Our purpose is to see what the entire Bible says, rather than staying in certain chapters or related scriptures like some Bible study groups, thinking that deviating from the topics discussed in these assigned scriptures is a distraction.  The Bible is one in which one topic leads to another, as Isaiah said, “So the word of the LORD to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” …”(Isaiah 28:13) Here, we will use John 8:21-30 as an example to illustrate this point. From the assigned ten verses, we will be led step by step to the controversial, related topics of submission and clarifying its meaning.  We start from the fact that the Bible is inspired by God. Although Paul said that “All Scripture is inspired by God …”(2 Timothy 3:16), the New Testament had not be chosen, such as the Book of Revelation has not yet been written, so He was talking about the Old Testament at that time, but Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, and that the one who established both the Old and New Testaments is the same God.  Because the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent. When we believe this, we may see some things that we have not seen before.  And because we know that the Bible is inspired by God, we see and practice not to discount the words of the Bible.  Then we take these two as the premise as the starting point of the logic that we personally can accept. We will explain this in detail later.  

Precisely because we do not discount the words of the Bible, we quote the words of the Bible in all our discussion whenever we can.  The point we want to emphasize here is that we are asking a simple question about a narrative, that is, whether the Bible explicitly talks about it or has this concept.  For the latter, we can use the Trinity as an example. The Bible does not use this term, but it definitely has this concept.  If a narrative includes neither, we know that the narrative is subjective and the person said so has created a God who is not the God of the Bible.

Now let’s look at John 8:21-30, “Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”(John 8:21-30)

We have shared it before in “3. Where Jesus Christ belongs?” of “1120 Jesus’ teaching at the Feast of Booths and He belongs- John (7) 1-36” that we now know that Jesus is the incarnate Word, and He belongs in heaven.  Those who are interested in this article can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life.”

Here, it was once again stated at the beginning of these verse that it was impossible for the Jews at that time to know where Jesus would go.  Of course, Jesus would not commit suicide. He was eventually nailed to the cross. On the cross, “…when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30) God’s plan of salvation was completed.  Here, and again emphasized, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18)

Then it follows by saying clearly that Jesus is the Christ, as the verse is said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”(John 8:24) They still ask who you are, clearly not believing His words.  We also see in these verses that it was the Father who sent Him, so we saw before that there was an order during this time of His incarnation, “…for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”(John 16:7) But before the creation of the world, there was no time. At that time, the Trinity of God was of equal dignity and glory, as the scripture says, “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”(John 17:5) They are connected by love, “…for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”(John 17:24) Only the Father and the Son are mentioned here, and the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. However, in other scriptures, we see that although the Bible does not use the term Trinity, there is definitely the concept of Trinity of God that Christians believe in.  In time, we see an order. In the absence of time, from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, the Triune Gods are all connected with love and share the same honor and glory.

Jesus didn’t ​preach due to Himself since the verse says, “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”(John 8:26) “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; …”(John 8:38) We see that the Spirit of truth came to testify about Jesus (cf. John 15:26).  That is, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”(John 16:13-14) Isn’t this the same line of descent?  During the time of the incarnation, it ultimately came down to the teachings of God the Father and the Trinity had different roles in the plan of salvation.   

This scripture tells us that He knew long ago that He would be crucified and lifted up, and He indeed “…always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”(John 8:29) Because “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31)

Because He spoke the truth, “…many came to believe in Him.”(John 8:30) We also see that not only about one hundred and twenty believed in Him as described in the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, “At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said.”(Acts 1:15) Please note that there were only brothers and no sisters in the meeting at that time, because this was the custom at the beginning.  But later on, sisters joined in, because Paul said, “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”(1 Corinthians 14:34-35) Here, it naturally leads us to the topic of obedience that we will discuss later.

Paul knew very clearly that in the New Testament era, there was no need to keep the literal law. From what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, the prohibition of women speaking only refers to the situation of the Corinthian church at that time, because the church in Corinth was in great chaos at that time (see 1 Corinthians). Paul said this to correct the situation at that time. He said it to the church in Corinth, and he said clearly that this was the command of the Lord. “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.”(1 Corinthians 14:37) In 2 Corinthians, we see that this church repented. If you are interested, please read 2 Corinthians. I won’t go into details here.

We have noticed that there are deaconesses and prophetesses mentioned in the New Testament. As the scripture says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.”(Romans 16:1) and “…Now this man (Philip the evangelist) had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.”(Acts 21:8-9) Please note that some of the preaches mentioned in the translation of 1 Corinthians in the Union Version are related to this word G4395, such as “Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy (G4395), and do not forbid to speak in tongues.”(1 Corinthians 14:39) and “So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy (G4394) is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.”(1 Corinthians 14:22) The word G4394 comes from G4395. Therefore, when you see the word ‘preaching’ in the Union Version, you must be careful to distinguish its meaning.

We see that there were sisters who taught in private in this verse, “and he (Apollos) began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”(Acts 18:26) There were also sisters who labored with Paul, “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”(Philippians 4:2-3)    

However, we have noticed that the twelve disciples are all men, and there is no mention of female elders or overseers in the New Testament. Is it true that the era of New Testament does not allow women to preach?  In other words, is Paul’s statement “The women …are not permitted to speak, …”(1 Corinthians 14:34) universally applicable?  If this is the case, it is really unfair between men and women in Christianity!  No, men and women have different roles from the beginning of creation.

We have already shared that Paul said this just because of the chaos in the Corinthian church at that time, otherwise it would be inconsistent with what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.  The reason is simple. We know, “for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”(Romans 10:10) Let us take a look at another verse, “(Our Savior) 

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4) Then the verse in the same book, “…the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”(1 Timothy 4:10) Are there any differences between men and women regarding salvation mentioned in these verses?  No.

But from the beginning of creation, the roles of men and women have been different. “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.””(Genesis 2:18) We cannot change this fact, that is, “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”(1 Timothy 2:13-14) “For as through the one man’s (Adam’s) disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.”(Romans 5:19)

In “1. Definition of sin” of “1096 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers – Unbiblical Places (1)”, we proved that the definition of sin according to the Bible is disobedience to God. Because the proof is very long, I will not repeat it here. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article. Thank you.

Therefore, obedience is very important. The Book of Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15) He was “…once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”(Hebrews 9:26) How could He put away sin by not sinning?  It is to obey God.  On this point, the scriptures are very clear, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) When Paul said, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”(Ephesians 5:22-25) This is God’s will.  From a human perspective, the requirements for husbands in the New Testament are greater than the requirements for wives to submit to their husbands. However, from God’s perspective, the husband is the head of the family and must sacrifice himself for his wife. It should be natural for him to do so just as Jesus Christ does for the church by give up His life.

Let us take another verse, “But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying (G4395) disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.”(1 Corinthians 11:5) Therefore, for some people, it is necessary to keep the law of wearing a hat as a covering.  If you dig deeper, you will find that this custom did not exist in the early church and was developed later.  In fact, even if one wears a hat but doesn’t really obey in your heart, is it useful?   That person can only wear a hat on the surface to show people that she is pursuing.  If you think about it, God has already prepared head coverings for the sisters. Doesn’t the scripture say this? “… if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.”(1 Corinthians 11:15)

If both husband and wife are in Christ, it will lead to the inevitable result, “…be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”(Ephesians 5:21). And this obedience must be under this principle, as Peter and John said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you (men) rather than to God, you be the judge.”(Acts 4:19) So when Paul said, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach (G1321) or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”(1 Timothy 2:11-12). It is clear that this is only his personal opinion, and it is no longer the command of the Lord as he told the church in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 14:37). We must distinguish between the two. There is a difference between the two, because Paul is not God. After he received the revelation, he still made mistakes because he did not completely put to death his old self.

The meaning of the word G1321 can be seen from this verse, “But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach (G1321).”(John 7:14) This word G1321 refers to public teaching.  There are no examples in the New Testament of women teaching in public without being criticized, but there is only one God in the Old and New Testaments, so the principle will not change. We can look at this issue from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

In the Old Testament, “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.”(Judges 4:4) We cannot say that because she is a judge, she must have public teachings. We must see what the Bible says.  First of all, we see that she did prophesy, “Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’”(Judges 4:6-7) This prophecy was also fulfilled, “Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him.”(Judges 4:10) Please refer to Judges 4:1-24 to see what happened.  What we want to emphasize here is that Deborah did have public teaching, because “Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day…”(Judges 5:1) This song is public teaching which is sung to the crowd, so women can do public teaching today because what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

Finally, let’s mention that Paul also made mistakes. Let’s look at an incident about Paul in the Book of Acts, “It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.”(Acts 16:16-18) We see that “…Paul was greatly annoyed …” first, but even so, the Trinity God listened to his words, and he paid the price for it, because “The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”(Acts 16:22-24) But we should note that “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”(Acts 16:25) What happened next saw that this mistake fulfilled God’s will, “And he (jailer) took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.”(Acts 16:33) God often accomplishes His will through human mistakes, as was the case with Jesus’ crucifixion.  But we notice that such a thing as the slave girl never happened again, because Paul learned not to speak casually in the name of Jesus and controlled his tongue. ​

We said at the beginning that our purpose is to see what the entire Bible says, rather than staying in certain chapters or related scriptures like some Bible study groups and thinking that deviating from the topics discussed in these scriptures is a distraction.  The Bible is such that one topic will lead to another topic, just as it takes us step by step from this initial scriptures to controversial obedient topics and clarify their meanings.  So we basically won’t stop until we finish sharing the topics brought up, especially when we see controversial topics from a human subjective perspective. We must look at what the Bible says from a biblical perspective.  It means starting from the fact that the Bible is inspired by God, believing that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and not discounting the words of the Bible, and then taking these two as the premise as the beginning of a logic that we can personally accept.

If you do this, it will be possible not to forcefully interpret the Bible. When a person forcefully interprets the Bible, you can easily point out where the logic he uses violates the Bible.  If you can refrain from interpreting the Bible forcefully, others will not be able to point out where you violate the logic of the Bible.  To give an example of the former, Martin Luther said there is only foreknowledge, while Calvin said there is only predestination. So far, some people are still arguing about which one is right.  But both men were wrong on this point, because the Bible clearly says, “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that His son is the eldest among many brothers.  ’ (Romans 8:29) At this point, their knowledge at that time told them that only one of them could be right, that is, they clearly did not believe what the Bible said, because the Bible clearly stated that there was both foreknowledge and predestination. We discussed this issue in detail in “Only One Bible 2005”. You can find this article using the method mentioned before.

Simply put, when our current knowledge conflicts with what the Bible says, we should not rely on our own knowledge but believe the words of the Bible because the Bible is inspired by God.  To give an example of this, the book of Job says, “God…suspended the earth in vain.”  ’ (Job 26:7) At that time, people’s knowledge told them how this was possible, and it was wrong. But today’s spacecraft can see that the earth is really hanging in the void, so the words of the Bible are correct. It’s just that people at the time didn’t know it.

When it comes to personal logic, it is divided into two parts, namely personal axioms and logical mechanisms. We will explain what personal axioms are in a moment.  This is similar to publishing a paper. The mechanism of logic is the same all over the world and is objective. Therefore, people far away can also review the article before publishing it. Otherwise, it would be impossible to publish the paper, so everyone’s logic The mechanism is the same.

Publishing a paper in a certain field has two parts, namely the axioms of that field plus the basic logic. The axioms in that field can be accepted by everyone in that field and considered to be facts.  We use the term personal axioms in order to correspond to the logic used in publishing papers. The axioms are acceptable to everyone in that field, so the axioms are objective, not personal, and will not change.  Personal axioms refer to what an individual sees and experiences, and therefore is a fact that the individual can accept, so this will change.  For example, God can open our eyes at any time to see facts that we could not accept before and thought were not facts.  This can be illustrated by the Lord opening the eyes of Elisha’s servant, “Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open the eyes of this young man (servant) so that he can see.” The Lord opened his eyes, and he And he saw a mountain full of chariots of fire and horses of fire surrounding Elisha.  ” (2 Kings 6:17) This servant’s original personal righteousness was that there was no mountain full of chariots and horses of fire surrounding Elisha. Now there is, so his current personal righteousness is the original old personal righteousness plus This article means that his current personal axioms are updated from the original personal axioms. Therefore, personal axioms will change over time, which is different from those that do not change and are called axioms.  In other words, we just borrowed the word axiom. I hope everyone can see this analogy and understand more clearly what personal axiom means!

It might be clearer if we look at the last question!  We would reasonably ask, if this is the case, then a mentally abnormal person’s mind will change at any time, and may even have contradictory phenomena at different times, and his logical mechanism is the same as ours. How could this be the case?  How to explain this phenomenon?  In fact, it is very simple. This is his personal axiom that will change over time. What a mentally abnormal person sees at one point in time may be inconsistent with what he sees at another point in time. Therefore, although his logical mechanism remains unchanged, his decisions may therefore be contradictory.  In fact, logical mechanisms come from God, and the Bible also clearly states this. We will discuss this in detail later and point out the corresponding scriptures.

​(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.”)

    首先我们提到基督徒会有圣灵活水的江河，从内住的圣灵发出，因耶稣已得了荣耀，为我们钉十字架而死，『…复活，是为叫我们称义。』(罗马书 4:25) 直到复活后的五旬节，门徒才真正意识到圣灵的实在和其作为，我们也看到犹太人因耶稣的出身不高而不相信祂是基督。第二，我们看到「无人下手」是从神的角度看，从人的角度看也相同，因耶稣的教训是带著权柄的。第三，我们看到耶稣是有恩典有怜悯的，祂并没有定行淫中被拿的妇人的罪，但和以前一致的嘱咐她，不要再明知故犯了。也同时讨论了一个带来的相应问题。最后我们看到耶稣是世界的光，不只是光，也是生命和爱，再一次讨论了判断和论断原文用的都是同一个字，论断的真正意义在那里。经文说得很清楚，『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) 没有判断怎能分辩呢？我们再一次看到，在祂的时间没有到的时候，人是不能拿祂的。

1.  圣灵活水的江河       

    『节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声说：「人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝！信我的人，就如经上所说：『从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。』」耶稣这话是指著信他之人要受圣灵说的。那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀。众人听见这话，有的说：「这真是那先知。」有的说：「这是基督。」 但也有的说：「基督岂是从加利利出来的吗？经上岂不是说『基督是大卫的后裔，从大卫本乡伯利恒出来的』吗？」于是众人因著耶稣起了纷争。其中有人要捉拿他，只是无人下手。』(约翰福音 7:37-44)     

    关于住棚节，『耶和华对摩西说：「你晓谕以色列人说：『这七月十五日是住棚节，要在耶和华面前守这节七日。第一日当有圣会，甚么劳碌的工都不可做。七日内要将火祭献给耶和华。第八日当守圣会，要将火祭献给耶和华。这是严肃会，甚么劳碌的工都不可做。』(利未记 23:33-36) 所以节期的最大之日是指住棚节的第八日。

    这里很清楚的说明基督徒会有内住的圣灵，也就是『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) 并且圣灵会如活水的江河涌出。『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。』(约翰福音 12:23-24) 祂的确得了荣耀，为我们钉上十字架而死，『…复活，是为叫我们称义。』(罗马书 4:25) 只是那时耶稣尚未钉上十字架，没有人知道圣灵是什么，到最后的晚餐等卖主的犹大出去后，主才说，『我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫他永远与你们同在，就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的，因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他，因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。』(约翰福音 14:16-17) 『但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。』(约翰福音 14:26)     

    在时间上，是有一个先后的次序的，经文明说，『…我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。』(约翰福音 16:7) 而父差遣了子，也是圣经明说的，『耶稣又对他们说：「愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。」』(约翰福音 20:21) 但要一直到主钉十字架复活后的第一个『五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处』时，他们被圣灵充满后(参使徒行传 2:1-11)，才真正意识到圣灵的实在和其作为！        

