这些好像是不相干的题目，却因这段的约翰福音可放在一起。首先我们说明为什么马利亚是因相信耶稣的预言而膏耶稣，并强调了拉撒路的复活和耶稣的复活的不同点在那里。第二，我们看到了耶稣谦卑的骑著驴驹进耶路撒冷，众人直到耶稣进了耶路撒冷后，去到神的殿去清理圣殿，而不是去行政中心，才意识到祂来不是要作世上的王。在这里我们且提到基督徒要回顾过去才能确定三位一体的神究竟如何在我们身上工作。第三，我们从希腊人求见耶稣，知道祂的名声不只在犹太人中间，而是远及于外邦人。我本看不懂这段，因准备这次的专题查经懂了！第四，基督徒是要有麦子似的生命，背起自己的十字架跟随耶稣，且说明了耶稣是说基督徒要爱惜生命。第五，父神从天上直说了耶稣荣耀其名，并简短的讨论了在四福书天上有声音的次数，并这次是为了什么。最后，我们讨论了旧约在那里纪载了以赛亚的确看见了耶稣的荣耀，提到了他的预言的应验，讲到了神迹奇事的目的是要证明祂的恩道，并且举一个例子来讨论了官长中的确有信祂的。

1. 马利亚因相信耶稣的预言而膏耶稣

    『犹太人的逾越节近了，有许多人从乡下上耶路撒冷去，要在节前洁净自己。他们就寻找耶稣，站在殿里彼此说：「你们的意思如何？他不来过节吗？」那时，祭司长和法利赛人早已吩咐说：「若有人知道耶稣在哪里，就要报明，好去拿他。」逾越节前六日，耶稣来到伯大尼，就是他叫拉撒路从死里复活之处。有人在那里给耶稣预备筵席，马大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶稣坐席的人中。马利亚就拿著一斤极贵的真哪哒香膏抹耶稣的脚，又用自己头发去擦，屋里就满了膏的香气。有一个门徒，就是那将要卖耶稣的加略人犹大，说：「这香膏为甚么不卖三十两银子赒济穷人呢？」他说这话，并不是挂念穷人，乃因他是个贼，又带著钱囊，常取其中所存的。耶稣说：「由她吧！她是为我安葬之日存留的。因为常有穷人和你们同在，只是你们不常有我。」有许多犹太人知道耶稣在那里，就来了，不但是为耶稣的缘故，也是要看他从死里所复活的拉撒路。但祭司长商议连拉撒路也要杀了，因有好些犹太人为拉撒路的缘故，回去信了耶稣。』(约翰福音 11:55-12:11)        

    最开始就说明从人的角度看是期望耶稣来过逾越节，祂也到了。我们看到耶稣是复活拉撒路在先，然后才有马利亚的膏耶稣，有人就因此说她会膏耶稣、是因为她看见了耶稣使拉撒路复活了，这是不对的，因耶稣明说，『…她是为我安葬之日存留的。』(约翰福音 12:7) 所以这香膏本是为耶稣安葬之日存留的，马利亚现在用了这香膏，她是没有看到主的安葬就早用了，代表她相信了耶稣的预言，祂要死而复活(如参马太福音 20:19)。 而其他使徒及门徒在耶稣生前并不相信，直到他们看见了耶稣的复活。也只有她预先为耶稣的安葬膏到耶稣，其余的人是预备了，但没有机会膏到耶稣，如经文所说，『七日的头一日，黎明的时候，那些妇女带著所预备的香料来到坟墓前，看见石头已经从坟墓滚开了，她们就进去，只是不见主耶稣的身体。』(路加福音 24:1-3)        

    我们这里要强调拉撒路的复活和耶稣的复活是不同的，拉撒路最终还是会死的，虽然圣经并没有描述他的死，但我们知道得很清楚，『按著定命，人人都有一死，死后且有审判。』(希伯来书 9:27) 而耶稣复活后是会在天上存到永远的，『…有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，现今在神的右边，也替我们祈求。』(罗马书 8:34) 在这里，复活的拉撒路在筵席中没有说一句话，他真是不必说话，他本身就是那活生生的见证，他从死里复活的这件事是无可置疑的，因『当耶稣呼唤拉撒路，叫他从死复活出坟墓的时候，同耶稣在那里的众人就作见证。』(约翰福音 12:17) 难怪『…好些犹太人为拉撒路的缘故，回去信了耶稣。』(约翰福音 12:11) 所以『…祭司长商议连拉撒路也要杀了。』(约翰福音 12:10) 很显然的，也有不信的人，等一下我们再讨论这点。

2. 耶稣骑驴驹进耶路撒冷       

『第二天，有许多上来过节的人，听见耶稣将到耶路撒冷，就拿著棕树枝，出去迎接他，喊著说：「和散那！奉主名来的以色列王是应当称颂的！」耶稣得了一个驴驹，就骑上，如经上所记的说：「锡安的民哪，不要惧怕！你的王骑著驴驹来了。」这些事门徒起先不明白，等到耶稣得了荣耀以后，才想起这话是指著他写的，并且众人果然向他这样行了。当耶稣呼唤拉撒路，叫他从死复活出坟墓的时候，同耶稣在那里的众人就作见证。众人因听见耶稣行了这神迹，就去迎接他。法利赛人彼此说：「看哪，你们是徒劳无益，世人都随从他去了。」』(约翰福音 12:12-19)      

    耶稣是逾约节前六天到的，第二天就是逾约节的前五天，那时众人已知道耶稣行了许多神迹，以为祂来、是要奉主名在以色列作地上的王，尤其是那些人作了见证，所以他们知道祂行了使死透的拉撒路复活的神迹，就更加确定了，当然就照当时的习俗，拿著棕树枝，出去迎接他，觉得这样做是对的。我们要看到后来才可知道，祂的第一次来不是要作地上的王，而是要完成救恩。        

    在这里，我们也看到引用了经文的真谛，真谛是很重要的，就如耶稣是守安息日的真谛，给了我们一个例子说明我们现在要守的，是律法的真谛而不是律法的条文，所以祂会说，『我实在告诉你们：就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。』(马太福音 5:18) 在这里，所引用原来的经文比较长，『锡安的民哪，应当大大喜乐；耶路撒冷的民哪，应当欢呼！看哪，你的王来到你这里！他是公义的，并且施行拯救，谦谦和和地骑著驴，就是骑著驴的驹子。』(撒迦利亚书 9:9)     

    祂是谦卑的，骑著驴驹，而不是像一般地上的君王，要骑著高头大马。如祂是要来作地上的王，如果非骑驴子不可，至少也该骑成长的驴子吧！只是众人高兴的并未注意到这点，直到耶稣进了耶路撒冷后，才意识到祂来不是要作世上的王，因为祂到神的殿去清理圣殿，而不是去行政中心。就像经文所说，『耶稣既进了耶路撒冷，合城都惊动了，说：「这是谁？」众人说：「这是加利利 拿撒勒的先知耶稣。」耶稣进了神的殿，赶出殿里一切做买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子。』(马太福音 21:10-12)

    在这里说，『这些事门徒起先不明白，…』(约翰福音 12:16)，好像是看到了门徒后来有先见之明。其实这是说明了基督徒本该事后要回头反省，回顾过去才能确定三位一体的神究竟如何在我们身上工作，因为就像上次在『2127 拉撒路死而复活及其引起的政治 – 约(11)1-54 』中的『6. 法利赛人和大祭司的政治考量』所分享的，祂作工的方式常常是出人意外的，在这时我们是不会事前知道的。譬如说，有人做过见证说，有时发生的事情和祷告的结果，但有时却完全相反，这时事后就知道后者祷告的结果不是从神来的，真的要分辩，尤其是人常常以为由意念中来的想法一定是从神来的。譬如在约伯记中的提幔人以利法，他说『我暗暗地得了默示，我耳朵也听其细微的声音。』(约伯记 4:12) 他以为他得到的是从神来的，却没有想到那对错相杂的话只有撒但才有。(参约伯记 4:12-21) 倒是法利赛人的反应是相当一致的反对祂，『…看哪，你们是徒劳无益，世人都随从他去了。』(约翰福音 12:19) 这不就是他们的忧虑吗？『若这样由著他，人人都要信他，罗马人也要来夺我们的地土和我们的百姓。』(约翰福音 11:48)

3. 希腊人求见耶稣

    『那时，上来过节礼拜的人中，有几个希腊人。他们来见加利利 伯赛大的腓力，求他说：「先生，我们愿意见耶稣。」腓力去告诉安得烈，安得烈同腓力去告诉耶稣。』(约翰福音 12:20-22)        

    从这些经文我们知道，这些希腊人认识腓力，但不认识耶稣，只认识腓力，腓力是可以直接告诉耶稣那些希腊人的，我以前不知道为什么腓力要伙同安得烈一起去告诉耶稣，在这次的准备中，我才意识到『耶稣说：「我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。」』(马太福音 15:24)腓力是知道这一点的，所以腓力不敢直接告诉耶稣，要伙同安得烈一起去做这人看起来是好的事。     

    要知道祂完成的救恩计划本是为万民的，因为『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(约翰福音 3:16-17) 当『有一个迦南妇人从那地方出来，喊著说：「主啊，大卫的子孙，可怜我！我女儿被鬼附得甚苦。」』(马太福音 15:22) 那时的犹太人是把外邦人比喻为狗，依照耶稣奉差遣的原则，所以『他回答说：「不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。」』(马太福音 15:26) 当『妇人说：「主啊，不错！但是狗也吃牠主人桌子上掉下来的碎渣儿。」』(马太福音 15:27) 然后『耶稣说：「妇人，你的信心是大的，照你所要的，给你成全了吧！」从那时候，她女儿就好了。』(马太福音 15:28) 所以是有特例的。我们看到耶稣是有怜悯有恩典的神，不会受限于文字，而行出来的是一切事的真谛，我们也同时看到了信心的重要。至于那些希腊人最终有没有见到耶稣，我们不知道，因为圣经并没有明说，我们猜也猜不到。重点是我们看到了，祂行神迹的名声不只是在传在犹太人中，更是传到外邦人如希腊人中间。

4. 麦子似的生命

    『耶稣说：「人子得荣耀的时候到了。我实实在在地告诉你们：一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命；在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。若有人服事我，就当跟从我；我在哪里，服事我的人也要在那里；若有人服事我，我父必尊重他。」』(约翰福音 12:23-26)        

    耶稣实实在在的告诉我们，生命要像一粒麦子，祂不只说说而已，这就是祂的生命写照，祂是真正的为了我们上十字架，死了，完成了救恩，就结出了许多子粒来，使许多人相信了而得救，得到那永生的属灵生命。从这些经文，我们也看到了耶稣为什么会『…对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得著生命。』(马太福音 16:24-25)         

    这不是说基督徒都该去自杀，正好相反，基督徒是要爱惜生命，虽然『…世界又恨他们，因为他们不属世界，正如我不属世界一样。』(约翰福音 17:14) 但耶稣说得很清楚，『我不求你叫他们离开世界，只求你保守他们脱离那恶者。』(约翰福音 17:15) 所以主祷文也只是说，『不叫我们遇见试探，救我们脱离凶恶。…』(马太福音 6:13) 而且我们看见，『我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求。』(约翰福音 17:20) 所以基督徒是要爱惜生命的。

5. 父神从天上直说了耶稣荣耀其名

    『「我现在心里忧愁，我说甚么才好呢？父啊，救我脱离这时候，但我原是为这时候来的。父啊，愿你荣耀你的名。」 当时就有声音从天上来说：「我已经荣耀了我的名，还要再荣耀。」站在旁边的众人听见，就说：「打雷了。」还有人说：「有天使对他说话。」耶稣说：「这声音不是为我，是为你们来的。现在这世界受审判，这世界的王要被赶出去。我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我。」耶稣这话原是指著自己将要怎样死说的。众人回答说：「我们听见律法上有话说『基督是永存的』，你怎么说『人子必须被举起来』呢？这人子是谁呢？」耶稣对他们说：「光在你们中间还有不多的时候，应当趁著有光行走，免得黑暗临到你们；那在黑暗里行走的，不知道往何处去。你们应当趁著有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。」耶稣说了这话，就离开他们，隐藏了。』(约翰福音 12:27-36)        

    首先我们看到了为什么有客西马尼园的祷告，『他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(马太福音 26:39) 祂知道的很清楚，『…我原是为这时候来的。』(约翰福音 12:27)        

    在四福音中天上有声音出来，我们熟知的记载是在耶稣受洗时(如参马太福音 3:17)，及在变化山上(如参马太福音 3:17)，后者就是彼得说的，『他从父神得尊贵荣耀的时候，从极大荣光之中有声音出来向他说：「这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。」我们同他在圣山的时候，亲自听见这声音从天上出来。』(彼得后书 1:17-18) 这些都是在说，耶稣是神的爱子。

    应该是有些人如我般以前没有注意到这次的纪录，在其中众人显然没有听到话语在说什么，这次是为著『现在这世界受审判，这世界的王要被赶出去。』(约翰福音 12:31) 耶稣也预先告诉他们祂会被举起来而死，目的是在完成救恩，会『…吸引万人来归我。』(约翰福音 12:32) 众人就有了从人的角度看事情的反应，祂没有直接问答这人子是谁的问题，祂又一次隐藏的说到祂是世界的光，因是要趁著白日，信从这光，也就是信从祂自己，成为光明之子。

6. 以赛亚看见耶稣的荣耀并他的预言的应验       

    『他虽然在他们面前行了许多神迹，他们还是不信他。这是要应验先知以赛亚的话，说：「主啊，我们所传的有谁信呢？主的膀臂向谁显露呢？」他们所以不能信，因为以赛亚又说：「主叫他们瞎了眼、硬了心，免得他们眼睛看见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。」以赛亚因为看见(saw, G1492)他的荣耀，就指著他说这话。虽然如此，官长中却有好些信他的，只因法利赛人的缘故，就不承认，恐怕被赶出会堂。这是因他们爱人的荣耀过于爱神的荣耀。』(约翰福音 12:37-43)        

    这里明说了有人看见神迹仍是不信，最主要是要能相信祂的道，我们在这经文中看到了这点，『他们恐吓我们(彼得和约翰)，现在求主鉴察。一面叫你仆人大放胆量，讲你的道；一面伸出你的手来医治疾病，并且使神迹奇事因著你圣仆耶稣的名行出来。』(使徒行传 4:29-30) 神迹奇事的目的是要证明祂的恩道，如经文所说，『在那里住了多日，倚靠主放胆讲道，主借他们(保罗和巴拿巴)的手施行神迹奇事，证明他的恩道。』(使徒行传 14:3) 在希伯来书也说得很清楚，『…这救恩起先是主亲自讲的，后来是听见的人给我们证实了。神又按自己的旨意，用神迹奇事和百般的异能，并圣灵的恩赐，同他们作见证。』(希伯来书 2:3-4) 我们在这里看到了是以道为主，而以神迹奇事为辅，我们要再一次强调要分辩，不要以为超自然的事一定是从神来的，因为撒但也可行一些超自然的事，如『他还说话的时候，又有人来说：「神从天上降下火来，将群羊和仆人都烧灭了；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。」』(约伯记 1:16) 那人还以为是神做的，看上下就知道是撤但做的。在新约中说，『因为假基督，假先知将要起来，显神迹奇事，倘若能行，就把选民迷惑了。』(马可福音 13:22) 所以我们一定知道，『…神的义正在这福音上显明出来，这义是本于信，以至于信。…』(罗马书 1:17) 我们要慢慢的长大成人，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14)        

    我们以前在『 2117 实实在在, 逻辑, 真理, 和刚硬 – 约(5)19-47』中的『4. 人的心是何等的刚硬啊！ 』分享过约翰福音12:38-40，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。     

    至于约翰福音 12:41，我们在旧约中看见以赛亚的确看见(saw, G1492)祂的荣耀，而不是在异象或异梦中。经文说，『当乌西雅王崩的那年，我见(saw, H7200)主坐在高高的宝座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮满圣殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立，各有六个翅膀：用两个翅膀遮脸，两个翅膀遮脚，两个翅膀飞翔。彼此呼喊说：「圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！万军之耶和华，他的荣光充满全地！」因呼喊者的声音，门槛的根基震动，殿充满了烟云。』(以赛亚书 6:1-4)         #####那耶和华是指耶稣，因为是真的看见而不是在异象或异梦中，看见父神耶和华是不能存活的，就如耶和华对摩西说的：『…你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。』(出埃及记 33:20) 而圣灵是看不见的，所以能从逻辑的推导中看到，那只能是三位一体的神中的耶稣那一位。        

    官长中的确有信祂的，譬如尼哥低母(尼哥德慕)那时在祭司长和法利赛人那里，因经文说，『内中有尼哥德慕，就是从前去见耶稣的，…』(约翰福音 7:50) 更明显的是直接说，『有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥德慕(尼哥低母)，是犹太人的官。』(约翰福音 3:1) 他那时是暗暗做门徒的，『…只因法利赛人的缘故，就不承认，恐怕被赶出会堂。这是因他们爱人的荣耀过于爱神的荣耀。』(约翰福音 12:42-43) 这是他那时的情景，到了耶稣被钉上了十字架，他反而就不顾一切的公开了身份，因经文说，『又有尼哥德慕(尼哥低母)，就是先前夜里去见耶稣的，带著没药和沉香约有一百斤前来。他们就照犹太人殡葬的规矩，把耶稣的身体用细麻布加上香料裹好了。』(约翰福音 19:39-40) 我们不知道他什么时候改变的，但这就证明了官长中的确有信祂的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

     這些好像是不相干的題目，卻因這段的約翰福音可放在一起。首先我們說明為什麼馬利亞是因相信耶穌的預言而膏耶穌，並強調了拉撒路的復活和耶穌的復活的不同點在那裏。第二，我們看到了耶穌謙卑的騎著驢駒進耶路撒冷，眾人直到耶穌進了耶路撒冷後，去到神的殿去清理聖殿，而不是去行政中心，才意識到祂來不是要作世上的王。在這裏我們且提到基督徒要回顧過去才能確定三位一體的神究竟如何在我們身上工作。第三，我們從希臘人求見耶穌，知道祂的名聲不只在猶太人中間，而是遠及於外邦人。我本看不懂這段，因準備這次的專題查經懂了！第四，基督徒是要有麥子似的生命，背起自己的十字架跟隨耶穌，且說明了耶穌是說基督徒要愛惜生命。第五，父神從天上直說了耶穌榮耀其名，並簡短的討論了在四福書天上有聲音的次數，並這次是為了什麼。最後，我們討論了舊約在那裏紀載了以賽亞的確看見了耶穌的榮耀，提到了他的預言的應驗，講到了神蹟奇事的目的是要證明祂的恩道，並且舉一個例子來討論了官長中的確有信祂的。

1. 馬利亞因相信耶穌的預言而膏耶穌

       『猶太人的逾越節近了，有許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷去，要在節前潔淨自己。他們就尋找耶穌，站在殿裏彼此說：「你們的意思如何？他不來過節嗎？」那時，祭司長和法利賽人早已吩咐說：「若有人知道耶穌在哪裏，就要報明，好去拿他。」逾越節前六日，耶穌來到伯大尼，就是他叫拉撒路從死裏復活之處。有人在那裏給耶穌預備筵席，馬大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。馬利亞就拿着一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏抹耶穌的腳，又用自己頭髮去擦，屋裏就滿了膏的香氣。有一個門徒，就是那將要賣耶穌的加略人猶大，說：「這香膏為甚麼不賣三十兩銀子賙濟窮人呢？」他說這話，並不是掛念窮人，乃因他是個賊，又帶着錢囊，常取其中所存的。耶穌說：「由她吧！她是為我安葬之日存留的。因為常有窮人和你們同在，只是你們不常有我。」有許多猶太人知道耶穌在那裏，就來了，不但是為耶穌的緣故，也是要看他從死裏所復活的拉撒路。但祭司長商議連拉撒路也要殺了，因有好些猶太人為拉撒路的緣故，回去信了耶穌。』(約翰福音 11:55-12:11)

        最開始就說明從人的角度看是期望耶穌來過逾越節，祂也到了。我們看到耶穌是復活拉撒路在先，然後才有馬利亞的膏耶穌，有人就因此說她會膏耶穌、是因為她看見了耶穌使拉撒路復活了，這是不對的，因耶穌明說，『…她是為我安葬之日存留的。』(約翰福音 12:7) 所以這香膏本是為耶穌安葬之日存留的，馬利亞現在用了這香膏，她是沒有看到主的安葬就早用了，代表她相信了耶穌的預言，祂要死而復活(如參馬太福音 20:19)。 而其他使徒及門徒在耶穌生前並不相信，直到他們看見了耶穌的復活。也只有她預先為耶穌的安葬膏到耶穌，其餘的人是預備了，但沒有機會膏到耶穌，如經文所說，『七日的頭一日，黎明的時候，那些婦女帶着所預備的香料來到墳墓前，看見石頭已經從墳墓滾開了，她們就進去，只是不見主耶穌的身體。』(路加福音 24:1-3)

        我們這裏要強調拉撒路的復活和耶穌的復活是不同的，拉撒路最終還是會死的，雖然聖經並沒有描述他的死，但我們知道得很清楚，『按着定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判。』(希伯來書 9:27) 而耶穌復活後是會在天上存到永遠的，『…有基督耶穌已經死了，而且從死裏復活，現今在神的右邊，也替我們祈求。』(羅馬書 8:34) 在這裏，復活的拉撒路在筵席中沒有說一句話，他真是不必說話，他本身就是那活生生的見証，他從死裏復活的這件事是無可置疑的，因『當耶穌呼喚拉撒路，叫他從死復活出墳墓的時候，同耶穌在那裏的眾人就作見證。』(約翰福音 12:17) 難怪『…好些猶太人為拉撒路的緣故，回去信了耶穌。』(約翰福音 12:11) 所以『…祭司長商議連拉撒路也要殺了。』(約翰福音 12:10) 很顯然的，也有不信的人，等一下我們再討論這點。

2. 耶穌騎驢駒進耶路撒冷

       『第二天，有許多上來過節的人，聽見耶穌將到耶路撒冷，就拿着棕樹枝，出去迎接他，喊着說：「和散那！奉主名來的以色列王是應當稱頌的！」耶穌得了一個驢駒，就騎上，如經上所記的說：「錫安的民哪，不要懼怕！你的王騎着驢駒來了。」這些事門徒起先不明白，等到耶穌得了榮耀以後，才想起這話是指着他寫的，並且眾人果然向他這樣行了。當耶穌呼喚拉撒路，叫他從死復活出墳墓的時候，同耶穌在那裏的眾人就作見證。眾人因聽見耶穌行了這神蹟，就去迎接他。法利賽人彼此說：「看哪，你們是徒勞無益，世人都隨從他去了。」』(約翰福音 12:12-19)

      耶穌是逾約節前六天到的，第二天就是逾約節的前五天，那時眾人已知道耶穌行了許多神蹟，以為祂來、是要奉主名在以色列作地上的王，尤其是那些人作了見証，所以他們知道祂行了使死透的拉撒路復活的神蹟，就更加確定了，當然就照當時的習俗，拿著棕樹枝，出去迎接他，覺得這樣做是對的。我們要看到後來才可知道，祂的第一次來不是要作地上的王，而是要完成救恩。

        在這裏，我們也看到引用了經文的真諦，真諦是很重要的，就如耶穌是守安息日的真諦，給了我們一個例子說明我們現在要守的，是律法的真諦而不是律法的條文，所以祂會說，『我實在告訴你們：就是到天地都廢去了，律法的一點一畫也不能廢去，都要成全。』(馬太福音 5:18) 在這裏，所引用原來的經文比較長，『錫安的民哪，應當大大喜樂；耶路撒冷的民哪，應當歡呼！看哪，你的王來到你這裏！他是公義的，並且施行拯救，謙謙和和地騎着驢，就是騎着驢的駒子。』(撒迦利亞書 9:9)

     祂是謙卑的，騎著驢駒，而不是像一般地上的君王，要騎著高頭大馬。如祂是要來作地上的王，如果非騎驢子不可，至少也該騎成長的驢子吧！只是眾人高興的並未注意到這點，直到耶穌進了耶路撒冷後，才意識到祂來不是要作世上的王，因為祂到神的殿去清理聖殿，而不是去行政中心。就像經文所說，『耶穌既進了耶路撒冷，合城都驚動了，說：「這是誰？」眾人說：「這是加利利 拿撒勒的先知耶穌。」耶穌進了神的殿，趕出殿裏一切做買賣的人，推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子。』(馬太福音 21:10-12)

        在這裏說，『這些事門徒起先不明白，…』(約翰福音 12:16)，好像是看到了門徒後來有先見之明。其實這是說明了基督徒本該事後要回頭反省，回顧過去才能確定三位一體的神究竟如何在我們身上工作，因為就像上次在『2127 拉撒路死而復活及其引起的政治 – 約(11)1-54 』中的『6. 法利賽人和大祭司的政治考量』所分享的，祂作工的方式常常是出人意外的，在這時我們是不會事前知道的。譬如說，有人做過見証說，有時發生的事情和禱告的結果，但有時卻完全相反，這時事後就知道後者禱告的結果不是從神來的，真的要分辨，尤其是人常常以為由意念中來的想法一定是從神來的。譬如在約伯記中的提幔人以利法，他說『我暗暗地得了默示，我耳朵也聽其細微的聲音。』(約伯記 4:12) 他以為他得到的是從神來的，卻沒有想到那對錯相雜的話只有撒但才有。(參約伯記 4:12-21) 倒是法利賽人的反應是相當一致的反對祂，『…看哪，你們是徒勞無益，世人都隨從他去了。』(約翰福音 12:19) 這不就是他們的憂慮嗎？『若這樣由着他，人人都要信他，羅馬人也要來奪我們的地土和我們的百姓。』(約翰福音 11:48)

