Entries by

拉马撒巴各大尼

2019-07-21 in /by

马太福音27: 45_50_拉马撒巴各大尼

45 从午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。 46 约在申初，耶稣大声喊著说：「以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？」就是说：「我的神！我的神！为什么离弃我？」 47 站在那里的人，有的听见就说：「这个人呼叫以利亚呢！」 48 内中有一个人赶紧跑去，拿海绒蘸满了醋，绑在苇子上，送给他喝。 49 其余的人说：「且等著，看以利亚来救他不来。」 50 耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。

耶稣是早上九时被钉，从午正到申初是指从正午十二时到下午三时，遍地都黑暗了。黑暗，表示连太阳的光也完全被遮住。正午十二时至下午三时，应该是一天中阳光最猛最烈的时刻，为何遍地黑暗？世界本来是黑暗的，没有希望的，被死亡和罪的权势所控制的。耶稣来了，祂医治生病的人，让瞎眼的看见，把天国的好消息带给人，赐给人有永生的盼望；可惜光照在黑暗里，黑暗却拒绝了光，因此世界又回复了黑暗。

在此时，耶稣经历了祂一生最大的痛苦。祂不在意降生在卑微的马槽，与牛羊马为伍；祂不在意约瑟和马利亚的贫穷；祂也不在乎没有枕头之地的流浪生涯；祂甚至不在意为门徒洗脚，被门徒出卖；祂也不在意十字架上的苦楚。但是当祂发现自己被神离弃时，祂发出了哀号：“以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的神！我的神！为什么离弃我？”那时的耶稣以人的身份，全心紧紧抓着对神的信靠，却发现神离开祂了。神为何要离开祂的儿子？因为此时的耶稣背负了全人类的罪债，与圣洁的神无法在一起了。神的圣洁和公义，使祂不能沾染自己，去接近“有罪”的耶稣。

Better to Have Christ as a Friend than an Enemy

2019-07-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 19:1-19.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 19:6-7 (NIV) 
6  When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David’s nostrils, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah. 
7  They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

On verses 1-8, 16-19:  David tries to show kindness and sympathy to Hanun king of the Ammonites after hearing about the death of Hanun’s father Nahash.  But Hanun, influenced by his commanders, is suspicious of David’s act of kindness.  He repays David’s kindness with great disrespect, humiliating the messengers David sent (v4-5).  Knowing he has angered David, Hanun forms an alliance with other kingdoms like Aram, Zobah and Maakah (v6-7).  David sends out his army in full force and scores a decisive victory over Hanun and this newly formed alliance soundly (v8-19). 

Experiencing Victory with Every Challenge You Face

2019-07-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 18:1-17.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 18:6 (NIV) 
6  He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went.
 
On verses 1-17:  In these verses we see David facing many different enemies (Philistines in verse 1, Moabites in verse 2, Hadadezer of Zobah in verses 3-4, Arameans in verse 5-6, Amalekites in verse 11, Edomites in verses 12-13).  But in each case David overcomes with God’s help.  As verses 6 and 13 say, “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went”.  It’s a reminder that in this world you may face all kinds of trouble, but with the Lord’s help, you can overcome each of them.   For in Christ you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).  Blessed are those who internalize David’s words in Psalm 18:29: “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall”, which is another way of saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

得救的强盗

2019-07-19 in /by

马太福音27: 38_44_得救的强盗

38 当时，有两个强盗和他同钉十字架，一个在右边，一个在左边。 39 从那里经过的人讥诮他，摇著头说： 40 「你这拆毁圣殿、三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！」 41 祭司长和文士并长老也是这样戏弄他说： 42 「他救了别人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信他！ 43 他倚靠神，神若喜悦他，现在可以救他！因为他曾说：『我是神的儿子。』」 44 那和他同钉的强盗也是这样地讥诮他。

你可曾奇怪，为何大卫犯了奸淫和谋杀，神却说他是合神心意的人？在世人眼中，扫罗犯的罪似乎没有大卫的那么糟糕，他只是在着急时想替撒母耳献祭，他只是在战胜时留下了一些战利品，和对方的首领惺惺相惜，舍不得杀他，又在惊慌失措时去找交鬼的妇人，为何神那样恨恶扫罗？

你觉得彼得和犹大谁犯的错比较大？为什么一个回转，一个自杀？

在耶稣十字架两边的强盗似乎给了我们一些线索。他们都是强盗，都是坏人，为何有一个可以跟主到乐园？在〈路加福音〉23章里记载：

39 那同钉的两个犯人，有一个讥诮他说：「你不是基督吗？可以救自己和我们吧！」 40 那一个就应声责备他说：「你既是一样受刑的，还不怕神吗？ 41 我们是应该的，因我们所受的与我们所做的相称，但这个人没有做过一件不好的事。」 42 就说：「耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我！」 43 耶稣对他说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了！」

How to Respond to God’s Word

2019-07-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 17:16-27.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 17:16 (NIV) 
16  Then King David went in and sat before the LORD… 

On verse 16a:   After God spoke amazing promises to David in verses 1-15, notice David’s reaction: first, he sits before the Lord.  Often I find that the most powerful thing I can do is to sit before the Lord, to be still in His presence.  Sitting before the Lord is my power position.  It’s where I most often sense the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  It’s where I process and digest the words He has spoken to me.  It’s where I recalibrate my heart and mind.   When I’m lost, confused, frustrated or hurting, I sit.  It’s where I experience His presence and peace.   Do you want to develop a deeper, closer relationship with the Holy Spirit?  Take the time to sit before the Lord often.