    因祂的话众人就起了争议，基本上就是法利赛人回答尼哥底母的话，『内中有尼哥德慕，就是从前去见耶稣的，对他们说：「不先听本人的口供，不知道他所做的事，难道我们的律法还定他的罪吗？」他们回答说：「你也是出于加利利吗？你且去查考，就可知道加利利没有出过先知。」』(约翰福音 7:50-52) 我们也可从拿但业对腓力说的话看到同样的这点，就是『…拿撒勒还能出甚么好的吗？…』(约翰福音 1:46) 当时的众人是以耶稣基督的出身在衡量祂，怎么会听祂说的话呢？最后提到了「无人下手」，这是因为祂的时间还没有到的缘故。

2. 耶稣的教训是带著权柄的        

    『差役回到祭司长和法利赛人那里，他们对差役说：「你们为甚么没有带他来呢？」差役回答说：「从来没有像他这样说话的。」法利赛人说：「你们也受了迷惑吗？官长或是法利赛人岂有信他的呢？但这些不明白律法的百姓是被咒诅的。」内中有尼哥德慕，就是从前去见耶稣的，对他们说：「不先听本人的口供，不知道他所做的事，难道我们的律法还定他的罪吗？」他们回答说：「你也是出于加利利吗？你且去查考，就可知道加利利没有出过先知。」』(约翰福音 7:45-52)        

    我们刚才提到「无人下手」是从神的角度看，即使从人的角度看，也会有同样的结果，在别的经文中就很清楚，『因为他(耶稣)教训他们，正像有权柄的人，不像他们的文士。』(马太福音 7:29) 差役怎么敢下手拿祂呢？至于法利赛人和尼哥低母的对话意谓著什么，我们刚才已谈过，这里就不多讲了。

3. 行淫中被捉拿的妇人       

    『于是各人都回家去了，耶稣却往橄榄山去。清早又回到殿里，众百姓都到他那里去，他就坐下教训他们。文士和法利赛人带著一个行淫时被拿的妇人来，叫她站在当中。就对耶稣说：「夫子，这妇人是正行淫之时被拿的。摩西在律法上吩咐我们，把这样的妇人用石头打死。你说该把她怎么样呢？」他们说这话，乃试探耶稣，要得著告他的把柄。 耶稣却弯著腰用指头在地上画字。他们还是不住地问他，耶稣就直起腰来，对他们说：「你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就可以先拿石头打她。」于是又弯著腰用指头在地上画字。他们听见这话，就从老到少一个一个地都出去了，只剩下耶稣一人，还有那妇人仍然站在当中。耶稣就直起腰来，对她说：「妇人，那些人在哪里呢？没有人定你的罪吗？」她说：「主啊，没有。」 耶稣说：「我也不定你的罪，去吧！从此不要再犯罪了。」』(约翰福音 8:1-11)        

    接著就说，祂往橄榄山去并隔早又回到殿里教训人，这时文士和法利赛人要为难祂，因此带著一个行淫中被捉拿的妇人，并说了一些话，很清楚的，『他们说这话，乃试探耶稣，要得著告他的把柄。…』 (约翰福音 8:6) 也没有什么稀奇，他们的技俩本是要『…窥探耶稣，打发奸细装作好人，要在他的话上得把柄，好将他交在巡抚的政权之下。』(路加福音 20:20) 这是因为当时的犹太的公会没有治死人的权柄，必须要交给能治死人的巡抚的权柄。     

    没想到『…耶稣却弯著腰用指头在地上画字。』(约翰福音 8:6) 且说，『…你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就可以先拿石头打她。』(约翰福音 8:7) 『他们听见这话，就从老到少一个一个地都出去了，只剩下耶稣一人，还有那妇人仍然站在当中。』(约翰福音 8:9) 那时的他们是相当诚实的面对了自己，因为出去的次序是从老到少，老年人的确有更多的机会犯罪且犯了！        

    我们也看到耶稣是有恩典有怜悯的，祂并没有定妇人的罪，但嘱咐她不要再明知故犯了，因为祂知道的很清楚，就像祂对病了三十八年的瘫子说，『…不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。』(约翰福音 5:14)        

    我曾经听一个基督徒说过类似这样的话，「我到天上的时候，想要问耶稣祂到底用指头在地上画什么字？」如果这只是开玩笑的话为著要去戏笑，实在是不合乎圣徒的体统，圣经不是明讲吗？『淫词、妄语和戏笑的话都不相宜，总要说感谢的话。』(以弗所书 5:4) 如果不是，只能说更糟，神说我们不必要知道的事，而我们的老我却想要知道，这是尊重神吗？

4. 耶稣是世界的光       

    『耶稣又对众人说：「我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得著生命的光。」法利赛人对他说：「你是为自己作见证，你的见证不真。」耶稣说：「我虽然为自己作见证，我的见证还是真的。因我知道我从哪里来，往哪里去；你们却不知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。你们是以外貌判断(G2919, 动词)人，我却不判断(G2919)人。就是判断(G2919)人，我的判断(G2920, 名词)也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。你们的律法上也记著说：『两个人的见证是真的。』我是为自己作见证，还有差我来的父也是为我作见证。」他们就问他说：「你的父在哪里？」 耶稣回答说：「你们不认识我，也不认识我的父；若是认识我，也就认识我的父。」这些话是耶稣在殿里的库房教训人时所说的，也没有人拿他，因为他的时候还没有到。』(约翰福音 8:12-20)        

    耶稣不只是世界的光，也是我们以前说过的，『我(耶稣)就是生命的粮。』(约翰福音 6:48) 『耶稣说：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不借著我，没有人能到父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:6) 我们知道，『…神就是爱。』(约翰一书 4:8) 简单的说是，『我(耶稣)与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 所以三位一体的神中的耶稣也是爱。关于这点，我们也可从别的经文看中出来，如耶稣说，『我爱你们，正如父爱我一样，你们要常在我的爱里。你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱里；正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的爱里。』(约翰福音 15:9-10) 祂又说，『你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。』(约翰福音 15:12-14) 祂不是为了我们舍命而钉上十字架吗？所以很显然的，主耶稣也是爱。        

    我们说过，判断原文是用的 G2919，这和和合本的翻译论断是用的同一个字，如这节经文，『因为你们怎样论断(G2919)人，也必怎样被论断(G2919)；你们用甚么量器量给人，也必用甚么量器量给你们。』(马太福音 7:2) 接著是说，『你这假冒为善的人！先去掉自己眼中的梁木，然后才能看得清楚，去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。』(马太福音 7:5) 所以这是在说我们不要做假冒为善的人，而不是说不要判断！经文说得很清楚，『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) 如果不判断怎么能分辩好歹呢？所以耶稣会说，『就是判断人，我的判断也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。』(约翰福音 8:16) 长大成人的人，是模成耶稣形像的人(参罗马书 8:29-30)，他们会做正确的判断而分辩的。最后我们又一次看到，『…因为他的时候还没有到。』(约翰福音 8:20) 在祂的时间没有到的时候，人是不能拿祂的。

(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』。)  

    首先我們提到基督徒會有聖靈活水的江河，從內住的聖靈發出，因耶穌已得了榮耀，為我們釘十字架而死，『…復活，是為叫我們稱義。』(羅馬書 4:25) 直到復活後的五旬節，門徒才真正意識到聖靈的實在和其作為，我們也看到猶太人因耶穌的出身不高而不相信祂是基督。第二，我們看到「無人下手」是從神的角度看，從人的角度看也相同，因耶穌的教訓是帶著權柄的。第三，我們看到耶穌是有恩典有憐憫的，祂並沒有定行淫中被拿的婦人的罪，但和以前一致的囑咐她，不要再明知故犯了。也同時討論了一個帶來的相應問題。最後我們看到耶穌是世界的光，不只是光，也是生命和愛，再一次討論了判斷和論斷原文用的都是同一個字，論斷的真正意義在那裏。經文說得很清楚，『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) 沒有判斷怎能分辨呢？我們再一次看到，在祂的時間沒有到的時候，人是不能拿祂的。

1.  聖靈活水的江河

       『節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲說：「人若渴了，可以到我這裏來喝！信我的人，就如經上所說：『從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。』」耶穌這話是指着信他之人要受聖靈說的。那時還沒有賜下聖靈來，因為耶穌尚未得着榮耀。眾人聽見這話，有的說：「這真是那先知。」有的說：「這是基督。」 但也有的說：「基督豈是從加利利出來的嗎？經上豈不是說『基督是大衞的後裔，從大衞本鄉伯利恆出來的』嗎？」於是眾人因着耶穌起了紛爭。其中有人要捉拿他，只是無人下手。』(約翰福音 7:37-44)

     關於住棚節，『耶和華對摩西說：「你曉諭以色列人說：『這七月十五日是住棚節，要在耶和華面前守這節七日。第一日當有聖會，甚麼勞碌的工都不可做。七日內要將火祭獻給耶和華。第八日當守聖會，要將火祭獻給耶和華。這是嚴肅會，甚麼勞碌的工都不可做。』(利未記 23:33-36) 所以節期的最大之日是指住棚節的第八日。

        這裏很清楚的說明基督徒會有內住的聖靈，也就是『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) 並且聖靈會如活水的江河湧出。『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。』(約翰福音 12:23-24) 祂的確得了榮耀，為我們釘上十字架而死，『…復活，是為叫我們稱義。』(羅馬書 4:25) 只是那時耶穌尚未釘上十字架，沒有人知道聖靈是什麼，到最後的晚餐等賣主的猶大出去後，主才說，『我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師，叫他永遠與你們同在，就是真理的聖靈，乃世人不能接受的，因為不見他，也不認識他；你們卻認識他，因他常與你們同在，也要在你們裏面。』(約翰福音 14:16-17) 『但保惠師，就是父因我的名所要差來的聖靈，他要將一切的事指教你們，並且要叫你們想起我對你們所說的一切話。』(約翰福音 14:26)

     在時間上，是有一個先後的次序的，經文明說，『…我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裏來；我若去，就差他來。』(約翰福音 16:7) 而父差遣了子，也是聖經明說的，『耶穌又對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」』(約翰福音 20:21) 但要一直到主釘十字架復活後的第一個『五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處』時，他們被聖靈充滿後(參使徒行傳 2:1-11)，才真正意識到聖靈的實在和其作為！

        因祂的話眾人就起了爭議，基本上就是法利賽人回答尼哥底母的話，『內中有尼哥德慕，就是從前去見耶穌的，對他們說：「不先聽本人的口供，不知道他所做的事，難道我們的律法還定他的罪嗎？」他們回答說：「你也是出於加利利嗎？你且去查考，就可知道加利利沒有出過先知。」』(約翰福音 7:50-52) 我們也可從拿但業對腓力說的話看到同樣的這點，就是『…拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？…』(約翰福音 1:46) 當時的眾人是以耶穌基督的出身在衡量祂，怎麼會聽祂說的話呢？最後提到了「無人下手」，這是因為祂的時間還沒有到的緣故。

2. 耶穌的教訓是帶著權柄的

        『差役回到祭司長和法利賽人那裏，他們對差役說：「你們為甚麼沒有帶他來呢？」差役回答說：「從來沒有像他這樣說話的。」法利賽人說：「你們也受了迷惑嗎？官長或是法利賽人豈有信他的呢？但這些不明白律法的百姓是被咒詛的。」內中有尼哥德慕，就是從前去見耶穌的，對他們說：「不先聽本人的口供，不知道他所做的事，難道我們的律法還定他的罪嗎？」他們回答說：「你也是出於加利利嗎？你且去查考，就可知道加利利沒有出過先知。」』(約翰福音 7:45-52)

        我們剛才提到「無人下手」是從神的角度看，即使從人的角度看，也會有同樣的結果，在別的經文中就很清楚，『因為他(耶穌)教訓他們，正像有權柄的人，不像他們的文士。』(馬太福音 7:29) 差役怎麼敢下手拿祂呢？至於法利賽人和尼哥低母的對話意謂著什麼，我們剛才已談過，這裏就不多講了。

3. 行淫中被捉拿的婦人

       『於是各人都回家去了，耶穌卻往橄欖山去。清早又回到殿裏，眾百姓都到他那裏去，他就坐下教訓他們。文士和法利賽人帶着一個行淫時被拿的婦人來，叫她站在當中。就對耶穌說：「夫子，這婦人是正行淫之時被拿的。摩西在律法上吩咐我們，把這樣的婦人用石頭打死。你說該把她怎麼樣呢？」他們說這話，乃試探耶穌，要得着告他的把柄。 耶穌卻彎着腰用指頭在地上畫字。他們還是不住地問他，耶穌就直起腰來，對他們說：「你們中間誰是沒有罪的，誰就可以先拿石頭打她。」於是又彎着腰用指頭在地上畫字。他們聽見這話，就從老到少一個一個地都出去了，只剩下耶穌一人，還有那婦人仍然站在當中。耶穌就直起腰來，對她說：「婦人，那些人在哪裏呢？沒有人定你的罪嗎？」她說：「主啊，沒有。」 耶穌說：「我也不定你的罪，去吧！從此不要再犯罪了。」』(約翰福音 8:1-11)

        接著就說，祂往橄欖山去並隔早又回到殿裏教訓人，這時文士和法利賽人要為難祂，因此帶著一個行淫中被捉拿的婦人，並說了一些話，很清楚的，『他們說這話，乃試探耶穌，要得着告他的把柄。…』 (約翰福音 8:6) 也沒有什麼稀奇，他們的技倆本是要『…窺探耶穌，打發奸細裝作好人，要在他的話上得把柄，好將他交在巡撫的政權之下。』(路加福音 20:20) 這是因為當時的猶太的公會沒有治死人的權柄，必須要交給能治死人的巡撫的權柄。

     沒想到『…耶穌卻彎着腰用指頭在地上畫字。』(約翰福音 8:6) 且說，『…你們中間誰是沒有罪的，誰就可以先拿石頭打她。』(約翰福音 8:7) 『他們聽見這話，就從老到少一個一個地都出去了，只剩下耶穌一人，還有那婦人仍然站在當中。』(約翰福音 8:9) 那時的他們是相當誠實的面對了自己，因為出去的次序是從老到少，老年人的確有更多的機會犯罪且犯了！

        我們也看到耶穌是有恩典有憐憫的，祂並沒有定婦人的罪，但囑咐她不要再明知故犯了，因為祂知道的很清楚，就像祂對病了三十八年的癱子說，『…不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。』(約翰福音 5:14) 

        我曾經聽一個基督徒說過類似這樣的話，「我到天上的時候，想要問耶穌祂到底用指頭在地上畫什麼字？」如果這只是開玩笑的話為著要去戲笑，實在是不合乎聖徒的體統，聖經不是明講嗎？『淫詞、妄語和戲笑的話都不相宜，總要說感謝的話。』(以弗所書 5:4) 如果不是，只能說更糟，神說我們不必要知道的事，而我們的老我卻想要知道，這是尊重神嗎？

4. 耶穌是世界的光

       『耶穌又對眾人說：「我是世界的光。跟從我的，就不在黑暗裏走，必要得着生命的光。」法利賽人對他說：「你是為自己作見證，你的見證不真。」耶穌說：「我雖然為自己作見證，我的見證還是真的。因我知道我從哪裏來，往哪裏去；你們卻不知道我從哪裏來，往哪裏去。你們是以外貌判斷(G2919, 動詞)人，我卻不判斷(G2919)人。就是判斷(G2919)人，我的判斷(G2920, 名詞)也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。你們的律法上也記着說：『兩個人的見證是真的。』我是為自己作見證，還有差我來的父也是為我作見證。」他們就問他說：「你的父在哪裏？」 耶穌回答說：「你們不認識我，也不認識我的父；若是認識我，也就認識我的父。」這些話是耶穌在殿裏的庫房教訓人時所說的，也沒有人拿他，因為他的時候還沒有到。』(約翰福音 8:12-20)