3. 希臘人求見耶穌

       『那時，上來過節禮拜的人中，有幾個希臘人。他們來見加利利 伯賽大的腓力，求他說：「先生，我們願意見耶穌。」腓力去告訴安得烈，安得烈同腓力去告訴耶穌。』(約翰福音 12:20-22)

        從這些經文我們知道，這些希臘人認識腓力，但不認識耶穌，只認識腓力，腓力是可以直接告訴耶穌那些希臘人的，我以前不知道為什麼腓力要夥同安得烈一起去告訴耶穌，在這次的準備中，我才意識到『耶穌說：「我奉差遣，不過是到以色列家迷失的羊那裏去。」』(馬太福音 15:24)腓力是知道這一點的，所以腓力不敢直接告訴耶穌，要夥同安得烈一起去做這人看起來是好的事。

     要知道祂完成的救恩計劃本是為萬民的，因為『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(約翰福音 3:16-17) 當『有一個迦南婦人從那地方出來，喊着說：「主啊，大衞的子孫，可憐我！我女兒被鬼附得甚苦。」』(馬太福音 15:22) 那時的猶太人是把外邦人比喻為狗，依照耶穌奉差遣的原則，所以『他回答說：「不好拿兒女的餅丟給狗吃。」』(馬太福音 15:26) 當『婦人說：「主啊，不錯！但是狗也吃牠主人桌子上掉下來的碎渣兒。」』(馬太福音 15:27) 然後『耶穌說：「婦人，你的信心是大的，照你所要的，給你成全了吧！」從那時候，她女兒就好了。』(馬太福音 15:28) 所以是有特例的。我們看到耶穌是有憐憫有恩典的神，不會受限於文字，而行出來的是一切事的真諦，我們也同時看到了信心的重要。至於那些希臘人最終有沒有見到耶穌，我們不知道，因為聖經並沒有明說，我們猜也猜不到。重點是我們看到了，祂行神蹟的名聲不只是在傳在猶太人中，更是傳到外邦人如希臘人中間。

4. 麥子似的生命

       『耶穌說：「人子得榮耀的時候到了。我實實在在地告訴你們：一粒麥子不落在地裏死了，仍舊是一粒；若是死了，就結出許多子粒來。愛惜自己生命的，就失喪生命；在這世上恨惡自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。若有人服事我，就當跟從我；我在哪裏，服事我的人也要在那裏；若有人服事我，我父必尊重他。」』(約翰福音 12:23-26)

        耶穌實實在在的告訴我們，生命要像一粒麥子，祂不只說說而已，這就是祂的生命寫照，祂是真正的為了我們上十字架，死了，完成了救恩，就結出了許多子粒來，使許多人相信了而得救，得到那永生的屬靈生命。從這些經文，我們也看到了耶穌為什麼會『…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。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得着生命。』(馬太福音 16:24-25)

         這不是說基督徒都該去自殺，正好相反，基督徒是要愛惜生命，雖然『…世界又恨他們，因為他們不屬世界，正如我不屬世界一樣。』(約翰福音 17:14) 但耶穌說得很清楚，『我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。』(約翰福音 17:15) 所以主禱文也只是說，『不叫我們遇見試探，救我們脫離兇惡。…』(馬太福音 6:13) 而且我們看見，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求。』(約翰福音 17:20) 所以基督徒是要愛惜生命的。

5. 父神從天上直說了耶穌榮耀其名

       『「我現在心裏憂愁，我說甚麼才好呢？父啊，救我脫離這時候，但我原是為這時候來的。父啊，願你榮耀你的名。」 當時就有聲音從天上來說：「我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。」站在旁邊的眾人聽見，就說：「打雷了。」還有人說：「有天使對他說話。」耶穌說：「這聲音不是為我，是為你們來的。現在這世界受審判，這世界的王要被趕出去。我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我。」耶穌這話原是指着自己將要怎樣死說的。眾人回答說：「我們聽見律法上有話說『基督是永存的』，你怎麼說『人子必須被舉起來』呢？這人子是誰呢？」耶穌對他們說：「光在你們中間還有不多的時候，應當趁着有光行走，免得黑暗臨到你們；那在黑暗裏行走的，不知道往何處去。你們應當趁着有光，信從這光，使你們成為光明之子。」耶穌說了這話，就離開他們，隱藏了。』(約翰福音 12:27-36)

        首先我們看到了為什麼有客西馬尼園的禱告，『他就稍往前走，俯伏在地禱告說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(馬太福音 26:39) 祂知道的很清楚，『…我原是為這時候來的。』(約翰福音 12:27)

        在四福音中天上有聲音出來，我們熟知的記載是在耶穌受洗時(如參馬太福音 3:17)，及在變化山上(如參馬太福音 3:17)，後者就是彼得說的，『他從父神得尊貴榮耀的時候，從極大榮光之中有聲音出來向他說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」我們同他在聖山的時候，親自聽見這聲音從天上出來。』(彼得後書 1:17-18) 這些都是在說，耶穌是神的愛子。

      應該是有些人如我般以前沒有注意到這次的紀錄，在其中眾人顯然沒有聽到話語在說什麼，這次是為著『現在這世界受審判，這世界的王要被趕出去。』(約翰福音 12:31) 耶穌也預先告訴他們祂會被舉起來而死，目的是在完成救恩，會『…吸引萬人來歸我。』(約翰福音 12:32) 眾人就有了從人的角度看事情的反應，祂沒有直接問答這人子是誰的問題，祂又一次隱藏的說到祂是世界的光，因是要趁著白日，信從這光，也就是信從祂自己，成為光明之子。

6. 以賽亞看見耶穌的榮耀並他的預言的應驗

       『他雖然在他們面前行了許多神蹟，他們還是不信他。這是要應驗先知以賽亞的話，說：「主啊，我們所傳的有誰信呢？主的膀臂向誰顯露呢？」他們所以不能信，因為以賽亞又說：「主叫他們瞎了眼、硬了心，免得他們眼睛看見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。」以賽亞因為看見(saw, G1492)他的榮耀，就指着他說這話。雖然如此，官長中卻有好些信他的，只因法利賽人的緣故，就不承認，恐怕被趕出會堂。這是因他們愛人的榮耀過於愛神的榮耀。』(約翰福音 12:37-43)

        這裏明說了有人看見神蹟仍是不信，最主要是要能相信祂的道，我們在這經文中看到了這點，『他們恐嚇我們(彼得和約翰)，現在求主鑒察。一面叫你僕人大放膽量，講你的道；一面伸出你的手來醫治疾病，並且使神蹟奇事因着你聖僕耶穌的名行出來。』(使徒行傳 4:29-30) 神蹟奇事的目的是要證明祂的恩道，如經文所説，『在那裏住了多日，倚靠主放膽講道，主藉他們(保羅和巴拿巴)的手施行神蹟奇事，證明他的恩道。』(使徒行傳 14:3) 在希伯來書也說得很清楚，『…這救恩起先是主親自講的，後來是聽見的人給我們證實了。神又按自己的旨意，用神蹟奇事和百般的異能，並聖靈的恩賜，同他們作見證。』(希伯來書 2:3-4) 我們在這裏看到了是以道為主，而以神蹟奇事為輔，我們要再一次強調要分辨，不要以為超自然的事一定是從神來的，因為撒但也可行一些超自然的事，如『他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「神從天上降下火來，將羣羊和僕人都燒滅了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」』(約伯記 1:16) 那人還以為是神做的，看上下就知道是撤但做的。在新約中說，『因為假基督，假先知將要起來，顯神蹟奇事，倘若能行，就把選民迷惑了。』(馬可福音 13:22) 所以我們一定知道，『…神的義正在這福音上顯明出來，這義是本於信，以至於信。…』(羅馬書 1:17) 慢慢的長大成人，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14)

        我們以前在『 2117 實實在在, 邏輯, 真理, 和剛硬 – 約(5)19-47』中的『4. 人的心是何等的剛硬啊！ 』分享過約翰福音12:38-40，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

     至於約翰福音 12:41，我們在舊約中看見以賽亞的確看見(saw, G1492)祂的榮耀，而不是在異象或異夢中。經文說，『當烏西雅王崩的那年，我見(saw, H7200)主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立，各有六個翅膀：用兩個翅膀遮臉，兩個翅膀遮腳，兩個翅膀飛翔。彼此呼喊說：「聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！萬軍之耶和華，他的榮光充滿全地！」因呼喊者的聲音，門檻的根基震動，殿充滿了煙雲。』(以賽亞書 6:1-4)

        那耶和華是指耶穌，因為是真的看見而不是在異象或異夢中，看見父神耶和華是不能存活的，就如耶和華對摩西說的：『…你不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。』(出埃及記 33:20) 而聖靈是看不見的，所以能從邏輯的推導中看到，那只能是三位一體的神中的耶穌那一位。

        官長中的確有信祂的，譬如尼哥低母(尼哥德慕)那時在祭司長和法利賽人那裏，因經文說，『內中有尼哥德慕，就是從前去見耶穌的，…』(約翰福音 7:50) 更明顯的是直接說，『有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕(尼哥低母)，是猶太人的官。』(約翰福音 3:1) 他那時是暗暗做門徒的，『…只因法利賽人的緣故，就不承認，恐怕被趕出會堂。這是因他們愛人的榮耀過於愛神的榮耀。』(約翰福音 12:42-43) 這是他那時的情景，到了耶穌被釘上了十字架，他反而就不顧一切的公開了身份，因經文說，『又有尼哥德慕(尼哥低母)，就是先前夜裏去見耶穌的，帶着沒藥和沉香約有一百斤前來。他們就照猶太人殯葬的規矩，把耶穌的身體用細麻布加上香料裹好了。』(約翰福音 19:39-40) 我們不知道他什麼時候改變的，但這就証明了官長中的確有信祂的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

These seem to be unrelated topics, but they can be put together because of this passage in the Gospel of John.  First, we explain why Mary anointed Jesus because she believed in His prophecies, and emphasized the difference between the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of Jesus.  Second, we saw Jesus humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. It wasn’t until Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of God to clean up the temple, instead of going to the administrative center, that they realized that He did not come to be a king in this world.  Here we mention that Christians need to look back to the past to determine how the Triune God is working in us.  Third, some Greeks seek an audience with Jesus and know that His reputation is not only among the Jews, but reaches far beyond to the Gentiles.  I couldn’t understand this paragraph at first, but I understood it in preparation for this topic-wise Bible study!  Fourth, Christians must have a life like wheat, take up their cross and follow Jesus. We also explained where Jesus said that Christians should cherish life.  Fifth, God the Father speaks directly from heaven about Jesus glorifying His name, and briefly discusses the number of times there are voices in heaven in the four Gospels and what the voice is for in this time.  Finally, we discussed where in the Old Testament it was recorded that Isaiah did see the glory of Jesus, mentioned the fulfillment of his prophecies, talked about the purpose of signs and wonders is to prove His grace, and gave an example to discuss that some of the officials did believe in Him.

1. Mary anointed Jesus because she believed in His prophecies

 ​

“Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him. Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.”(John 11:55-12:11)

From the beginning, it shows that from a human perspective, Jesus is expected to come to celebrate the Passover, and He indeed arrived before it. We see that Jesus resurrected Lazarus first, and then Mary anointed Jesus. Some people say that she anointed Jesus because she saw Jesus resurrecting Lazarus. This is wrong, because Jesus clearly said, “…Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.”(John 12:7) So this ointment was originally reserved for the day of Jesus’ burial. Mary used this ointment now. She used it before she actually saw the burial of the Lord, which means that she believed Jesus’ prophecies that He will die and be resurrected (e.g., see Matthew 20:19).  The other apostles and disciples did not believe in Jesus’s prophecy until they saw His resurrection.  She was the only one who anointed Jesus for His burial since it was in advance. The others made preparations, but had no chance to anoint Jesus. As the scripture says, “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”(Luke 24:1-3)

We want to emphasize here that the resurrection of Lazarus is different from that of Jesus. Lazarus will eventually die. Although the Bible does not describe his death, we know very clearly, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment”(Hebrews 9:27) And after Jesus’ resurrection, He will exist in heaven forever, “…Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”(Romans 8:34) Here, the resurrected Lazarus did not say a word during the banquet. He really did not need to speak. He himself was the living testimony. There is no doubt that he was raised from the dead, since “…the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.”(John 12:17) No wonder “because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.”(John 12:11) So “…the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also.”(John 12:10) Obviously, there are unbelievers, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

2. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt

“On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.””

(John 12:12-19)

Jesus arrived six days before the Passover, and the next day was five days before the Passover. By that time, everyone knew that Jesus had performed many miracles, and thought that He came to reign over Israel in the name of the Lord on earth, especially after those testified, so they knew with certainty that He had performed the miracle of raising the completely dead Lazarus to life. Of course, according to the custom at that time, they went out to meet Him with palm branches. They felt like that doing this was right.  Only later will we realize that His first coming isn’t to be the king on earth, but to complete salvation.

Here, we also see the true meaning of the scriptures quoted. The true meaning is very important, just like Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, giving us an example to illustrate that what we have to keep now is the true meaning of the Law rather than the literal Law. So He would say, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:18) Here, the original scripture quoted is longer, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”(Zechariah 9:9)​

He is humble and rides on a donkey’s colt, not like other earthly kings who ride on a big horse.  If He came to be the king of the earth and had to ride a donkey, He should at least ride a grown donkey!  But everyone was so happy that they did not notice this. It was not until Jesus entered Jerusalem that they realized that He did not come to be the king on earth, because He went to the temple of God to clean up the temple, not to the administrative center.  As the scripture says, “When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”(Matthew 21:10-12)

It says here, “These things His disciples did not understand at the first; …”(John 12:16), which seems to indicate that the disciples later had foresight.  In fact, this shows that Christians should look back and reflect afterwards, looking back on the past to determine how the Triune God works in us, because just like the last time in “6. Political considerations of the Pharisees and high priests” of “1127  Death and resurrection of Lazarus and politics caused – John (11) 1-54,” the way He works is often surprising. When the surprised happens, we will certainly not know it in advance.  For example, some people have testified that sometimes things have happened exactly according to the results of prayers, but sometimes they are completely opposite. In this case, they later realize that the results of the latter prayers are not from God. You really need to be discerning, especially when people often think that the results of prayers are definitely from God. That is, the thoughts that come from the mind must come from God.  But this isn’t true. For example, Eliphaz the Temanite in the Book of Job said, ““Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it.”(Job 4:12) He thought that what he received came from God, but he did not realize that the words that mixed right and wrong could only come from Satan.  (See Job 4:12-21) 

On the contrary, the reaction of the Pharisees was quite unanimously against Him, “So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.””(John 12:19) Isn’t this their worry? “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”(John 11:48)

3. The Greeks asked to see Jesus

“Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.”(John 12:20-22)

From these verses we know that these Greeks knew Philip, but not Jesus. They only knew Philip who could tell Jesus directly about those Greeks. I never knew why Philip went with Andrew before. In this topic-wise bible study preparation, I realized, “But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””(Matthew 15:24) Philip knew this, so Philip did not dare to tell Jesus directly so that he would work with Andrew to do what seemed to be a good thing from the perspective of human.

You must know that His completed salvation plan is for all peoples, because “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:16-17) When “…a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.””(Matthew 15:22) The Jews at that time likened the Gentiles to dogs. According to the principle of Jesus was sending by Father, “…He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.””(Matthew 15:26) “But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.””(Matthew 15:27) “Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.”(Matthew 15:28) So there are exceptions.  We see that Jesus is a merciful and gracious God who is not limited by words, but what He does is the true meaning of everything. We also see the importance of faith.  As for whether those Greeks finally saw Jesus or not, we don’t know because the Bible doesn’t say it clearly and we can’t guess.  The point is that we have seen that His reputation for performing miracles spread not only among the Jews, but also among Gentiles such as the Greeks.

4. Wheat-like life

​”And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.””

(John 12:23-26)

Jesus truly told us that life should be like a grain of wheat. He didn’t just talk about it. This was a portrayal of His life. He truly went to the cross for us, died, completed salvation, and bore much) fruit. Jesus came and many people believed and were saved and received eternal spiritual life.  From these verses, we also see why “…Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.””(Matthew 16:24-25)

This does not mean that Christians should commit suicide. On the contrary, Christians should cherish life, even though “…the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”(John 17:14) But Jesus said very clearly, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”(John 17:15) So the Lord’s Prayer only says, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. …”(Matthew 6:13) And we see, ““I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.”(John 17:20) Therefore, Christians must cherish life.

5. God the Father spoke from heaven that Jesus glorified His name

““Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”(John 12:27-36)​

First of all, we see why there is a prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.””(Matthew 26:39) He knew very clearly, “…But for this purpose I came to this hour.”(John 12:27)

In the four Gospels, there are voices from heaven. The well-known records we know are when Jesus was baptized (see Matthew 3:17) and on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 3:17). The latter was what Peter said, “For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”⁠— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”(2 Peter 1:17-18) These are all saying that Jesus is the beloved Son of God.

It should be that some people, like me, have not noticed this record before. Everyone obviously did not hear what the words were saying. This time the voice is for “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”(John 12:31) Jesus also told them in advance that He would be lifted up and die in order to complete salvation and “…will draw all men to Myself.”(John 12:32) Everyone responded by looking at things from a human perspective. He did not directly answer the question regarding who the Son of Man is. He once again said in a hidden way that He was the light of the world, because it is said that people should take advantage of the opportunity to watch the day and believe in this light which is to believe in Himself and become sons of Light.

6. Isaiah sees the glory of Jesus and the fulfillment of his prophecies

“But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw (G1492) His glory, and he spoke of Him. Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”(John 12:37-43)

It is clearly stated here that if someone sees a miracle but still does not believe, the most important thing is to be able to believe in His word. We see this in this scripture, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants (Peter and John) may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.””(Acts 4:29-30) The purpose of signs and wonders is to prove His grace, as the scripture says, “Therefore they (Paul and Barnabas) spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.”(Acts 14:3) It is also very clear in the book of Hebrews, “…After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”(Hebrews 2:3-4) 

We see here that the Word is the main one, and signs and wonders are the supplement. We have to emphasize the need to discern again, and do not think that supernatural things must come from God. Yes, because Satan can also do some supernatural things, such as in the book of Job, “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.””(Job 1:16) The man thought it was God who did it, but we knew it was Satan who did it if looking at verses in this chapter.  In the New Testament it says, “for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”(Mark 13:22) So we must know, “…the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; …”(Romans 1:17) We have to grow up even slowly, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14)

We previously discussed John 12:38-40 in “4. How hard is the human heart!” of “1117 Truly truly, logic, truth, and hardness – John (5) 19-47,” please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

As for John 12:41, we see in the Old Testament that Isaiah did see His glory, and not in a vision or dream.  The scripture says, “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw (H7200) the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.”(Isaiah 6:1-4)

That Jehovah refers to Jesus, because he really saw it and not in a vision or dream. Seeing the Father God Jehovah cannot live, just as Jehovah said to Moses: “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) The Holy Spirit is invisible, so we can see from logical deduction that He can only be Jesus, the one in the Trinity.

There were indeed some among the officials who believed in Him. For example, Nicodemus was with the chief priests and Pharisees at that time, because the scripture says, “Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them.”(John 7:50) It is more obvious since it is said directly, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”(John 3:1) He was a disciple secretly at that time, because of the Pharisees he was “… not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”(John 12:42-43) This was his situation at that time. When Jesus was crucified, he without any hesitation disclosed his identity because the scripture says, “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”(John 19:39-40) We don’t know when he changed, but this proves that some of the leaders did believe in him.

​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

    首先我们看到拉撒路的患病及耶稣的反应，也简短的讨论了抹香膏的女人这一件事。第二，我们看见了耶稣预言了拉撒路的死，并由多马的反应中讨论他的个性。第三，我们详细的看了在这件事上马大的信心。第四，我们也用经文讨论了马利亚的信心，看到耶稣悲叹忧愁的原因。第五，我们讨论了拉撒路复活的过程，看到了有些人即使看见了死人复活，仍是不信。最后，我们来看一看法利赛人和大祭司的政治考量，他们最后决定非杀祂不可不是因为宗教的原因，我们也借此简单的讨论一下，耶稣被捕后到钉十字架发生的事情。

1. 拉撒路的患病       

    『有一个患病的人，名叫拉撒路，住在伯大尼，就是马利亚和她姐姐马大的村庄。这马利亚就是那用香膏抹主，又用头发擦他脚的，患病的拉撒路是她的兄弟。她姊妹两个就打发人去见耶稣说：「主啊，你所爱的人病了。」耶稣听见就说：「这病不至于死，乃是为神的荣耀，叫神的儿子因此得荣耀。」耶稣素来爱马大和她妹子并拉撒路，听见拉撒路病了，就在所居之地仍住了两天。然后对门徒说：「我们再往犹太去吧！」门徒说：「拉比，犹太人近来要拿石头打你，你还往那里去吗？」耶稣回答说：「白日不是有十二小时吗？人在白日走路，就不至跌倒，因为看见这世上的光；若在黑夜走路，就必跌倒，因为他没有光。」』(约翰福音 11:1-10)

    我们看到耶稣得到拉撒路病了的消息，但祂虽爱他，并不是和一般人一样，要赶著去见他。相反的，『耶稣听见就说：「这病不至于死，乃是为神的荣耀，叫神的儿子因此得荣耀。」』(约翰福音 11:4) 于是就在所居之地仍住了两天，因为祂已预先知道，祂会让拉撒路从死中复活，所以这样说。为达到这样，祂必须要让拉撒路死透了才能去，等下我们会借著经文讨论全部的过程。在这里，我们就先讨论，『这马利亚就是那用香膏抹主，又用头发擦他脚的，…』(约翰福音 11:2)        

    在路加福音 7:36-50 提到了在法利赛人西门的家里有一个女人，『…站在耶稣背后，挨著他的脚哭，眼泪湿了耶稣的脚，就用自己的头发擦干，又用嘴连连亲他的脚，把香膏抹上。』(路加福音 7:37-38) 这是在耶稣早期发生的事情，看发生的时间就知道不是这里所说的马利亚。     

    这里的马利亚是马太福音 26:6-13 及马可福音 14:3-9 中所讲的，是为耶稣安葬做的，发生的时间是接近耶稣被钉十字架的时候，虽然同样在叫做西门的家中发生的，应该不是同一个西门。『耶稣在伯大尼长大痲疯的西门家里坐席的时候，有一个女人拿著一玉瓶至贵的真哪哒香膏来，打破玉瓶，把膏浇在耶稣的头上。…耶稣说：「由她吧！为甚么难为她呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。她所做的，是尽她所能的；她是为我安葬的事，把香膏预先浇在我身上。』(马可福音 14:3-8) 这里没有讲名字，我们知道那女人是指马利亚，因为后写的约翰福音 11:2 明说了。        

    在这里的最后一段，祂又提到了祂的时间还没有到，祂是世上的光，所以现在仍是白日。祂虽知道犹太人要杀祂，但祂必须顺服神，到犹大去做神的工，所以真是视死如归，『…他(耶稣)因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。』(希伯来书 12:2) 和祂在客西马尼园的祷告是一致的，『…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(马太福音 26:39)  

2. 拉撒路之死       

    『耶稣说了这话，随后对他们说：「我们的朋友拉撒路睡了，我去叫醒他！」门徒说：「主啊，他若睡了，就必好了。」耶稣这话是指著他死说的，他们却以为是说照常睡了。耶稣就明明地告诉他们说：「拉撒路死了。我没有在那里就欢喜，这是为你们的缘故，好叫你们相信。如今我们可以往他那里去吧！」多马，又称为低土马，就对那同作门徒的说：「我们也去和他同死吧。」耶稣到了，就知道拉撒路在坟墓里已经四天了。伯大尼离耶路撒冷不远，约有六里路。』(约翰福音 11:12-18)

    这里说的睡了就是死了！基督徒都是说睡了。譬如，『坟墓也开了，已睡圣徒的身体，多有起来的。』(马太福音 27:52) 又如司提反被石头打死时，『又跪下大声喊著说：「主啊，不要将这罪归于他们！」说了这话，就睡了。扫罗也喜悦他被害。』(使徒行传 7:60) 再如，『我们若信耶稣死而复活了，那已经在耶稣里睡了的人，神也必将他与耶稣一同带来。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:14) 为什么会这样说呢？保罗说得很清楚，『我如今把一件奥秘的事告诉你们：我们不是都要睡觉，乃是都要改变，就在一霎时，眨眼之间，号筒末次吹响的时候。因号筒要响，死人要复活，成为不朽坏的，我们也要改变。』(哥林多前书 15:51-52) 基督徒期望著耶稣的再来，那时会有死人复活的白色的大宝座的审判(参启示录 20:11-15)。        

    我们看见耶稣预言了拉撒路的死，然而祂欢喜他的死，因有些人要因他的复活而相信。伯大尼离耶路不远，祂要在他死前是可以赶到的，当祂说我们可以往他那只里去时，祂知道拉撒路在犹太人的眼中已死透了，拉撒路在坟墓里已经四天了。     

