的時候，看見一個人生來是瞎眼的。 2 門徒問耶穌說：「拉比，這人生來是瞎眼的，是誰犯了罪？是這人呢，是他父母呢？」 3 耶穌回答說：「也不是這人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上顯出神的作為來。 4 趁著白日，我們必須做那差我來者的工；黑夜將到，就沒有人能做工了。 5 我在世上的時候，是世上的光。」 6 耶穌說了這話，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上， 7 對他說：「你往西羅亞池子裡去洗。」（「西羅亞」翻出來就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回頭就看見了。

愛在西羅亞池畔：因著愛，祂醫治生來瞎眼的，讓他看見且相信祂是神的兒子。（約9:1-41）

這段在約翰福音的單獨記載，描述著生來瞎眼的經歷兩段曲折的生命歷程：先從聖殿到西羅亞（奉差遣）池，他的眼睛得看見（約9:6-7），再從看見（眼睛得醫治，約9:7）到明白（與主面對面，約9:38），俯伏下拜信耶穌。

從聖殿到西羅亞池：距離大約是一公里，路徑上有明顯的高低差，對一個瞎子而言，這是一條曲折且費時費力的歷程。約9:7說明了這段歷程的結局，他去一洗，回頭就看見了（原文可譯為：於是他去清洗自己，且能看見地回去）。

Loved For A Thousand Years and More

2024-03-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 20:1-15.  There are so many powerful truths about Jesus that we can learn from this passage.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Revelation 20:1-3 (NIV) 
1  And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.
2  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 
3  He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 

On verses 1-3:  Previously in Revelation 9 we read of “the angel of the Abyss” (9:11) who was also called a “fallen star” and given the key to the Abyss (9:1).  Many commentators believe this angel is Satan himself.  Here in Revelation 20:1 John sees another angel coming down out of heaven possessing the key to the Abyss and holding a great chain.  This angel seizes the red dragon Satan, throws him into the Abyss, locks and seals the Abyss, so that Satan cannot deceive the nations for 1,000 years.  After the 1,000 years are over, verse 3 says that Satan “must be set free for a short time”.

Meet the One Who Wins in the End

2024-03-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:11-21.  There are so many powerful truths about Jesus that we can learn from this passage.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:11 (NIV) 
11  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
 
On verse 11:  Here John sees an awesome picture of Jesus.  In the Gospel of John 12:14-15, John described Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, which is what kings would ride on during peace time.  Now when we see Jesus on a white war horse, it’s because Jesus means war and judges with justice.  The suffering servant who died to bring us peace is now the conquering king who lives to judge with justice and defeat his enemies. 
 

愛在耶路撒冷城邊(三)

2024-03-17 in , /by

路加福音 19:41-44

41 耶穌快到耶路撒冷，看見城，就為它哀哭， 42 說：「巴不得你在這日子知道關係你平安的事，無奈這事現在是隱藏的，叫你的眼看不出來。 43 因為日子將到，你的仇敵必築起土壘，周圍環繞你，四面困住你， 44 並要掃滅你和你裡頭的兒女，連一塊石頭也不留在石頭上，因你不知道眷顧你的時候。」

耶路撒冷依照希伯來文的解釋，「耶路」意為「根基」，「撒冷」意即「平安」，「耶路撒冷」便是「以平安為根基的城市」，也就是「和平之城」。因它坐落在錫安山上，又被稱為錫安城。

西元前2000年，上帝指示亞伯拉罕到摩利亞地，獻以撒為祭（創22:1-14）。亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫「耶和華以勒」（就是耶和華必預備的意思），直到今日人還說：「在耶和華的山上必有預備（原文有看見、看顧、察覺的含意）。」（創22:14）摩利亞地在耶路撒冷附近，其地近新約所記的加略山，即耶穌釘十字架的地方。

西元前1000年左右，大衛佔領耶路撒冷，把此地變成宗教和政治首都，接著，所羅門王在摩利亞山的亞勞拿禾場建聖殿。

西元前705年左右，希西家王向西擴建耶路撒冷（以色列國遭亞述人滅亡）。西元前500年左右，巴比倫人滅亡猶大國，摧毀聖殿，許多人被擄掠。

愛在耶路撒冷城邊(二)

2024-03-15 in , /by

路加福音 19:41-44

41 耶穌快到耶路撒冷，看見城，就為它哀哭， 42 說：「巴不得你在這日子知道關係你平安的事，無奈這事現在是隱藏的，叫你的眼看不出來。 43 因為日子將到，你的仇敵必築起土壘，周圍環繞你，四面困住你， 44 並要掃滅你和你裡頭的兒女，連一塊石頭也不留在石頭上，因你不知道眷顧你的時候。」

愛在耶路撒冷城邊：因著愛，祂為耶路撒冷哀哭：巴不得你在這日子，知道關係你平安的事！（路19:41-44）

所羅門王建造聖殿，獻給神作居所、永遠的住處，常與以色列民同在（王上8:1-66）。耶路撒冷城和其中的聖殿雖屢經戰亂、摧毀、擄掠，也多次得以修復、重建、擴建；希律王是猶太歷史上最著名的建設者，他統治時期的耶路撒冷是榮美的全盛時期。