        耶穌不只是世界的光，也是我們以前說過的，『我(耶穌)就是生命的糧。』(約翰福音 6:48) 『耶穌說：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:6) 我們知道，『…神就是愛。』(約翰一書 4:8) 簡單的說是，『我(耶穌)與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 所以三位一體的神中的耶穌也是愛。關於這點，我們也可從別的經文看中出來，如耶穌說，『我愛你們，正如父愛我一樣，你們要常在我的愛裏。你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裏；正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的愛裏。』(約翰福音 15:9-10) 祂又說，『你們要彼此相愛，像我愛你們一樣，這就是我的命令。人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個大的。你們若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。』(約翰福音 15:12-14) 祂不是為了我們捨命而釘上十字架嗎？所以很顯然的，主耶穌也是愛。

        我們說過，判斷原文是用的 G2919，這和和合本的翻譯論斷是用的同一個字，如這節經文，『因為你們怎樣論斷(G2919)人，也必怎樣被論斷(G2919)；你們用甚麼量器量給人，也必用甚麼量器量給你們。』(馬太福音 7:2) 接著是說，『你這假冒為善的人！先去掉自己眼中的梁木，然後才能看得清楚，去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。』(馬太福音 7:5) 所以這是在說我們不要做假冒為善的人，而不是說不要判斷！經文說得很清楚，『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) 如果不判斷怎麼能分辨好歹呢？所以耶穌會說，『就是判斷人，我的判斷也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。』(約翰福音 8:16) 長大成人的人，是模成耶穌形像的人(參羅馬書 8:29-30)，他們會做正確的判斷而分辨的。最後我們又一次看到，『…因為他的時候還沒有到。』(約翰福音 8:20) 在祂的時間沒有到的時候，人是不能拿祂的。

(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』。)

First of all, we mentioned that Christians will have rivers of living water, which issue from the indwelling Holy Spirit, because Jesus has been glorified, died on the cross for us, “…and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) It was not until Pentecost after the resurrection that the disciples truly realized the reality and actions of the Holy Spirit. We also see that the Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ because of His low origin.  Second, we see that “no one lays hands on Him” is true from God’s perspective, and it is the same from a human perspective, because Jesus’ teachings are authoritative.  Third, we see that Jesus is gracious and merciful. He did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, but told her, as before, not to do it knowingly again.  A corresponding problem regarding this event was also discussed.  Finally, we see that Jesus is the light of the world, not just light, but also life and love. Once again, we discuss the real meaning of judgment here.  The scriptures make it very clear, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) How can we discern without judgment?  Once again we see that man cannot seize Him until His time has come.

1. Rivers of living water from the Holy Spirit 

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.”(John 7:37-44)​

Concerning the Feast of Booths, “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.”(Leviticus 23: 33-36) Therefore, the greatest day of the festival is the eighth day of the Feast of Booths.

It is clearly stated here that Christians will have the indwelling Holy Spirit, that is, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”(1 Corinthians 3:16) And the Holy Spirit will flow out like rivers of living water. “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.”(John 12:23-24) He was indeed glorified and died on the cross for us, “…and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) At that time, Jesus had not yet been crucified. Thus, no one knew what the Holy Spirit was. It was only after Judas, the traitor, had gone out at the Last Supper that the Lord said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”(John 14:16-17) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”(John 14:26)

In terms of time, there is a sequence. The scriptures say, “…if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”(John 16:7) And the Father has sent the Son, which is also clearly stated in the Bible, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20: 21) But it was not until the first Pentecost after the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection that “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”(Acts 2:1) and they were filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1-11). As a result, they truly realized the reality and action of the Holy Spirit.

Controversy arose among the people because of His words. Basically, the reason is in the Pharisees’ answers to Nicodemus’ words, “Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.””(John 7:50-52) We can also see the same point in what Nathanael said to Philip, “…Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? …”(John 1:46) At that time, everyone was judging Jesus Christ based on His background. How could they listen to what He said?  Finally, it was mentioned that “no one laid hands on Him” because His time had not yet come.

2. Jesus’ teachings are authoritative

​

“The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.””(John 7:45-52).

We just mentioned that “no one lays hands on Him” is from God’s perspective. Even if we look at it from a human perspective, it will have the same result. It is very clear in other scriptures, “for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”(Matthew 7:29) How dare the officers lay hands on Him?  As for the meaning of the conversation between the Pharisees and Nicodemus, we have just talked about it, so we won’t go into details here.

 3. A woman caught in adultery

“[Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]”(John 7:53 – 8:11)

So everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. He returned to the temple the next morning to teach people. At this time, the scribes and Pharisees wanted to make things difficult for Him, so they brought a woman caught in adultery with them and said some words. It was clear why they said such word since “They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. …”(John 8:6) There is nothing surprising. Their strategy was “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.”(Luke 20:20) This is because the Jewish Sanhedrin at that time did not have the authority to put people to death and had to give it to the governor who could put people to death.

Unexpectedly, “…Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.”(John 8:6) And He said, “…He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”(John 8:7) “When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.”(John 8:9) At that time, they were quite honest with themselves, because the order of going out was from the oldest to the youngest, and the elderly did have more opportunities to sins and committed them!

We also see that Jesus is gracious and merciful. He did not condemn the woman, but told her not to do it knowingly again, because He knew very well, just like He said to the paralytic who had been ill for thirty-eight years, “…do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”(John 5:14)

I once heard a Christian say something like this, ‘When I go to heaven, I want to ask Jesus what words He wrote on the earth with His finger?’ If this is just a joke, it is really inappropriate to make such a joke. Isn’t the Bible clear about the decency of saints? “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”(Ephesians 5:4) If not, it can only be worse. God says things that we don’t need to know, but our old self wants to know. Is this respecting God?

4. Jesus is the light of the world

​”Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge (G2919, verb) according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge(G2919), My judgment (G2920, noun) is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”(John 8:12-20)

Jesus is not only the light of the world, but also as we said before, “I  (Jesus) am the bread of life.”(John 6:48) “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) And we know, “…God is love.”(1 John 4:8) Simply put, “I (Jesus) and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) So Jesus in the Trinity is also love. We can also see it from other scriptures, such as Jesus said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”(John 15:9-10) He also said, ““This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”(John 15:12-14) Didn’t He die on the cross for us? Obviously, the Lord Jesus is also love.

We have said that the original text uses the word G2919, which is translated differently in the Union Version for different verses, such as this verse, “For in the way you judge (G2919), you will be judged (G2919); and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”(Matthew 7:2) It has no ground for different translation for the same word. Particularly, He followed with “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”(Matthew 7:5) So this is saying that we should not be hypocrites, not that we should not judge!  The scriptures make it very clear, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) How can you tell good from evil if you don’t judge?  So Jesus would say, “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”(John 8:16) The matures are the people who are conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29-30). They will make correct judgments and discern.  Finally, we see again, “…because His hour had not yet come.”(John 8:20) Before His time comes, no one can seize 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.”)

    我们首先看到犹太人想杀耶稣的原因，提到了约翰福音照其标准只选择了八个神迹。祂非常清楚自己的时间是否到了，譬如当住棚节时，祂本不打算去耶路撒冷的，但遵循圣灵的带领，祂最终还是暗暗地去了，这也是从人的角度看被期望的。第二，祂然后在殿里开始教训人，说明祂的教训是从神来的，其实人要真正明白旧约不是用学的，而是只有出于神，要不然了解错误了自己还不知道，读经时真是要有圣灵的引导，而不是要凭著自己！祂以安息日作例子，不是要去遵守律法规定的时间，而是要守了安息日的真谛，其他的律法也该是如此。众人不相信祂是基督，即使耶稣是大声明讲了祂是神差来的，但他们并不真正知道，也看不清楚耶稣所做的。最后我们看到那些信祂的是看到了祂所做的，但祭司长和法利赛人是硬著心的，最终是让耶稣钉上十字架。最后，我们知道耶稣本是道成肉身而来，祂真正的归属是在天上，坐在神的右边。

1.   耶稣宣教后的住棚节       

    『这事以后，耶稣在加利利游行，不愿在犹太游行，因为犹太人想要杀他。』(约翰福音 7:1)        

    这事以后是指在行完五饼二鱼的神迹后，也就是快到逾越节的时候，因为圣经明说，『那时犹太人的逾越节近了。』(约翰福音 6:4) 在这之前，祂治愈了一个病了三十八年的瘫子(参约翰福音 5:1-9)，四福音书只有约翰福音记载这事。那人原先不知道是耶稣治疗了他，后来又遇见耶稣才知道(参约翰福音 5:10-14) 『那人就去告诉犹太人，使他痊愈的是耶稣。』(约翰福音 5:15) 于是有人就认为那人不知感恩，另外有人可能认为他只是告诉犹太人，他遵从拿褥子是可以的命令(参约翰福音 5:10-11)。圣经没有明讲是为什么，神即然说我们不需要知道，我们为什要乱猜不会有结论的事呢？我们应该尊重神，这一点实在很重要，因为在太多的地方，我们都会不小心不尊重神了！譬如，有人见到一些神迹，因而那人认为神特别爱那人，这好像是很好的见证，但圣经明说，『…神不偏待人。』(罗马书 2:11) 彼得也说『…我真看出神是不偏待人。』(使徒行传 10:34) 说神特别爱我，虽是出于好心，但不是明摆了不相信圣经的话语吗？这里的重点是『…犹太人越发想要杀他，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) 这就解释了，『这事以后，耶稣在加利利游行，不愿在犹太游行，因为犹太人想要杀他。』(约翰福音 7:1) 在小地方，我们都可以看到神借圣经告诉我们是一致的。

    我们一再强调这点，因为这是最重要的，因为我以前以为圣经既然是神所默示的，就该相信不把圣经的话打折扣是最重要的，我现在是相信意念中告诉我的其实不然，如果不把圣经的话打折扣是最重要的，就没有办法看到圣经中怎么会有明显的矛盾，只有先相信神借圣经告诉我们是一致的，才可以看到神为什么默示这些明显的矛盾，我们在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』中详细的讨论过这点，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。        

    我们既然已看了约翰福音提到的一些神迹，我们就提一下约翰福音中选择神迹的标准，『耶稣在门徒面前另外行了许多神迹，没有记在这书上。但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是神的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(约翰福音 20:30-31) 我们看到了他选择神迹的标准是为要人得生命，这是和耶稣所说的是一致的，『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40)        

    基于此，约翰福音只记载了八个神迹，就是：(1) 在迦拿的水变成好酒(参约翰福音 2:1-11)； (2) 医治大臣的儿子(参约翰福音 4:46-53)； (3) 医治毕士大池旁病了三十八年的瘫子(参约翰福音 5:2-15)； (4)  五饼二鱼使五千人吃饱 (参约翰福音 6:3-13)； (5)    在海面上行走 (参约翰福音 6:16-21)；这是我们在约翰福音中目前所分享的最后神迹，讲到耶稣在海上行走，我们在这个神迹中看到了彼得注目在耶稣身上时，也能在海上行走，但看到风这么大的环境时，就会沈下去！以人的角度来看，彼得能在海上行走，显然他的信心是相当得大，但耶稣却说他是小信的人，因为他最终为环境所影响，所以从神的角度看，我们是要定睛在耶稣身上。我们现在只剩下最后三个神迹还没有分享过，就是 (6) 医好生来瞎眼的 (参约翰福音 9:1-7)； (7) 使拉撒路从死里复生(参约翰福音 11:1-44)； 和 (8) 复活后使网满了鱼(参约翰福音 21:1-11)。        

    接著就是，『当时，犹太人的住棚节近了，耶稣的弟兄就对他说：「你离开这里上犹太去吧！叫你的门徒也看见你所行的事。人要显扬名声，没有在暗处行事的，你如果行这些事，就当将自己显明给世人看。」因为连他的弟兄说这话，是因为不信他。』(约翰福音 7:2-5) 难怪耶稣会『…对他们说：「大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的。」』(马太福音 13:57) 我们也看到了信的重要，就是『耶稣因为他们(自己家乡的人)不信，就在那里不多行异能了。』(马太福音 13:58)        

    『耶稣就对他们(祂的弟兄)说：「我的时候还没有到，你们的时候常是方便的。世人不能恨你们，却是恨我，因为我指证他们所做的事是恶的。你们上去过节吧！我现在不上去过这节，因为我的时候还没有满。」耶稣说了这话，仍旧住在加利利。』(约翰福音 7:6-9)        

    祂很清楚知道自己的时候还没有到，祂以前在迦拿的婚筵不就这样说过吗？『耶稣说：「母亲，我与你有甚么相干？我的时候还没有到。」』(约翰福音 2:4) 圣经没有明讲，为什么祂最终还是行了迦拿婚筵中有本质的改变的，水变成好酒的神迹，你们可到网路上看看人是怎么猜的。 在祂的时候还没有的时候，人不能对祂做什么的。以下的三处经文就清楚的说明这点，『他们就想要捉拿耶稣，只是没有人下手，因为他的时候还没有到。』(约翰福音 7:30) 和『这些话是耶稣在殿里的库房教训人时所说的，也没有人拿他，因为他的时候还没有到。』(约翰福音 8:20) 及『会堂里的人听见这(耶稣的)话，都怒气满胸，就起来撵他出城。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 4:28-30)        

    祂说得很清楚，『…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。』(约翰福音 10:17-18) 在时间上，是有一个次序的，父差遣子，子不去圣灵不来(参约翰福音 14:24-26)。这经文明说，时间到了的时候，祂会死而复活。        

    祂非常清楚祂的时间到了的时候，经文是这样说，『耶稣被接上升的日子将到，他就定意向耶路撒冷去。』(路加福音 9:51) 『…因为先知在耶路撒冷之外丧命是不能的。』(路加福音 13:33) 我们看到祂准备钉十字架的时间到来时，『耶稣对那些来拿他的祭司长和守殿官并长老说：「你们带著刀棒出来拿我，如同拿强盗吗？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 22:52-53)  这时是黑暗掌权了，祂的时候到了，所以他们能逮捕祂了。祂被捕时也说，『你(彼得)想，我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来吗？若是这样，经上所说事情必须如此的话，怎么应验呢？』(马太福音 26:53-54) 又一次证明，祂真的是早就知道会发生的事情！        

    我们也看到了祂原先是不准备去耶路撒冷过住棚节的，『但他弟兄上去以后，他也上去过节，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。正在节期，犹太人寻找耶稣说：「他在哪里？」众人为他纷纷议论，有的说：「他是好人。」 有的说：「不然，他是迷惑众人的。」只是没有人明明地讲论他，因为怕犹太人。』(约翰福音 7:10-13) 我们以前分享过，这改变是因神透过圣灵的带领，祂一生跟随神，就如经文所说，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31)        

    在这段经文的最后面，我们看到犹太人是期望祂去过节的，很显然从人的角度看，祂也是应该在那里，只是众人因怕犹太人，只能因为祂而暗暗地议论纷纷。

2. 耶稣在殿里开始教训人

    『到了节期，耶稣上殿里去教训人。犹太人就希奇说：「这个人没有学过，怎么明白书呢？」耶稣说：「我的教训不是我自己的，乃是那差我来者的。人若立志遵著他的旨意行，就必晓得这教训或是出于神，或是我凭著自己说的。人凭著自己说，是求自己的荣耀；惟有求那差他来者的荣耀，这人是真的，在他心里没有不义。』(约翰福音 7:14-18)        

    这节经文很清楚的说明为什么耶稣的教训是从神来的，其实我们在这段一开始就可注意到，人要真正明白旧约不是用学的，而是只有出于神，要不了解错误了自己还不知道。譬如，『耶稣对他们(去以马忤斯的二门徒)说：「无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害，又进入他的荣耀，岂不是应当的吗？」于是从摩西和众先知起，凡经上所指著自己的话都给他们讲解明白了。』(路加福音 24:25-27)     