    我们也看到了多马的反应，他是十二使徒之一，圣经提到他的时间不多，我们看他的个性就知道他为什么会有这反应。有一次多马直问，『…主啊，我们不知道你往哪里去，怎么知道那条路呢？』(约翰福音 14:5) 在耶稣复活后，『…多马却说：「我非看见他手上的钉痕，用指头探入那钉痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我总不信。」』(约翰福音 20:25) 有问题就讲。直到『过了八日，门徒又在屋里，多马也和他们同在。门都关了。耶稣来站在当中说：「愿你们平安！」就对多马说：「伸过你的指头来，摸我的手；伸出你的手来，探入我的肋旁。不要疑惑，总要信！」多马说：「我的主，我的神！」耶稣对他说：「你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！」』(约翰福音 20:26-29)  现在是没有人看见耶稣，要真正的信，保有这个福份，不要中了撤但(魔鬼)的诡计，『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8)        

    你看多马真是藏不住话的人！他听到拉撒路已死，他们是这么的爱拉撒路，他的第一个反应就是想与拉撒路同死，那有什么就说什么的个性，就使他说了出来。在这里，圣经虽然没有明说他爱拉撒路，但是一个人通常不会自愿的为一个不爱的人同死的，我们是可从逻辑的推导看到这一点。     

    这就像圣经也没有说过三位一体类似，如果我们相信圣经是神所默示的，就不会把圣经的话打折扣，从而会知道三位一体是真实的。圣经不会违背逻辑，在这里我是指神的逻辑，就像我们以前指出，逻辑是分为两个部份，公理和逻辑机理(逻辑的推导)，因为逻辑的推导是客观的，没有被罪玷污，而神的公理和个人的公理是不一样的。譬如说，在神的公理中祂可以随时随地行神迹，而我们只能做祂行神迹的管道。祂可以完全的预知，而我们的预测或看见、不会是百分之百对的。

3. 马大的信心       

    『有好些犹太人来看马大和马利亚，要为她们的兄弟安慰她们。马大听见耶稣来了，就出去迎接他；马利亚却仍然坐在家里。马大对耶稣说：「主啊，你若早在这里，我兄弟必不死！就是现在，我也知道，你无论向神求甚么，神也必赐给你。」耶稣说：「你兄弟必然复活。」马大说：「我知道在末日复活的时候，他必复活。」耶稣对她说：「复活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活。凡活著信我的人必永远不死。你信这话吗？」马大说：「主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是神的儿子，就是那要临到世界的。」』(约翰福音 11:19-27)      

    一般来说都是人死不能复生，人能做得最好的就是安慰，常常人来的安慰都只能触及表面，通常需要一段时间才能度过死亡的阴霾。只是要安慰别人要很小心，因为安慰可能变为攻击而自己都不知道，就像约伯记中的三位约伯的朋友一样，他们原先是要安慰他，甚至于『他们就同他七天七夜坐在地上，一个人也不向他说句话，因为他极其痛苦。』(约伯记 2:13) 如果你读完那一部书，就会发觉那三位朋友作了自己都不知道的攻击，对错相杂，也难怪『耶和华对约伯说话以后，就对提幔人以利法说：「我的怒气向你和你两个朋友发作，因为你们议论我不如我的仆人约伯说的是。」』(约伯记 42:7)        

    我们看到马大是相当有信心的人，她能相信耶稣是神的儿子，自然知道拉撒路在末世的时候会复活。当耶稣说，『凡活著信我的人必永远不死。…』(约翰福音 11:26) 她也知道这是指属灵的生命。当『马大对耶稣说：「主啊，你若早在这里，我兄弟必不死！』(约翰福音 11:21) 她是和一般人所相信的那样，希望拉撒路要死时祂在那里，可以使他不死。而当她说，『就是现在，我也知道，你无论向神求甚么，神也必赐给你。』(约翰福音 11:22) 她是不够真正的相信自己所说的话，因当『耶稣对她说：「复活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活。』(约翰福音 11:25) 她没有求耶稣向神请求使拉撒路复活，因她没有想到人能够从死里复活！        

    在旧约中有死人复活的例子，『以利沙死了，人将他葬埋。 到了新年，有一群摩押人犯境，有人正葬死人，忽然看见一群人，就把死人抛在以利沙的坟墓里，一碰著以利沙的骸骨，死人就复活站起来了。』(列王纪下 13:20-21) 以利沙生前大有能力，他有以利亚两倍的灵力(参列王纪下 2:9-12)，我们看见了连他的骸骨都能让人复活。如果她对旧约很熟而且那时想到了这一件事，也许会这样的祈求主耶稣。

4. 马利亚的信心       

    『马大说了这话，就回去暗暗地叫她妹子马利亚说：「夫子来了，叫你。」马利亚听见了，就急忙起来，到耶稣那里去。那时，耶稣还没有进村子，仍在马大迎接他的地方。那些同马利亚在家里安慰她的犹太人，见她急忙起来出去，就跟著她，以为她要往坟墓那里去哭。马利亚到了耶稣那里，看见他，就俯伏在他脚前，说：「主啊，你若早在这里，我兄弟必不死。」耶稣看见她哭，并看见与她同来的犹太人也哭，就心里悲叹，又甚忧愁，便说：「你们把他安放在哪里？」 他们回答说：「请主来看。」耶稣哭了。犹太人就说：「你看他爱这人是何等恳切。」其中有人说：「他既然开了瞎子的眼睛，岂不能叫这人不死吗？」耶稣又心里悲叹，来到坟墓前。…』(约翰福音 11:28-38)          

    有人看到马大是暗暗地去叫马利亚，可能以为耶稣并没有叫她，而是马大自己说谎去叫马利亚来的。我们看一节经文就知道这是错的，『凡住在他里面的，就不犯罪；凡犯罪的，是未曾看见他，也未曾认识他。』(约翰一书 3:6) 所以从神的角度看，保持在基督里的基督徒是不会犯罪的，这时基督的一切都是我们的，基督不会犯罪我们怎么会犯罪呢？只有当我们从基督里面滑出来的时候，我们才是会犯罪的。举个例子来说，我们可能因自己都不知道的犯罪从基督里滑出来，在滑出来下次犯罪前，意识到自己所犯的罪，就立悔改，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』(约翰一书 1:9) 不要死不认罪，保留在滑出来的状态！当然一个真正的基督徒会悔改的，就是不会继续的犯罪。在新国际版本(NIV)中的约翰一书 3:6 把不犯罪翻译成不继续犯罪，这是从人的角度看。     

    说谎是犯罪的一种，马大是跟随并事奉耶稣的真基督徒，怎么会存心说谎去犯罪呢？所以耶稣的确是叫了马利亚，可是这里并没有说非要她来不可。我们不知道马利亚为什么仍坐在家里，但是她一听到耶稣叫她，她话都没解释就急忙出去了，因为那些犹太人还以为她要往坟墓那里去哭呢！所以当我们确定是从神来的讯息时，就该像马利亚一样的立刻去做。     

    她也显然是和马大及一般人所想的一样，相信只要耶稣在那里拉撒路就不会死。我们看到耶稣心里悲叹，又甚忧愁是为著他们在哭拉撒路之死，没有人相信祂能让拉撒路死里复活，所以又心里悲叹。于是祂来到坟墓前，用事实去证明祂有这个能力，『…叫神的儿子因此得荣耀。』(约翰福音 11:4) 不是像有人以为祂在悲叹和哭的是为著人肉体的结局都是死，犹太人因祂哭而想到祂爱拉撒路是何等恳切，而没有想到人都是会死的。死是每个人都会经历的事实，为什么要为这事实悲叹呢？只有属灵的生命里，『…叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。』(约翰福音 3:16)

5. 拉撒路复活的过程       

    『…那坟墓是个洞，有一块石头挡著。耶稣说：「你们把石头挪开！」 那死人的姐姐马大对他说：「主啊，他现在必是臭了，因为他死了已经四天了。」耶稣说：「我不是对你说过，你若信，就必看见神的荣耀吗？」他们就把石头挪开。耶稣举目望天说：「父啊，我感谢你，因为你已经听我；我也知道你常听我。但我说这话，是为周围站著的众人，叫他们信是你差了我来。」说了这话，就大声呼叫说：「拉撒路出来！」那死人就出来了，手脚裹著布，脸上包著手巾。 耶稣对他们说：「解开，叫他走！」那些来看马利亚的犹太人，见了耶稣所做的事，就多有信他的。』(约翰福音 11:38-45)

    『耶稣说：「我不是对你说过，你若信，就必看见神的荣耀吗？」』(约翰福音 11:40) 这里不是明说了马大不够相信吗？她真的没有想到、祂要告诉别人的是拉撒路应已死透了。     

    拉撒路复活的过程经文写得很清楚，耶稣是为了周围的众人，才用话语呼叫拉撒路出来的，祂早已知道父已听祂。我们看到了，因拉撒的复活，『..就多有信他的。』(约翰福音 11:45) 反过来是说，就是有人看见了拉撒路的复活仍然不信，圣经早明说会是这样，下面的经文就是这样的一个例子。『财主说：『我祖啊！既是这样，求你打发(讨饭的)拉撒路到我父家去，…「亚伯拉罕说：『若不听从摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不听劝。』』(路加福音 16:27-31) 人心会是何等的刚硬啊！

6. 法利赛人和大祭司的政治考量       

    『但其中也有去见法利赛人的，将耶稣所做的事告诉他们。我们怎么办呢？若这样由著他，人人都要信他，罗马人也要来夺我们的地土和我们的百姓。」内中有一个人，名叫该亚法，本年作大祭司，对他们说：「你们不知道甚么。独不想一个人替百姓死，免得通国灭亡，就是你们的益处。」他这话不是出于自己，是因他本年作大祭司，所以预言耶稣将要替这一国死。也不但替这一国死，并要将神四散的子民都聚集归一。从那日起他们就商议要杀耶稣。所以耶稣不再显然行在犹太人中间，就离开那里往靠近旷野的地方去。到了一座城，名叫以法莲，就在那里和门徒同住。』(约翰福音 11:46-54)       

    那不信的人中有人去见法利赛人，经文明说了他们是怕罗马人夺走他们现在所拥有的，他们是基于这政治的考量，所以只有耶稣非死不可，他们才可以解除他们的威胁。有人可能会引用这节经文，『巡抚原知道，他们是因为嫉妒才把他解了来。』(马太福音 27:18) 认为嫉妒才是真正的原因，但这只是他们给巡抚彼拉多的感觉而已，不是真正的原因。在这里我们也看到人的感觉和真实的原因会有矩离的，这就像我们在日常生活中，常以自己的感觉作为判断，而没有看见背后真正的原因。         

    所以他们最后决定非杀祂不可是为了政治的考量，而不是因为宗教的原因，所以当耶稣被捕后，『拿耶稣的人把他带到大祭司该亚法那里去，文士和长老已经在那里聚会。』(马太福音 26:57) 那时，『祭司长和全公会寻找假见证控告耶稣，要治死他。』(马太福音 26:59) 最后是，『大祭司就站起来，对耶稣说：「你甚么都不回答吗？这些人作见证告你的是甚么呢？」耶稣却不言语。 大祭司对他说：「我指著永生神叫你起誓告诉我们，你是神的儿子基督不是？」耶稣对他说：「你说的是。然而，我告诉你们：后来你们要看见人子坐在那权能者的右边，驾著天上的云降临。」大祭司就撕开衣服，说：「他说了僭妄的话！我们何必再用见证人呢？这僭妄的话，现在你们都听见了。你们的意见如何？」 他们回答说：「他是该死的。」』(马太福音 26:62-66) 耶稣怎么需要问答假见证呢？祂就沉默不语。当大祭司说了实话的时候，祂就说你说的是，并为完成救恩的计划，就给了他们更多的、他们以为是僭妄的话。我们看到这点，是因祂本可像以前一样不说话，却给了他们更多的事实，让他们觉得祂是该死的，最终上了十字架后复活，完成了救恩的计划。他们本就是要杀耶稣的，宗教的原因只是他们的借口。       

    因为当时的犹太人没有杀人的权柄，就把耶稣解到巡抚彼拉多那里，我们看到彼拉多也找不出祂有什么该死的罪，因经文说得很清楚，『彼拉多第三次对他们说：「为甚么呢？这人做了甚么恶事呢？我并没有查出他甚么该死的罪来。所以，我要责打他，把他释放了。」』(路加福音 23:22) 最后是，『他们大声催逼彼拉多，求他把耶稣钉在十字架上。他们的声音就得了胜。彼拉多这才照他们所求的定案。』(路加福音 23:23-24) 彼拉多也因政治的考量，不想得罪犹太人，就行了一件非法的事情，但救恩却因此成就了。

    该亚法的预言不是正对吗？『…耶稣将要替这一国死。也不但替这一国死，并要将神四散的子民都聚集归一。』(约翰福音 11:51-52) 我们看到了，『他这话不是出于自己，是因他本年作大祭司，…』(约翰福音 11:51) 不要讶异神会什么选这样的人作预言，是因为他所在的位置，而神工作的方式常常是出人意料的。譬如，『从这日(司提反被石头打死)起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒马利亚各处。』(使徒行传 8:1) 以人的角度看来，被逼迫是一件坏事，但神的安排是福音反而因此传开了，所以看事情要从神的角度看，站在神的那一边。       

    再举一个旧约堕落的先知巴兰的例子，在他堕落前，『耶和华的使者对巴兰说：「你同这些人(巴勒的臣仆)去吧！你只要说我对你说的话。」于是巴兰同著巴勒的使臣去了。』(民数记 22:35) 最后是『巴勒向巴兰生气，就拍起手来，对巴兰说：「我召你来为我咒诅仇敌(以色列人)，不料，你这三次竟为他们祝福。』(民数记 24:10)       

    最后我们看到，『…耶稣不再显然(openly, G3954)行在犹太人中间，…』(约翰福音 11:54) 我们提到过多次，在祂时间没有到时人不能动祂，但也看到祂不是自恃如此，祂会尽量避开冲突的。虽然祂有的时候是有超自然的保守，如『…他们的城造在山上，他们带他到山崖，要把他推下去。他却从他们中间直行，过去了。』(路加福音 4:29-30)

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先我們看到拉撒路的患病及耶穌的反應，也簡短的討論了抹香膏的女人這一件事。第二，我們看見了耶穌預言了拉撒路的死，並由多馬的反應中討論他的個性。第三，我們詳細的看了在這件事上馬大的信心。第四，我們也用經文討論了馬利亞的信心，看到耶穌悲歎憂愁的原因。第五，我們討論了拉撒路復活的過程，看到了有些人即使看見了死人復活，仍是不信。最後，我們來看一看法利賽人和大祭司的政治考量，他們最後決定非殺祂不可不是因為宗教的原因，我們也藉此簡單的討論一下，耶穌被捕後到釘十字架發生的事情。

1. 拉撒路的患病

       『有一個患病的人，名叫拉撒路，住在伯大尼，就是馬利亞和她姐姐馬大的村莊。這馬利亞就是那用香膏抹主，又用頭髮擦他腳的，患病的拉撒路是她的兄弟。她姊妹兩個就打發人去見耶穌說：「主啊，你所愛的人病了。」耶穌聽見就說：「這病不至於死，乃是為神的榮耀，叫神的兒子因此得榮耀。」耶穌素來愛馬大和她妹子並拉撒路，聽見拉撒路病了，就在所居之地仍住了兩天。然後對門徒說：「我們再往猶太去吧！」門徒說：「拉比，猶太人近來要拿石頭打你，你還往那裏去嗎？」耶穌回答說：「白日不是有十二小時嗎？人在白日走路，就不至跌倒，因為看見這世上的光；若在黑夜走路，就必跌倒，因為他沒有光。」』(約翰福音 11:1-10)

        我們看到耶穌得到拉撒路病了的消息，但祂雖愛他，並不是和一般人一樣，要趕著去見他。相反的，『耶穌聽見就說：「這病不至於死，乃是為神的榮耀，叫神的兒子因此得榮耀。」』(約翰福音 11:4) 於是就在所居之地仍住了兩天，因為祂已預先知道，祂會讓拉撒路從死中復活，所以這樣說。為達到這樣，祂必須要讓拉撒路死透了才能去，等下我們會藉著經文討論全部的過程。在這裏，我們就先討論，『這馬利亞就是那用香膏抹主，又用頭髮擦他腳的，…』(約翰福音 11:2)

        在路加福音 7:36-50 提到了在法利賽人西門的家裏有一個女人，『…站在耶穌背後，挨着他的腳哭，眼淚濕了耶穌的腳，就用自己的頭髮擦乾，又用嘴連連親他的腳，把香膏抹上。』(路加福音 7:37-38) 這是在耶穌早期發生的事情，看發生的時間就知道不是這裏所說的馬利亞。

     這裏的馬利亞是馬太福音 26:6-13 及馬可福音 14:3-9 中所講的，是為耶穌安葬做的，發生的時間是接近耶穌被釘十字架的時候，雖然同樣在叫做西門的家中發生的，應該不是同一個西門。『耶穌在伯大尼長大痲瘋的西門家裏坐席的時候，有一個女人拿着一玉瓶至貴的真哪噠香膏來，打破玉瓶，把膏澆在耶穌的頭上。…耶穌說：「由她吧！為甚麼難為她呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。因為常有窮人和你們同在，要向他們行善隨時都可以；只是你們不常有我。她所做的，是盡她所能的；她是為我安葬的事，把香膏預先澆在我身上。』(馬可福音 14:3-8) 這裏沒有講名字，我們知道那女人是指馬利亞，因為後寫的約翰福音 11:2 明說了。

        在這裏的最後一段，祂又提到了祂的時間還沒有到，祂是世上的光，所以現在仍是白日。祂雖知道猶太人要殺祂，但祂必須順服神，到猶大去做神的工，所以真是視死如歸，『…他(耶穌)因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。』(希伯來書 12:2) 和祂在客西馬尼園的禱告是一致的，『…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39)

2. 拉撒路之死

       『耶穌說了這話，隨後對他們說：「我們的朋友拉撒路睡了，我去叫醒他！」門徒說：「主啊，他若睡了，就必好了。」耶穌這話是指着他死說的，他們卻以為是說照常睡了。耶穌就明明地告訴他們說：「拉撒路死了。我沒有在那裏就歡喜，這是為你們的緣故，好叫你們相信。如今我們可以往他那裏去吧！」多馬，又稱為低土馬，就對那同作門徒的說：「我們也去和他同死吧。」耶穌到了，就知道拉撒路在墳墓裏已經四天了。伯大尼離耶路撒冷不遠，約有六里路。』(約翰福音 11:12-18)

    這裏說的睡了就是死了！基督徒都是說睡了。譬如，『墳墓也開了，已睡聖徒的身體，多有起來的。』(馬太福音 27:52) 又如司提反被石頭打死時，『又跪下大聲喊着說：「主啊，不要將這罪歸於他們！」說了這話，就睡了。掃羅也喜悅他被害。』(使徒行傳 7:60) 再如，『我們若信耶穌死而復活了，那已經在耶穌裏睡了的人，神也必將他與耶穌一同帶來。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 4:14) 為什麼會這樣說呢？保羅說得很清楚，『我如今把一件奧秘的事告訴你們：我們不是都要睡覺，乃是都要改變，就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。因號筒要響，死人要復活，成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變。』(哥林多前書 15:51-52) 基督徒期望著耶穌的再來，那時會有死人復活的白色的大寶座的審判(參啓示錄 20:11-15)。

        我們看見耶穌預言了拉撒路的死，然而祂歡喜他的死，因有些人要因他的復活而相信。伯大尼離耶路不遠，祂要在他死前是可以趕到的，當祂說我們可以往他那只裏去時，祂知道拉撒路在猶太人的眼中已死透了，拉撒路在墳墓裏已經四天了。

     我們也看到了多馬的反應，他是十二使徒之一，聖經提到他的時間不多，我們看他的個性就知道他為什麼會有這反應。有一次多馬直問，『…主啊，我們不知道你往哪裏去，怎麼知道那條路呢？』(約翰福音 14:5) 在耶穌復活後，『…多馬卻說：「我非看見他手上的釘痕，用指頭探入那釘痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我總不信。」』(約翰福音 20:25) 有問題就講。直到『過了八日，門徒又在屋裏，多馬也和他們同在。門都關了。耶穌來站在當中說：「願你們平安！」就對多馬說：「伸過你的指頭來，摸我的手；伸出你的手來，探入我的肋旁。不要疑惑，總要信！」多馬說：「我的主，我的神！」耶穌對他說：「你因看見了我才信，那沒有看見就信的有福了！」』(約翰福音 20:26-29)  現在是沒有人看見耶穌，要真正的信，保有這個福份，不要中了撤但(魔鬼)的詭計，『務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8)

        你看多馬真是藏不住話的人！他聽到拉撒路已死，他們是這麼的愛拉撒路，他的第一個反應就是想與拉撒路同死，那有什麼就說什麼的個性，就使他說了出來。在這裏，聖經雖然沒有明說他愛拉撒路，但是一個人通常不會自願的為一個不愛的人同死的，我們是可從邏輯的推導看到這一點。

     這就像聖經也沒有說過三位一體類似，如果我們相信聖經是神所默示的，就不會把聖經的話打折扣，從而會知道三位一體是真實的。聖經不會違背邏輯，在這裏我是指神的邏輯，就像我們以前指出，邏輯是分為兩個部份，公理和邏輯機理(邏輯的推導)，因為邏輯的推導是客觀的，沒有被罪玷汚，而神的公理和個人的公理是不一樣的。譬如說，在神的公理中祂可以隨時隨地行神蹟，而我們只能做祂行神蹟的管道。祂可以完全的預知，而我們的預測或看見、不會是百分之百對的。

3. 馬大的信心

       『有好些猶太人來看馬大和馬利亞，要為她們的兄弟安慰她們。馬大聽見耶穌來了，就出去迎接他；馬利亞卻仍然坐在家裏。馬大對耶穌說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死！就是現在，我也知道，你無論向神求甚麼，神也必賜給你。」耶穌說：「你兄弟必然復活。」馬大說：「我知道在末日復活的時候，他必復活。」耶穌對她說：「復活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，雖然死了，也必復活。凡活着信我的人必永遠不死。你信這話嗎？」馬大說：「主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是神的兒子，就是那要臨到世界的。」』(約翰福音 11:19-27)

       一般來說都是人死不能復生，人能做得最好的就是安慰，常常人來的安慰都只能觸及表面，通常需要一段時間才能度過死亡的陰霾。只是要安慰別人要很小心，因為安慰可能變為攻擊而自己都不知道，就像約伯記中的三位約伯的朋友一樣，他們原先是要安慰他，甚至於『他們就同他七天七夜坐在地上，一個人也不向他說句話，因為他極其痛苦。』(約伯記 2:13) 如果你讀完那一部書，就會發覺那三位朋友作了自己都不知道的攻擊，對錯相雜，也難怪『耶和華對約伯說話以後，就對提幔人以利法說：「我的怒氣向你和你兩個朋友發作，因為你們議論我不如我的僕人約伯說的是。」』(約伯記 42:7)

        我們看到馬大是相當有信心的人，她能相信耶穌是神的兒子，自然知道拉撒路在末世的時候會復活。當耶穌說，『凡活着信我的人必永遠不死。…』(約翰福音 11:26) 她也知道這是指屬靈的生命。當『馬大對耶穌說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死！』(約翰福音 11:21) 她是和一般人所相信的那樣，希望拉撒路要死時祂在那裏，可以使他不死。而當她說，『就是現在，我也知道，你無論向神求甚麼，神也必賜給你。』(約翰福音 11:22) 她是不夠真正的相信自己所說的話，因當『耶穌對她說：「復活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，雖然死了，也必復活。』(約翰福音 11:25) 她沒有求耶穌向神請求使拉撒路復活，因她沒有想到人能夠從死裏復活！

        在舊約中有死人復活的例子，『以利沙死了，人將他葬埋。 到了新年，有一羣摩押人犯境，有人正葬死人，忽然看見一羣人，就把死人拋在以利沙的墳墓裏，一碰着以利沙的骸骨，死人就復活站起來了。』(列王紀下 13:20-21) 以利沙生前大有能力，他有以利亞兩倍的靈力(參列王紀下 2:9-12)，我們看見了連他的骸骨都能讓人復活。如果她對舊約很熟而且那時想到了這一件事，也許會這樣的祈求主耶穌。

4. 馬利亞的信心

       『馬大說了這話，就回去暗暗地叫她妹子馬利亞說：「夫子來了，叫你。」馬利亞聽見了，就急忙起來，到耶穌那裏去。那時，耶穌還沒有進村子，仍在馬大迎接他的地方。那些同馬利亞在家裏安慰她的猶太人，見她急忙起來出去，就跟着她，以為她要往墳墓那裏去哭。馬利亞到了耶穌那裏，看見他，就俯伏在他腳前，說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死。」耶穌看見她哭，並看見與她同來的猶太人也哭，就心裏悲歎，又甚憂愁，便說：「你們把他安放在哪裏？」 他們回答說：「請主來看。」耶穌哭了。猶太人就說：「你看他愛這人是何等懇切。」其中有人說：「他既然開了瞎子的眼睛，豈不能叫這人不死嗎？」耶穌又心裏悲歎，來到墳墓前。…』(約翰福音 11:28-38)

