第十六章
最好能將全章略讀一遍,再專注於以下經文段落:
21 從此,耶穌才指示門徒,他必須上耶路撒冷去,受長老、祭司長、文士許多的苦,並且被殺,第三日復活。22 彼得就拉著他,勸他說:「主啊,萬不可如此!這事必不臨到你身上。」23 耶穌轉過來,對彼得說:「撒但,退我後邊去吧!你是絆我腳的;因為你不體貼 神的意思,只體貼人的意思。」24 於是耶穌對門徒說:「若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架來跟從我。25 因為,凡要救自己生命(生命:或譯靈魂;下同)的,必喪掉生命;凡為我喪掉生命的,必得著生命。26 人若賺得全世界,賠上自己的生命,有甚麼益處呢?人還能拿甚麼換生命呢?27 人子要在他父的榮耀裏,同著眾使者降臨;那時候,他要照各人的行為報應各人。28 我實在告訴你們,站在這裏的,有人在沒嘗死味以前必看見人子降臨在他的國裏。」
默想:
- 彼得不希望耶穌面對十架的死亡,因此他要求耶穌去避開。但耶穌嚴厲地斥責彼得,因他不是從神的眼光來看事情。每個主的門徒都當學習以神的眼光來看自己的生命,並「背…十字架來跟從」。這並不是說,我們都要被釘十架,我們的十架並不代表是受苦或死亡,乃是代表神對我們每個人的計劃與目的,這是需要我們去尋找並實踐。
- 我們常以為遵行神的旨意,就表示會「喪掉生命」。其實,只有在每天生活中遵行神的旨意,我們才能「得到生命」,並且是更豐盛的生命。
- 從耶穌「得與失」的教導中,我對自己目前的生活優次,有什麼提醒,察覺到神對我的生命的看法如何?
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”本上面。
Chapter 16
If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Meditation:
- Peter didn’t like the idea of Christ facing death by crucifixion. So he urged Jesus to avoid it! Jesus angrily pushed him away for he lacked the perspective of God. Every disciple must learn to look at his or her life from God’s perspective and “take up his cross and follow”. Not that we will literally be crucified, our cross doesn’t represent suffering or death. Instead, the cross represents the plan and purpose of God for each of us that we need to find and do, just like Jesus did.
- It often seems to us that if we do the will of God, we will “lose our life”. However, the truth is that we will only “gain” our life and become what we most desire to be when we do the will of God each day.
- What perspective do I gain on my current priorities from Jesus’ “gain and lose” teaching (vv25-26)?
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little while 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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.
Family Time:
If we want to follow Jesus, what three things must we do? These three are different yet closely related. Bring out the Cross which was made for chapter 10. What have you done to show you are carrying the cross to follow Jesus since the cross was made? Be as specific and practical as possible.