    对于必须出于神这一点，这经文不是明说了要『…耶稣开他们的心窍，使他们能明白圣经。』(路加福音 24:45) 现今只有三位一体的神的一位、圣灵、能用启示使我们能明白圣经，启示或是用超自然的事在意念中使我们知道，或是借著弟兄姊妹的话使我们酥醒，后者也是为什么我会喜欢参加聚会的原因，不只是有这样的要求，『你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人…』(希伯来书 10:25) 更不知道神会在什么时候借著弟兄姊妹的话给我们启示。所以当能分辩而确定是圣灵的感动时，就『不要消灭圣灵的感动，』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 读经时真是要有圣灵的引导，而不是要凭著自己！     

    再和大家分享一下过去读经的经验，用印刷术来比喻查经在某种意味上是正确的。如果印刷一本彩色的书，一般都得印刷四遍，如第一遍可能只有黑色部份，这时是看不出整体的画面的，然后三原色各一遍，而每一原色相印的画面也看不到整体的画面，但当四遍的都印完之后，整体的画面就很清晰的显现了！读经类似，每一遍只能看到一部份，看不懂的部份宁可跳过而不去强解圣经，甚至要分辩即使好像是因为祷告中出来的话，尤其是在意念里得到的话，以免被误导，要以圣经的话语和概念，作为分辩的绝对标准。正确只在这意味上，因神是无限而人是有限，祂可以随时开我们的眼睛，就如祂在以利沙的仆人身上所做的一样(参列王纪下 6:8-17)  所以我们只能尽可能的多读几遍就是，不会嫌多的。     

    谈到分辩，我们曾分享过，在这里我们只提到一点，就是经文说的，『你心里若说：『耶和华所未曾吩咐的话，我们怎能知道呢？』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 18:21-22) 所以我们常常得要事后回头看是否应验才知道，这绝不是完全无用，因为我们可以在失败中学习经验，为下次准备，同时要悔改，『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) 要知道神不是每次都事先会让我们知道的，如提幔人以利法会错了意(参约伯记 4:12-21)，以为是在为神作工，却站在撒但那一边。神是有怜悯有恩典的，最终祂接受了他的悔改(参约伯记 42:7-9) 当圣灵没有引导我们时，仍要以圣经的话语作为绝对的标准，不要断章取义，站在神的那一边，要相信，即使我们不小心错了，也会因悔改得到神的再次悦纳。        

    耶稣接著说，『摩西岂不是传律法给你们吗？你们却没有一个人守律法。为甚么想要杀我呢？」众人回答说：「你是被鬼附著了！谁想要杀你？」耶稣说：「我做了一件事，你们都以为希奇。摩西传割礼给你们（其实不是从摩西起的，乃是从祖先起的），因此你们也在安息日给人行割礼。人若在安息日受割礼，免得违背摩西的律法，我在安息日叫一个人全然好了，你们就向我生气吗？不可按外貌断定是非，总要按公平断定是非。」』(约翰福音 7:19-24)        

    从这些经文，我们可以看见祂说的那一件令人希奇的事、是指祂在安息日行治疗的事，就像我们以前分享过，祂显然不是遵守律法规定的时间，而是守了安息日的真谛，经文说得清楚，『…安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(马可福音 2:27-28)   所以『耶稣说：「你们中间谁有一只羊，当安息日掉在坑里，不把牠抓住拉上来呢？人比羊何等贵重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(马太福音 12:11-12) 在新约的时代，祂只是以安息日作为一个例子，守律法也是要守律法的真谛，而不是指字面上的律法，所以会说，『我实在告诉你们：就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点(G2593)一画(G2762)也不能废去，都要成全。』(马太福音 5:18) 如果是要守律法的条文，我们就来看这部份的经文，『…不可用两样搀杂的料做衣服穿在身上。』(利未记 19:19) 现在的衣服常是各种材料混织的，能守律法的条文有什么意义呢！     

    经文说，『耶路撒冷人中有的说：「这不是他们想要杀的人吗？你看他还明明地讲道，他们也不向他说甚么，难道官长真知道这是基督吗？然而我们知道这个人从哪里来，只是基督来的时候，没有人知道他从哪里来。」那时，耶稣在殿里教训人，大声说：「你们也知道我，也知道我从哪里来；我来并不是由于自己，但那差我来的是真的。你们不认识他，我却认识他，因为我是从他来的，他也是差了我来。」』(约翰福音 7:25-29)        

    你看，有些人都知道他们想要杀祂，众人否认也没有用。只是他们不相信祂是基督，即使耶稣是大声明讲了祂是神差来的，要人听见而真正知道！但他们并不真正知道，也看不清楚耶稣所做的，真的是不如尼哥底母所说的，『…我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。』(约翰福音 3:1-2) 最后，他也做了祂的门徒，我们可从耶稣钉十字架而为我们而死安葬的事看出来这点，因为经文说，『又有尼哥德慕，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)

3. 耶稣基督的归属        

    『他们就想要捉拿耶稣，只是没有人下手，因为他的时候还没有到。但众人中间有好些信他的，说：「基督来的时候，他所行的神迹岂能比这人所行的更多吗？」法利赛人听见众人为耶稣这样纷纷议论，祭司长和法利赛人就打发差役去捉拿他。于是耶稣说：「我还有不多的时候和你们同在，以后就回到差我来的那里去。你们要找我，却找不著；我所在的地方，你们不能到。」犹太人就彼此对问说：「这人要往哪里去，叫我们找不著呢？难道他要往散住希腊中的犹太人那里去教训希腊人吗？他说『你们要找我，却找不著；我所在的地方，你们不能到』，这话是甚么意思呢？」』(约翰福音 7:30-36

    我们已分享过祂的时候还没有到，这里就不多说了。我们看到那些信祂的是看到了祂所做的，但祭司长和法利赛人是硬著心的，最终是让耶稣钉上十字架。那时『到了早晨，众祭司长和民间的长老，大家商议要治死耶稣，就把他捆绑，解去交给巡抚彼拉多。』(马太福音 27:1-2) 当时依照罗马的法律，他们是不能治死人的，只就解去有这样权柄的彼拉多那里。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。』(路加福音 23:23)『于是彼拉多释放巴拉巴给他们，把耶稣鞭打了，交给人钉十字架。』(马太福音 27:26) 虽然彼拉多本意愿想释放耶稣的，但没有相应的行为，在政治的压力下妥协了，神救恩的计划反而成就了。所以神常常因著人的错误而成就祂的旨意，这不是和这类似吗？那时，『从这日起，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) 『那些分散的人往各处去传道。』(使徒行传 8:4) 基督教就因此传开了！        

    我们现在知道，『…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) 所以『耶稣已经进入天堂，在神的右边，众天使和有权柄的，并有能力的，都服从了他。』(彼得前书 3:22)  保罗也说得很清楚，『…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) 耶稣本是道成肉身的，祂的归属是在天上，那时的犹太人怎么能真知道呢？因此，『犹太人就彼此对问说：「这人要往哪里去，叫我们找不著呢？…他说『你们要找我，却找不著；我所在的地方，你们不能到』，这话是甚么意思呢？」』(约翰福音 7:35-36)

(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』。)  

    我們首先看到猶太人想殺耶穌的原因，提到了約翰福音照其標準只選擇了八個神蹟。祂非常清楚自己的時間是否到了，譬如當住棚節時，祂本不打算去耶路撒冷的，但遵循聖靈的帶領，祂最終還是暗暗地去了，這也是從人的角度看被期望的。第二，祂然後在殿裏開始教訓人，說明祂的教訓是從神來的，其實人要真正明白舊約不是用學的，而是只有出於神，要不然瞭解錯誤了自己還不知道，讀經時真是要有聖靈的引導，而不是要憑著自己！祂以安息日作例子，不是要去遵守律法規定的時間，而是要守了安息日的真諦，其他的律法也該是如此。眾人不相信祂是基督，即使耶穌是大聲明講了祂是神差來的，但他們並不真正知道，也看不清楚耶穌所做的。最後我們看到那些信祂的是看到了祂所做的，但祭司長和法利賽人是硬著心的，最終是讓耶穌釘上十字架。最後，我們知道耶穌本是道成肉身而來，祂真正的歸屬是在天上，坐在神的右邊。

1.   耶穌宣教後的住棚節

       『這事以後，耶穌在加利利遊行，不願在猶太遊行，因為猶太人想要殺他。』(約翰福音 7:1)

        這事以後是指在行完五餅二魚的神蹟後，也就是快到逾越節的時候，因為聖經明說，『那時猶太人的逾越節近了。』(約翰福音 6:4) 在這之前，祂治愈了一個病了三十八年的癱子(參約翰福音 5:1-9)，四福音書只有約翰福音記載這事。那人原先不知道是耶穌治療了他，後來又遇見耶穌才知道(參約翰福音 5:10-14) 『那人就去告訴猶太人，使他痊愈的是耶穌。』(約翰福音 5:15) 於是有人就認為那人不知感恩，另外有人可能認為他只是告訴猶太人，他遵從拿褥子是可以的命令(參約翰福音 5:10-11)。聖經沒有明講是為什麼，神即然說我們不需要知道，我們為什要亂猜不會有結論的事呢？我們應該尊重神，這一點實在很重要，因為在太多的地方，我們都會不小心不尊重神了！譬如，有人見到一些神蹟，因而那人認為神特別愛那人，這好像是很好的見証，但聖經明說，『…神不偏待人。』(羅馬書 2:11) 彼得也說『…我真看出神是不偏待人。』(使徒行傳 10:34) 說神特別愛我，雖是出於好心，但不是明擺了不相信聖經的話語嗎？這裏的重點是『…猶太人越發想要殺他，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) 這就解釋了，『這事以後，耶穌在加利利遊行，不願在猶太遊行，因為猶太人想要殺他。』(約翰福音 7:1) 在小地方，我們都可以看到神藉聖經告訴我們是一致的。

     我們一再強調這點，因為這是最重要的，因為我以前以為聖經既然是神所默示的，就該相信不把聖經的話打折扣是最重要的，我現在是相信意念中告訴我的其實不然，如果不把聖經的話打折扣是最重要的，就沒有辦法看到聖經中怎麼會有明顯的矛盾，只有先相信神藉聖經告訴我們是一致的，才可以看到神為什麼默示這些明顯的矛盾，我們在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』中詳細的討論過這點，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。

        我們既然已看了約翰福音提到的一些神蹟，我們就提一下約翰福音中選擇神蹟的標準，『耶穌在門徒面前另外行了許多神蹟，沒有記在這書上。但記這些事，要叫你們信耶穌是基督，是神的兒子，並且叫你們信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(約翰福音 20:30-31) 我們看到了他選擇神蹟的標準是為要人得生命，這是和耶穌所說的是一致的，『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40)

        基於此，約翰福音只記載了八個神蹟，就是：(1) 在迦拿的水變成好酒(參約翰福音 2:1-11)； (2) 醫治大臣的兒子(參約翰福音 4:46-53)； (3) 醫治畢士大池旁病了三十八年的癱子(參約翰福音 5:2-15)； (4)  五餅二魚使五千人吃飽 (參約翰福音 6:3-13)； (5)    在海面上行走 (參約翰福音 6:16-21)；這是我們在約翰福音中目前所分享的最後神蹟，講到耶穌在海上行走，我們在這個神蹟中看到了彼得注目在耶穌身上時，也能在海上行走，但看到風這麼大的環境時，就會沈下去！以人的角度來看，彼得能在海上行走，顯然他的信心是相當得大，但耶穌卻說他是小信的人，因為他最終為環境所影響，所以從神的角度看，我們是要定睛在耶穌身上。我們現在只剩下最後三個神蹟還沒有分享過，就是 (6) 醫好生來瞎眼的 (參約翰福音 9:1-7)； (7) 使拉撒路從死裏復生(參約翰福音 11:1-44)； 和 (8) 復活後使網滿了魚(參約翰福音 21:1-11)。

        接著就是，『當時，猶太人的住棚節近了，耶穌的弟兄就對他說：「你離開這裏上猶太去吧！叫你的門徒也看見你所行的事。人要顯揚名聲，沒有在暗處行事的，你如果行這些事，就當將自己顯明給世人看。」因為連他的弟兄說這話，是因為不信他。』(約翰福音 7:2-5) 難怪耶穌會『…對他們說：「大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的。」』(馬太福音 13:57) 我們也看到了信的重要，就是『耶穌因為他們(自己家鄉的人)不信，就在那裏不多行異能了。』(馬太福音 13:58)

        『耶穌就對他們(祂的弟兄)說：「我的時候還沒有到，你們的時候常是方便的。世人不能恨你們，卻是恨我，因為我指證他們所做的事是惡的。你們上去過節吧！我現在不上去過這節，因為我的時候還沒有滿。」耶穌說了這話，仍舊住在加利利。』(約翰福音 7:6-9)

        祂很清楚知道自己的時候還沒有到，祂以前在迦拿的婚筵不就這樣說過嗎？『耶穌說：「母親，我與你有甚麼相干？我的時候還沒有到。」』(約翰福音 2:4) 聖經沒有明講，為什麼祂最終還是行了迦拿婚筵中有本質的改變的，水變成好酒的神蹟，你們可到網路上看看人是怎麼猜的。 在祂的時候還沒有的時候，人不能對祂做什麼的。以下的三處經文就清楚的說明這點，『他們就想要捉拿耶穌，只是沒有人下手，因為他的時候還沒有到。』(約翰福音 7:30) 和『這些話是耶穌在殿裏的庫房教訓人時所說的，也沒有人拿他，因為他的時候還沒有到。』(約翰福音 8:20) 及『會堂裏的人聽見這(耶穌的)話，都怒氣滿胸，就起來攆他出城。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 4:28-30)

        祂說得很清楚，『…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。』(約翰福音 10:17-18) 在時間上，是有一個次序的，父差遣子，子不去聖靈不來(參約翰福音 14:24-26)。這經文明說，時間到了的時候，祂會死而復活。

        祂非常清楚祂的時間到了的時候，經文是這樣說，『耶穌被接上升的日子將到，他就定意向耶路撒冷去。』(路加福音 9:51) 『…因為先知在耶路撒冷之外喪命是不能的。』(路加福音 13:33) 我們看到祂準備釘十字架的時間到來時，『耶穌對那些來拿他的祭司長和守殿官並長老說：「你們帶着刀棒出來拿我，如同拿強盜嗎？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 22:52-53)  這時是黑暗掌權了，祂的時候到了，所以他們能逮捕祂了。祂被捕時也說，『你(彼得)想，我不能求我父現在為我差遣十二營多天使來嗎？若是這樣，經上所說事情必須如此的話，怎麼應驗呢？』(馬太福音 26:53-54) 又一次証明，祂真的是早就知道會發生的事情！

        我們也看到了祂原先是不準備去耶路撒冷過住棚節的，『但他弟兄上去以後，他也上去過節，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。正在節期，猶太人尋找耶穌說：「他在哪裏？」眾人為他紛紛議論，有的說：「他是好人。」 有的說：「不然，他是迷惑眾人的。」只是沒有人明明地講論他，因為怕猶太人。』(約翰福音 7:10-13) 我們以前分享過，這改變是因神透過聖靈的帶領，祂一生跟隨神，就如經文所說，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31)

        在這段經文的最後面，我們看到猶太人是期望祂去過節的，很顯然從人的角度看，祂也是應該在那裏，只是眾人因怕猶太人，只能因為祂而暗暗地議論紛紛。

2. 耶穌在殿裏開始教訓人

        『到了節期，耶穌上殿裏去教訓人。猶太人就希奇說：「這個人沒有學過，怎麼明白書呢？」耶穌說：「我的教訓不是我自己的，乃是那差我來者的。人若立志遵着他的旨意行，就必曉得這教訓或是出於神，或是我憑着自己說的。人憑着自己說，是求自己的榮耀；惟有求那差他來者的榮耀，這人是真的，在他心裏沒有不義。』(約翰福音 7:14-18)