     有人看到馬大是暗暗地去叫馬利亞，可能以為耶穌並沒有叫她，而是馬大自己說謊去叫馬利亞來的。我們看一節經文就知道這是錯的，『凡住在他裏面的，就不犯罪；凡犯罪的，是未曾看見他，也未曾認識他。』(約翰一書 3:6) 所以從神的角度看，保持在基督裏的基督徒是不會犯罪的，這時基督的一切都是我們的，基督不會犯罪我們怎麼會犯罪呢？只有當我們從基督裏面滑出來的時候，我們才是會犯罪的。舉個例子來說，我們可能因自己都不知道的犯罪從基督裏滑出來，在滑出來下次犯罪前，意識到自己所犯的罪，就立悔改，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。』(約翰一書 1:9) 不要死不認罪，保留在滑出來的狀態！當然一個真正的基督徒會悔改的，就是不會繼續的犯罪。在新國際版本(NIV)中的約翰一書 3:6 把不犯罪翻譯成不繼續犯罪，這是從人的角度看。

     說謊是犯罪的一種，馬大是跟隨並事奉耶穌的真基督徒，怎麼會存心說謊去犯罪呢？所以耶穌的確是叫了馬利亞，可是這裏並沒有說非要她來不可。我們不知道馬利亞為什麼仍坐在家裏，但是她一聽到耶穌叫她，她話都沒解釋就急忙出去了，因為那些猶太人還以為她要往墳墓那裏去哭呢！所以當我們確定是從神來的訊息時，就該像馬利亞一樣的立刻去做。

     她也顯然是和馬大及一般人所想的一樣，相信只要耶穌在那裏拉撒路就不會死。我們看到耶穌心裏悲歎，又甚憂愁是為著他們在哭拉撒路之死，沒有人相信祂能讓拉撒路死裏復活，所以又心裏悲歎。於是祂來到墳墓前，用事實去証明祂有這個能力，『…叫神的兒子因此得榮耀。』(約翰福音 11:4) 不是像有人以為祂在悲歎和哭的是為著人肉體的結局都是死，猶太人因祂哭而想到祂愛拉撒路是何等懇切，而沒有想到人都是會死的。死是每個人都會經歷的事實，為什麼要為這事實悲歎呢？只有屬靈的生命裏，『…叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。』(約翰福音 3:16)

5. 拉撒路復活的過程

       『…那墳墓是個洞，有一塊石頭擋着。耶穌說：「你們把石頭挪開！」 那死人的姐姐馬大對他說：「主啊，他現在必是臭了，因為他死了已經四天了。」耶穌說：「我不是對你說過，你若信，就必看見神的榮耀嗎？」他們就把石頭挪開。耶穌舉目望天說：「父啊，我感謝你，因為你已經聽我；我也知道你常聽我。但我說這話，是為周圍站着的眾人，叫他們信是你差了我來。」說了這話，就大聲呼叫說：「拉撒路出來！」那死人就出來了，手腳裹着布，臉上包着手巾。 耶穌對他們說：「解開，叫他走！」那些來看馬利亞的猶太人，見了耶穌所做的事，就多有信他的。』(約翰福音 11:38-45)

     耶穌到拉撒路的墳墓時，他已死了四天，的確應該死透了，必是如馬大所想的發臭了，但『耶穌說：「…你(馬大)若信，就必看見神的榮耀嗎？」』(約翰福音 11:40) 這裏不是明說了馬大不夠相信嗎？她真的沒有想到、祂要告訴別人的是拉撒路應已死透了。

     拉撒路復活的過程經文寫得很清楚，耶穌是為了周圍的眾人，才用話語呼叫拉撒路出來的，祂早已知道父已聽祂。我們看到了，因拉撒的復活，『..就多有信他的。』(約翰福音 11:45) 反過來是說，就是有人看見了拉撒路的復活仍然不信，聖經早明說會是這樣，下面的經文就是這樣的一個例子。『財主說：『我祖啊！既是這樣，求你打發(討飯的)拉撒路到我父家去，…「亞伯拉罕說：『若不聽從摩西和先知的話，就是有一個從死裏復活的，他們也是不聽勸。』』(路加福音 16:27-31) 人心會是何等的剛硬啊！

6. 法利賽人和大祭司的政治考量

       『但其中也有去見法利賽人的，將耶穌所做的事告訴他們。我們怎麼辦呢？若這樣由着他，人人都要信他，羅馬人也要來奪我們的地土和我們的百姓。」內中有一個人，名叫該亞法，本年作大祭司，對他們說：「你們不知道甚麼。獨不想一個人替百姓死，免得通國滅亡，就是你們的益處。」他這話不是出於自己，是因他本年作大祭司，所以預言耶穌將要替這一國死。也不但替這一國死，並要將神四散的子民都聚集歸一。從那日起他們就商議要殺耶穌。所以耶穌不再顯然行在猶太人中間，就離開那裏往靠近曠野的地方去。到了一座城，名叫以法蓮，就在那裏和門徒同住。』(約翰福音 11:46-54)

       那不信的人中有人去見法利賽人，經文明說了他們是怕羅馬人奪走他們現在所擁有的，他們是基於這政治的考量，所以只有耶穌非死不可，他們才可以解除他們的威脅。有人可能會引用這節經文，『巡撫原知道，他們是因為嫉妒才把他解了來。』(馬太福音 27:18) 認為嫉妒才是真正的原因，但這只是他們給巡撫彼拉多的感覺而已，不是真正的原因。在這裏我們也看到人的感覺和真實的原因會有矩離的，這就像我們在日常生活中，常以自己的感覺作為判斷，而沒有看見背後真正的原因。   

       所以他們最後決定非殺祂不可是為了政治的考量，而不是因為宗教的原因，所以當耶穌被捕後，『拿耶穌的人把他帶到大祭司該亞法那裏去，文士和長老已經在那裏聚會。』(馬太福音 26:57) 那時，『祭司長和全公會尋找假見證控告耶穌，要治死他。』(馬太福音 26:59) 最後是，『大祭司就站起來，對耶穌說：「你甚麼都不回答嗎？這些人作見證告你的是甚麼呢？」耶穌卻不言語。 大祭司對他說：「我指着永生神叫你起誓告訴我們，你是神的兒子基督不是？」耶穌對他說：「你說的是。然而，我告訴你們：後來你們要看見人子坐在那權能者的右邊，駕着天上的雲降臨。」大祭司就撕開衣服，說：「他說了僭妄的話！我們何必再用見證人呢？這僭妄的話，現在你們都聽見了。你們的意見如何？」 他們回答說：「他是該死的。」』(馬太福音 26:62-66) 耶穌怎麼需要問答假見証呢？祂就沈默不語。當大祭司說了實話的時候，祂就說你說的是，並為完成救恩的計劃，就給了他們更多的、他們以為是僭妄的話。我們看到這點，是因祂本可像以前一樣不說話，卻給了他們更多的事實，讓他們覺得祂是該死的，最終上了十字架後復活，完成了救恩的計劃。他們本就是要殺耶穌的，宗教的原因只是他們的藉口。

       因為當時的猶太人沒有殺人的權柄，就把耶穌解到巡撫彼拉多那裏，我們看到彼拉多也找不出祂有什麼該死的罪，因經文說得很清楚，『彼拉多第三次對他們說：「為甚麼呢？這人做了甚麼惡事呢？我並沒有查出他甚麼該死的罪來。所以，我要責打他，把他釋放了。」』(路加福音 23:22) 最後是，『他們大聲催逼彼拉多，求他把耶穌釘在十字架上。他們的聲音就得了勝。彼拉多這才照他們所求的定案。』(路加福音 23:23-24) 彼拉多也因政治的考量，不想得罪猶太人，就行了一件非法的事情，但救恩卻因此成就了。該亞法的預言不是正對嗎？『…耶穌將要替這一國死。也不但替這一國死，並要將神四散的子民都聚集歸一。』(約翰福音 11:51-52) 我們看到了，『他這話不是出於自己，是因他本年作大祭司，…』(約翰福音 11:51) 不要訝異神會什麼選這樣的人作預言，是因為他所在的位置，而神工作的方式常常是出人意料的。譬如，『從這日(司提反被石頭打死)起，耶路撒冷的教會大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，門徒都分散在猶太和撒馬利亞各處。』(使徒行傳 8:1) 以人的角度看來，被逼迫是一件壞事，但神的安排是福音反而因此傳開了，所以看事情要從神的角度看，站在神的那一邊。

       再舉一個舊約墮落的先知巴蘭的例子，在他堕落前，『耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：「你同這些人(巴勒的臣僕)去吧！你只要說我對你說的話。」於是巴蘭同着巴勒的使臣去了。』(民數記 22:35) 最後是『巴勒向巴蘭生氣，就拍起手來，對巴蘭說：「我召你來為我咒詛仇敵(以色列人)，不料，你這三次竟為他們祝福。』(民數記 24:10) 

       最後我們看到，『…耶穌不再顯然(openly, G3954)行在猶太人中間，…』(約翰福音 11:54) 我們提到過多次，在祂時間沒有到時人不能動祂，但也看到祂不是自恃如此，祂會儘量避開衝突的。雖然祂有的時候是有超自然的保守，如『…他們的城造在山上，他們帶他到山崖，要把他推下去。他卻從他們中間直行，過去了。』(路加福音 4:29-30)

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, we see Lazarus’ illness and Jesus’ reaction, and also briefly discuss the woman who anointed Him with ointment.  Second, we see that Jesus prophesied the death of Lazarus and also discussed Thomas’ reaction through his character.  Third, we look in detail at Martha’s faith in this matter.  Fourth, we also used the scriptures to discuss Mary’s faith and saw the reasons why Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.  Fifth, we discussed the process of the resurrection of Lazarus and saw that some people still did not believe even if they saw the resurrection of the dead.  Finally, let’s take a look at the political considerations of the Pharisees and the high priests. They finally decided to kill Him not for religious reasons. We will also use this to briefly discuss what happened after Jesus was arrested and crucified.

 ​

1. Lazarus’ illness

​”Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.””(John 11:1-10)

We see that Jesus received the news that Lazarus was sick, but although He loved him, He did not rush to see him like most people.  On the contrary, “But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.””(John 11:4) So He stayed where He was for two days, for He knew beforehand that He would raise Lazarus from the dead.  In order to achieve this, He had to make Lazarus completely dead before he could go. We will discuss the entire process through the scriptures later.  Here, we will first discuss, “It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, …”(John 11:2)

In Luke 7:36-50, it is mentioned that in the house of Simon the Pharisee, “And there was a woman …she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.”(Luke 7:37-38) This is something that happened in the early days of Jesus. Judging by the time it happened, you can tell that it was not the Mary mentioned here.

The Mary here is mentioned in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9. She was buried for Jesus. It happened close to the time when Jesus was crucified, although she was also called Simon. What happened at home should not be the same Simon. “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.  …But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”(Mark 14:3-8) There is no name mentioned here, but we know that the woman is Mary, since the Book of John 11:2 clearly states, which was written the last among the four Book of Gospels. 

In the last paragraph here, He mentioned that His time has not yet come. He is the light of the world, so it is still day.  Although He knew that the Jews wanted to kill Him, He had to obey God and go to Judah to do God’s work. Therefore, He really looked down upon death. “…Jesus, …who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Hebrews 12:2) It is consistent with His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…yet not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39)

2. Death of Lazarus

“This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off.”(John 11:11-18)

What is said here is that ‘you sleep’ means ‘you die!’ Christians all talk about sleeping instead of dying. For example, “The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.”(Matthew 27:52) Another example is when Stephen was stoned to death, “Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.”(Acts 7:60) Again, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 4:14) Why do Christians say this?  Paul made it very clear, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”(1 Corinthians 15:51-52) Christians look forward to the return of Jesus, when there will be a great white throne judgment in which the dead will be resurrected (see Revelation 20:11-15).

We see that Jesus predicted the death of Lazarus, yet He rejoiced in His death because some would believe through his resurrection.  Bethany is not far from Jerusalem, and He could reach it before he died. When He said that we could go to him, He knew that Lazarus would be completely dead in the eyes of the Jews since he at that time had already be in the tomb for four days. 

We have also seen the reaction of Thomas. He is one of the twelve apostles. He isn’t mentioned for much time in the Bible. We can see why he reacted this way by looking at his personality.  Thomas once asked directly, “…Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”(John 14:5) After Jesus was resurrected, “…he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.””(John 20:25) Thomas asked questions whenever he had. “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””(John 20:26- 29) No one has seen Jesus now. You must truly believe and keep this blessing. Don’t fall into Satan’s (the devil’s) tricks. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8)

You see, Thomas is really a man who can’t hide his words!  When he heard that Lazarus was dead, and they loved Lazarus so much, his first reaction was that he wanted to die with Lazarus. His personality of saying whatever he wanted made him speak out.  Here, although the Bible does not explicitly say that he loved Lazarus, a person usually would not voluntarily die for someone he does not love. We can see this from logical deduction.

This is just like that the Bible doesn’t use the word Trinity. However, if we believe that the Bible is inspired by God, then we will not discount the words of the Bible, and as a result we will know that the Trinity is true.  The Bible does not violate logic, and here I mean God’s logic. As we pointed out before, logic is divided into two parts, axioms and logical mechanisms (logical derivation), because logical derivation is objective and cannot be tainted by sin, and God’s axiom and personal one are not the same.  For example, according to God’s axiom, He can perform miracles at any time and at any place, but we can only be the channels through which He performs miracles.  He can predict completely, but our predictions or visions will not be 100% correct.

3. Martha’s faith

“and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.””(John 11:19-27)

Generally speaking, people cannot be resurrected after death, and the best thing people can do is comfort. Often the comfort that people come to can only touch the surface, and it usually takes a while to get over the haze of death.  Just be careful when comforting others, because comfort may turn into attack without you even knowing it, just like the three friends of Job in the book of Job. They originally wanted to comfort him, and even “Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.”(Job 2:13) If you finish reading that book, you will find that the three friends made attacks that they were not aware of, and they were right and wrong. It is no wonder that “It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.”(Job 42:7)

We see that Martha has quite a faith. She can believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and naturally knows that Lazarus will be resurrected in the last days.  When Jesus said, “and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. …”(John 11:26) She also knew that this referred to spiritual life.  When “Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”(John 11:21) She was doing what most people believe, hoping that He would be there when Lazarus died, And when she said, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”(John 11:22), she didn’t really believe what she said herself. Because when “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”(John 11:25) She did not ask Jesus to pray to God to resurrect Lazarus because she did not expect that people could be resurrected from the dead!

There is an example of the resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament, “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.”(2 Kings 13:20-21) Elisha was very powerful during his lifetime. He had twice the spiritual power of Elijah (see 2 Kings 2:9-12). We saw that even his bones could resurrect people.  If she was familiar with the Old Testament and had thought of this at that time, she might have prayed to the Lord Jesus in this way.

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4. Mary’s Faith

“When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. …”(John 11:28-38)

Some people see Martha saying to Mary secretly, and they may have thought that Jesus did not call Mary, but that Martha lied about calling her. We know this is wrong when we look at this one verse, “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.”(1 John 3:6) So from God’s perspective, Christians who remain in Christ will not sin. When in Christ, everything in Christ belongs to us. If Christ does not sin, how can we sin?  It is only when we slip out of Christ that we sin.  For example, we may slip out of Christ because of sins that we are not aware of. Before slipping out and sinning again, we realize the sins we have committed and repent immediately.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) Don’t remain in denial and remain in a state of slipping out!  Of course, a true Christian will repent, that is, he will not continue to sin.  The verse 1 John 3:6 in the New International Version (NIV) is translated ‘sin’ as ‘not continuing to sin,’ which is really from a human perspective and isn’t correct.

Lying is a type of sin. Martha is a true Christian who follows and serves Jesus. How could she intentionally lie and commit a sin?  So Jesus did call Mary, but it didn’t say that she had to come.  We don’t know why Mary was still sitting at home, but as soon as she heard Jesus’ calling her, she hurried out without explaining anything because the Jews thought she was going to the tomb to weep!  So when we are sure that it is a message from God, we should act like Mary immediately.

She also obviously thought the same as Martha and everyone else, believing that as long as Jesus was there, Lazarus would not die. We see that Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled because they were weeping over the death of Lazarus. No one believed that He could raise Lazarus from the dead, “So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. …”(John 11:38) So He went to the tomb and used facts to prove that He had this power, “…so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”(John 11:4) It’s not like some people thought that He was lamenting and weeping because the end of the human body is death. Because of His weeping, the Jews thought of how sincerely He loved Lazarus, but they did not think about the fact that all human beings will die.  Death is a fact that everyone will experience. Why should we be sad about this fact? Unavoidable, emotionally. But only in spiritual life, “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)

5. The process of the resurrection of Lazarus

“…Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”(John 11:38-45)

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When Jesus went to Lazarus’s tomb, he had been dead for four days. He should indeed be completely dead and must have stunk as Martha thought. But “Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?””(John 11:40) Isn’t it clear here that Martha didn’t believe enough?  It really didn’t occur to her that what He was telling others was that Lazarus was  completely dead.

The scriptures about the process of the resurrection of Lazarus are very clear. Jesus called Lazarus out with words for the sake of everyone around Him. He already knew that the Father had heard Him.  We have seen the fact because of the resurrection of Lazarus that “…many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”(John 11:45) On the other hand, even if someone sees the resurrection of Lazarus and still does not believe it, the Bible has already stated that this will be the case. The following scripture is an example of this. “And he (the rich man) said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him (beggar Lazarus) to my father’s house⁠— for I have five brothers⁠—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”(Luke 16:27-31) The human heart can be really hardened!

6. Political considerations of the Pharisees and high priests

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“But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.”(John 11:46-54)

Some of the unbelievers went to see the Pharisees. The scriptures say that they were afraid that the Romans would take away what they had now. They were based on this political consideration, so they could only be relieved when Jesus was dead. Therefore, they decided that Jesus had to die. Someone might quote this verse, “For he (Pilate) knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.”(Matthew 27:18) They think jealousy is the real reason, but this is just the feeling they gave Pilate, not the real reason.  Here we also see that there is a disconnect between people’s feelings and the real reasons. This is just like in our daily life, we often use our own feelings as a judgment, without seeing the real reasons behind it. ​

So they finally decided to kill Him for political reasons, not for religious reasons. So when Jesus was arrested, “Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.”(Matthew 26:57) At that time, “Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.”(Matthew 26:59) Finally, “The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!””(Matthew 26:62-66)

He remained silent.  Why did Jesus need to say anything about false witnesses?  When the high priest spoke the truth, He said that what you said was true, and in order to complete the plan of salvation, He gave them more words that they thought were blasphemy.  We see this because He could have remained silent as before, but instead gave them more facts, making them feel that He deserved to die and finally went to the cross and was resurrected to complete the plan of salvation.  They wanted to kill Jesus anyway, and religious reasons were just their excuse.

Because the Jews at that time did not have the authority to kill, they took Jesus to the governor Pilate. We see that Pilate could not find any crime worthy of death in Him, because the scriptures make it very clear, “And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.””(Luke 23:22) “But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.”(Luke 23:23-24) Pilate did something illegal because of political considerations where he didn’t want to offend the Jews, but salvation was thus achieved.  Wasn’t Caiaphas prophecy correct? “…Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.”(John 11:51-52) We have seen, “Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, …”(John 11:51) Don’t be surprised what God will choose such a person prophesying. It is due to his position.  And God often works in unexpected ways.  For example, “…And on that day (Stephen was stoned to death) a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”(Acts 8:1) From a human perspective, being persecuted is a bad thing, but God’s arrangement is that the gospel spreads because of it. Therefore, you must look at things from God’s perspective and stand on God’s side always.

To give another example of the fallen prophet Balaam in the Old Testament, before his fall, “But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.”(Numbers 22:35) Finally, “Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies (Israelites), but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!””(Numbers 24:10).

Finally, we see, “Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly (G3954) among the Jews, …”(John 11:54) We have mentioned many times before that no one can do anything to Him until His time comes. But also saw here that He would try to avoid conflicts as much as He could.  Although He sometimes had supernatural protection, for example, “and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.”(Luke 4:29-30)

​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

   

    首先我们要再一次的强调，我们在这里的讨论仍是在知识上的层面，讨论那从三位一体的神而来的唯一的福音，说说圣经是在如何讲。我们相信圣经是神所默示的，从而知道神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，也不会把圣经的话打折扣，在这两个前提下，用逻辑能够推导出一些事情。一定不要忘记，生命只能从神来，『可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:7) 所以一定要在启示里面，要分辩，没有启示时，也要站在三位一体的神那一边。     

    第一，我们来看主耶稣是羊的门，祂来是要我们的生命更丰盛，我们要做的是要轻轻听祂的声音，不要消灭圣灵的感动。第二，我们说到主耶稣是好牧人，祂钉上了十字架为羊舍命，祂明说，在外邦人和以色列人中都有祂的羊，看到了祂在客西马尼的被应允的祷告是为我们，为了救恩计划的完成。第三，祂明讲了祂与父原为一，犹太人不相信祂，也不看祂所做的善事，反执著在字句上的律法，要打祂的原因只因祂告诉他们事实。我们也说明了为什么说要不要蒙头会是相关的议题，也阐述了为什么圣经说，不要女人有物质上的蒙头，因为神已经帮她们预备好了。最后我们简短的提到耶稣和施洗约翰，以约翰见证耶稣是神的儿子作为结束。

1. 主耶稣是羊的门、要生命更丰盛       

    『「我实实在在地告诉你们：人进羊圈，不从门进去，倒从别处爬进去，那人就是贼，就是强盗。从门进去的，才是羊的牧人。看门的就给他开门，羊也听他的声音。他按著名叫自己的羊，把羊领出来。既放出自己的羊来，就在前头走，羊也跟著他，因为认得他的声音。羊不跟著生人，因为不认得他的声音，必要逃跑。」耶稣将这比喻告诉他们，但他们不明白所说的是甚么意思。所以耶稣又对他们说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：我就是羊的门。凡在我以先来的，都是贼，是强盗，羊却不听他们。我就是门，凡从我进来的，必然得救，并且出入得草吃。盗贼来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」』(约翰福音 10:1-10)       

    关于羊认得祂的声音，必须轻轻听才行，因为旧约明说，『耶和华说：「你(以利亚)出来站在山上，在我面前。」那时，耶和华从那里经过，在他面前有烈风大作，崩山碎石，耶和华却不在风中；风后地震，耶和华却不在其中；地震后有火，耶和华也不在火中；火后有微小的声音。』(列王纪上 19:11-12) 我们看见了诗篇说得很清楚的，耶和华『以风为使者，以火焰为仆役。』(诗篇 104:4) 我们也看见了，不在灵里安静是听不到这微小的声音的，而且是『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19)     

    圣灵经常会感动我们，但不是每次遇见事情都是如此，因为神不是一个命令一个动作的神。看到这一点，我们可举一个例子，就是虽然父神赐圣灵给道成肉身的耶稣是没有限量的，但在祂遇见瞎子的一次，是『耶稣就动了慈心，把他们的眼睛一摸，他们立刻看见，就跟从了耶稣。』(马太福音 20:34) 很清楚的不是圣灵要祂这样去做，而是祂自己动了慈心，但是可看见耶稣是永远站在神那边。这不就是我们以前所讲的吗？没有启示，我们也要站在神那边。当然还有其他的例子，就不多说了。这就有点像祷告类似，不是每次祷告都有回答的。有时候回答是不行，就如保罗『有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒但的差役要攻击我，免得我过于自高。为这事，我三次求过主，叫这刺离开我。他对我说：「我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。」…』(哥林多后书 12:7-9) 他很清楚的知道回答是不行，他就不再祷告而接受了，只是有些人是很难接受「不行」的回答。如果我们已确信祷告被应允，也就不必再祷告，但要感谢和赞美，静待事情的成就。       

    主耶稣是羊的门，那唯一的门，我们以前讨论过当耶稣用「实实在在地」时，都是非常重要的宣告，这些经文中就用了两次，我们现在就不多说这一点了。真的，『除他(主耶稣)以外，别无拯救，因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名，我们可以靠著得救。』(使徒行传 4:12) 所以大使命是说，『…你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，…凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20) 所以大使命是每一个基督徒的天职。那有人就会说，这不是和这节经文冲突吗？『若没有奉差遣，怎能传道呢？如经上所记：「报福音传喜信的人，他们的脚踪何等佳美！」』(罗马书 10:15) 我并没有奉差遣作全职或带职的传道人啊！怎么能传道啊？        

    这人忘记了前一句，『然而人未曾信他，怎能求他呢？未曾听见他，怎能信他呢？没有传道的，怎能听见呢？』(罗马书 10:14) 大使命不是呼召了每一个人去传道吗？也许我们的生命不到我们所期望的那里，且知道要做光做盐，因为『人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。』(马太福音 5:15) 只是不要忘记灯即使放在斗底下仍旧发光，有发光的生命。我们的生命有多少就可以显露出多少，在这时我们会看见，『你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。』(马太福音 5:16) 是要在生命中发出的好行为。     

    譬如在弟兄姊妹有需要送饭的时候，我们的爱心要我们这么做就可以这样去做，而不是人家这样做我只好跟著去做。一些人是因看著弟兄姊妹的爱心而最终受洗，愿意加入这个大家庭，这不是和神同工给了这人一个机会得到救恩吗？所以生命到那里，就用既有的生命做到那里去传道，而不要超过生命的去做，就如前面所举的例子是每一个人都可以做的事情，成就了大使命。真的不需要等到生命成熟后才行出来，如果是这样的话，可能是没有机会去传道了，至少我没有碰到模成耶稣形像的人(参罗马书 8:29)，不要中了撒但的诡计！因主是唯一的门，所以不从祂进入基督的国度里都是从撒但来的，是混进来的，就像经文说，『因为有些人偷著进来，就是自古被定受刑罚的，是不虔诚的，将我们神的恩变作放纵情欲的机会，并且不认独一的主宰──我们主耶稣基督。』(犹大书 1:4)       

