第七章

45 差役回到祭司長和法利賽人那裏。他們對差役說：「你們為甚麼沒有帶他來呢？」 46 差役回答說：「從來沒有像他這樣說話的！」 47 法利賽人說：「你們也受了迷惑嗎？ 48 官長或是法利賽人豈有信他的呢？ 49 但這些不明白律法的百姓是被咒詛的！」 50 內中有尼哥底母，就是從前去見耶穌的，對他們說： 51 「不先聽本人的口供，不知道他所做的事，難道我們的律法還定他的罪嗎？」 52 他們回答說：「你也是出於加利利嗎？你且去查考，就可知道加利利沒有出過先知。」

 

默想：

1. 差役因耶穌的話留下深刻印象（46），竟沒有捉拿他；那個夜訪耶穌的法利賽人尼哥底母（參3章），顯然已暗地裡成為信徒，即使很多法利賽人憎恨耶穌，並想殺害祂，但尼哥底母仍不顧自己的聲譽地位，冒險為耶穌說話，抨擊法利賽人不守自己的規條，暴露了他們虛偽的動機。
2. 當我聽到周圍的人（或是親友或是不認識的人）批評毀謗耶穌時，我會有怎樣的反應？
3. 安靜坐在主面前，揣摩當年耶穌的遭遇，被人惡意攻擊、甚至經常有遭殺身之禍的危險臨頭，心頭湧上怎樣的感受？告訴耶穌，與祂對話，聆聽祂的回應。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 7

⁴⁵Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”  ⁴⁶“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.  ⁴⁷“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸“Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹No! ut this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”  ⁵⁰Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹“Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”  ⁵²They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

Meditation:

1. The temple guards impressed with Jesus’ teaching didn’t arrest Jesus.  Nicodemus, the Pharisee that visited Jesus at night (ch 3) had apparently became a believer, despite the overwhelming hatred of Jesus from his fellowmen.  He risked his reputation and defended for Jesus.  He attacked them for breaking their own rules and exposed their hypocritical motive.
2. How do I respond when I hear people around me (relatives or strangers) criticizing or blaspheming Jesus?
3. Sit quietly before the Lord.  Try to imagine what Jesus encountered, vicious attack and murder threat.  What feelings are stirred up in me?  Talk to Jesus and listen to His response.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.