        這節經文很清楚的說明為什麼耶穌的教訓是從神來的，其實我們在這段一開始就可注意到，人要真正明白舊約不是用學的，而是只有出於神，要不瞭解錯誤了自己還不知道。譬如，『耶穌對他們(去以馬忤斯的二門徒)說：「無知的人哪，先知所說的一切話，你們的心信得太遲鈍了。基督這樣受害，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」於是從摩西和眾先知起，凡經上所指着自己的話都給他們講解明白了。』(路加福音 24:25-27)

     對於必須出於神這一點，這經文不是明說了要『…耶穌開他們的心竅，使他們能明白聖經。』(路加福音 24:45) 現今只有三位一體的神的一位、聖靈、能用啓示使我們能明白聖經，啓示或是用超自然的事在意念中使我們知道，或是藉著弟兄姊妹的話使我們酥醒，後者也是為什麼我會喜歡參加聚會的原因，不只是有這樣的要求，『你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人…』(希伯來書 10:25) 更不知道神會在什麼時候藉著弟兄姊妹的話給我們啓示。所以當能分辨而確定是聖靈的感動時，就『不要消滅聖靈的感動，』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 讀經時真是要有聖靈的引導，而不是要憑著自己！

     再和大家分享一下過去讀經的經驗，用印刷術來比喻查經在某種意味上是正確的。如果印刷一本彩色的書，一般都得印刷四遍，如第一遍可能只有黑色部份，這時是看不出整體的畫面的，然後三原色各一遍，而每一原色相印的畫面也看不到整體的畫面，但當四遍的都印完之後，整體的畫面就很清晰的顯現了！讀經類似，每一遍只能看到一部份，看不懂的部份寧可跳過而不去強解聖經，甚至要分辨即使好像是因為禱告中出來的話，尤其是在意念裏得到的話，以免被誤導，要以聖經的話語和概念，作為分辨的絕對標準。正確只在這意味上，因神是無限而人是有限，祂可以隨時開我們的眼睛，就如祂在以利沙的僕人身上所做的一樣(參列王紀下 6:8-17)  所以我們只能儘可能的多讀幾遍就是，不會嫌多的。

     談到分辨，我們曾分享過，在這裏我們只提到一點，就是經文說的，『你心裏若說：『耶和華所未曾吩咐的話，我們怎能知道呢？』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 18:21-22) 所以我們常常得要事後回頭看是否應驗才知道，這絕不是完全無用，因為我們可以在失敗中學習經驗，為下次準備，同時要悔改，『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) 要知道神不是每次都事先會讓我們知道的，如提幔人以利法會錯了意(參約伯記 4:12-21)，以為是在為神作工，卻站在撒但那一邊。神是有憐憫有恩典的，最終祂接受了他的悔改(參約伯記 42:7-9) 當聖靈沒有引導我們時，仍要以聖經的話語作為絕對的標準，不要斷章取義，站在神的那一邊，要相信，即使我們不小心錯了，也會因悔改得到神的再次悅納。

        耶穌接著說，『摩西豈不是傳律法給你們嗎？你們卻沒有一個人守律法。為甚麼想要殺我呢？」眾人回答說：「你是被鬼附着了！誰想要殺你？」耶穌說：「我做了一件事，你們都以為希奇。摩西傳割禮給你們（其實不是從摩西起的，乃是從祖先起的），因此你們也在安息日給人行割禮。人若在安息日受割禮，免得違背摩西的律法，我在安息日叫一個人全然好了，你們就向我生氣嗎？不可按外貌斷定是非，總要按公平斷定是非。」』(約翰福音 7:19-24)

        從這些經文，我們可以看見祂說的那一件令人希奇的事、是指祂在安息日行治療的事，就像我們以前分享過，祂顯然不是遵守律法規定的時間，而是守了安息日的真諦，經文說得清楚，『…安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(馬可福音 2:27-28)   所以『耶穌說：「你們中間誰有一隻羊，當安息日掉在坑裏，不把牠抓住拉上來呢？人比羊何等貴重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(馬太福音 12:11-12) 在新約的時代，祂只是以安息日作為一個例子，守律法也是要守律法的真諦，而不是指字面上的律法，所以會說，『我實在告訴你們：就是到天地都廢去了，律法的一點(G2593)一畫(G2762)也不能廢去，都要成全。』(馬太福音 5:18) 如果是要守律法的條文，我們就來看這部份的經文，『…不可用兩樣攙雜的料做衣服穿在身上。』(利未記 19:19) 現在的衣服常是各種材料混織的，能守律法的條文有什麼意義呢！

     經文說，『耶路撒冷人中有的說：「這不是他們想要殺的人嗎？你看他還明明地講道，他們也不向他說甚麼，難道官長真知道這是基督嗎？然而我們知道這個人從哪裏來，只是基督來的時候，沒有人知道他從哪裏來。」那時，耶穌在殿裏教訓人，大聲說：「你們也知道我，也知道我從哪裏來；我來並不是由於自己，但那差我來的是真的。你們不認識他，我卻認識他，因為我是從他來的，他也是差了我來。」』(約翰福音 7:25-29)

        你看，有些人都知道他們想要殺祂，眾人否認也沒有用。只是他們不相信祂是基督，即使耶穌是大聲明講了祂是神差來的，要人聽見而真正知道！但他們並不真正知道，也看不清楚耶穌所做的，真的是不如尼哥底母所說的，『…我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。』(約翰福音 3:1-2) 最後，他也做了祂的門徒，我們可從耶穌釘十字架而為我們而死安葬的事看出來這點，因為經文說，『又有尼哥德慕，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)

3. 耶穌基督的歸屬

        『他們就想要捉拿耶穌，只是沒有人下手，因為他的時候還沒有到。但眾人中間有好些信他的，說：「基督來的時候，他所行的神蹟豈能比這人所行的更多嗎？」法利賽人聽見眾人為耶穌這樣紛紛議論，祭司長和法利賽人就打發差役去捉拿他。於是耶穌說：「我還有不多的時候和你們同在，以後就回到差我來的那裏去。你們要找我，卻找不着；我所在的地方，你們不能到。」猶太人就彼此對問說：「這人要往哪裏去，叫我們找不着呢？難道他要往散住希臘中的猶太人那裏去教訓希臘人嗎？他說『你們要找我，卻找不着；我所在的地方，你們不能到』，這話是甚麼意思呢？」』(約翰福音 7:30-36)

        我們已分享過祂的時候還沒有到，這裏就不多說了。我們看到那些信祂的是看到了祂所做的，但祭司長和法利賽人是硬著心的，最終是讓耶穌釘上十字架。那時『到了早晨，眾祭司長和民間的長老，大家商議要治死耶穌，就把他捆綁，解去交給巡撫彼拉多。』(馬太福音 27:1-2) 當時依照羅馬的法律，他們是不能治死人的，只就解去有這樣權柄的彼拉多那裏。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。』(路加福音 23:23)『於是彼拉多釋放巴拉巴給他們，把耶穌鞭打了，交給人釘十字架。』(馬太福音 27:26) 雖然彼拉多本意願想釋放耶穌的，但沒有相應的行為，在政治的壓力下妥協了，神救恩的計劃反而成就了。所以神常常因著人的錯誤而成就祂的旨意，這不是和這類似嗎？那時，『從這日起，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) 『那些分散的人往各處去傳道。』(使徒行傳 8:4) 基督教就因此傳開了！

        我們現在知道，『…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) 所以『耶穌已經進入天堂，在神的右邊，眾天使和有權柄的，並有能力的，都服從了他。』(彼得前書 3:22)  保羅也說得很清楚，『…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) 耶穌本是道成肉身的，祂的歸屬是在天上，那時的猶太人怎麼能真知道呢？因此，『猶太人就彼此對問說：「這人要往哪裏去，叫我們找不着呢？…他說『你們要找我，卻找不着；我所在的地方，你們不能到』，這話是甚麼意思呢？」』(約翰福音 7:35-36)

(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』。)

We first saw the reason why the Jews wanted to kill Jesus and mentioned that the Gospel of John only chose eight miracles according to its standards.  He knew very well whether His time had come. For example, during the Feast of Booths, He had no intention of going to Jerusalem at first, but following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He finally went secretly. This is also what is expected from a human perspective.  Second, He then began to teach people in the temple, explaining that His teachings came from God. In fact, that people can truly understand that the Old Testament is not something from their own learning, but only coming from God. Otherwise, they will not know even if they understand it wrong. When reading the Bible, you really need to be guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on yourself!  He used the Sabbath as an example to show us, not to keep the time prescribed by the Law, but to keep the true meaning of the Sabbath, and the same should be true for other Laws.  People did not believe that He was the Christ even though Jesus made a loud statement that He was sent by God. They did not really know and could not see clearly what Jesus did.  In the end we see that those who believed in Him saw what He had done, but the chief priests and Pharisees hardened their hearts and ultimately allowed Jesus to be crucified.  Finally, we know that Jesus came in the flesh, and that His true home is in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God.

1. The Feast of Booths after Jesus’ mission

“After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.”(John 7:1)

After these things, it refers to the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, that is, when it was almost the Passover, because the Bible said, “Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.”(John 6:4) Before that, He healed a paralytic who had been ill for thirty-eight years (see John 5:1-9). Only the Gospel of John records this event.  The man did not know at first that it was Jesus who healed him, but he found out later when he met Jesus (see John 5:10-14) “The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.”(John 5:15) So some people think that the man is ungrateful, while others may think that he just told the Jews that it was okay for him to obey the command to take up his mat (see John 5:10-11).  The Bible doesn’t clearly explain which one is true. Since God says we don’t need to know, why should we make random guesses about things that have no conclusion?  It is really important that we respect God because in so many places we accidentally disrespect Him!  For example, someone sees some miracles and thinks that God loves that person especially. This seems to be a good testimony, but the Bible clearly says, “For there is no partiality with God.”(Romans 2:11) Peter also said, “…I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality.”(Acts 10:34) It may be out of good intentions to say that God loves me especially, but doesn’t it mean that the person does not believe in the words of the Bible?  The important point here is “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”(John 5:18) This explains, “After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.”(John 7:1) In small places, we can see that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

We have repeatedly emphasized this point because it is the most important. Because I used to think that since the Bible is inspired by God, it should be the most important thing not to discount the words of the Bible. But now I believe what my mind tells me, but it is not the case. If the most important thing is not to discount the words of the Bible, there is no way to see why there are obvious contradictions in the Bible. Only by first believing what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, can we see why God inspired these obvious contradictions. We have discussed this in detail in “1111 The True Meaning of Biblical Inerrancy.” Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

Since we have looked at some of the miracles mentioned in the Gospel of John, let us mention the criteria for selecting miracles (signs) in the Gospel of John. “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”(John 20:30-31) We see that his criterion for choosing miracles is to have people life, which is consistent with what Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40)

Based on this, the Gospel of John records only eight miracles, namely: (1) The water in Cana was turned into good wine (see John 2:1-11); (2) The healing of the son of a royal official (see John 4 : 46-53); (3) Healing a paralytic who had been ill for thirty-eight years by the Pool of Bethesda (see John 5:2-15); (4) Five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand people (see John 6:3-13); (5) Walking on the sea (see John 6:16-21); This is the last miracle we have shared so far in the Gospel of John. It talks about Jesus walking on the sea. We here in the miracle saw that when Peter focused on Jesus, he could walk on the sea, but when he saw such a windy environment, he would sink!  From a human point of view, Peter was able to walk on the sea. Obviously, his faith was quite great. However, Jesus said that he was a person of little faith because he was ultimately affected by the environment. So from a God’s point of view, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.  Thus we are ¹left with the last three miracles that we have not shared yet, which are (6) Healing the man who was born blind (see John 9:1-7); (7) Raising Lazarus from the dead (see John 11:1-44); and (8) After the resurrection, the net was filled with fish (see John 21:1-11).

Then it goes after these things, “Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”(John 7:2-5) No wonder “…Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.””(Matthew 13:57) We also see the importance of faith, that is, “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”(Matthew 13:58)

“So Jesus said to them (His brothers), “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.”(John 7:6-9)

He knew very well that His time had not yet come. Didn’t He say this before at the wedding feast in Cana? “And Jesus said to her (His mother), “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.””(John 2:4) The Bible does not clearly explain why He finally made the changes to perform the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana. Yes, water turns into good wine. You can go online and see what people guess.  While His time has not yet come, man can do nothing to Him.  The following three scriptures clearly illustrate this point, “So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”(John 7:30) and “These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”(John 8:20) and “And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things (spoken by Jesus); 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 4:28-30)

He said very clearly, “…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.”(John 10:17-18) In terms of time, there is a sequence. The Father sends the Son, and the Holy Spirit will not come until the Son goes (see John 14:24-26).  This scripture says that when the time comes, He will die and rise again.

He knew very well that when His time had come, the scripture says, “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:51) “for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.”(Luke 13:33) We see that when the time came for His preparation for crucifixion, “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 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 22:52-53) Now was darkness, His time arrived, so they could arrest Him. When He was arrested, He also said, “Or do you (Peter) think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”(Matthew 26:53-54) This once again proves that He really knew what would happen!

We have also seen that He was not originally going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Booths, “But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?” There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.” Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.”(John 7:10-13) We have shared before that this change is due to God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit. He has followed God all His life. As the scripture says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31)

At the end of this passage, we see that the Jews expected Him to go to the festival. Obviously from a human point of view, He should be there, but everyone was afraid of the Jews, so they could only talk secretly because of Him.

You see, some people knew they wanted to kill Him, and it was no use denying it.  It’s just that they don’t believe that He is the Christ, even though Jesus made a very loud statement that He was sent by God, and wanted people to hear it and truly know it!  But they didn’t really know, and they couldn’t see clearly that what Jesus did was really as good as what Nicodemus said, “…“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””(John 3:1-2) Finally, he also became His disciple. We can see this from the fact that Jesus was crucified and died for us and was buried, 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)

2. Jesus began teaching in the temple

“But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”(John 7:14-18)

This verse clearly explains why Jesus’ teachings come from God. In fact, we can notice at the beginning of this passage that people do not need to learn the Old Testament to truly understand it, but only when the understanding comes from God, otherwise you are wrong without yet even knowing it.  For example, “And He said to them (the two disciples who were going to Emmaus), “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:25-27)

Regarding the point that it must come from God, this scripture clearly say that “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:45) Today, only one person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, can use revelation to enable us to understand the Bible. Revelation either uses supernatural things to make us know in our minds, or through the words of brothers and sisters to wake us up.  The latter is also the reason why I like to attend meetings, not just due to the requirement stated in the Bible, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; …”(Hebrews 10:25) Also it is because we don’t even know when God will give us revelation through the words of brothers and sisters.  Therefore, when you can discern and confirm that it is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19). When reading the Bible, you really need to be guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on yourself!

I would like to share with you my past experience of Bible study. It is almost correct to use printing to describe Bible study in a certain sense.  If you print a color book, you usually have to print it four times. For example, the first pass may only have a black part, and the overall picture cannot be seen at this time. Then, the three primary colors will be printed once each, and the picture printed with each primary color will also be printed in the same way that you can’t see the overall picture. But after all four passes are printed, the overall picture appears clearly!  It’s similar to reading the Bible. You can only understand part of the Bible in reading it each time. In this case, you would rather skip the parts you don’t understand than forcefully interpret that parts. You even have to discern the words that appear to come out of prayer, especially the words that are received in thoughts, so as to avoid being misled. We must use the words in the Bible and the concepts of the Bible as the absolute standard for discernment. The analogy is only correct in this sense. Because God is infinite and man is limited, He can open ours eyes anytime like what He did for the servant of Elisha (see 2 Kings 6:8-17) We can only read the Bible  as many times as possible, and there will be no too much.