     对那些不行出教导的人的，难怪耶稣会说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。当那日，必有许多人对我说：『主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道，奉你的名赶鬼，奉你的名行许多异能吗？』我就明明地告诉他们说：『我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！』』(马太福音 7:21-23) 以人的角度看来，他们做的事情好像是好事情，可是他们做的这些显然不是出于神的，所以我们要分辩，做神要我们做的工作。       

    的确，『盗贼来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。』(约翰福音 10:10) 也只有愿意停在主耶稣羊圈里的人，才能得救而出入能得草吃，有著从内到外的生命的改变，得到更丰盛的生命。当然有时候自己会也觉察不到这缓慢的改变，想想摩西是要在旷野有著四十年的训练后，才为神所用，我们不会等这么久的。但一个基督徒真正的没有这从内到外的生命改变，是该反省了！

2. 主耶稣是好牧人       

    『「我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看见狼来，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，赶散了羊群。雇工逃走，因他是雇工，并不顾念羊。「我是好牧人，我认识我的羊，我的羊也认识我。正如父认识我，我也认识父一样，并且我为羊舍命。我另外有羊，不是这圈里的；我必须领他们来，他们也要听我的声音，并且要合成一群，归一个牧人了。我父爱我，因我将命舍去，好再取回来。没有人夺我的命去，是我自己舍的。我有权柄舍了，也有权柄取回来，这是我从我父所受的命令。」犹太人为这些话又起了纷争。内中有好些人说：「他是被鬼附著，而且疯了，为甚么听他呢？」又有人说：「这不是鬼附之人所说的话，鬼岂能叫瞎子的眼睛开了呢？」』(约翰福音 10:11-21)       

    耶稣说到好牧人的职责，祂不是雇工，会为羊舍命，祂是『反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比书 2:7-8) 祂『…与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 在道成肉身的那期间，祂一生都顺服神，如经文所说，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 祂在客西马尼园的祷告也可看到这点，『说：「父啊！…不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。」』(路加福音 22:42) 那时，『有一位天使从天上显现，加添他的力量。耶稣极其伤痛，祷告更加恳切，汗珠如大血点滴在地上。』(路加福音 22:43-44) 祂是完全的人，这也就是希伯来书所说的，『基督在肉体的时候既大声哀哭，流泪祷告，恳求那能救他免死的主，就因他的虔诚蒙了应允。』(希伯来书 5:7) 所以那时的祷告是蒙了应允的祷告，祂上了十字架，很显然的知道那蒙了应允的祷告不是在求祂自己免死，那祷告是为了什么求呢？虽然圣经没有明说，但我们可以从经文中看见端倪。经文说，耶稣在十字架上尝了那醋，『…就说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵(魂)交付神了。』(约翰福音 19:30) 的确是救恩的计划完成了，祂那「然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思」的祷告 (马太福音 26:39)，的确是蒙了应允，祂是在为我们祷告，不是为自己免死而祷告。我们又看见了，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的！       

    祂说，『我另外有羊，不是这圈里的；…』(约翰福音 10:16) 到底是指什么呢？祂是在对犹太人说话，所以这圈是指以色列人，这就是保罗为什么会说，『他们是以色列人，那儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许，都是他们的。』(罗马书 9:4) 那另外有羊是指在外邦人中间的羊，因为人只有以色列人和外邦人两者，而保罗说得很清楚，『所以我们看定了：人称义是因著信，不在乎遵行律法。』(罗马书 3:28) 举个外邦人能信而称义是神的旨意的例子，在哥尼流的家中，『彼得就开口说：「我真看出神是不偏待人。原来各国中，那敬畏主、行义的人都为主所悦纳。』(使徒行传 10:34-35) 这也就是，『…我必须领他们来，他们也要听我的声音，并且要合成一群，归一个牧人了。』(约翰福音 10:16)       

    接著就说到祂的被钉上十字架，是祂自愿舍的，也说到了会死里复活的神的命令，这不就是以弗所书所说的，这命令是如何在人间成就的。『就是照他在基督身上所运行的大能大力，使他从死里复活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右边。』(以弗所书 1:20) 主耶稣在道成肉身那期间中，从没有用过祂的神性。

    最后一段很清楚的记到犹太人因耶稣的话又起了纷争，也可看到了祂的话是因治愈那天生是瞎子的人那件事而引起的，真的是，『…也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为来。』(约翰福音 9:3) 耶稣除了治愈天生是瞎子的，还在他身上做了其他的事情，显出了神的作为。

3. 耶稣与父神原为一       

    『在耶路撒冷有修殿节，是冬天的时候。耶稣在殿里所罗门的廊下行走。犹太人围著他说：「你叫我们犹疑不定到几时呢？你若是基督，就明明地告诉我们。」耶稣回答说：「我已经告诉你们，你们不信。我奉我父之名所行的事可以为我作见证；只是你们不信，因为你们不是我的羊。我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟著我；我又赐给他们永生，他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他们夺去。我与父原为一。」犹太人又拿起石头来要打他。耶稣对他们说：「我从父显出许多善事给你们看，你们是为哪一件拿石头打我呢？」犹太人回答说：「我们不是为善事拿石头打你，是为你说僭妄的话；又为你是个人，反将自己当作神。」耶稣说：「你们的律法上岂不是写著『我曾说你们是神』吗？经上的话是不能废的。若那些承受神道的人，尚且称为神；父所分别为圣，又差到世间来的，他自称是神的儿子，你们还向他说『你说僭妄的话』吗？我若不行我父的事，你们就不必信我；我若行了，你们纵然不信我，也当信这些事，叫你们又知道又明白：父在我里面，我也在父里面。」他们又要拿他，他却逃出他们的手走了。』(约翰福音 10:22-39)     

    修殿节不在旧约所说要守的节期之内，是后来才有的。在修殿节时，那稣点明了犹太人是真的不相信祂，他们甚至于不看祂奉父之名所行的事！他们执著于律法的字句而不是其真谛，犹如安息日般。祂强调祂认识祂的、会跟随祂的羊，人不能夺去的，在分离的祷告中祂说，『我与他们同在的时候，因你所赐给我的名保守了他们，我也护卫了他们；其中除了那灭亡之子，没有一个灭亡的，…』(约翰福音 17:12) 当祂被捕时，祂也这样做了。那时『耶稣说：「我已经告诉你们，我就是。你们若找我，就让这些人去吧！」这要应验耶稣从前的话，说：「你所赐给我的人，我没有失落一个。」』(约翰福音 18:8-9) 不论是外邦人或是以色列人，祂会对每一个属于祂的人，现在也会同样这样的保守他们。       

    祂明讲了祂与父原为一，犹太人不相信祂，也不看祂所做的善事，反执著在字句上的律法，要打祂的原因只因祂告诉他们事实。即使如此，祂也很有耐心的引用了这经文，『我曾说：『你们是神，都是至高者的儿子。』』(诗篇 82:6) 承受神道的人尚且如此，何况祂真是神的儿子呢？虽然他们想要拿祂，祂却逃出他们的手走了，又一次看见了，祂的时间没有到的时候，人不能动祂的！       

    我们看到「我与父原为一」这句话是耶稣在道成肉身说的，所以就像我们以前所分享的，祂那时仍是完全的神，只是从没用过祂的神性，因祂『…虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 就像我们举的王子的例子类似，王子不会因某种原因如叛乱等变成了乞丐，就不再是王子，因为王子的身份是与生俱来的。在道成肉身的这段时间中是有一个次序的，父差遣子，而子不去圣灵不来，在这段时间中是，『无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父神。』(腓立比书 2:11) 但不是如有人说的，基督要在父神面前蒙头，这 绝对是从人的角度看事情而自己加的，这是为什么保罗祇说，『…基督是教会的头，他又是教会全体的救主。』(以弗所书 5:23) 从来没有说基督在神面前要蒙头，因祂知道即使在道成肉身的那段时间里，耶稣仍与父原为一。         如果从另一个角度看，我们也会达到同一个结论的，『我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，神是基督的头。凡男人祷告或是讲道，若蒙著头，就羞辱自己的头。』(哥林多前书 11:3-4) 圣经很清楚的讲了，男人是不应该蒙头的。耶稣基督是男人，怎么会蒙头去羞辱神呢？  

    这里既然谈到蒙头的问题，我们就讨论一下圣经怎么说这一个有争议性的问题。认为女人要有物质上的蒙头的人，常引用的是这两节经文：『凡女人祷告或是讲道，若不蒙著头(G177)，就羞辱自己的头，因为这就如同剃了头发一样。』(哥林多前书 11:5) 和『因此，女人为天使的缘故，应当在头上有服权柄的记号。』(哥林多前书 11:10) 这字 G177 只出现两次，另一次为『你们自己审察，女人祷告神，不蒙著头(G177)是合宜的吗？』(哥林多前书 11:13) 所以它们的意义是很清楚，问题是神是否已经为女人准备了蒙头的材料，还是要另外有物质上的蒙头？对于后者即使相信要有物质上蒙头的人，也看到圣经没有明说是什么物质上的材料，如果真是要这样，圣经会明说材料的，所以大家可以遵循。       

    我们就看圣经怎么说？如果我们看和合本的翻译，『但女人有长头发，乃是她的荣耀，因为这头发是给她作盖头(G4018, covering)的。』(哥林多前书 11:15) 因为原文在哥林多前书 11:13 是用的不同的字，所以我们必须看 G4018 这个字的意义。这字也出现两次，另一次为『你要将天地卷起来，像一件外衣(G4018,  vesture)，天地就都改变了。惟有你永不改变，你的年数没有穷尽。』(希伯来书 1:12) 所以看用的字，就应该知道神已经给了女人长头发作为蒙头的。如果你仍看不到这一点，那就看另一节经文，『你们的本性不也指示你们，男人若有长头发，便是他的羞辱吗？』(哥林多前书 11:14) 这里不是说的头发，而是说的长头发，女人已有了荣耀的、而自愿留的长头发作为盖头，还需要另外物质上的盖头呢？有物质上盖头的女人，只是在告诉别人我很追求而已，忘了神是看内心的，不是看外表的，就像『耶和华…对撒母耳说：「…因为耶和华不像人看人：人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。」』(撒母耳记上 16:7)     

    有人说撒但就怕女人戴物质上的蒙头，真是完全没有根据，而且是正好相反，撒但巴不得这样的女人抹杀了神的工作，这不是撒但一厢的技俩吗？似是而非。牠引诱夏娃时所用的话不是对错相杂吗？在约伯记中对提幔人以利法所说的话不也是这样吗？

4. 耶稣和施洗约翰       

    『耶稣又往约旦河外去，到了约翰起初施洗的地方，就住在那里。有许多人来到他那里，他们说：「约翰一件神迹没有行过，但约翰指著这人所说的一切话都是真的。」在那里信耶稣的人就多了。』(约翰福音 10:40-42)       

    这段经文写得非常清楚，没有必要解释什么，(施洗)约翰的确是一件神迹也没行过，我们就把他为耶稣作的一个见证作为结束。首先我们看到约翰为神所立，且知道神付于他的任务，『…那时，撒迦利亚的儿子约翰在旷野里，神的话临到他。他就来到约旦河一带地方，宣讲悔改的洗礼，使罪得赦。』(路加福音 3:2-3) 他有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，是耶稣的开路先锋。 (参路加福音 1:17, 马太福音 17:10-13, 约翰福音 1:22-23)       

    他为耶稣作的见证之一是，『…「我曾看见圣灵仿佛鸽子从天降下，住在他的身上。我先前不认识他，只是那差我来用水施洗的，对我说：『你看见圣灵降下来，住在谁的身上，谁就是用圣灵施洗的。』我看见了，就证明这是神的儿子。」』(约翰福音 1:32-34) 耶稣的确是神的儿子。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先我們要再一次的強調，我們在這裏的討論仍是在知識上的層面，討論那從三位一體的神而來的唯一的福音，說說聖經是在如何講。我們相信聖經是神所默示的，從而知道神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，也不會把聖經的話打折扣，在這兩個前提下，用邏輯能夠推導出一些事情。一定不要忘記，生命只能從神來，『可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:7) 所以一定要在啓示裏面，要分辨，沒有啓示時，也要站在三位一體的神那一邊。

     第一，我們來看主耶穌是羊的門，祂來是要我們的生命更豐盛，我們要做的是要輕輕聽祂的聲音，不要消滅聖靈的感動。第二，我們說到主耶穌是好牧人，祂釘上了十字架為羊捨命，祂明說，在外邦人和以色列人中都有祂的羊，看到了祂在客西馬尼的被應允的禱告是為我們，為了救恩計劃的完成。第三，祂明講了祂與父原為一，猶太人不相信祂，也不看祂所做的善事，反執著在字句上的律法，要打祂的原因只因祂告訴他們事實。我們也說明了為什麼說要不要蒙頭會是相關的議題，也闡述了為什麼聖經說，不要女人有物質上的蒙頭，因為神已經幫她們預備好了。最後我們簡短的提到耶穌和施洗約翰，以約翰見證耶穌是神的兒子作為結束。

1. 主耶穌是羊的門、要生命更豐盛

       『「我實實在在地告訴你們：人進羊圈，不從門進去，倒從別處爬進去，那人就是賊，就是強盜。從門進去的，才是羊的牧人。看門的就給他開門，羊也聽他的聲音。他按着名叫自己的羊，把羊領出來。既放出自己的羊來，就在前頭走，羊也跟着他，因為認得他的聲音。羊不跟着生人，因為不認得他的聲音，必要逃跑。」耶穌將這比喻告訴他們，但他們不明白所說的是甚麼意思。所以耶穌又對他們說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：我就是羊的門。凡在我以先來的，都是賊，是強盜，羊卻不聽他們。我就是門，凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。盜賊來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」』(約翰福音 10:1-10)

       關於羊認得祂的聲音，必須輕輕聽才行，因為舊約明說，『耶和華說：「你(以利亞)出來站在山上，在我面前。」那時，耶和華從那裏經過，在他面前有烈風大作，崩山碎石，耶和華卻不在風中；風後地震，耶和華卻不在其中；地震後有火，耶和華也不在火中；火後有微小的聲音。』(列王紀上 19:11-12) 我們看見了詩篇說得很清楚的，耶和華『以風為使者，以火焰為僕役。』(詩篇 104:4) 我們也看見了，不在靈裏安靜是聽不到這微小的聲音的，而且是『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)

     聖靈經常會感動我們，但不是每次遇見事情都是如此，因為神不是一個命令一個動作的神。看到這一點，我們可舉一個例子，就是雖然父神賜聖靈給道成肉身的耶穌是沒有限量的，但在祂遇見瞎子的一次，是『耶穌就動了慈心，把他們的眼睛一摸，他們立刻看見，就跟從了耶穌。』(馬太福音 20:34) 很清楚的不是聖靈要祂這樣去做，而是祂自己動了慈心，但是可看見耶穌是永遠站在神那邊。這不就是我們以前所講的嗎？沒有啓示，我們也要站在神那邊。當然還有其他的例子，就不多說了。這就有點像禱告類似，不是每次禱告都有回答的。有時候回答是不行，就如保羅『有一根刺加在我肉體上，就是撒但的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。他對我說：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」…』(哥林多後書 12:7-9) 他很清楚的知道回答是不行，他就不再禱告而接受了，只是有些人是很難接受「不行」的回答。如果我們已確信禱告被應允，也就不必再禱告，但要感謝和贊美，靜待事情的成就。

       主耶穌是羊的門，那唯一的門，我們以前討論過當耶穌用「實實在在地」時，都是非常重要的宣告，這些經文中就用了兩次，我們現在就不多說這一點了。真的，『除他(主耶穌)以外，別無拯救，因為在天下人間，沒有賜下別的名，我們可以靠着得救。』(使徒行傳 4:12) 所以大使命是說，『…你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，…凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，…』(馬太福音 28:19-20) 所以大使命是每一個基督徒的天職。那有人就會說，這不是和這節經文衝突嗎？『若沒有奉差遣，怎能傳道呢？如經上所記：「報福音傳喜信的人，他們的腳蹤何等佳美！」』(羅馬書 10:15) 我並沒有奉差遣作全職或帶職的傳道人啊！怎麼能傳道啊？

     這人忘記了前一句，『然而人未曾信他，怎能求他呢？未曾聽見他，怎能信他呢？沒有傳道的，怎能聽見呢？』(羅馬書 10:14) 大使命不是呼召了每一個人去傳道嗎？也許我們的生命不到我們所期望的那裏，且知道要做光做鹽，因為『人點燈，不放在斗底下，是放在燈台上，就照亮一家的人。』(馬太福音 5:15) 只是不要忘記燈即使放在斗底下仍舊發光，有發光的生命。我們的生命有多少就可以顯露出多少，在這時我們會看見，『你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。』(馬太福音 5:16) 是要在生命中發出的好行為。

     譬如在弟兄姊妹有需要送飯的時候，我們的愛心要我們這麼做就可以這樣去做，而不是人家這樣做我只好跟著去做。一些人是因看著弟兄姊妹的愛心而最終受洗，願意加入這個大家庭，這不是和神同工給了這人一個機會得到救恩嗎？所以生命到那裏，就用既有的生命做到那裏去傳道，而不要超過生命的去做，就如前面所舉的例子是每一個人都可以做的事情，成就了大使命。真的不需要等到生命成熟後才行出來，如果是這樣的話，可能是沒有機會去傳道了，至少我沒有碰到模成耶穌形像的人(參羅馬書 8:29)，不要中了撒但的詭計！因主是唯一的門，所以不從祂進入基督的國度裏都是從撒但來的，是混進來的，就像經文說，『因為有些人偷着進來，就是自古被定受刑罰的，是不虔誠的，將我們神的恩變作放縱情慾的機會，並且不認獨一的主宰──我們主耶穌基督。』(猶大書 1:4)

       對那些不行出教導的人的，難怪耶穌會說，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。當那日，必有許多人對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能嗎？』我就明明地告訴他們說：『我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧！』』(馬太福音 7:21-23) 以人的角度看來，他們做的事情好像是好事情，可是他們做的這些顯然不是出於神的，所以我們要分辨，做神要我們做的工作。

       的確，『盜賊來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。』(約翰福音 10:10) 也只有願意停在主耶穌羊圈裏的人，才能得救而出入能得草吃，有著從內到外的生命的改變，得到更豐盛的生命。當然有時候自己會也覺察不到這緩慢的改變，想想摩西是要在曠野有著四十年的訓練後，才為神所用，我們不會等這麼久的。但一個基督徒真正的沒有這從內到外的生命改變，是該反省了！

2. 主耶穌是好牧人

       『「我是好牧人，好牧人為羊捨命。若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看見狼來，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，趕散了羊羣。雇工逃走，因他是雇工，並不顧念羊。「我是好牧人，我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我。正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣，並且我為羊捨命。我另外有羊，不是這圈裏的；我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一羣，歸一個牧人了。我父愛我，因我將命捨去，好再取回來。沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了，也有權柄取回來，這是我從我父所受的命令。」猶太人為這些話又起了紛爭。內中有好些人說：「他是被鬼附着，而且瘋了，為甚麼聽他呢？」又有人說：「這不是鬼附之人所說的話，鬼豈能叫瞎子的眼睛開了呢？」』(約翰福音 10:11-21)

       耶穌說到好牧人的職責，祂不是雇工，會為羊捨命，祂是『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:7-8) 祂『…與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 在道成肉身的那期間，祂一生都順服神，如經文所說，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 祂在客西馬尼園的禱告也可看到這點，『說：「父啊！…不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。」』(路加福音 22:42) 那時，『有一位天使從天上顯現，加添他的力量。耶穌極其傷痛，禱告更加懇切，汗珠如大血點滴在地上。』(路加福音 22:43-44) 祂是完全的人，這也就是希伯來書所說的，『基督在肉體的時候既大聲哀哭，流淚禱告，懇求那能救他免死的主，就因他的虔誠蒙了應允。』(希伯來書 5:7) 所以那時的禱告是蒙了應允的禱告，祂上了十字架，很顯然的知道那蒙了應允的禱告不是在求祂自己免死，那禱告是為了什麼求呢？雖然聖經沒有明說，但我們可以從經文中看見端倪。經文說，耶穌在十字架上嘗了那醋，『…就說：「成了！」便低下頭，將靈(魂)交付神了。』(約翰福音 19:30) 的確是救恩的計劃完成了，祂那「然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思」的禱告 (馬太福音 26:39)，的確是蒙了應允，祂是在為我們禱告，不是為自己免死而禱告。我們又看見了，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的！

       祂說，『我另外有羊，不是這圈裏的；…』(約翰福音 10:16) 到底是指什麼呢？祂是在對猶太人說話，所以這圈是指以色列人，這就是保羅為什麼會說，『他們是以色列人，那兒子的名分、榮耀、諸約、律法、禮儀、應許，都是他們的。』(羅馬書 9:4) 那另外有羊是指在外邦人中間的羊，因為人只有以色列人和外邦人兩者，而保羅說得很清楚，『所以我們看定了：人稱義是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。』(羅馬書 3:28) 舉個外邦人能信而稱義是神的旨意的例子，在哥尼流的家中，『彼得就開口說：「我真看出神是不偏待人。原來各國中，那敬畏主、行義的人都為主所悅納。』(使徒行傳 10:34-35) 這也就是，『…我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一羣，歸一個牧人了。』(約翰福音 10:16)

       接著就說到祂的被釘上十字架，是祂自願捨的，也說到了會死裏復活的神的命令，這不就是以弗所書所説的，這命令是如何在人間成就的。『就是照他在基督身上所運行的大能大力，使他從死裏復活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右邊。』(以弗所書 1:20) 主耶穌在道成肉身那期間中，從沒有用過祂的神性。

       最後一段很清楚的記到猶太人因耶穌的話又起了紛爭，也可看到了祂的話是因治癒那天生是瞎子的人那件事而引起的，真的是，『…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。』(約翰福音 9:3) 耶穌除了治癒天生是瞎子的，還在他身上做了其他的事情，顯出了神的作為。

3. 耶穌與父神原為一

       『在耶路撒冷有修殿節，是冬天的時候。耶穌在殿裏所羅門的廊下行走。猶太人圍着他說：「你叫我們猶疑不定到幾時呢？你若是基督，就明明地告訴我們。」耶穌回答說：「我已經告訴你們，你們不信。我奉我父之名所行的事可以為我作見證；只是你們不信，因為你們不是我的羊。我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟着我；我又賜給他們永生，他們永不滅亡，誰也不能從我手裏把他們奪去。我父把羊賜給我，他比萬有都大，誰也不能從我父手裏把他們奪去。我與父原為一。」猶太人又拿起石頭來要打他。耶穌對他們說：「我從父顯出許多善事給你們看，你們是為哪一件拿石頭打我呢？」猶太人回答說：「我們不是為善事拿石頭打你，是為你說僭妄的話；又為你是個人，反將自己當作神。」耶穌說：「你們的律法上豈不是寫着『我曾說你們是神』嗎？經上的話是不能廢的。若那些承受神道的人，尚且稱為神；父所分別為聖，又差到世間來的，他自稱是神的兒子，你們還向他說『你說僭妄的話』嗎？我若不行我父的事，你們就不必信我；我若行了，你們縱然不信我，也當信這些事，叫你們又知道又明白：父在我裏面，我也在父裏面。」他們又要拿他，他卻逃出他們的手走了。』(約翰福音 10:22-39)

     修殿節不在舊約所說要守的節期之內，是後來才有的。在修殿節時，那穌點明了猶太人是真的不相信祂，他們甚至於不看祂奉父之名所行的事！他們執著於律法的字句而不是其真諦，猶如安息日般。祂強調祂認識祂的、會跟隨祂的羊，人不能奪去的，在分離的禱告中祂說，『我與他們同在的時候，因你所賜給我的名保守了他們，我也護衞了他們；其中除了那滅亡之子，沒有一個滅亡的，…』(約翰福音 17:12) 當祂被捕時，祂也這樣做了。那時『耶穌說：「我已經告訴你們，我就是。你們若找我，就讓這些人去吧！」這要應驗耶穌從前的話，說：「你所賜給我的人，我沒有失落一個。」』(約翰福音 18:8-9) 不論是外邦人或是以色列人，祂會對每一個屬於祂的人，現在也會同樣這樣的保守他們。

       祂明講了祂與父原為一，猶太人不相信祂，也不看祂所做的善事，反執著在字句上的律法，要打祂的原因只因祂告訴他們事實。即使如此，祂也很有耐心的引用了這經文，『我曾說：『你們是神，都是至高者的兒子。』』(詩篇 82:6) 承受神道的人尚且如此，何況祂真是神的兒子呢？雖然他們想要拿祂，祂卻逃出他們的手走了，又一次看見了，祂的時間沒有到的時候，人不能動祂的！