1 Chronicles 17:16 (NIV) 
16  Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 

On verse 16b-22:  The second thing David does in response to God’s Word is he humbles himself before God.  David did not come to God with a sense of entitlement as if God owed him, nor did David well up with pride in himself. Rather, David recognized that the reason he and his nation could receive such amazing promises was all because of God’s undeserved mercy and grace.  Like David, when you hear God’s Word, have a humble attitude.

耶稣被钉十字架

2019-07-18 in /by

马太福音27: 27_37_耶稣被钉十字架

27 巡抚的兵就把耶稣带进衙门，叫全营的兵都聚集在他那里。 28 他们给他脱了衣服，穿上一件朱红色袍子， 29 用荆棘编做冠冕，戴在他头上，拿一根苇子放在他右手里，跪在他面前，戏弄他，说：「恭喜，犹太人的王啊！」 30 又吐唾沫在他脸上，拿苇子打他的头。 31 戏弄完了，就给他脱了袍子，仍穿上他自己的衣服，带他出去，要钉十字架。

32 他们出来的时候，遇见一个古利奈人，名叫西门，就勉强他同去，好背着耶稣的十字架。

33 到了一个地方名叫各各他，意思就是「髑髅地」； 34 兵丁拿苦胆调和的酒给耶稣喝。他尝了，就不肯喝。 35 他们既将他钉在十字架上，就拈阄分他的衣服， 36 又坐在那里看守他。 37 在他头以上安一个牌子，写着他的罪状说：「这是犹太人的王耶稣。」

在这段过程里有许多人做了研究，名之为苦路十四站，也就是耶稣背十字架到髑髅地的这段路。髑髅地的原名是各各他，因为形状很像髑髅，所以又被称为髑髅地。今天让我们来根据圣经考古的路线，与耶稣一起走这苦路。

若按文献和考古的话，耶稣所行的苦路，应从旧城以西的约帕门以南，现今大卫堡博物馆之内的大希律皇宫之处开始。不过，中世纪的苦路历史悠久，是历代信徒对耶稣为我们罪人受苦受死而传留下来的属灵遗产，它是「信心地理」(geography of faith)。在历史之中，苦路让信众具体地领会神子耶稣为罪人为死所付上的重价。

无罪的基督

2019-07-17 in /by

马太福音27: 11_26_无罪的基督

11 耶稣站在巡抚面前，巡抚问他说：「你是犹太人的王吗？」耶稣说：「你说的是。」 12 他被祭司长和长老控告的时候，什么都不回答。 13 彼拉多就对他说：「他们作见证告你这么多的事，你没有听见吗？」 14 耶稣仍不回答，连一句话也不说，以致巡抚甚觉稀奇。 

15 巡抚有一个常例，每逢这节期，随众人所要的释放一个囚犯给他们。 16 当时有一个出名的囚犯叫巴拉巴。 17 众人聚集的时候，彼拉多就对他们说：「你们要我释放哪一个给你们？是巴拉巴呢，是称为基督的耶稣呢？」 18 巡抚原知道他们是因为嫉妒才把他解了来。 19 正坐堂的时候，他的夫人打发人来说：「这义人的事你一点不可管，因为我今天在梦中为他受了许多的苦。」 

20 祭司长和长老挑唆众人，求释放巴拉巴，除灭耶稣。 21 巡抚对众人说：「这两个人，你们要我释放哪一个给你们呢？」他们说：「巴拉巴！」 22 彼拉多说：「这样，那称为基督的耶稣，我怎么办他呢？」他们都说：「把他钉十字架！」 23 巡抚说：「为什么呢？他做了什么恶事呢？」他们便极力地喊著说：「把他钉十字架！」 24 彼拉多见说也无济于事，反要生乱，就拿水在众人面前洗手，说：「流这义人的血，罪不在我，你们承当吧！」 25 众人都回答说：「他的血归到我们和我们的子孙身上！」26 于是彼拉多释放巴拉巴给他们，把耶稣鞭打了，交给人钉十字架。

犹太人没有定罪定刑的权柄，因此他们把耶稣带到彼拉多那里；彼拉多因为希律是负责当地的主管，就把耶稣推到希律那里；希律找不出耶稣的罪，又不想得罪祭司长等人，所以又把耶稣推给了彼拉多。就在这里彼拉多宣告耶稣无罪，是个义人的事实。

彼拉多是神摆在这里的一个重要的棋子，惟有无罪的基督才替众人赎罪，献出赎价。这是彼拉多的宣告：「流这义人的血，罪不在我，你们承当吧！」表面上是祭司长和民间的长老把耶稣推上了十字架，看起来是彼拉多让无辜的耶稣钉上了十字架，但是真正把耶稣钉上十字架的，是你和我的罪，是众人的罪让基督不得不上十字架。

Jesus: God’s Promises Fulfilled

2019-07-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 17:1-15. Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (NIV) 
11  When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
12  He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
13  I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.
14  I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'”

On verses 1-15: David desires to build a house for God, a permanent venue where God’s people can worship Him regularly (v1).  Though Nathan the prophet is at first approving of this plan (v2), God gives Nathan a message for David that night, which is that, in fact, God wants to build a house for David (v10).  In particular God promises to make David’s name among the greatest men who ever lived (v8), to provide a safe and peaceful place for his countrymen the Israelites (v9) and to subdue David’s enemies (v10).  God says He will do this by raising up a son of David to succeed David (v11) and that this son of David would build a house for God.  Not only that, God promises that this son of David would have authority over God’s own house and God’s own kingdom, and that his kingdom will last forever (v14)!   What can we learn from this?