Speaking of discernment, we have shared before, but here we only mention one point, which is what the scripture says, “You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ 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 18:21-22) So we often have to look back afterwards to see whether it has come true. This is by no means completely useless, because we can learn from failures, prepare ourselves for next time, and at the same time repent, “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) We must know that God does not always let us know in advance. For example, Eliphaz the Temanite misunderstood (see Job 4:12-21), thinking that he was doing something for us. As the result, he was working on Satan’s side.  God is merciful and gracious, and in the end He accepted his repentance (see Job 42:7-9). When the Holy Spirit does not guide us, we must still use the words of the Bible as our absolute standard, and do not take them out of context. Stand with God. On the other side, we must believe that even if we accidentally make a mistake, we will be accepted by God again because of our repentance.}

Jesus then said, ““Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.””(John 7:19-24). 

From these verses, we can see that one deed He said was referring to His healing on the Sabbath. As we have shared before, He obviously did not keep the time prescribed by the Law, but kept the true meaning of the Sabbath. The scriptures make it clear, “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””(Mark 2:27-28) “And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.””(Matthew 12:11-12) In the New Testament era, He only used the Sabbath as an example. To keep the Law is to keep the true meaning of the Law, not the literal meaning. “For verily I (Jesus) say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot (G2593) or one tittle (G2762) shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”(Matthew 5:18, KJV) If we want to abide by the letters of the Law, we can look at this part of this verse, “…nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.”(Leviticus 19:19) Today’s clothes are often made of a variety of materials. What’s the point of being able to keep the letters of the law!

The scripture says, “So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.””(John 7:25-29)

You see, some people knew they wanted to kill Him, and it was no use denying it.  It’s just that they don’t believe that He is the Christ, even though Jesus made a loud statement that He was sent by God, and wanted people to hear it and truly know it!  But they didn’t really know, and they couldn’t see clearly that what Jesus did was really as good as what Nicodemus said, “… “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””

(John 3:1-2) Finally, he also became His disciple. We can see this from the fact that Jesus was crucified and died for us and was buried, 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)

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3. Where Jesus Christ belongs?

“So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?””(John 7:30-36)

We have already shared about His time has not yet come, so I won’t say more here.  We see that those who believed in Him saw what He did, but the chief priests and Pharisees hardened their hearts and ultimately allowed Jesus to be crucified.  As described, “Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.”(Matthew 27:1-2) According to Roman law at that time, they could not put anyone to death, so they sent Him to Pilate who had such authority.  Finally, “But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.”(Luke 23:23) “Then he (Pilate) released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Matthew 27:26) Although Pilate wanted to release Jesus at beginning, he did not act accordingly and compromised under political pressure. Instead, God’s plan of salvation came true. Therefore, God often accomplishes His goal because of people’s mistakes. Sometimes, according to our reactions to mistakes. To see the latter point, let us look at one example. “…And on that day 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) Prosecuting the church was a mistake, but “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”(Acts 8:4) Christianity spread is because of this!

We now know, “…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) So “…Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”(1 Peter 3:21-22) Paul also made it very clear, “…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) Jesus was incarnate, and His belonging was in heaven. How could the Jews at that time really know?  Therefore, “The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? …What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?””(John 7:35-36)

​(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.”)

    我们首先来看耶稣是生命的粮，不仅如此，祂也是道路和真理，唯一到父那里的门，一生都透过圣灵的带领遵行父的旨意，人看见祂就是看见父，信祂的人要从腹中要流出活水的江河来。祂是如此清楚的知道父所赐给祂的人，但我们在成圣的路上不会如此清楚，所以我们不论如何要尽我们的天职大使命，大使命不只是要讲，并且自己要行出来作榜样。第二，我们要看这经文，『我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。』在最后的晚餐时，祂明说，『这杯是用我血所立的新约』，在祂上十字架完成救恩时，身体为我们擘开，流出了宝血，立定了新约，喝祂血的人就是接受新约的人。祂为我们擘开祂的身体而吃祂的肉的人，是指我们要尽可能熟知祂留给我们在圣经中话语的人。最后我们讨论一下西门彼得的回答，『主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？』耶稣明说了属灵的生命是可以得著永生的。祂明知道加略人犹大要卖祂，为著顺服神的旨意，牺牲自己的生命在所不惜，仍在那时选择了犹大为十二使徒之一。我们是需要真信才行，西门彼得不是就这样的回答吗！

1. 耶稣是生命的粮        

    『他们说：「主啊，常将这粮赐给我们。」耶稣说：「我就是生命的粮，到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。只是我对你们说过，你们已经看见我，还是不信。凡父所赐给我的人，必到我这里来；到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。因为我从天上降下来，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我来者的意思行。差我来者的意思就是：他所赐给我的，叫我一个也不失落，在末日却叫他复活。因为我父的意思是叫一切见子而信的人得永生，并且在末日我要叫他复活。」』(约翰福音 6:34-40)        

    耶稣是生命的粮，祂又『…说：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不借著我，没有人能到父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:6) 我们可在经验中得到同样的结论，祂是唯一的道路，信而称义，然后我们才 能看到真理，因而得到生命，这在成圣的路上重复者，所以保罗会说，『…这义是本于信，以至于信。…』(罗马书 1:17) 祂的确是唯一的门，就像经文所说，『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 10:7-10)             

    祂讲得很清楚，祂是『…从天上降下来，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我来者的意思行。』(约翰福音 6:38)   道成肉身的耶稣，『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)  祂不仅为我们而死，更是要复活，在基督内，『我们若是与基督同死，就信必与他同活，』(罗马书 6:8) 直到永生。祂在道成肉身的那段时间是完全的人，也是要『不要消灭圣灵的感动，』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19)，现在祂是以透过圣灵的方式内住在我们心里。但我们和祂在那段时间大不相同的是，『神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34)  神赐圣灵给我们绝不是没有限量的。但圣经有这样的应许，只要我们直求(参路加福音 11:8)，就可以得到一次性的圣灵充满，『因为，凡祈求的，就得著；寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。』(路加福音 11:10) 而又说，『…何况天父，岂不更将圣灵给求他的人吗？』(路加福音 11:13) 所以这应许指一次性的圣灵充满，不是指任何事情都会成就。就像以前所分享的，这应许没有说到时间，神有绝对的主权决定何时发生。     

    祂一生都透过圣灵的带领而遵行父的旨意，如经上所记，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 难怪祂在客西马尼园的祷告会是，『…不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。』(路加福音 22:42)        

    耶稣说，『你们若认识我，也就认识我的父。从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他。』(约翰福音 14:7) 很清楚的说，『人看见我，就是看见那差我来的(父神)。』(约翰福音 12:45) 因为『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 而『…你们已经看见我，还是不信。』(约翰福音 6:36) 『信我的人，就如经上所说：『从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。』』(约翰福音 7:38) 这是指被圣灵充满而溢而言。祂很清楚的说，『差我来者(父神)的意思就是：他所赐给我的，叫我一个也不失落，在末日却叫他复活。』(约翰福音 6:39) 圣经不是说得很清楚祂就是这样做了吗？在祂被捕的时候，『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) 的确，那时只有祂被捕。祂很清楚，『凡父所赐给我的人，必到我这里来；到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。』(约翰福音 6:37)        

    祂知道那些是父赐给祂的人，譬如祂预先知道彼得三次不信主，祂也预先『…说：「西门！西门！撒但想要得著你们，好筛你们像筛麦子一样；但我已经为你祈求，叫你不至于失了信心。你回头以后，要坚固你的弟兄。』(路加福音 22:31-32) 所以『他(彼得)就出去痛哭』(路加福音 22:62) 而悔改时，他经历了『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) 而加略人犹大的遭遇显然不同，『这时候，卖耶稣的犹大看见耶稣已经定了罪，就后悔，把那三十块钱拿回来给祭司长和长老，说：「我卖了无辜之人的血是有罪了。」 他们说：「那与我们有甚么相干？你自己承当吧！」犹大就把那银钱丢在殿里，出去吊死了。』(马太福音 27:3-5) 犹大虽悔改了，但他吊死了！真基督徒不会这样做的。     

    只是我们在成圣的路上，并不是这么清楚，赋给我们的是大使命，『所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20) 这是和合本的翻译，等下我们从神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，究竟圣经是怎么说！在这里我们要强调的一点是，虽然我们是心甘情愿的执行这天职，但不是在别人明显不愿意时要强迫自己一定要去宣教，想想看耶稣在道成肉身时行了多少神迹，宣了多少教，但相信祂的不多，祂曾强迫人信祂吗？     

    相反的，在五饼二鱼的神迹后，『耶稣既知道众人要来强逼他作王，就独自又退到山上去了。』(约翰福音 6:15) 然后耶稣在迦百农会堂里教训人说了一些关于生命的话语，『他的门徒中有好些人听见了，就说：「这话甚难，谁能听呢？」』(约翰福音 6:60) 『从此，他门徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。耶稣就对那十二个门徒说：「你们也要去吗？」西门彼得回答说：「主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？我们已经信了，又知道你是神的圣者。」』(约翰福音 6:66-69) 我们知道彼得不是代表每个人这样的回答，譬如，他所说并不能反应出加略人犹大的光景，『…因他是个贼，又带著钱囊，常取其中所存的。』(约翰福音 12:6)     

    你看，耶稣不是寻找心甘情愿顺服祂的人吗？我们不是要模成耶稣的形像吗？『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 请注意，中文的效法虽有从内的效法，但也只有外在的效法，而基督是要有从内生命改变的模成，所以在这里不能翻成效法，会误导人。

    大使命不只是说要讲讲而已，且要自己行出来做榜样。按照著神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来讲，大使命是要使人顺服耶稣，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，也就是彼得说的，『…你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。』(使徒行传 2:38) 归于父、子、圣灵的名(参马太福音 28:19 的注解中的另译)。有人认为这不是要点，尤其是和许多教会所教导的不合，重要的是有人能心里信主而不是仪式。圣经明说，『若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。』(罗马书 12:18) 但如果能养成和圣经说的一致的习惯，这样会更好！     

    我们要知道神有绝对的主权，我们受洗后要遵行三位一体的神的旨意，当我们一信时，『他(神)救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。』(歌罗西书 1:13-14) 所以我们一定要在基督里治死老我，不要因犯罪而从基督内滑出来。即使如此，也要知道，『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) 如果是因软弱而犯罪，如能在犯罪时随时悔改就可以了，不要『…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)

2. 我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的       

    『犹太人因为耶稣说「我是从天上降下来的粮」，就私下议论他，说：「这不是约瑟的儿子耶稣吗？他的父母我们岂不认得吗？他如今怎么说『我是从天上降下来的』呢？」耶稣回答说：「你们不要大家议论。若不是差我来的父吸引人，就没有能到我这里来的；到我这里来的，在末日我要叫他复活。在先知书上写著说：『他们都要蒙神的教训。』凡听见父之教训又学习的，就到我这里来。这不是说有人看见过父，惟独从神来的，他看见过父。我实实在在地告诉你们：信的人有永生。我就是生命的粮。你们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，还是死了。这是从天上降下来的粮，叫人吃了就不死。我是从天上降下来生命的粮，人若吃这粮，就必永远活著。我所要赐的粮，就是我的肉，为世人之生命所赐的。」因此，犹太人彼此争论说：「这个人怎能把他的肉给我们吃呢？」耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就没有生命在你们里面。吃我肉喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他复活。我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我里面，我也常在他里面。永活的父怎样差我来，我又因父活著；照样，吃我肉的人也要因我活著。这就是从天上降下来的粮。吃这粮的人，就永远活著，不像你们的祖宗吃过吗哪还是死了。」这些话是耶稣在迦百农会堂里教训人说的。』(约翰福音 6:41-59)        

    你看，最开始的那一段不是在说，『…大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的。』(马太福音 13:57) 我们分享过，这是因为本地本家的人以为他们知道耶稣很清楚。然后祂在这里不是换一种方式在说，『凡父所赐给我的人，必到我这里来；…』(约翰福音 6:37) 他们不是蒙三位一体的神中的一位、耶稣的教训吗？『这不是说有人看见过父，…』(约翰福音 6:46) 只除了道成肉身前的耶稣外。在旧约时代中，的确没有人看见过父的面，就像耶和华对摩西说得一样，『…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) 在新约中是有些不一样，因为『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 所以『人看见我，就是看见那差我来的(父神)。』(约翰福音 12:45)        

    我们看见吗哪在旷野时赐给了以色列人属地的生命，但他们那时没有意识到这是真粮(参约翰福音 6:32-33)，就是这里所说的，『我就是生命的粮。你们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，还是死了。』(约翰福音 6:48-49) 的确，每一个人属地的生命都是会结束的，当耶稣说，『我是从天上降下来生命的粮，人若吃这粮，就必永远活著。我所要赐的粮，就是我的肉，为世人之生命所赐的。』(约翰福音 6:51) 能永远活著的，这显然是指属灵的生命。        

    在最后的晚餐时，耶稣『…拿起饼来，祝谢了，就擘开，递给他们，说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的，你们也应当如此行，为的是记念我。」饭后也照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我血所立的新约，是为你们流出来的。』(路加福音 22:19-20) 就是祂在上十字架完成救恩时，身体已为我们擘开，流出了宝血，立定了新约。那耶稣说，『我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我里面，我也常在他里面。永活的父怎样差我来，我又因父活著；照样，吃我肉的人也要因我活著。』(约翰福音 6:55-57) 喝我血是指接受新约的人，而要活著的是要吃祂肉的人，这是指什么呢？        

    我们知道，耶稣『…  取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 『太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。这道太初与神同在。』 (约翰福音 1:1-2) 约翰福音一开始就叙述了耶稣是那道，所以这些是在说道成了肉身。在肉身中，祂的身体为我们擘开，祂留下给我们的是祂的话语(祂的道)，我们吃祂的肉不是要吃进去祂的话语吗？而祂的话语只在圣经里面很清楚的写出，基督徒怎么可能不尽量的熟知圣经呢？所以圣经是要读很多遍的，读一次最多只能了解到那一遍所读对的，因为自己会经常读错，而有了错误得花更多的时间去更正，所以宁可看不懂某一段时跳过那一段，不要强解圣经，在下一次或以后读这一段时，也许就因圣灵的带领看懂了。我们讲过读经的目的是要得生命(参约翰福音 5:39-40)，而生命只能从神来(参哥林多前书 3:6-7) 而现在只有三位一体的神中的圣灵能赐给我们生命，读经怎么不能在圣灵的带领下呢！

3. 主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？    

    『他的门徒中有好些人听见了，就说：「这话甚难，谁能听呢？」耶稣心里知道门徒为这话议论，就对他们说：「这话是叫你们厌弃吗？倘或你们看见人子升到他原来所在之处，怎么样呢？叫人活著的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。只是你们中间有不信的人。」耶稣从起头就知道谁不信他，谁要卖他。耶稣又说：「所以我对你们说过，若不是蒙我父的恩赐，没有人能到我这里来。」从此，他门徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。』(约翰福音 6:60-66)        

    在这里耶稣说了一些话，并明说了祂是指属灵的生命，因为『叫人活著的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。』(约翰福音 6:63) 祂的许多现有的门徒并不了解这点，所以『从此，他门徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。』(约翰福音 6:66) 如果只是看见神迹暂时相信，没有继续看到神迹就不信了，往日如此，今日亦然，要真信，去了解祂的道，就是祂在圣经有的祂的话语，因此基督徒能读的时候，一定要读圣经，尽可能的去了解圣经的话语。

    『耶稣就对那十二个门徒说：「你们也要去吗？」西门彼得回答说：「主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？我们已经信了，又知道你是神的圣者。」耶稣说：「我不是拣选了你们十二个门徒吗？但你们中间有一个是魔鬼。」耶稣这话是指著加略人西门的儿子犹大说的，他本是十二个门徒里的一个，后来要卖耶稣的。』(约翰福音 6:67-71)        