       我們看到「我與父原為一」這句話是耶穌在道成肉身說的，所以就像我們以前所分享的，祂那時仍是完全的神，只是從沒用過祂的神性，因祂『…虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 就像我們舉的王子的例子類似，王子不會因某種原因如叛亂等變成了乞丐，就不再是王子，因為王子的身份是與生俱來的。在道成肉身的這段時間中是有一個次序的，父差遣子，而子不去聖靈不來，在這段時間中是，『無不口稱耶穌基督為主，使榮耀歸與父神。』(腓立比書 2:11) 但不是如有人說的，基督要在父神面前蒙頭，這 絕對是從人的角度看事情而自己加的，這是為什麼保羅祇說，『…基督是教會的頭，他又是教會全體的救主。』(以弗所書 5:23) 從來沒有說基督在神面前要蒙頭，因祂知道即使在道成肉身的那段時間裏，耶穌仍與父原為一。如果從另一個角度看，我們也會達到同一個結論的，『我願意你們知道，基督是各人的頭，男人是女人的頭，神是基督的頭。凡男人禱告或是講道，若蒙着頭，就羞辱自己的頭。』(哥林多前書 11:3-4) 聖經很清楚的講了，男人是不應該蒙頭的。耶穌基督是男人，怎麼會蒙頭去羞辱神呢？

        這裏既然談到蒙頭的問題，我們就討論一下聖經怎麼說這一個有爭議性的問題。認為女人要有物質上的蒙頭的人，常引用的是這兩節經文：『凡女人禱告或是講道，若不蒙着頭(G177)，就羞辱自己的頭，因為這就如同剃了頭髮一樣。』(哥林多前書 11:5) 和『因此，女人為天使的緣故，應當在頭上有服權柄的記號。』(哥林多前書 11:10) 這字 G177 只出現兩次，另一次為『你們自己審察，女人禱告神，不蒙着頭(G177)是合宜的嗎？』(哥林多前書 11:13) 所以它們的意義是很清楚，問題是神是否已經為女人準備了蒙頭的材料，還是要另外有物質上的蒙頭？對於後者即使相信要有物質上蒙頭的人，也看到聖經沒有明說是什麼物質上的材料，如果真是要這樣，聖經會明說材料的，所以大家可以遵循。

       我們就看聖經怎麼說？如果我們看和合本的翻譯，『但女人有長頭髮，乃是她的榮耀，因為這頭髮是給她作蓋頭(G4018, covering)的。』(哥林多前書 11:15) 因為原文在哥林多前書 11:13 是用的不同的字，所以我們必須看 G4018 這個字的意義。這字也出現兩次，另一次為『你要將天地捲起來，像一件外衣(G4018,  vesture)，天地就都改變了。惟有你永不改變，你的年數沒有窮盡。』(希伯來書 1:12) 所以看用的字，就應該知道神已經給了女人長頭髮作為蒙頭的。如果你仍看不到這一點，那就看另一節經文，『你們的本性不也指示你們，男人若有長頭髮，便是他的羞辱嗎？』(哥林多前書 11:14) 這裏不是說的頭髮，而是說的長頭髮，女人已有了榮耀的、而自願留的長頭髮作為蓋頭，還需要另外物質上的蓋頭呢？有物質上蓋頭的女人，只是在告訴別人我很追求而已，忘了神是看內心的，不是看外表的，就像『耶和華…對撒母耳說：「…因為耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。」』(撒母耳記上 16:7)

     有人說撒但就怕女人戴物質上的蒙頭，真是完全沒有根據，而且是正好相反，撒但巴不得這樣的女人抹殺了神的工作，這不是撒但一廂的技倆嗎？似是而非。牠引誘夏娃時所用的話不是對錯相雜嗎？在約伯記中對提幔人以利法所說的話不也是這樣嗎？

4. 耶穌和施洗約翰

       『耶穌又往約旦河外去，到了約翰起初施洗的地方，就住在那裏。有許多人來到他那裏，他們說：「約翰一件神蹟沒有行過，但約翰指着這人所說的一切話都是真的。」在那裏信耶穌的人就多了。』(約翰福音 10:40-42)

       這段經文寫得非常清楚，沒有必要解釋什麼，(施洗)約翰的確是一件神蹟也沒行過，我們就把他為耶穌作的一個見証作為結束。首先我們看到約翰為神所立，且知道神付於他的任務，『…那時，撒迦利亞的兒子約翰在曠野裏，神的話臨到他。他就來到約旦河一帶地方，宣講悔改的洗禮，使罪得赦。』(路加福音 3:2-3) 他有以利亞的心志能力，行在主的前面，是耶穌的開路先鋒。 (參路加福音 1:17, 馬太福音 17:10-13, 約翰福音 1:22-23)

       他為耶穌作的見証之一是，『…「我曾看見聖靈彷彿鴿子從天降下，住在他的身上。我先前不認識他，只是那差我來用水施洗的，對我說：『你看見聖靈降下來，住在誰的身上，誰就是用聖靈施洗的。』我看見了，就證明這是神的兒子。」』(約翰福音 1:32-34) 耶穌的確是神的兒子。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First of all, we have to emphasize again that our discussion here is still at an intellectual level, discussing the only Gospel that comes from the Triune God, and talking about how the Bible talks about it.  We believe that the Bible is inspired by God, so we know that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and we will not discount the words of the Bible. Under these two premises, we can use logic to deduce some things.  We must never forget that life can only come from God. “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:7) Therefore, we must discern if a revelation is true one, be inside the revelation, and we must stand on the side of the Triune God even when there is no revelation.

Let’s first see that the Lord Jesus is the door of the sheep. He comes to make our lives more abundant. What we have to do is to listen to His voice gently and not to extinguish the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Second, we talk about the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He was crucified and laid down His life for the sheep. He clearly said that His sheep are among the Gentiles and the Israelites. We saw that His answered prayer in Gethsemane was for us, for the completion of the plan of salvation.  Third, He clearly stated that He and the Father were one. The Jews did not believe in Him, nor did they appreciate the good deeds He had done. Instead, they clung to the letter of the Law. The reason why they wanted to beat Him was simply because He told them the truth.  We also explained why head covering is a relevant issue and why the Bible says that women are not required to have their heads covered materially because God has provided for them.  Finally we briefly mention Jesus and John the Baptist, ending with John’s testimony that Jesus is the Son of God.

1. The Lord Jesus is the gate of the sheep, wanting life more abundantly

““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.””(John 10:1-10)

As for the sheep recognizing His voice, they must listen carefully, because the Old Testament clearly says, “So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.”(1 Kings 19:11-12) We have seen what the Psalms say very clearly, the Lord “He makes the winds His messengers,

Flaming fire His ministers.”(Psalm 104:4) We have also seen that if you are not quiet in your spirit, you will not be able to hear this small voice, and “Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

The Holy Spirit often moves us, but this is not the case every time when we encounter something, because God is not a God who commands every action.  Seeing this, we can give an example. Although there is no limit to the Holy Spirit given by God the Father to the incarnate Jesus, when He met the blind men, “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”(Matthew 20:34) It is clear that it was not the Holy Spirit who asked Him to do this, but He Himself moved with compassion. It can also be seen that Jesus in this time stands on God’s side. As a matter of fact, He is always on the side of God the Father. Isn’t this what we talked about before?  Even without revelation, we must stand on God’s side.  Of course there are other examples, so I won’t go into details.  This is a bit like praying. Not every prayer is answered.  Sometimes the answer is no, as Paul said, “…there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me⁠—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” …”(2 Corinthians 12:7-9) He knew the answer clearly which is no, he stops praying and accepts it. However, some people find it difficult to accept the ‘no’ answer.  If we are convinced that our prayers are answered, we do not need to pray anymore, but we should give thanks and praise and wait for things to come to pass.

The Lord Jesus is the gate of the sheep, the only gate. We have discussed before that when Jesus uses “truly, truly,” it is a very important declaration. It is used twice in these verses. Truly, “…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12) So the Great Commission says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;…”(Matthew 28 :19-20) Therefore, the Great Commission is the vocation of every Christian.  Then some people will say, doesn’t this conflict with this verse? “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!””(Romans 10:15) People often says that I am not sent out as a full-time or part-time preacher, therefore I cannot preach. 

This person forgot the previous sentence, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”(Romans 10:14) Doesn’t the Great Commission call everyone to preach?  Maybe our life is not where we expected it to be, but we still know that we should be light and salt, because “…does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”(Matthew 5:15) But don’t forget that even if the lamp is placed under a basket, it still shines and has luminous life. How much life we ​​have is what we cannot hide and can thus be revealed. At this time we should see, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:16) It is the good deeds to be produced in life which counts.

For example, when brothers and sisters are needed to have some food, we can do it if our love tells us to do so, instead of having to follow others’ actions.  Some people are finally baptized because they see the love of their brothers and sisters and are willing to join this big family. Doesn’t this mean that working with God in this way gives this person a chance to receive salvation?  Therefore, wherever your life takes you, use your existing life to preach there, and do not do things beyond your life. Just like the example above, it is something that everyone can do, and it fulfills the Great Commission.  You really don’t need to wait until life is mature before you take action. If this is the case, you may not have the opportunity to preach at all. At least I have not met anyone who is conformed into the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29). Don’t be fooled by the trick from Satan!  Because the Lord is the only door, anyone who does not enter the kingdom of Christ through Him is from Satan and has sneaked in. Just as the scripture says, “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”(Jude 1:4)

For those who do not practice what Jesus teaches, no wonder He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”(Matthew 7:21-23) From a human perspective, the things they did seemed to be good things, but what they did was obviously not from God, so we must discern and do what God wants us to do. 

Indeed, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”(John 10:10) Only those who are willing to stay in the sheepfold of the Lord Jesus can be saved and go in and out to find grass, have their lives changed from the inside out, and gain a more abundant life.  Of course, sometimes we are not aware of this slow change. Thinking about it, Moses had to undergo forty years of training in the wilderness before he was used by God. We will not wait so long.  But if a Christian truly does not have this kind of life change from the inside out, it is time to reflect!    

2. The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd

““I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?””(John 10:11-21)

Jesus spoke of the duty of the Good Shepherd. He was not a hired hand who would lay down His life for the sheep. He “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:7-8) He “…and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) During the time of His incarnation, He obeyed God all His life. As the scripture says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) This can also be seen in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “saying, “Father, …yet not My will, but Yours be done.””(Luke 22:42) At that time, “Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”(Luke 22:43-44) He is a complete man, which is what the book of Hebrews says, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”(Hebrews 5:7) So the prayer at that time was an answered prayer. When He went to the cross, He clearly knew that the answered prayer was not to request Him to avoid death. What then was the purpose of that prayer? What did He pray for?  Although the Bible does not say it explicitly, we can see clues from the scriptures.  The scripture says that when Jesus tasted the vinegar on the cross, “… He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30) The plan of salvation was indeed completed in His part, and His prayer, “…not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39), was indeed answered. He was praying for us, not for Himself to avoid death.  We have seen again that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent!

He said, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; …”(John 10:16) What exactly does this mean?  He was speaking to the Jews, so this refers to the Israelites, which is why Paul said, “who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises.”(Romans 9:4) The other sheep refer to the sheep among the Gentiles, because there are only Israelites and Gentiles, and Paul said very clearly, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”(Romans 3:28) To give an example of how it is God’s will for Gentiles to believe and be justified, let us take look what happened in the house of Cornelius, “Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”(Acts 10:34-35) This means, “…I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”(John 10:16).

Then it talked about His crucifixion, which He voluntarily gave up His life, and also talked about the command of God who would be resurrected Him from the dead. Isn’t this what Ephesians says, how this command is fulfilled in the world. “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”(Ephesians 1:20) During the period of His incarnation, the Lord Jesus never used His divinity.

The last paragraph clearly records that the Jews had another quarrel because of Jesus’ words. We can also see that His words were caused by the healing of a man who was born blind. It is true, “…It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”(John 9:3) In addition to healing the man who was born blind, Jesus also did other things on him, displaying the works of God.

3. Jesus and God the Father are one

“At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.”(John 10:22-39)

The Feast of the Dedication is not among the festivals to be observed in the Old Testament. It came about later.  During the Feast of the Dedication, Jesus made it clear that the Jews really did not believe in Him. They did not even look at the things He did in the name of the Father!  They clung to the letter of the Law rather than its true meaning, like the Sabbath.  He emphasized that He knew His sheep and they would follow Him, and that no man could take them away. In the High Priestly Prayer, He said, “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”(John 17:12) He did the same as He said when He was arrested.  At that time, ” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.””(John 18:8-9) Whether they are Gentiles or Israelites, He will now protect everyone who belongs to Him in the same way.

He made it clear that He and the Father were one. The Jews did not believe in Him, nor did they appreciate the good deeds He had done. Instead, they clung to the letter of the Law. The only reason they wanted to beat Him was because He told them the truth.  Even so, He patiently quoted this scripture, “I said, “You are gods,

And all of you are sons of the Most High.”(Psalm 82:6) This sentence is true is to whom the word of God came, how much more is to the person who really is the Son of God?  Although they tried to take Him, He escaped from their hands and walked away. Once again, we saw that no one could touch Him until His time came!

We see that the words “I and the Father are one”(John 10:30) were spoken by Jesus when He was incarnate. So as we shared before, He was still fully God at that time, but he never used His divinity. For He “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Just like the example of the prince we gave, when the prince becomes a beggar for some reason, such as rebellion, etc., and he will still be a prince, because the identity of a prince is innate.  There is an order during the time of the incarnation. The Father sends the Son, but if the Son does not go and the Holy Spirit does not come, and during this time, “…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Philippians 2:11) But it is not as someone said that Christ had to cover His head before God the Father. This was definitely added by himself by looking at things from a human perspective. This is why Paul only said, “…as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”(Ephesians 5:23) It is never told that Christ had to cover His head before God the Father because he knew that even during the time of His incarnation, Jesus was still one with the Father. If we look at it from another angle, we will reach the same conclusion, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.”(1 Corinthians 11:3-4) The Bible makes it very clear that men should not cover their heads.  Jesus Christ was a man, so how could He cover His head and disgrace God?

Since the issue of head covering is discussed here, let’s discuss what the Bible says about this controversial issue.  Those who believe that women should have their heads covered materially often quote these two verses: “But every woman who has her head uncovered (G177) while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.”(1 Corinthians 11:5) and “Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.”(1 Corinthians 11:10) This word G177 only appears twice. The other time is here. “Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered (G177)?”(1 Corinthians 11:13) So its meaning is very clear. The question is whether God has already prepared materials for women to cover their heads, or does it require another material head covering?  Regarding the latter, even those who believe in material head coverings can see that the Bible does not clearly state what materials are needed. If this is really the case for every woman to have the material head covering, the Bible will clearly state the material, so everyone can follow it.

So what does the Bible say? Let usook at this verse, “​but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering (G4018).”(1 Corinthians 11:15) Since the original text uses different words in 1 Corinthians 11:13, we must look at the meaning of the word G4018.  This word also appears twice. The other time is in this verse, “And like a mantle (G4018) You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”(Hebrews 1:12) So looking at the word used, we should know that God has given women long hair as a head covering.  If you still don’t see this, look at another verse, “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him.”(1 Corinthians 11:14) This is not talking about hair, but long hair. Women already have glorious and voluntarily growing long hair as a covering, so why do they need another physical covering?  Women with material coverings are just telling others that I am very pursuing, forgetting that God looks at the heart, not the appearance, just like “…the LORD said to Samuel, “…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.””(1 Samuel 16:7)

Some people say that Satan is afraid of the situation that women would all wear material head coverings. This is completely unfounded, and it is exactly the opposite. Satan is eager for such women to obliterate the work of God. Isn’t this a wishful thinking of Satan?  Specious.  Weren’t the words he used when he tempted Eve a mixture of right and wrong?  Isn’t this the same about what Eliphaz the Temanite said in the book of Job?

4. Jesus and John the Baptist

“And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” Many believed in Him there.”(John 10:40-42)

This passage is written very clearly, and there is no need to explain anything. John (the Baptist) indeed did not perform a single miracle, so we will end with his testimony for Jesus.  First of all, we see that John was appointed by God and knew the mission God had given him, “…the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”(Luke 3:2-3) He had the mind and ability of Elijah, walking before the Lord and being the pioneer of Jesus.  (See Luke 1:17, Matthew 17:10-13, John 1:22-23)

One of his testimonies about Jesus was, “John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.””(John 1:32-34) Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

    首先我们看看耶稣和泥治愈天生是瞎子的原委，经文一开始就明说，他所遭过的不是因他或他的父母犯罪，而是要在他身上彰显出神的作为。耶稣明说祂是世上的光，到黑夜的时候祂是身教重于言教，也看到了那瞎子的信心，顺便一题的是耶稣治愈瞎子会有不同的方式，不是每次都用唾沫及和呢。第二，我们讨论了法利赛人对他和他的父母的对话，看到他的父母怕被赶出会堂，不敢说耶稣是基督。第三，我们看到瞎子以他的信心第二次和法利赛人对话。最后，我们看到在这特例中，耶稣明说自己是神的儿子，并看到了法利赛人是真瞎子。

1. 耶稣和泥治愈天生是瞎子的原委       

    『耶稣过去的时候，看见一个人生来是瞎眼的。门徒问耶稣说：「拉比，这人生来是瞎眼的，是谁犯了罪？是这人呢？是他父母呢？」耶稣回答说：「也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为来。趁著白日，我们必须做那差我来者的工；黑夜将到，就没有人能做工了。我在世上的时候，是世上的光。」耶稣说了这话，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，对他说：「你往西罗亚池子里去洗。」（「西罗亚」翻出来就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回头就看见了。他的邻舍和那素常见他是讨饭的，就说：「这不是那从前坐著讨饭的人吗？」有人说：「是他。」 又有人说：「不是，却是像他。」 他自己说：「是我。」他们对他说：「你的眼睛是怎么开的呢？」他回答说：「有一个人名叫耶稣，他和泥抹我的眼睛，对我说『你往西罗亚池子去洗』；我去一洗，就看见了。」他们说：「那个人在哪里？」 他说：「我不知道。」』(约翰福音 9:1-12)        

    一般人很多都以为遭遇病痛或苦难的一定是犯了罪，一开始就很清楚的说明这一点，不见得是，而且明说了是父神透过圣灵要耶稣做的工，『…因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 要借著祂在瞎子的身上作的工作显出神的作为！      #####另外一个例子是约伯记中记载约伯遭受的苦难，从人的角度看他已经做得非常的好，因此而有了自义，我们看到神是要祝福他，而他必须经过那么多的苦难，才能够真正意识到他的自义，所以神一向他在旋风中告诉他一些事情，他就知道且说，『我是卑贱的！我用甚么回答你呢？只好用手摀口。我说了一次，再不回答；说了两次，就不再说。』(约伯记 40:4-5) 最后是他悔改了，『我从前风闻有你，现在亲眼看见你。因此我厌恶自己，在尘土和炉灰中懊悔。』(约伯记 42:5-6) 神也祝福了他，『约伯为他的朋友祈祷，耶和华就使约伯从苦境转回，并且耶和华赐给他的比他从前所有的加倍。』(约伯记 42:10)     

    很清楚的说，祂必须白日作工，到了黑夜时就不能作工了！祂明说了，祂是世上的光，那黑夜将到是指什么时候呢？就是耶稣被捕的时候，祂很清楚的说，『我天天同你们在殿里，你们不下手拿我。现在却是你们的时候，黑暗掌权了。』(路加福音 22:53) 祂被捕后不能再做这样的工作了，不能再做的也包括了其他祂所已做的宣道和行的神迹。我们看那时上十字架的祂是身教重于言教，经文说得很清楚，祂是『既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比书 2:8) 祂真正为我们而被钉死。     

    在我经历过的客观事实以后(参「2123 神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在」) ，其中有人对我说，即使有客观的事实，这和我的想法不一样，我是不会相信的，所以连亲自看都不要，人的心实在刚硬啊！所以当耶稣说，『在他们身上，正应了以赛亚的预言，说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。因为这百姓油蒙了心，耳朵发沉，眼睛闭著；恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。』(马太福音 13:14-15) 不是三位一体的神怕他们回转，而是犹太人本身就是心刚硬，不会回转。正好相反，仍是三位一体的神『…不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。』(彼得后书 3:9)  一旦回转，祂就会医治他们。        

    耶稣治疗瞎子是用不同的形式的，这次是用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，要他往西罗亚池子里去洗。他知道开他眼睛的是耶稣，但他没见过耶稣，因他见到耶稣时是瞎眼的，所以他会说那个人在那里我不知道。照神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，那时的耶稣并不会为得好名声而直接告许他自己是谁。虽然圣经并没有明说他是怎么知道是耶稣治愈了他，很合理的猜测是人之常情，他被治愈后回到原地想知道治愈他的是谁，他回来的时候耶稣应该已不在了，大概是旁边的人告诉他是耶稣治愈了他。我们看一下后面的经文就知道应该是这种情况，『耶稣听说他们把他赶出去，后来遇见他，就说：「你信神的儿子吗？」他回答说：「主啊，谁是神的儿子，叫我信他呢？」耶稣说：「你已经看见他，现在和你说话的就是他。」他说：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶稣。』(约翰福音 9:35-38) 在这之前他是不知道耶稣是神的儿子的，在我们即将讨论的约翰福音 9:13-34 看到他和法利赛人的对话就知道这一点。        

    在这里我们谈谈这瞎子的信心，耶稣用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，对他说去洗就能看见，你想一般人会相信吗？而他是乖乖的去洗就得到了治愈。再看他和我们将要看的经文中他和法利赛人的对话，就知道他因自己所经历的治愈相信耶稣是先知。最后是上面这一段，他能立刻相信耶稣是神的儿子，也有相应的行为，难怪神会选择他，在他身上显出神的作为来。在这里，我们又看到「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」，因为圣经是神所默示的，不相信这一点，我们一定会强解圣经，尤其碰到有明显矛盾的默示时，不会知道神要借著这样的默示告诉我们什么！        

    我们刚才提到，耶稣治疗瞎子是用不同的形式的，我们就顺便一提这一点。在马太福音 9:27-31，是因瞎子的信，『耶稣就摸他们的眼睛，说：「照著你们的信给你们成全了吧！」』(马太福音 9:29) 在出耶利哥的时候，也几乎是用同样的方式，这时是『耶稣就动了慈心，把他们的眼睛一摸，他们立刻看见，就跟从了耶稣。』(马太福音 20:34)        

    当在伯赛大的时候，是采取完全不同的方式，『…有人带一个瞎子来，求耶稣摸他。耶稣拉著瞎子的手，领他到村外，就吐唾沫在他眼睛上，按手在他身上，问他说：「你看见甚么了？」他就抬头一看，说：「我看见人了，他们好像树木，并且行走。」随后又按手在他眼睛上，他定睛一看，就复了原，样样都看得清楚了。耶稣打发他回家，说：「连这村子你也不要进去。」』(马可福音 8:22-26) 这时是分成两个步骤，且到村外并事后告诉他不要这村子，所以圣经虽然没有明讲这村大有问题，但我们可以从逻辑的推导看到这一点。所以从神而来的逻辑是很重要的，也就是在相信神的前提下使用逻辑，没有这样的前提，我们会推导出不可知论，所以基督徒一定在这前提使用逻辑的推导。在马可福音 10:46-52和路加福音 18:35-43，祂只是用祂话语治愈了瞎子，『耶稣说：「你去吧，你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看见了，就在路上跟随耶稣。』(马可福音 10:52)        

    顺便提到这些，是因为如果我记得没错的话，有一个人在公众场合告诉别人，他有圣灵的感动要治疗某些人，声称自己有医疗的恩赐，我只能说我不太相信他真正有他所声称的恩赐，因为是有时对，而大概是时多不对。要分辩！有人作见证说，祷告也是这样，有时发生的事情是和祷告的结果完全一样，有时正好相反。怎么会是这样呢？从神来的一定会成就的，『先知托耶和华的名说话，所说的若不成就，也无效验，这就是耶和华所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自说的，你不要怕他。』(申命记 18:22) 我想神是要借著这样的祷告让这人学习分辩，很不幸的是，到目前为些，我都不知道这人有没有意识到这一点。     

    回到那声称有恩赐的人，有一次他说到治疗的方式是为女人准备的，而我是男人有同样的感觉，问他后，他只能告诉我神大概是也要治疗我，而我这次是没有得到治疗。真的要分辩！在一本倪柝声的传记中，说到他底下的人，就是因为共产党以好人装作为病人，当那人为好人祈祷治疗后，共产党就声称祈祷治病是骗人的。当然我们知道这是陷害，但实在是不能不分辩！

2. 瞎子及他的父母和法利赛人的对话       

    『他们把从前瞎眼的人带到法利赛人那里。耶稣和泥开他眼睛的日子是安息日。法利赛人也问他是怎么得看见的。瞎子对他们说：「他把泥抹在我的眼睛上，我去一洗，就看见了。」法利赛人中有的说：「这个人不是从神来的，因为他不守安息日。」 又有人说：「一个罪人怎能行这样的神迹呢？」他们就起了纷争。他们又对瞎子说：「他既然开了你的眼睛，你说他是怎样的人呢？」 他说：「是个先知。」犹太人不信他从前是瞎眼，后来能看见的，等到叫了他的父母来，问他们说：「这是你们的儿子吗？你们说他生来是瞎眼的，如今怎么能看见了呢？」他父母回答说：「他是我们的儿子，生来就瞎眼，这是我们知道的。至于他如今怎么能看见，我们却不知道；是谁开了他的眼睛，我们也不知道。他已经成了人，你们问他吧！他自己必能说。」他父母说这话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商议定了，若有认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。因此他父母说：「他已经成了人，你们问他吧！」』(约翰福音 9:13-23)        