耶穌榮耀進入耶路撒冷，耶穌來了，神的兒子來到神的居所，當時的耶路撒冷和聖殿確實是富麗堂皇，門徒面對不禁驚嘆：夫子，請看，這是何等的石頭！何等的殿宇！（馬可13:1）

You Are Righteous and Radiant Because of Jesus

2024-03-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:1-10.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:1-4 (NIV) 
1  After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 
2  for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 
3  And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 
4  The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

On verses 1-4:  Earlier in Revelation 17-18 we read of Babylon, a prostitute who according to many commentators symbolizes the spirit of false religion.  The spirit of false religion is all about people thinking they can reach God on their own effort.  In Revelation 17, Babylon’s fall is predicted.  In Revelation 18, we read of how the kings and merchants who dealt with Babylon will mourn after her death.  Now in Revelation 19 we hear heaven’s response to Babylon’s fall.  John hears the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting praises to God because He has judged Babylon and avenged the blood of His servants whom Babylon was responsible for killing (v1-3).  The 24 elders and 4 living creatures in heaven join in this great worship.  They cry, “Amen” (a word spoken to affirm the trustworthiness of what has just been said) and “Hallelujah!” (which means “Praise the Lord”) (v4).
 

愛在耶路撒冷城邊(一)

2024-03-14 in , /by

路加福音 19:41-44

41 耶穌快到耶路撒冷，看見城，就為它哀哭， 42 說：「巴不得你在這日子知道關係你平安的事，無奈這事現在是隱藏的，叫你的眼看不出來。 43 因為日子將到，你的仇敵必築起土壘，周圍環繞你，四面困住你， 44 並要掃滅你和你裡頭的兒女，連一塊石頭也不留在石頭上，因你不知道眷顧你的時候。」

愛在耶路撒冷城邊：因著愛，祂為耶路撒冷哀哭：巴不得你在這日子，知道關係你平安的事！（路19:41-44）

所羅門王建造聖殿，獻給神作居所、永遠的住處，常與以色列民同在（王上8:1-66）。耶路撒冷城和其中的聖殿雖屢經戰亂、摧毀、擄掠，也多次得以修復、重建、擴建；希律王是猶太歷史上最著名的建設者，他統治時期的耶路撒冷是榮美的全盛時期。

耶穌榮耀進入耶路撒冷，耶穌來了，神的兒子來到神的居所，當時的耶路撒冷和聖殿確實是富麗堂皇，門徒面對不禁驚嘆：夫子，請看，這是何等的石頭！何等的殿宇！（馬可13:1）

Last Kingdom Standing

2024-03-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 18:1-24.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV) 
1  After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 
2  With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3  For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” 

On verses 1-3:  In Revelation 17 we read about a drunk prostitute dressed in fine clothes, riding on a beast.  We learned that this woman is called Babylon the Great and, according to many commentators, represents a spirit of false religion that is all about man thinking he can reach God by his own effort.  At the end of chapter 17 we learned that Babylon would be burned alive by the very kings who used her and slept with her.  Now in chapter 18 is heaven’s description of her demise and how various groups including kings, merchants, and sea captains will respond to her death.

愛在低加波利

2024-03-13 in , /by

馬太福音 15:32-39

32 耶穌叫門徒來，說：「我憐憫這眾人，因為他們同我在這裡已經三天，也沒有吃的了。我不願意叫他們餓著回去，恐怕在路上困乏。」 33 門徒說：「我們在這野地，哪裡有這麼多的餅叫這許多人吃飽呢？」 34 耶穌說：「你們有多少餅？」他們說：「有七個，還有幾條小魚。」 35 他就吩咐眾人坐在地上， 36 拿著這七個餅和幾條魚，祝謝了，掰開，遞給門徒，門徒又遞給眾人。 37 眾人都吃，並且吃飽了，收拾剩下的零碎，裝滿了七個筐子。 38 吃的人，除了婦女孩子，共有四千。 39 耶穌叫眾人散去，就上船，來到馬加丹的境界。

愛在低加波利：因著愛，祂用七個餅和幾條魚，讓四千人吃飽，零碎裝滿七個筐子。（太15:32-39，可8:1-10）

低加波利是由「十」和「城」兩個字拼合而成，代表「十個城」，指一個地區而非一個城市。低加波利包括約旦河兩岸的敘利亞區域，是羅馬帝國的移民區，由外邦人建造，充滿著希臘文化色彩。

They Don’t Compare to the King of Kings

2024-03-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 17:1-21.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Revelation 17:1-2 (NIV) 
1  One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 
2  With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” 

On verses 1-2:  The key to properly interpreting the book of Revelation is correctly identifying the characters that appear in the book.  Who is “the great prostitute, who sits on many waters” (v1), who committed adultery with the kings of the earth and intoxicated earth’s inhabitants with her adulteries (v2)?  Many commentators believe that this great prostitute represents false religion.  What false religion are we talking about?  In this sharing, I will use the term “false religion” to mean every system of belief in the world that preaches that man by his own effort can reach God or become his own God.  The great prostitute of false religion has affected people all over the world for millennia.  It gives people a false hope and a false comfort that can be fairly described as “adultery” (v2a), for it involves running from the mercy and grace that God, our true lover, offers to us and running into the arms of a false religious system that is all about one’s own effort and exalting oneself.  The comfort of this false religion is like the false comfort of being “intoxicated” (v2b) in that the comfort is fleeting and does not last.