    所以在最后的晚餐中，『耶稣…心里忧愁，就明说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们中间有一个人要卖我了。」…有一个门徒，是耶稣所爱的，侧身挨近耶稣的怀里。…耶稣回答说：「我蘸一点饼给谁，就是谁。」耶稣就蘸了一点饼，递给加略人西门的儿子犹大。他吃了以后，撒但就入了他的心。 耶稣便对他说：「你所做的，快做吧！」』(约翰福音 13:21-27) 祂是明讲的，但『同席的人，没有一个知道是为甚么对他说这话。有人因犹大带著钱囊，以为耶稣是对他说「你去买我们过节所应用的东西」，或是叫他拿甚么赒济穷人。』(约翰福音 13:28-29) 所以祂虽是明讲，没有人那时能了解祂在说什么！这不是和祂说死里复活的事类似吗？一直要祂真正的从死里复活后，门徒才真正了解祂那时在说什么。       

    这段也说明了为什么，『那时，耶稣出去，上山祷告，整夜祷告神。到了天亮，叫他的门徒来，就从他们中间挑选十二个人，称他们为使徒。』(路加福音 6:12-13) 是因为祂早就知道加略人犹大要卖祂，而祂整夜祷告，要确定是神的旨意。为著顺服神的旨意，虽献上自己肉体的生命也在所不惜，仍然在那时选择了犹大为十二使徒之一！我们在这里也看到了西门彼得的回答虽好，不是代表每一个的，耶稣不是明说这是不包括加略人犹大吗？主耶稣知道犹大不是真信，『…因他(犹大)是个贼，又带著钱囊，常取其中所存的。』(约翰福音 12:6) 耶稣给了他太多的机会，甚至于在最后晚餐时帮他洗脚(参约翰福音 13:3-17)，而他仍然没有悔改，因『犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。…』(约翰福音 13:30) 我们需要真信才行！西门彼得不是就这样回答吗？『主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？』(约翰福音 6:68) 真信不是很容易做到的。在成圣的路上，我们会跌倒，跌倒后要爬起来再战，绝对不要想成每战必败，而要相反的做到，基督徒是每败必战。

(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』。)  

        我們首先來看耶穌是生命的糧，不僅如此，祂也是道路和真理，唯一到父那裏的門，一生都透過聖靈的帶領遵行父的旨意，人看見祂就是看見父，信祂的人要從腹中要流出活水的江河來。祂是如此清楚的知道父所賜給祂的人，但我們在成聖的路上不會如此清楚，所以我們不論如何要儘我們的天職大使命，大使命不只是要講，並且自己要行出來作榜樣。第二，我們要看這經文，『我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。』在最後的晚餐時，祂明說，『這杯是用我血所立的新約』，在祂上十字架完成救恩時，身體為我們擘開，流出了寶血，立定了新約，喝祂血的人就是接受新約的人。祂為我們擘開祂的身體而吃祂的肉的人，是指我們要儘可能熟知祂留給我們在聖經中話語的人。最後我們討論一下西門彼得的回答，『主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？』耶穌明說了屬靈的生命是可以得著永生的。祂明知道加略人猶大要賣祂，為著順服神的旨意，犧牲自己的生命在所不惜，仍在那時選擇了猶大為十二使徒之一。我們是需要真信才行，西門彼得不是就這樣的回答嗎！

1. 耶穌是生命的糧

        『他們說：「主啊，常將這糧賜給我們。」耶穌說：「我就是生命的糧，到我這裏來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴。只是我對你們說過，你們已經看見我，還是不信。凡父所賜給我的人，必到我這裏來；到我這裏來的，我總不丟棄他。因為我從天上降下來，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。差我來者的意思就是：他所賜給我的，叫我一個也不失落，在末日卻叫他復活。因為我父的意思是叫一切見子而信的人得永生，並且在末日我要叫他復活。」』(約翰福音 6:34-40)

        耶穌是生命的糧，祂又『…說：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:6) 我們可在經驗中得到同樣的結論，祂是唯一的道路，信而稱義，然後我們才 能看到真理，因而得到生命，這在成聖的路上重復者，所以保羅會說，『…這義是本於信，以至於信。…』(羅馬書 1:17) 祂的確是唯一的門，就像經文所說，『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 10:7-10)

    祂講得很清楚，祂是『…從天上降下來，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。』(約翰福音 6:38)   道成肉身的耶穌，『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)  祂不僅為我們而死，更是要復活，在基督內，『我們若是與基督同死，就信必與他同活，』(羅馬書 6:8) 直到永生。祂在道成肉身的那段時間是完全的人，也是要『不要消滅聖靈的感動，』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)，現在祂是以透過聖靈的方式內住在我們心裏。但我們和祂在那段時間大不相同的是，『神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34)  神賜聖靈給我們絕不是沒有限量的。但聖經有這樣的應許，只要我們直求(參路加福音 11:8)，就可以得到一次性的聖靈充滿，『因為，凡祈求的，就得着；尋找的，就尋見；叩門的，就給他開門。』(路加福音 11:10) 而又說，『…何況天父，豈不更將聖靈給求他的人嗎？』(路加福音 11:13) 所以這應許指一次性的聖靈充滿，不是指任何事情都會成就。就像以前所分享的，這應許沒有說到時間，神有絕對的主權決定何時發生。

     祂一生都透過聖靈的帶領而遵行父的旨意，如經上所記，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 難怪祂在客西馬尼園的禱告會是，『…不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。』(路加福音 22:42) 

        耶穌說，『你們若認識我，也就認識我的父。從今以後，你們認識他，並且已經看見他。』(約翰福音 14:7) 很清楚的說，『人看見我，就是看見那差我來的(父神)。』(約翰福音 12:45) 因為『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 而『…你們已經看見我，還是不信。』(約翰福音 6:36) 『信我的人，就如經上所說：『從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。』』(約翰福音 7:38) 這是指被聖靈充滿而溢而言。祂很清楚的說，『差我來者(父神)的意思就是：他所賜給我的，叫我一個也不失落，在末日卻叫他復活。』(約翰福音 6:39) 聖經不是說得很清楚祂就是這樣做了嗎？在祂被捕的時候，『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) 的確，那時只有祂被捕。祂很清楚，『凡父所賜給我的人，必到我這裏來；到我這裏來的，我總不丟棄他。』(約翰福音 6:37) 

        祂知道那些是父賜給祂的人，譬如祂預先知道彼得三次不信主，祂也預先『…說：「西門！西門！撒但想要得着你們，好篩你們像篩麥子一樣；但我已經為你祈求，叫你不至於失了信心。你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄。』(路加福音 22:31-32) 所以『他(彼得)就出去痛哭』(路加福音 22:62) 而悔改時，他經歷了『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) 而加略人猶大的遭遇顯然不同，『這時候，賣耶穌的猶大看見耶穌已經定了罪，就後悔，把那三十塊錢拿回來給祭司長和長老，說：「我賣了無辜之人的血是有罪了。」 他們說：「那與我們有甚麼相干？你自己承當吧！」猶大就把那銀錢丟在殿裏，出去吊死了。』(馬太福音 27:3-5) 猶大雖悔改了，但他吊死了！真基督徒不會這樣做的。

     只是我們在成聖的路上，並不是這麼清楚，賦給我們的是大使命，『所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，…』(馬太福音 28:19-20) 這是和合本的翻譯，等下我們從神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，究竟聖經是怎麼說！在這裏我們要強調的一點是，雖然我們是心甘情願的執行這天職，但不是在別人明顯不願意時要強迫自己一定要去宣教，想想看耶穌在道成肉身時行了多少神蹟，宣了多少教，但相信祂的不多，祂曾強迫人信祂嗎？

     相反的，在五餅二魚的神蹟後，『耶穌既知道眾人要來強逼他作王，就獨自又退到山上去了。』(約翰福音 6:15) 然後耶穌在迦百農會堂裏教訓人說了一些關於生命的話語，『他的門徒中有好些人聽見了，就說：「這話甚難，誰能聽呢？」』(約翰福音 6:60) 『從此，他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。耶穌就對那十二個門徒說：「你們也要去嗎？」西門彼得回答說：「主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？我們已經信了，又知道你是神的聖者。」』(約翰福音 6:66-69) 我們知道彼得不是代表每個人這樣的回答，譬如，他所說並不能反應出加略人猶大的光景，『…因他是個賊，又帶着錢囊，常取其中所存的。』(約翰福音 12:6)

     你看，耶穌不是尋找心甘情願順服祂的人嗎？我們不是要模成耶穌的形像嗎？『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 請注意，中文的效法雖有從內的效法，但也只有外在的效法，而基督是要有從內生命改變的模成，所以在這裏不能翻成效法，會誤導人。

     大使命不只是說要講講而已，且要自己行出來做榜樣。按照著神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來講，大使命是要使人順服耶穌，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，也就是彼得說的，『…你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。』(使徒行傳 2:38) 歸於父、子、聖靈的名(參馬太福音 28:19 的註解中的另譯)。有人認為這不是要點，尤其是和許多教會所教導的不合，重要的是有人能心裏信主而不是儀式。聖經明說，『若是能行，總要盡力與眾人和睦。』(羅馬書 12:18) 但如果能養成和聖經說的一致的習慣，這樣會更好！

     我們要知道神有絕對的主權，我們受洗後要遵行三位一體的神的旨意，當我們一信時，『他(神)救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏；我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。』(歌羅西書 1:13-14) 所以我們一定要在基督裏治死老我，不要因犯罪而從基督內滑出來。即使如此，也要知道，『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) 如果是因軟弱而犯罪，如能在犯罪時隨時悔改就可以了，不要『…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)

2. 我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的

       『猶太人因為耶穌說「我是從天上降下來的糧」，就私下議論他，說：「這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎？他的父母我們豈不認得嗎？他如今怎麼說『我是從天上降下來的』呢？」耶穌回答說：「你們不要大家議論。若不是差我來的父吸引人，就沒有能到我這裏來的；到我這裏來的，在末日我要叫他復活。在先知書上寫着說：『他們都要蒙神的教訓。』凡聽見父之教訓又學習的，就到我這裏來。這不是說有人看見過父，惟獨從神來的，他看見過父。我實實在在地告訴你們：信的人有永生。我就是生命的糧。你們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，還是死了。這是從天上降下來的糧，叫人吃了就不死。我是從天上降下來生命的糧，人若吃這糧，就必永遠活着。我所要賜的糧，就是我的肉，為世人之生命所賜的。」因此，猶太人彼此爭論說：「這個人怎能把他的肉給我們吃呢？」耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就沒有生命在你們裏面。吃我肉喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他復活。我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我裏面，我也常在他裏面。永活的父怎樣差我來，我又因父活着；照樣，吃我肉的人也要因我活着。這就是從天上降下來的糧。吃這糧的人，就永遠活着，不像你們的祖宗吃過嗎哪還是死了。」這些話是耶穌在迦百農會堂裏教訓人說的。』(約翰福音 6:41-59)

        你看，最開始的那一段不是在說，『…大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的。』(馬太福音 13:57) 我們分享過，這是因為本地本家的人以為他們知道耶穌很清楚。然後祂在這裏不是換一種方式在說，『凡父所賜給我的人，必到我這裏來；…』(約翰福音 6:37) 他們不是蒙三位一體的神中的一位、耶穌的教訓嗎？『這不是說有人看見過父，…』(約翰福音 6:46) 只除了道成肉身前的耶穌外。在舊約時代中，的確沒有人看見過父的面，就像耶和華對摩西說得一樣，『…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) 在新約中是有些不一樣，因為『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 所以『人看見我，就是看見那差我來的(父神)。』(約翰福音 12:45)

        我們看見嗎哪在曠野時賜給了以色列人屬地的生命，但他們那時沒有意識到這是真糧(參約翰福音 6:32-33)，就是這裏所說的，『我就是生命的糧。你們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，還是死了。』(約翰福音 6:48-49) 的確，每一個人屬地的生命都是會結束的，當耶穌說，『我是從天上降下來生命的糧，人若吃這糧，就必永遠活着。我所要賜的糧，就是我的肉，為世人之生命所賜的。』(約翰福音 6:51) 能永遠活著的，這顯然是指屬靈的生命。

        在最後的晚餐時，耶穌『…拿起餅來，祝謝了，就擘開，遞給他們，說：「這是我的身體，為你們捨的，你們也應當如此行，為的是記念我。」飯後也照樣拿起杯來，說：「這杯是用我血所立的新約，是為你們流出來的。』(路加福音 22:19-20) 就是祂在上十字架完成救恩時，身體已為我們擘開，流出了寶血，立定了新約。那耶穌說，『我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我裏面，我也常在他裏面。永活的父怎樣差我來，我又因父活着；照樣，吃我肉的人也要因我活着。』(約翰福音 6:55-57) 喝我血是指接受新約的人，而要活著的是要吃祂肉的人，這是指什麼呢？

        我們知道，耶穌『…  取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 『太初有道，道與神同在，道就是神。這道太初與神同在。』 (約翰福音 1:1-2) 約翰福音一開始就敍述了耶穌是那道，所以這些是在說道成了肉身。在肉身中，祂的身體為我們擘開，祂留下給我們的是祂的話語(祂的道)，我們吃祂的肉不是要吃進去祂的話語嗎？而祂的話語只在聖經裏面很清楚的寫出，基督徒怎麼可能不儘量的熟知聖經呢？所以聖經是要讀很多遍的，讀一次最多只能瞭解到那一遍所讀對的，因為自己會經常讀錯，而有了錯誤得花更多的時間去更正，所以寧可看不懂某一段時跳過那一段，不要強解聖經，在下一次或以後讀這一段時，也許就因聖靈的帶領看懂了。我們講過讀經的目的是要得生命(參約翰福音 5:39-40)，而生命只能從神來(參哥林多前書 3:6-7) 而現在只有三位一體的神中的聖靈能賜給我們生命，讀經怎麼不能在聖靈的帶領下呢！

3. 主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？

    『他的門徒中有好些人聽見了，就說：「這話甚難，誰能聽呢？」耶穌心裏知道門徒為這話議論，就對他們說：「這話是叫你們厭棄嗎？倘或你們看見人子升到他原來所在之處，怎麼樣呢？叫人活着的乃是靈，肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈，就是生命。只是你們中間有不信的人。」耶穌從起頭就知道誰不信他，誰要賣他。耶穌又說：「所以我對你們說過，若不是蒙我父的恩賜，沒有人能到我這裏來。」從此，他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。』(約翰福音 6:60-66)

        在這裏耶穌說了一些話，並明說了祂是指屬靈的生命，因為『叫人活着的乃是靈，肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈，就是生命。』(約翰福音 6:63) 祂的許多現有的門徒並不瞭解這點，所以『從此，他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。』(約翰福音 6:66) 如果只是看見神蹟暫時相信，沒有繼續看到神蹟就不信了，往日如此，今日亦然，要真信，去瞭解祂的道，就是祂在聖經有的祂的話語，因此基督徒能讀的時候，一定要讀聖經，儘可能的去瞭解聖經的話語。

        『耶穌就對那十二個門徒說：「你們也要去嗎？」西門彼得回答說：「主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？我們已經信了，又知道你是神的聖者。」耶穌說：「我不是揀選了你們十二個門徒嗎？但你們中間有一個是魔鬼。」耶穌這話是指着加略人西門的兒子猶大說的，他本是十二個門徒裏的一個，後來要賣耶穌的。』(約翰福音 6:67-71)

        所以在最後的晚餐中，『耶穌…心裏憂愁，就明說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們中間有一個人要賣我了。」…有一個門徒，是耶穌所愛的，側身挨近耶穌的懷裏。…耶穌回答說：「我蘸一點餅給誰，就是誰。」耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大。他吃了以後，撒但就入了他的心。 耶穌便對他說：「你所做的，快做吧！」』(約翰福音 13:21-27) 祂是明講的，但『同席的人，沒有一個知道是為甚麼對他說這話。有人因猶大帶着錢囊，以為耶穌是對他說「你去買我們過節所應用的東西」，或是叫他拿甚麼賙濟窮人。』(約翰福音 13:28-29) 所以祂雖是明講，沒有人那時能瞭解祂在說什麼！這不是和祂說死裏復活的事類似嗎？一直要祂真正的從死裏復活後，門徒才真正瞭解祂那時在說什麼。