    我们谈过好几次耶稣是守安息日的真谛，而不是守字句上的安息的时间，祂是要安息日作为例子，告诉我们要了解律法的真谛。当耶稣说，『我实在告诉你们：就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。』(马太福音 5:18) 这是在讲要守的是律法的真谛，像守安息日一样，要不然，你就可以找到明显的矛盾。法利赛人不了解这点，难怪他们会起了纷争，因为从人的角度看事情，当然会如此。

    经文很清楚写出和法利赛人的对话，那时瞎子只知道耶稣是先知，很显然他的父母看到耶稣在他们儿子身上做的事情，已相信耶稣是基督了，要不，经文不会这么说，『他父母说这话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商议定了，若有认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。』(约翰福音 9:22) 他们怕被赶出会堂，怎么敢说耶稣是基督呢！就说谎自保了。

3. 瞎子以他的信心第二次和法利赛人对话       

    『所以法利赛人第二次叫了那从前瞎眼的人来，对他说：「你该将荣耀归给神，我们知道这人是个罪人。」他说：「他是个罪人不是，我不知道。有一件事我知道：从前我是眼瞎的，如今能看见了！」他们就问他说：「他向你做甚么？是怎么开了你的眼睛呢？」他回答说：「我方才告诉你们，你们不听，为甚么又要听呢？莫非你们也要作他的门徒吗？」他们就骂他说：「你是他的门徒，我们是摩西的门徒！神对摩西说话，是我们知道的；只是这个人，我们不知道他从哪里来。」那人回答说：「他开了我的眼睛，你们竟不知道他从哪里来，这真是奇怪！我们知道神不听罪人，惟有敬奉神、遵行他旨意的，神才听他。从创世以来，未曾听见有人把生来是瞎子的眼睛开了。这人若不是从神来的，甚么也不能做。」他们回答说：「你全然生在罪孽中，还要教训我们吗？」于是把他赶出去了。』(约翰福音 9:24-34)       

    法利赛人从人的角度看事情是真的不服，最后把他赶出去了。法利赛人不知道主耶稣守的是安息日的真谛，当他们看见祂不守安息日的时间时，就以为祂是罪人！而自己以为是摩西的门徒，不知道在『…外面作犹太人的，不是真犹太人；外面肉身的割礼，也不是真割礼。惟有里面作的，才是真犹太人；真割礼也是心里的，在乎灵，不在乎仪文。这人的称赞不是从人来的，乃是从神来的。』(罗马书 2:28-29) 他们自己不知道，他们不是真正摩西的门徒。就像耶利米所说的，『人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？』(耶利米书 17:9) 人会自己欺骗自己的！这瞎眼的人到是非常清楚，看到只有从神来的才有可能做祂作的事情，把生来是瞎子的他眼睛开了。

4. 耶稣承认自己是神的儿子       

    『耶稣听说他们把他赶出去，后来遇见他，就说：「你信神的儿子吗？」他回答说：「主啊，谁是神的儿子，叫我信他呢？」耶稣说：「你已经看见他，现在和你说话的就是他。」他说：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶稣。耶稣说：「我为审判到这世上来，叫不能看见的，可以看见；能看见的，反瞎了眼。」同他在那里的法利赛人听见这话，就说：「难道我们也瞎了眼吗？」耶稣对他们说：「你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了；但如今你们说『我们能看见』，所以你们的罪还在。」』(约翰福音 9:35-41)

    耶稣很清楚自己是神的儿子，我们就举两个例子。父神在祂受洗时不是亲自说了吗？『从天上有声音说：「这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。」』(马太福音 3:17) 在变化山上不也是如此吗？『说话之间，忽然有一朵光明的云彩遮盖他们，且有声音从云彩里出来说：「这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的，你们要听他！」』(马太福音 17:5) 因为『…是要在他身上显出神的作为来。』(约翰福音 9:3) 耶稣就明讲祂是神的儿子，瞎子信了就拜祂。我们以前讨论过，耶稣在祂的时间没到前，都是采取低姿的，祂这次明说自己是神的儿子，因为这是一个特例，是要显出神的作为。要分辩一般情况和特例！         

    瞎子知道自己天生是瞎子，却是被耶稣治愈了，他的信心就更加添了，能相信耶稣是神的儿子，是基督，他看见了。相反的，法利赛人在属灵上是真瞎眼的，他们不知道真正的信心有内心的改变和到外面的彰显，『你这瞎眼的法利赛人，先洗净杯盘的里面，好叫外面也干净了。』(马太福音 23:26) 里面有生命外面才能彰显出来，生命是假装不来的，只能从神来，『我(保罗)栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:6-7) 所以保罗说，『弟兄们，我从前对你们说话，不能把你们当作属灵的，只得把你们当作属肉体、在基督里为婴孩的。我是用奶喂你们，没有用饭喂你们。…』(哥林多前书 3:1-2) 『直等到我们众人在真道上同归于一，认识神的儿子，得以长大成人，满有基督长成的身量。』(以弗所书 4:13) 『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 所以生命是要慢慢成长的，没有听说那人一受洗就变为成人的，要有耐心。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先我們看看耶穌和泥治癒天生是瞎子的原委，經文一開始就明說，他所遭過的不是因他或他的父母犯罪，而是要在他身上彰顯出神的作為。耶穌明說祂是世上的光，到黑夜的時候祂是身教重於言教，也看到了那瞎子的信心，順便一題的是耶穌治癒瞎子會有不同的方式，不是每次都用唾沫及和呢。第二，我們討論了法利賽人對他和他的父母的對話，看到他的父母怕被趕出會堂，不敢說耶穌是基督。第三，我們看到瞎子以他的信心第二次和法利賽人對話。最後，我們看到在這特例中，耶穌明說自己是神的兒子，並看到了法利賽人是真瞎子。

1. 耶穌和泥治癒天生是瞎子的原委

       『耶穌過去的時候，看見一個人生來是瞎眼的。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？」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。趁着白日，我們必須做那差我來者的工；黑夜將到，就沒有人能做工了。我在世上的時候，是世上的光。」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，對他說：「你往西羅亞池子裏去洗。」（「西羅亞」翻出來就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回頭就看見了。他的鄰舍和那素常見他是討飯的，就說：「這不是那從前坐着討飯的人嗎？」有人說：「是他。」 又有人說：「不是，卻是像他。」 他自己說：「是我。」他們對他說：「你的眼睛是怎麼開的呢？」他回答說：「有一個人名叫耶穌，他和泥抹我的眼睛，對我說『你往西羅亞池子去洗』；我去一洗，就看見了。」他們說：「那個人在哪裏？」 他說：「我不知道。」』(約翰福音 9:1-12)

        一般人很多都以為遭遇病痛或苦難的一定是犯了罪，一開始就很清楚的說明這一點，不見得是，而且明說了是父神透過聖靈要耶穌做的工，『…因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 要藉著祂在瞎子的身上作的工作顯出神的作為！

     另外一個例子是約伯記中記載約伯遭受的苦難，從人的角度看他已經做得非常的好，因此而有了自義，我們看到神是要祝福他，而他必須經過那麼多的苦難，才能夠真正意識到他的自義，所以神一向他在旋風中告訴他一些事情，他就知道且說，『我是卑賤的！我用甚麼回答你呢？只好用手摀口。我說了一次，再不回答；說了兩次，就不再說。』(約伯記 40:4-5) 最後是他悔改了，『我從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你。因此我厭惡自己，在塵土和爐灰中懊悔。』(約伯記 42:5-6) 神也祝福了他，『約伯為他的朋友祈禱，耶和華就使約伯從苦境轉回，並且耶和華賜給他的比他從前所有的加倍。』(約伯記 42:10)

     很清楚的說，祂必須白日作工，到了黑夜時就不能作工了！祂明說了，祂是世上的光，那黑夜將到是指什麼時候呢？就是耶穌被捕的時候，祂很清楚的說，『我天天同你們在殿裏，你們不下手拿我。現在卻是你們的時候，黑暗掌權了。』(路加福音 22:53) 祂被捕後不能再做這樣的工作了，不能再做的也包括了其他祂所已做的宣道和行的神蹟。我們看那時上十字架的祂是身教重於言教，經文說得很清楚，祂是『既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:8) 祂真正為我們而被釘死。

     在我經歷過的客觀事實以後(參「2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在」) ，其中有人對我說，即使有客觀的事實，這和我的想法不一樣，我是不會相信的，所以連親自看都不要，人的心實在剛硬啊！所以當耶穌說，『在他們身上，正應了以賽亞的預言，說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉着；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。』(馬太福音 13:14-15) 不是三位一體的神怕他們回轉，而是猶太人本身就是心剛硬，不會回轉。正好相反，仍是三位一體的神『…不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。』(彼得後書 3:9)  一旦回轉，祂就會醫治他們。

        耶穌治療瞎子是用不同的形式的，這次是用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，要他往西羅亞池子裏去洗。他知道開他眼睛的是耶穌，但他沒見過耶穌，因他見到耶穌時是瞎眼的，所以他會說那個人在那裏我不知道。照神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，那時的耶穌並不會為得好名聲而直接告許他自己是誰。雖然聖經並沒有明說他是怎麼知道是耶穌治癒了他，很合理的猜測是人之常情，他被治癒後回到原地想知道治癒他的是誰，他回來的時候耶穌應該已不在了，大概是旁邊的人告訴他是耶穌治癒了他。我們看一下後面的經文就知道應該是這種情況，『耶穌聽說他們把他趕出去，後來遇見他，就說：「你信神的兒子嗎？」他回答說：「主啊，誰是神的兒子，叫我信他呢？」耶穌說：「你已經看見他，現在和你說話的就是他。」他說：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶穌。』(約翰福音 9:35-38) 在這之前他是不知道耶穌是神的兒子的，在我們即將討論的約翰福音 9:13-34 看到他和法利賽人的對話就知道這一點。

        在這裏我們談談這瞎子的信心，耶穌用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，對他說去洗就能看見，你想一般人會相信嗎？而他是乖乖的去洗就得到了治癒。再看他和我們將要看的經文中他和法利賽人的對話，就知道他因自己所經歷的治癒相信耶穌是先知。最後是上面這一段，他能立刻相信耶穌是神的兒子，也有相應的行為，難怪神會選擇他，在他身上顯出神的作為來。在這裏，我們又看到「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」，因為聖經是神所默示的，不相信這一點，我們一定會強解聖經，尤其碰到有明顯矛盾的默示時，不會知道神要藉著這樣的默示告訴我們什麼！

        我們剛才提到，耶穌治療瞎子是用不同的形式的，我們就順便一提這一點。在馬太福音 9:27-31，是因瞎子的信，『耶穌就摸他們的眼睛，說：「照着你們的信給你們成全了吧！」』(馬太福音 9:29) 在出耶利哥的時候，也幾乎是用同樣的方式，這時是『耶穌就動了慈心，把他們的眼睛一摸，他們立刻看見，就跟從了耶穌。』(馬太福音 20:34) 

        當在伯賽大的時候，是採取完全不同的方式，『…有人帶一個瞎子來，求耶穌摸他。耶穌拉着瞎子的手，領他到村外，就吐唾沫在他眼睛上，按手在他身上，問他說：「你看見甚麼了？」他就抬頭一看，說：「我看見人了，他們好像樹木，並且行走。」隨後又按手在他眼睛上，他定睛一看，就復了原，樣樣都看得清楚了。耶穌打發他回家，說：「連這村子你也不要進去。」』(馬可福音 8:22-26) 這時是分成兩個步驟，且到村外並事後告訴他不要這村子，所以聖經雖然沒有明講這村大有問題，但我們可以從邏輯的推導看到這一點。所以從神而來的邏輯是很重要的，也就是在相信神的前提下使用邏輯，沒有這樣的前提，我們會推導出不可知論，所以基督徒一定在這前提使用邏輯的推導。在馬可福音 10:46-52和路加福音 18:35-43，祂只是用祂話語治愈了瞎子，『耶穌說：「你去吧，你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看見了，就在路上跟隨耶穌。』(馬可福音 10:52)

        順便提到這些，是因為如果我記得沒錯的話，有一個人在公眾場合告訴別人，他有聖靈的感動要治療某些人，聲稱自己有醫療的恩賜，我只能說我不太相信他真正有他所聲稱的恩賜，因為是有時對，而大概是時多不對。要分辨！有人作見証說，禱告也是這樣，有時發生的事情是和禱告的結果完全一樣，有時正好相反。怎麼會是這樣呢？從神來的一定會成就的，『先知託耶和華的名說話，所說的若不成就，也無效驗，這就是耶和華所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自說的，你不要怕他。』(申命記 18:22) 我想神是要藉著這樣的禱告讓這人學習分辨，很不幸的是，到目前為些，我都不知道這人有沒有意識到這一點。

     回到那聲稱有恩賜的人，有一次他說到治療的方式是為女人準備的，而我是男人有同樣的感覺，問他後，他只能告訴我神大概是也要治療我，而我這次是沒有得到治療。真的要分辨！在一本倪柝聲的傳記中，說到他底下的人，就是因為共產黨以好人裝作為病人，當那人為好人祈禱治療後，共產黨就聲稱祈禱治病是騙人的。當然我們知道這是陷害，但實在是不能不分辨！

2. 瞎子及他的父母和法利賽人的對話

       『他們把從前瞎眼的人帶到法利賽人那裏。耶穌和泥開他眼睛的日子是安息日。法利賽人也問他是怎麼得看見的。瞎子對他們說：「他把泥抹在我的眼睛上，我去一洗，就看見了。」法利賽人中有的說：「這個人不是從神來的，因為他不守安息日。」 又有人說：「一個罪人怎能行這樣的神蹟呢？」他們就起了紛爭。他們又對瞎子說：「他既然開了你的眼睛，你說他是怎樣的人呢？」 他說：「是個先知。」猶太人不信他從前是瞎眼，後來能看見的，等到叫了他的父母來，問他們說：「這是你們的兒子嗎？你們說他生來是瞎眼的，如今怎麼能看見了呢？」他父母回答說：「他是我們的兒子，生來就瞎眼，這是我們知道的。至於他如今怎麼能看見，我們卻不知道；是誰開了他的眼睛，我們也不知道。他已經成了人，你們問他吧！他自己必能說。」他父母說這話，是怕猶太人，因為猶太人已經商議定了，若有認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。因此他父母說：「他已經成了人，你們問他吧！」』(約翰福音 9:13-23)

        我們談過好幾次耶穌是守安息日的真諦，而不是守字句上的安息的時間，祂是要安息日作為例子，告訴我們要瞭解律法的真諦。當耶穌說，『我實在告訴你們：就是到天地都廢去了，律法的一點一畫也不能廢去，都要成全。』(馬太福音 5:18) 這是在講要守的是律法的真諦，像守安息日一樣，要不然，你就可以找到明顯的矛盾。法利賽人不瞭解這點，難怪他們會起了紛爭，因為從人的角度看事情，當然會如此。

                經文很清楚寫出和法利賽人的對話，那時瞎子只知道耶穌是先知，很顯然他的父母看到耶穌在他們兒子身上做的事情，已相信耶穌是基督了，要不，經文不會這麼說，『他父母說這話，是怕猶太人，因為猶太人已經商議定了，若有認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。』(約翰福音 9:22) 他們怕被趕出會堂，怎麼敢說耶穌是基督呢！有人看到「…他自己必能說。」(約翰福音 9:21) 就以為他父母在說謊自保，其實他父母這樣說是非常有智慧的，因他是真能說， 看經文就知道了，『他回答說：「有一個人名叫耶穌，他和泥抹我的眼睛，對我說『你往西羅亞池子去洗』；我去一洗，就看見了。」』(約翰福音 9:11) 他那時雖沒有親眼看到是耶穌，因他是瞎眼時去洗才能看見的，但他知道是耶穌，不是看到的人告訴他，就是耶穌自己說的。他知道自己身上發生的事是神蹟，所以他那時以為耶穌是先知，到後來才知道耶穌是神的兒子。

3. 瞎子以他的信心第二次和法利賽人對話

       『所以法利賽人第二次叫了那從前瞎眼的人來，對他說：「你該將榮耀歸給神，我們知道這人是個罪人。」他說：「他是個罪人不是，我不知道。有一件事我知道：從前我是眼瞎的，如今能看見了！」他們就問他說：「他向你做甚麼？是怎麼開了你的眼睛呢？」他回答說：「我方才告訴你們，你們不聽，為甚麼又要聽呢？莫非你們也要作他的門徒嗎？」他們就罵他說：「你是他的門徒，我們是摩西的門徒！神對摩西說話，是我們知道的；只是這個人，我們不知道他從哪裏來。」那人回答說：「他開了我的眼睛，你們竟不知道他從哪裏來，這真是奇怪！我們知道神不聽罪人，惟有敬奉神、遵行他旨意的，神才聽他。從創世以來，未曾聽見有人把生來是瞎子的眼睛開了。這人若不是從神來的，甚麼也不能做。」他們回答說：「你全然生在罪孽中，還要教訓我們嗎？」於是把他趕出去了。』(約翰福音 9:24-34)

       法利賽人從人的角度看事情是真的不服，最後把他趕出去了。法利賽人不知道主耶穌守的是安息日的真諦，當他們看見祂不守安息日的時間時，就以為祂是罪人！而自己以為是摩西的門徒，不知道在『…外面作猶太人的，不是真猶太人；外面肉身的割禮，也不是真割禮。惟有裏面作的，才是真猶太人；真割禮也是心裏的，在乎靈，不在乎儀文。這人的稱讚不是從人來的，乃是從神來的。』(羅馬書 2:28-29) 他們自己不知道，他們不是真正摩西的門徒。就像耶利米所說的，『人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？』(耶利米書 17:9) 人會自己欺騙自己的！這瞎眼的人到是非常清楚，看到只有從神來的才有可能做祂作的事情，把生來是瞎子的他眼睛開了。

4. 耶穌承認自己是神的兒子

       『耶穌聽說他們把他趕出去，後來遇見他，就說：「你信神的兒子嗎？」他回答說：「主啊，誰是神的兒子，叫我信他呢？」耶穌說：「你已經看見他，現在和你說話的就是他。」他說：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶穌。耶穌說：「我為審判到這世上來，叫不能看見的，可以看見；能看見的，反瞎了眼。」同他在那裏的法利賽人聽見這話，就說：「難道我們也瞎了眼嗎？」耶穌對他們說：「你們若瞎了眼，就沒有罪了；但如今你們說『我們能看見』，所以你們的罪還在。」』(約翰福音 9:35-41)

        耶穌很清楚自己是神的兒子，我們就舉兩個例子。父神在祂受洗時不是親自說了嗎？『從天上有聲音說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」』(馬太福音 3:17) 在變化山上不也是如此嗎？『說話之間，忽然有一朵光明的雲彩遮蓋他們，且有聲音從雲彩裏出來說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的，你們要聽他！」』(馬太福音 17:5) 因為『…是要在他身上顯出神的作為來。』(約翰福音 9:3) 耶穌就明講祂是神的兒子，瞎子信了就拜祂。我們以前討論過，耶穌在祂的時間沒到前，都是採取低姿的，祂這次明說自己是神的兒子，因為這是一個特例，是要顯出神的作為。要分辨一般情況和特例！

         瞎子知道自己天生是瞎子，卻是被耶穌治愈了，他的信心就更加添了，能相信耶穌是神的兒子，是基督，他看見了。相反的，法利賽人在屬靈上是真瞎眼的，他們不知道真正的信心有內心的改變和到外面的彰顯，『你這瞎眼的法利賽人，先洗淨杯盤的裏面，好叫外面也乾淨了。』(馬太福音 23:26) 裏面有生命外面才能彰顯出來，生命是假裝不來的，只能從神來，『我(保羅)栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:6-7) 所以保羅說，『弟兄們，我從前對你們說話，不能把你們當作屬靈的，只得把你們當作屬肉體、在基督裏為嬰孩的。我是用奶餵你們，沒有用飯餵你們。…』(哥林多前書 3:1-2) 『直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識神的兒子，得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量。』(以弗所書 4:13) 『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 所以生命是要慢慢成長的，沒有聽說那人一受洗就變為成人的，要有耐心。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, let’s take a look at the event where Jesus made clay of the spittle, and healed a man who was born blind. The scripture clearly states at the beginning that what happened to him was not because of his or his parents’ sins, but to demonstrate the deeds of God through Jesus did to him.  Jesus clearly said that He is the light of the world. When the darkness came, He taught by examples rather than by words. We also see the faith of the blind man. By the way, Jesus healed blind men in various ways. He didn’t just use spittle and clay every time. Second, we discussed the Pharisees’ conversation with him and his parents, and saw that his parents were afraid of being kicked out of the synagogue and did not dare to say that Jesus was the Christ.  Third, we see the blind man speaking to the Pharisees the second time in his faith.  Finally, we see that in this special case, Jesus clearly stated that he was the Son of God and told that the Pharisees were truly blind.

1. The event about Jesus making clay of the spittle to heal the man who was born blind

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.””(John 9:1-12)

Many people generally think that those who experience illness or suffering must have committed sins. This is clearly stated at the beginning that this is not necessarily true. It is also clearly stated that God the Father asked Jesus to do the work through the Holy Spirit, “…for He (God) gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) God’s works were displayed through Jesus’ works on the blind man!

Another example is the suffering suffered by Job was recorded in the Book of Job. From a human perspective, he has done very well and therefore has self-righteousness. We see that God wants to bless him, but he has to go through so much. Only through suffering can he truly realize his self-righteousness. Therefore, as soon as God told him something in the whirlwind, he knew and said, ““Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. “Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.””(Job 40:4-5) In the end, he repented, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”(Job 42:5-6) God also blessed him, ” The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.”(Job 42:10)

It is very clear that He must work during the day and cannot work at night!  He has clearly said that He is the light of the world, so when will the dark night come?  When Jesus was arrested, He said very clearly, “While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”(Luke 22:53) After He was arrested, He could no longer do such work. What he could no longer do also included other preaching and miracles that He had done.  We see that when He went to the cross, He taught by example rather than by words. The scriptures make it very clear that ” Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) He was truly crucified for us.

After the objective facts I experienced (see “2123 God uses objective facts to show others to see His existence”), someone said to me that even if there were objective facts, that was different from what I thought. She said that I would not believe it, so I didn’t even want to see it for myself. People’s hearts are really hard!  So when Jesus said, “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’”⁰(Matthew 13:14-15) It is not that the Trinity God is afraid of their conversion, but that the Jews themselves are hard-hearted and will not convert.  On the contrary, the triune God “…is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) Once converted, He will heal them.

Jesus healed blind men in various ways. This time, He anointed the blind man’s eyes with spittle and mud and asked him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  He knew that it was Jesus who opened his eyes, but he had not seen Jesus because he was blind when he saw Jesus, so he would say I don’t know where that person is.  According to what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, Jesus at that time would not directly reveal who He was in order to gain a good reputation.  Although the Bible does not clearly say how he knew it was Jesus who healed him, it is reasonable to guess that it is human nature. After he was healed, he returned to the place where he wanted to know who healed him. When he returned, Jesus should have been gone. Probably someone nearby told him that Jesus healed him.  If we look at the following scriptures, we will know that this is the case, “Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.””(John 9:35-38) Before this, he did not know that Jesus was the Son of God. You will know this when you see his conversation with the Pharisees in John 9:13-34, which we are about to discuss.

Here we’ll talk about the blind man’s faith. Jesus anointed the blind man’s eyes with spittle and clay, and told him that he could see if he washed them. Do you think most people would believe it?  But he obediently washed it and was cured.  Looking again at his conversation with the Pharisees in the passage we are about to look at, we see that he believed Jesus was a prophet because of the healing he experienced.  Finally, there is the paragraph mentioned above. He could immediately believe that Jesus was the Son of God and behave accordingly. No wonder God would choose him and show God’s deeds in him.  Here, we see again that “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” Because the Bible is inspired by God, if we do not believe this, we will definitely interpret the Bible forcefully, especially when encountering obviously contradictory inspirations, one would not know what God wants to tell us through such revelation!

We just mentioned that Jesus healed the blind man in different ways, so let’s just mention this by the way.  In Matthew 9:27-31, it was because of the blind men’s faith, “Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.””(Matthew 9:29) In Jericho, almost the same method was used. At this time, “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”

(Matthew 20:34)

When in Bethsaida, a completely different approach was adopted, “And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.””(Mark 8:22-26) At this time, it was divided into two steps. He went outside the village and told him afterwards that he did not want to enter this village. So, although the Bible does not explicitly say that there is a big problem in this village, we can see this through logical deduction.  Therefore, logic originated from God is very important. One for spiritual matters should use use logic only with the premise of believing in God. Without such a premise, one will deduce agnosticism, so Christians must use logical deduction on this premise.  In Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-43, He healed the blind man simply by His Word, “And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”(Mark 10:52)

I mention this by the way, because if I remember correctly, there was a man who told others in public that he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to heal certain people, claiming that he had the gift of healing. I can only say that I don’t really believe that he really has the gift that he claims, because it is sometimes right, but probably sometimes it is not right.  Similar ways, at least one person testified that the same is true with prayer. Sometimes what happens is exactly the same as the result of prayer, and sometimes it is just the opposite.  How could this be?  What comes from God will definitely come true. “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:22) I think God wants this person to learn discernment through this kind of prayer. Unfortunately, so far, I don’t know if this person realizes this. ​

Going back to the man who claimed to have gifts, he once said that the way to heal was for women, and I felt the same way as a man. After asking him, he could only tell me that God probably wanted to heal me too, and I didn’t get treatment this time.  Really need to discern!  In a biography of Watchman Nee, it was mentioned that one person under him had such the gift. Then one people, who had no problem and was in the Communist Party, pretended to be a patient. When that person prayed for treatment for this man, the Communist Party claimed that praying for treatment was a lie.  Of course, we know this was a frame-up, but we really have to discern!

2. Dialogue between the blind man, his parents and the Pharisees

“They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.””(John 9:13-23)

We have talked several times about how Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the literal Sabbath time. He wanted the Sabbath as an example to tell us how to understand the true meaning of the Law.  When Jesus said, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:18) This is saying that what you have to keep is the true meaning of the Law, like keeping the Sabbath, otherwise you can find obvious contradictions.  The Pharisees did not understand this, so it is no wonder that they had disputes, because from a human perspective, of course it would be like this.​

The scripture clearly describes the conversation with the Pharisees. At that time, the blind man only knew that Jesus was a prophet. It is obvious that his parents had already believed that Jesus was the Christ after seeing what Jesus did for their son. Otherwise, the scripture would not say this, “His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”(John 9:22) They were afraid of being expelled from the synagogue, so how could they dare to say that Jesus was the Christ! Some people think his parents were lying to protect themselves when they saw the phrase “…he will speak for himself.”(John 9:21). In fact, his parents were very wise in saying this, because he truly could speak for himself. The Scriptures show this: “He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.””(John 9:11). Although he didn’t see it with his own eyes at the time, because he could only see after washing while blind, he knew it was Jesus. Either someone who saw Him told him, or Jesus Himself said it. He knew what was happening to him was a miracle, so he thought Jesus was a prophet at the time. Only later did he realize that Jesus was the Son of God.

3. The blind man spoke to the Pharisees for the second time with his faith

“So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.”(John 9:24-34)

The Pharisees were really dissatisfied when looking at things from a human perspective, and finally drove him out.  The Pharisees did not know that the Lord Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath. When they saw Him not keeping the Sabbath time, they thought He was a sinner!  However, they thought they were disciples of Moses, but they did not know that “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”(Romans 2:28-29) They didn’t know it, but they were not the true disciples of Moses.  As Jeremiah said, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick;

Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9) People will deceive themselves!  This blind man saw very clearly that only one who came from God could do the things He did, and his eyes, which were born blind, were opened.

4. Jesus declared clearly that He was the Son of God

​

“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”(John 9:35-41)

Jesus knew very well that He was the Son of God. Let’s just give two examples among others.  Didn’t God the Father Himself say it when He was baptized? “and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.””(Matthew 3:17) Isn’t it the same on the Mount of Transfiguration? “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!””(Matthew 17: 5) Because “Jesus answered, “…it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”(John 9:3) Jesus then declared clearly that he was the Son of God. The blind man believed him and worshiped him.  We have discussed before that Jesus always kept a low profile before His time came. This time He clearly stated that He was the Son of God because this was a special case to show the deeds of God.  Discerning between general situations and special cases is very important!

The blind man knew that he was born blind, but was healed by Jesus. His faith increased even more. He could believe immediately that Jesus was the Son of God and the Christ. He could really see now.  On the contrary, the Pharisees were truly spiritually blind. They did not know that true faith involves an inner change and an outward manifestation. “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.”(Matthew 23:26) There is life within, which can then be manifested outside. Life cannot be pretended, and it can only come from God. “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7) So Paul said, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. …”(1 Corinthians 3:1-2) “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”(Ephesians 4:13) “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) Therefore, life must grow slowly. It has not been happened that a person becomes an adult as soon as he is baptized, so he must be patient.

​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

    首先我们来看真自由是什么，不在基督里是不可能得到的。第二，我们什么人是亚伯拉罕的真子孙，也就是因信称义的人，真割礼是在心上的，不是在肉体上的割礼。魔鬼是说谎之人的父，借此，我们也说明了神的全能。最后我们来看看耶稣为谁，祂不是犹太人的认为祂是被鬼附的，而是祂与父愿为一，凡遵守祂的道的就在属灵上不尝死味。我们也举了亚伯拉罕见过祂的例子，祂的确是没有佳形美容，但在祂时间没有到时，没有人能动祂。

1. 在基督里的真自由

    『耶稣对信他的犹太人说：「你们若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的门徒。你们必晓得真理，真理必叫你们得以自由。」他们回答说：「我们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，从来没有作过谁的奴仆，你怎么说『你们必得以自由』呢？」耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。奴仆不能永远住在家里，儿子是永远住在家里。所以天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。」』(约翰福音 8:31-36)

    最开始就强调要做出来，也就是，『有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。』(约翰福音 14:21)  向他显现的人不见得是爱祂的人，在旧约说得很清楚这一点，经文说，『伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣设摆盛筵，与这一千人对面饮酒。…当时，忽有人的指头显出，在王宫与灯台相对的粉墙上写字。…』(但以理书 5:1-5) 三位一体的神向伯沙撒王显现了，他显然不是爱祂的，这更是带来了死的讯息，因最后是『当夜，迦勒底王伯沙撒被杀。』(但以理书 5:30)     

    在新约中，耶稣是以圣灵的方式与我们同在，因我们是三位一体的神的殿，『岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里头吗？』(哥林多前书 3:16) 而大使命中耶稣的应许，『…我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。』(马太福音 28:20) 就是这样成就的。

    当圣灵向亚拿尼亚是『以他的死向他显现，因经文这样记载，『彼得说：「亚拿尼亚，为甚么撒但充满了你的心，叫你欺哄圣灵，把田地的价银私自留下几分呢？田地还没有卖，不是你自己的吗？既卖了，价银不是你作主吗？你怎么心里起这意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」亚拿尼亚听见这话，就仆倒，断了气。…』(使徒行传 5:3-5)    

    祂有绝对的主权，可以用不同的方式向爱祂的人显现，如腓利是爱祂的人，在太监的事上(参使徒行传 8:26-39)，『…主的灵把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行传 8:39) 但爱祂的人不见得会看到祂这样的显现，不能随便划等号，就说没有这样的看见祂显现的人就是不爱祂，祂有绝对的主权可以自己决定要向谁以何种方式显现。所以显现是可以包括一般有主观证据不能给人看的见证，也有神用可给人看的客观事实显现祂存在的见证，对于后者，我们上一次在『3123 神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』作过这样的见证』，而那客观事实因我可以给看，如果你亲眼看到就变成你的不能给别人看的客观事实。这是我最后愿意将这见证放在网上的原因，至少人知道三位一体的神这样做过，如果你愿意，更有机会变成你的客观事实。详情可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。     

    在基督里有真自由，可以不犯罪，而不是『我觉得有个律，就是我愿意为善的时候，便有恶与我同在。』(罗马书 7:21)  你看，『如今，那些在基督耶稣里的就不定罪了。因为赐生命圣灵的律在基督耶稣里释放了我，使我脱离罪和死的律了。』(罗马书 8:1-2) 律就是说像万引力的重力一样的律，放诸四海皆准，在全世界抛出去的苹果都会往下掉，飞机虽能暂时有反重力的能力，但燃油用完时照样往下掉，这就是律。我们只有基督里才会有燃料，才会有真自由。         #####那些信他的犹太人以为以前就有真自由，但没有，就如以上所说，是罪的奴仆。圣经不是清楚的说吗？『因为外面作犹太人的，不是真犹太人；外面肉身的割礼，也不是真割礼。惟有里面作的，才是真犹太人；真割礼也是心里的，在乎灵，不在乎仪文。这人的称赞不是从人来的，乃是从神来的。』(罗马书 2:28-29) 要想有真自由，只有住在基督里。

2. 亚伯拉罕的真子孙和属魔鬼的       

    『「我知道你们是亚伯拉罕的子孙，你们却想要杀我，因为你们心里容不下我的道。我所说的，是在我父那里看见的；你们所行的，是在你们的父那里听见的。」他们说：「我们的父就是亚伯拉罕。」 耶稣说：「你们若是亚伯拉罕的儿子，就必行亚伯拉罕所行的事。我将在神那里所听见的真理告诉了你们，现在你们却想要杀我！这不是亚伯拉罕所行的事，你们是行你们父所行的事。」 他们说：「我们不是从淫乱生的，我们只有一位父，就是神。」耶稣说：「倘若神是你们的父，你们就必爱我，因为我本是出于神，也是从神而来，并不是由著自己来，乃是他差我来。你们为甚么不明白我的话呢？无非是因你们不能听我的道。你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行。他从起初是杀人的，不守真理，因他心里没有真理；他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。」「我将真理告诉你们，你们就因此不信我。你们中间谁能指证我有罪呢？我既然将真理告诉你们，为甚么不信我呢？出于神的，必听神的话；你们不听，因为你们不是出于神。」』(约翰福音 8:37-47)        

    犹太人的确想要杀耶稣，『…因他不但犯了安息日，并且称神为他的父，将自己和神当作平等。』(约翰福音 5:18) 祂的确是将真理告诉了他们，这是事实啊！而他们却不信祂，所以他们不是亚伯拉罕真的子孙，行真割礼的才是亚伯拉罕的真子孙。圣经更说得很清楚，『所以你们要知道，那以信为本的人，就是亚伯拉罕的子孙。』(加拉太书 3:7) 显然的，亚伯拉罕的真子孙也包括了因信称义的外邦人。『所以人得为后嗣是本乎信，因此就属乎恩，叫应许定然归给一切后裔，不但归给那属乎律法的，也归给那效法亚伯拉罕之信的。』(罗马书 4:16)

    他们自以为神是他们的父，但祂给了他们的父不是神的确实理由，就是他们不爱祂，不能听祂的道。以经解经简言之就不是要看圣经的经文怎么说，而不是引用经文去支持自己的看法，所以我们是尽可能的引用经文，而不是只将经文串在一起，要圣经的确有这概念，相信神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，不把圣经的话打折扣。只有当我们要解释一个圣经的概念，而没有可以合适的直接引用其相应的经文，我们才会用合适但同等的叙述、去代替经文的叙述，并尽可能的注明其出处。说是尽可能是因有例外的时候，譬如，当我们以前已讨论过的一些基本概念、像三位一体的神的时候，等等。又如举例说明一件事的时候，必须常用自己的叙述。     

    不是属神的就是属魔鬼(撒但)的，所以他们的父是魔鬼！这里也说了魔鬼的一些特性，也看到了魔鬼是说谎之人的父，所以说谎是由魔鬼而来，非神所造，说谎不在神里面，神不能说谎，所以神不是世人所说的无所不能，但祂是全能的。『亚伯兰年九十九岁的时候，耶和华向他显现，对他说：「我是全能的神，…」』(创世记 17:1) 祂能做所有在祂有的里面的事，譬如，说谎不在祂里面，祂怎么可以做？又如，祂可随时随地行神迹，而世人绝对不能，最多成为祂行神迹的管道。

3. 耶稣是谁？        

    『犹太人回答说：「我们说你是撒马利亚人，并且是鬼附著的，这话岂不正对吗？」耶稣说：「我不是鬼附著的，我尊敬我的父，你们倒轻慢我。我不求自己的荣耀，有一位为我求荣耀、定是非的。我实实在在地告诉你们：人若遵守我的道，就永远不见死。」犹太人对他说：「现在我们知道你是鬼附著的。亚伯拉罕死了，众先知也死了，你还说『人若遵守我的道，就永远不尝死味』。难道你比我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕还大吗？他死了，众先知也死了！你将自己当作甚么人呢？」耶稣回答说：「我若荣耀自己，我的荣耀就算不得甚么；荣耀我的乃是我的父，就是你们所说是你们的神。你们未曾认识他，我却认识他。我若说不认识他，我就是说谎的，像你们一样；但我认识他，也遵守他的道。你们的祖宗亚伯拉罕欢欢喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看见了，就快乐。」犹太人说：「你还没有五十岁，岂见过亚伯拉罕呢？」耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：还没有亚伯拉罕就有了我。」于是他们拿石头要打他，耶稣却躲藏，从殿里出去了。』(约翰福音 8:48-59)        

    犹太人以为耶稣是被鬼附的，但祂『…与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 祂怎么能说谎说不认识神呢？祂明说，人若遵守祂的道，就永远不尝死味，这是很显然的是指在属灵上的，因在肉体上，『按著定命，人人都有一死，…』(希伯来书 9:27) 祂很清楚的说，祂是从神而来，是父神荣耀了祂，而不是祂自己。        

    犹太人不能了解，为什么『耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：还没有亚伯拉罕就有了我。」』(约翰福音 8:58) 因耶稣是三位一体的神中的一位，在创世以前就已经存在了，因经文说，『父啊，现在求你使我同你享荣耀，就是未有世界以先，我同你所有的荣耀。』(约翰福音 17:5) 所以耶稣自己说祂是完全的神。关于祂是完全的神这点，我们以前分享过，简言之就是耶稣在创世以前就是神，不会因为祂虚己而取了人的样式就改变祂是神的身份，犹如一位王子因臣下的叛乱而沦为乞丐，不会因是乞丐就失去那王子的身份，仍是王子，因那是与生俱来的。     

    祂且说，『你们的祖宗亚伯拉罕欢欢喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看见了，就快乐。』(约翰福音 8:56) 在旧约中，亚伯拉罕也的确看见过耶稣。『耶和华在幔利橡树那里，向亚伯拉罕显现出来。那时正热，亚伯拉罕坐在帐棚门口，举目观看，见有三个人在对面站著。…』(创世记 18:1-2) 一段对话后，是 『二人转身离开那里，向所多玛去，但亚伯拉罕仍旧站在耶和华面前。』(创世记 18:22) 经过亚伯拉罕对耶和华的一系列的请求，最后是『耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了；亚伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(创世记 18:33) 这件事的详情请看创世记 18:1-33。 我们要强调的是这耶和华是指耶稣，因父神耶和华对摩西『…说：「你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及记 33:20) 而事后，亚伯拉罕活得好好的，且他看不到是灵的圣灵，所以逻辑上很清楚的指出，那耶和华是指三位一体神中的耶稣那一位。

    最后我们看到，祂在地上的确是无佳形美容(参以赛亚书 53:2-3)，祂诞生于马糟，而三十多岁的人看起来已五十岁了！且这里说，『于是他们拿石头要打他，耶稣却躲藏，从殿里出去了。』(约翰福音 8:59) 这是因为祂的时间还没到，人不能对祂做什么事，在这次祂是躲到殿里了，犹太人那能在殿里用石头打祂呢？每次都是以不同的方法，我们以前分享过这点，就不多说了。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

        首先我們來看真自由是什麼，不在基督裏是不可能得到的。第二，我們什麼人是亞伯拉罕的真子孫，也就是因信稱義的人，真割禮是在心上的，不是在肉體上的割禮。魔鬼是說謊之人的父，藉此，我們也說明了神的全能。最後我們來看看耶穌為誰，祂不是猶太人的認為祂是被鬼附的，而是祂與父願為一，凡遵守祂的道的就在屬靈上不嚐死味。我們也舉了亞伯拉罕見過祂的例子，祂的確是沒有佳形美容，但在祂時間沒有到時，沒有人能動祂。

1. 在基督裏的真自由

        『耶穌對信他的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒。你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」他們回答說：「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，從來沒有作過誰的奴僕，你怎麼說『你們必得以自由』呢？」耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴僕。奴僕不能永遠住在家裏，兒子是永遠住在家裏。所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。」』(約翰福音 8:31-36)

        最開始就強調要做出來，也就是，『有了我的命令又遵守的，這人就是愛我的；愛我的必蒙我父愛他，我也要愛他，並且要向他顯現。』(約翰福音 14:21)  向他顯現的人不見得是愛祂的人，在舊約說得很清楚這一點，經文說，『伯沙撒王為他的一千大臣設擺盛筵，與這一千人對面飲酒。…當時，忽有人的指頭顯出，在王宮與燈台相對的粉牆上寫字。…』(但以理書 5:1-5) 三位一體的神向伯沙撒王顯現了，他顯然不是愛祂的，這更是帶來了死的訊息，因最後是『當夜，迦勒底王伯沙撒被殺。』(但以理書 5:30)

     在新約中，耶穌是以聖靈的方式與我們同在，因我們是三位一體的神的殿，『豈不知你們是神的殿，神的靈住在你們裏頭嗎？』(哥林多前書 3:16) 而大使命中耶穌的應許，『…我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音 28:20) 就是這樣成就的。

     當聖靈向亞拿尼亞是『以他的死向他顯現，因經文這樣記載，『彼得說：「亞拿尼亞，為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心，叫你欺哄聖靈，把田地的價銀私自留下幾分呢？田地還沒有賣，不是你自己的嗎？既賣了，價銀不是你作主嗎？你怎麼心裏起這意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」亞拿尼亞聽見這話，就仆倒，斷了氣。…』(使徒行傳 5:3-5) 

    祂有絕對的主權，可以用不同的方式向愛祂的人顯現，如腓利是愛祂的人，在太監的事上(參使徒行傳 8:26-39)，『…主的靈把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行傳 8:39) 但愛祂的人不見得會看到祂這樣的顯現，不能隨便劃等號，就說沒有這樣的看見祂顯現的人就是不愛祂，祂有絕對的主權可以自己決定要向誰以何種方式顯現。所以顯現是可以包括一般有主觀証據不能給人看的見証，也有神用可給人看的客觀事實顯現祂存在的見証，對於後者，我們上一次在『2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』作過這樣的見証』，而那客觀事實因我可以給看，如果你親眼看到就變成你的不能給別人看的客觀事實。這是我最後願意將這見証放在網上的原因，至少人知道三位一體的神這樣做過，如果你願意，更有機會變成你的客觀事實。詳情可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

     在基督裏有真自由，可以不犯罪，而不是『我覺得有個律，就是我願意為善的時候，便有惡與我同在。』(羅馬書 7:21)  你看，『如今，那些在基督耶穌裏的就不定罪了。因為賜生命聖靈的律在基督耶穌裏釋放了我，使我脫離罪和死的律了。』(羅馬書 8:1-2) 律就是說像萬引力的重力一樣的律，放諸四海皆準，在全世界拋出去的蘋果都會往下掉，飛機雖能暫時有反重力的能力，但燃油用完時照樣往下掉，這就是律。我們只有基督裏才會有燃料，才會有真自由。

        那些信他的猶太人以為以前就有真自由，但沒有，就如以上所說，是罪的奴僕。聖經不是清楚的說嗎？『因為外面作猶太人的，不是真猶太人；外面肉身的割禮，也不是真割禮。惟有裏面作的，才是真猶太人；真割禮也是心裏的，在乎靈，不在乎儀文。這人的稱讚不是從人來的，乃是從神來的。』(羅馬書 2:28-29) 要想有真自由，只有住在基督裏。

2. 亞伯拉罕的真子孫和屬魔鬼的

       『「我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫，你們卻想要殺我，因為你們心裏容不下我的道。我所說的，是在我父那裏看見的；你們所行的，是在你們的父那裏聽見的。」他們說：「我們的父就是亞伯拉罕。」 耶穌說：「你們若是亞伯拉罕的兒子，就必行亞伯拉罕所行的事。我將在神那裏所聽見的真理告訴了你們，現在你們卻想要殺我！這不是亞伯拉罕所行的事，你們是行你們父所行的事。」 他們說：「我們不是從淫亂生的，我們只有一位父，就是神。」耶穌說：「倘若神是你們的父，你們就必愛我，因為我本是出於神，也是從神而來，並不是由着自己來，乃是他差我來。你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢？無非是因你們不能聽我的道。你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們父的私慾，你們偏要行。他從起初是殺人的，不守真理，因他心裏沒有真理；他說謊是出於自己，因他本來是說謊的，也是說謊之人的父。」「我將真理告訴你們，你們就因此不信我。你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢？我既然將真理告訴你們，為甚麼不信我呢？出於神的，必聽神的話；你們不聽，因為你們不是出於神。」』(約翰福音 8:37-47)

        猶太人的確想要殺耶穌，『…因他不但犯了安息日，並且稱神為他的父，將自己和神當作平等。』(約翰福音 5:18) 祂的確是將真理告訴了他們，這是事實啊！而他們卻不信祂，所以他們不是亞伯拉罕真的子孫，行真割禮的才是亞伯拉罕的真子孫。聖經更說得很清楚，『所以你們要知道，那以信為本的人，就是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』(加拉太書 3:7) 顯然的，亞伯拉罕的真子孫也包括了因信稱義的外邦人。『所以人得為後嗣是本乎信，因此就屬乎恩，叫應許定然歸給一切後裔，不但歸給那屬乎律法的，也歸給那效法亞伯拉罕之信的。』(羅馬書 4:16) 

        他們自以為神是他們的父，但祂給了他們的父不是神的確實理由，就是他們不愛祂，不能聽祂的道。以經解經簡言之就不是要看聖經的經文怎麼說，而不是引用經文去支持自己的看法，所以我們是儘可能的引用經文，而不是只將經文串在一起，要聖經的確有這概念，相信神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，不把聖經的話打折扣。只有當我們要解釋一個聖經的概念，而沒有可以合適的直接引用其相應的經文，我們才會用合適但同等的敍述、去代替經文的敍述，並儘可能的註明其出處。說是儘可能是因有例外的時候，譬如，當我們以前已討論過的一些基本概念、像三位一體的神的時候，等等。又如舉例說明一件事的時候，必須常用自己的敘述。

     不是屬神的就是屬魔鬼(撒但)的，所以他們的父是魔鬼！這裏也說了魔鬼的一些特性，也看到了魔鬼是說謊之人的父，所以說謊是由魔鬼而來，非神所造，說謊不在神裏面，神不能說謊，所以神不是世人所說的無所不能，但祂是全能的。『亞伯蘭年九十九歲的時候，耶和華向他顯現，對他說：「我是全能的神，…」』(創世記 17:1) 祂能做所有在祂有的裏面的事，譬如，說謊不在祂裏面，祂怎麼可以做？又如，祂可隨時隨地行神蹟，而世人絕對不能，最多成為祂行神蹟的管道。

3. 耶穌是誰？

        『猶太人回答說：「我們說你是撒馬利亞人，並且是鬼附着的，這話豈不正對嗎？」耶穌說：「我不是鬼附着的，我尊敬我的父，你們倒輕慢我。我不求自己的榮耀，有一位為我求榮耀、定是非的。我實實在在地告訴你們：人若遵守我的道，就永遠不見死。」猶太人對他說：「現在我們知道你是鬼附着的。亞伯拉罕死了，眾先知也死了，你還說『人若遵守我的道，就永遠不嘗死味』。難道你比我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕還大嗎？他死了，眾先知也死了！你將自己當作甚麼人呢？」耶穌回答說：「我若榮耀自己，我的榮耀就算不得甚麼；榮耀我的乃是我的父，就是你們所說是你們的神。你們未曾認識他，我卻認識他。我若說不認識他，我就是說謊的，像你們一樣；但我認識他，也遵守他的道。你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看見了，就快樂。」猶太人說：「你還沒有五十歲，豈見過亞伯拉罕呢？」耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我。」於是他們拿石頭要打他，耶穌卻躲藏，從殿裏出去了。』(約翰福音 8:48-59)

        猶太人以為耶穌是被鬼附的，但祂『…與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 祂怎麼能說謊說不認識神呢？祂明說，人若遵守祂的道，就永遠不嘗死味，這是很顯然的是指在屬靈上的，因在肉體上，『按着定命，人人都有一死，…』(希伯來書 9:27) 祂很清楚的說，祂是從神而來，是父神榮耀了祂，而不是祂自己。

        猶太人不能瞭解，為什麼『耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我。」』(約翰福音 8:58) 因耶穌是三位一體的神中的一位，在創世以前就已經存在了，因經文說，『父啊，現在求你使我同你享榮耀，就是未有世界以先，我同你所有的榮耀。』(約翰福音 17:5) 所以耶穌自己說祂是完全的神。關於祂是完全的神這點，我們以前分享過，簡言之就是耶穌在創世以前就是神，不會因為祂虛己而取了人的樣式就改變祂是神的身份，猶如一位王子因臣下的叛亂而淪為乞丐，不會因是乞丐就失去那王子的身份，仍是王子，因那是與生俱來的。

     祂且說，『你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看見了，就快樂。』(約翰福音 8:56) 在舊約中，亞伯拉罕也的確看見過耶穌。『耶和華在幔利橡樹那裏，向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱，亞伯拉罕坐在帳棚門口，舉目觀看，見有三個人在對面站着。…』(創世記 18:1-2) 一段對話後，是 『二人轉身離開那裏，向所多瑪去，但亞伯拉罕仍舊站在耶和華面前。』(創世記 18:22) 經過亞伯拉罕對耶和華的一系列的請求，最後是『耶和華與亞伯拉罕說完了話就走了；亞伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(創世記 18:33) 這件事的詳情請看創世記 18:1-33。 我們要強調的是這耶和華是指耶穌，因父神耶和華對摩西『…說：「你不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及記 33:20) 而事後，亞伯拉罕活得好好的，且他看不到是靈的聖靈，所以邏輯上很清楚的指出，那耶和華是指三位一體神中的耶穌那一位。

        最後我們看到，祂在地上的確是無佳形美容(參以賽亞書 53:2-3)，祂誕生於馬糟，而三十多歲的人看起來已五十歲了！且這裏說，『於是他們拿石頭要打他，耶穌卻躲藏，從殿裏出去了。』(約翰福音 8:59) 這是因為祂的時間還沒到，人不能對祂做什麼事，在這次祂是躲到殿裏了，猶太人那能在殿裏用石頭打祂呢？每次都是以不同的方法，我們以前分享過這點，就不多說了。

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