       這段也說明了為什麼，『那時，耶穌出去，上山禱告，整夜禱告神。到了天亮，叫他的門徒來，就從他們中間挑選十二個人，稱他們為使徒。』(路加福音 6:12-13) 是因為祂早就知道加略人猶大要賣祂，而祂整夜禱告，要確定是神的旨意。為著順服神的旨意，雖獻上自己肉體的生命也在所不惜，仍然在那時選擇了猶大為十二使徒之一！我們在這裏也看到了西門彼得的回答雖好，不是代表每一個的，耶穌不是明說這是不包括加略人猶大嗎？主耶穌知道猶大不是真信，『…因他(猶大)是個賊，又帶着錢囊，常取其中所存的。』(約翰福音 12:6) 耶穌給了他太多的機會，甚至於在最後晚餐時幫他洗腳(參約翰福音 13:3-17)，而他仍然沒有悔改，因『猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。…』(約翰福音 13:30) 我們需要真信才行！西門彼得不是就這樣回答嗎？『主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？』(約翰福音 6:68) 真信不是很容易做到的。在成聖的路上，我們會跌倒，跌倒後要爬起來再戰，絕對不要想成每戰必敗，而要相反的做到，基督徒是每敗必戰。

(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』。)

Let’s first look at Jesus as the bread of life. Not only that, He is also the way and the truth. He is the only door to the Father. He follows the Father’s will through the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout His life. When people see Him, they see the Father. Those who believe in Him will flow rivers of living water from their bellies.  He knows very clearly the people given to Him by the Father, but we will not be so clear on the road to sanctification. What given us is the Great Mission, and we must fulfill our vocation no matter what. The Great Commission must not only preach about the words, but also be practiced by ourselves to set examples.  Second, we need to look at this verse, “My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.”(John 6:55) At the last supper, He clearly said, “…This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”(Luke 22:20) When He was nailed to the cross to complete salvation, His body was broken for us, and His precious blood was shed, establishing a new covenant. Drinking His blood are those who accept the new covenant. Who eats His flesh is the one who is willingly to know the words He has left for us in the Bible as well as possible.  Finally, let’s discuss Simon Peter’s answer, “…Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”(John 6:68) Jesus clearly stated that spiritual life can lead to eternal life.  He knew clearly that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him, and in order to obey God’s will and He was willingly sacrificing His own life. Thus, He still chose Judas as one of the Twelve Apostles at that time.  What we need is the true faith. Isn’t that what Simon Peter said?

1. Jesus is the bread of life

“Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.””(John 6:34-40).

Jesus is the bread of life, and He “…said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) We can learn from experiences and come to the same conclusion, He is the only way which is justified by faith before we can see the truth and thus receive life. The proces is repeated in our way to sanctification, so Paul would say, “…the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; …”(Romans 1:17) He is indeed the only door, as the scripture says, “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 10:7-10)

He made it very clear that He has “…come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”(John 6:38) “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 not only died for us, but was resurrected. “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe until eternity that we shall also live with Him.”(Romans 6:8) He was completely human during the time of His incarnation, and He also like us wanted to “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Now He is indwelling in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. But the big difference between people and Him during that time is that “…He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to us is by no means unlimited.  But the Bible has such a promise that as long as we ask with persistence (see Luke 11:8), we can receive a one-time filling of the Holy Spirit, “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”(Luke 11:10) And He said after that, “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”(Luke 11:13) So this promise refers to a one-time filling of the Holy Spirit, not that anything will come true.  As shared before, this promise does not mention a time, God has the absolute sovereignty to decide when this will happen.

Throughout His life, He followed the will of the Father through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As it is written, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) No wonder His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane said, “…yet not My will, but Yours be done.”(Luke 22:42) Jesus said, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”(John 14:7) It says very clearly, “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.”(John 12:45) Because “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.”(John 6:36)

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”(John 7:38) This refers to being filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  He said very clearly, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”(John 6:39) Doesn’t the Bible make it very clear that He did this?  At the time of His arrest, “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) Indeed, He was the only one who was arrested at that time.  He knows very well, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”(John 6:37)

He knew precisely those who the Father had given to Him. For example, He knew in advance that Peter would deny the Lord three times. He also said in advance, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”(Luke 22:31-32) After Peter realized that he indeed denied the Lord three times, “…he went out and wept bitterly.”(Luke 22:62) When he repented, he knew this statement was true, “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). The experience of Judas Iscariot was totally different. “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”(Matthew 27:3-5) Although Judas repented, he hanged himself!  A true Christian would not do this.

It’s just that we are not so clear regarding those who the Father had given to us when we are on the road to sanctification. What is given to us is the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; …”(Matthew 28:19-20) This is the as the translation of the Union Version. Later we will see from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent. Then we’ll know exactly What the Bible does say!  The point we want to emphasize here is that although we are willing to perform this vocation, we do not have to force ourselves to preach when others are obviously unwilling. Think about how many miracles Jesus performed and preached when He became flesh. However, not so many people believed in Him. Has He ever forced people to believe in Him? No, of course.

On the contrary, after the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, “So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.”(John 6:15) Then Jesus taught some words about life “…in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.”(John 6:59) “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?””(John 6:60) “From that time on, many of his disciples turned away and no longer walked with him.  Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.””(John 6:66-69) We know that Peter did not answer this on behalf of everyone. For example, what he said did not reflect the situation of Judas Iscariot, “…because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.”(John 12:6)

You see, isn’t Jesus looking for people who are willing to obey Him?  Aren’t we meant to be conformed to the image of Jesus? “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29) Please note that the translation in Chinese Union Version uses the word imitation. Although imitation in Chinese includes the imitation from the inside, it can be only the imitation from the outside. And Christian wants to have the change of life from within, so it cannot be translated as imitation here. It can be misleading.

The Great Commission is not just about talking about it, it is also about living it yourself and setting an example.  According to what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, the Great Commission is for people to obey Jesus and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which is what Peter said, “…“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2:38) To the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (see the other translation in the Union Version notes on Matthew 28:19).  Some people think that this is not the main point, especially because it is inconsistent with what many churches teach. What is important is that someone can believe in the Lord in their heart rather than rituals.  The Bible clearly says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”(Romans 12:18) But it would be better if you could develop habits that are consistent with what the Bible says!​

We must know that God has absolute sovereignty. After we are baptized, we must obey the will of the Triune God. When we believe, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) Therefore, we must put the old self to death in Christ and not slip out of Christ because of sin.  Even so, we must know, “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) If you sin because of weakness, it is enough if you can repent at any time when you sin. Do not “turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”(Jude 1:4)

2. My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink

“Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.”(John 6:41-59)

​The beginning sentences are just another to say, “…A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”(Matthew 13:57) We have shared before that this is because the local people thought they knew Jesus very well.  And then He said here in another way, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, …”(John 6:37) Certainly, they were taught by Jesus one of the Triune God.

He said, “Not that anyone has seen the Father, …”(John 6:46) Except for Jesus before he became flesh.  In the Old Testament era, it is true that no one has seen the face of the Father, just as the Lord said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) There is something different in the New Testament, because “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) Therefore, “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.”(John 12:45)

We saw that manna gave the Israelites earthly life in the wilderness, but they did not realize at that time that this was the true bread (see John 6:32-33), which is what is said here, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.”(John 6:48-49) Indeed, everyone’s earthly life will end. When Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”(John 6:51) Those who can live forever obviously refer to spiritual life.

At the Last Supper, Jesus “…had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”(Luke 22:19-20) When He nailed to the cross to complete our salvation, His body was broken and His precious blood was shed, establishing a new covenant. Then Jesus said, “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.”(John 6:55-57) “My blood is true drink” refers to those who accept the new covenant, and those who will live are those who eat His flesh. What “My flesh is true food” means?

We know that Jesus “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) We also know that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”(John 1:1-2) The Gospel of John describes Jesus as the Word at the beginning, so these are the Word incarnate.  In the flesh, His body was broken for us, and what He left for us is His words describing His way. When we eat His flesh, don’t we just want to eat in His words?  And His words are only clearly written in the Bible. How can Christians not know the Bible as well as possible?  Therefore, you have to read the Bible many times. When reading the Bible once, you can only understand what you read correctly at that time. This indicates that you have to read the Bible multiple times. Because you will often read it wrong, and if you make mistakes, you will have to spend more time correcting them, so you would rather not understand a certain paragraph by skipping it at that time instead of forcefully interpret the Bible. The next time you read it or in the future, you may understand that paragraph under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We have said that the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life as Jesus said (see John 5:39-40), and life can only come from God (see 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Thus nowadays there is only the Holy Spirit in the Trinity Who can give us life. So how can we not read the Bible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit!

3. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 

​”Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”(John 6:60-66)

Jesus said something here, and made it clear that He was referring to spiritual life, because “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”(John 6:63) Many of His current disciples did not understand this, so “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”(John 6:66) If you only believe temporarily when you see miracles, and you stop believing if you don’t continue to see miracles. It was true in the past and it is the same today. You must truly believe and understand His way, which is what He has in the Bible. Therefore, when Christians can read, they must read the Bible and understand the words of the Bible as much as possible.

“So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.”(John 6:67-71)

When we look​ at the Last Supper, “… He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. …Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.””(John 13:21-27) He said it clearly, but “Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.”(John 13:28-29) So even though He spoke clearly, no one could understand what He was saying at that time!  Isn’t this similar to what He said about resurrection from the dead?  It was not until He truly rose from the dead that the disciples truly understood what He was talking about.

This passage also explains the reason why, “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles.”(Luke 6:12-13) This is because He knew at that time that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him, and He prayed all night long to make sure it was God’s will.  In order to obey God’s will, even though He sacrificed His physical life, He still chose at that time Judas as one of the twelve apostles!  We also see here that although Simon Peter’s answer was good, it did not represent everyone. Didn’t Jesus clearly say that this did not include Judas Iscariot?  The Lord Jesus knew that Judas was not a true believer, “…because he (Judas) was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.”(John 12:6) Jesus gave him plenty of opportunities, even washing his feet at the last supper (see John 13:3-17), but he still did not repent as seen in this verse, “So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”(John 13:30) We need true faith!  Isn’t that what Simon Peter answered? “…Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”(John 6:68) True faith is not easy to achieve.  On the road to sanctification, we will fall many times. After falling, we must get up and fight again. We must not think that we will lose every battle, but do the opposite. To emphasize, Christians must get up to fight every time even when they lose.

​(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.”)

    首先我们仔细的看了五饼二鱼的神迹，五饼二鱼的神迹显然是一个主要的神迹，在四本福音书都有，我们必须四本福音书一起看才可能还原当时的情景，也就是说我们必须选四本福音书所描述的联集，我们讨论其提到的事。第二，我们谈到了耶稣平静风和海的神迹，就是彼得在海上行走的事。除路加福音没有记载外，其他三本福音书都有，我们简短的谈到它们所记载的。看到了我们要定睛在主耶稣身上，治死老我，不看环境，不要做小信的人！最后我们看到的是要为那存到永生的灵粮而劳力，知道得生命的重要，所以对一个基督徒而言，得到生命实在是比看到神迹重要的多，不要本末倒置！

1. 五饼二鱼的神迹        

    『这事以后，耶稣渡过加利利海，就是提比哩亚海。有许多人因为看见他在病人身上所行的神迹，就跟随他。耶稣上了山，和门徒一同坐在那里。那时犹太人的逾越节近了。』(约翰福音 6:1-4) 从这里，我们约略知道五饼二鱼的神迹发生的地点和时间。顺便再提一次，神迹的原文和英文都是做记号(sign)的意思，和合本翻译为神迹。        

    五饼二鱼的神迹显然是一个主要的神迹，在四本福音书都有，我们必须四本福音书一起看才可能还原当时的情景，我们现在就以约翰福音为主而参考其他本的福音书，也就是要取四本福音书描述的联集。     

    首先我们来看门徒本来的意思，『天将晚的时候，门徒进前来说：「这是野地，时候已经过了，请叫众人散开，他们好往村子里去，自己买吃的。」』(马太福音 14:15) 而『耶稣说：「不用他们去，你们给他们吃吧！」』(马太福音 14:16) 耶稣一生都顺服神的带领，祂道成肉身时是完全的人，不能见神，『…因为人见我(耶和华)的面不能存活。』(出埃及记 33:20) 所以这带领是透过圣灵的，『神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 所以这带领是透过圣灵的，祂知道要行五饼二鱼的神迹。     

    于是发生了约翰福音 6:5-10 所述的事情，就是『耶稣举目看见许多人来，就对腓力说：「我们从哪里买饼叫这些人吃呢？」他说这话是要试验腓力，他自己原知道要怎样行。腓力回答说：「就是二十两银子的饼，叫他们各人吃一点，也是不够的。」有一个门徒，就是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈，对耶稣说：「在这里有一个孩童，带著五个大麦饼、两条鱼，只是分给这许多人，还算甚么呢？」耶稣说：「你们叫众人坐下。」原来那地方的草多，众人就坐下，数目约有五千。』(约翰福音 6:5-10)      

    我们看到如果要花钱去买食物大概至少要花二十两银子。我们也看到众人能够坐下是因为那里草多，马可福音更清楚的说，『耶稣吩咐他们(门徒)，叫众人一帮一帮地坐在青草地上。众人就一排一排地坐下，有一百一排的，有五十一排的。』(马可福音 6:39-40) 圣经没有明讲这么多人中是不是除孩子的五饼二鱼外，还有没有别人带食物，所以不必乱猜这点。至少那时门徒看到的只有孩子的五饼二鱼，这孩子也愿意奉献他所有，然后就发生了以下所述的事情，就是『耶稣说：「拿过来给我。」』(马太福音 14:18) 接著就是『耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，就分给那坐著的人，分鱼也是这样，都随著他们所要的。他们吃饱了，耶稣对门徒说：「把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得有糟蹋的。」他们便将那五个大麦饼的零碎，就是众人吃了剩下的，收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。』(约翰福音 6:11-13) 『吃的人，除了妇女孩子，约有五千。』(马太福音 14:21) 圣经没有明讲到底喂饱的是多少人，即然神借圣经没有使我们知道，尊重神，就不要乱猜了。也请注意，那十二个篮子中只有饼没有鱼，因为分饼是象征著祂的身体为我们擘开。        

    最后是，『众人看见耶稣所行的神迹，就说：「这真是那要到世间来的先知。」耶稣既知道众人要来强逼他作王，就独自又退到山上去了。』(约翰福音 6:14-15) 我们来看另两段经文就知道耶稣为什么会这样做，『当耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候，有许多人看见他所行的神迹，就信了他的名。耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:23-25) 当人只因看见神迹而暂时相信，没有神迹时就不会相信了，耶稣知道人心里所存的，怎会将自己交托他们呢！     

    在五饼二鱼的神迹后，『众人见耶稣和门徒都不在那里，就上了船，往迦百农去找耶稣。既在海那边找著了，就对他说：「拉比，是几时到这里来的？」耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们找我，并不是因见了神迹，乃是因吃饼得饱。不要为那必坏的食物劳力，要为那存到永生的食物劳力，就是人子要赐给你们的，因为人子是父神所印证的。」』(约翰福音 6:24-27)  而『我(耶稣)就是生命的粮。』(约翰福音 6:48) 所以我们要做1的是要得著耶稣，有祂的生命。     

    耶稣也知道行神迹奇事的重要，因『耶稣就对他(大臣)说：「若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。」』(约翰福音 4:48) 祂在道成肉身时行了多少神迹，大臣是『…他自己和全家就都信了。』(约翰福音 4:53) 但相信祂的人没有多少！所以看到神迹并不是代表得著生命，重要的是要信祂得生命，不要本末倒置。     

    在五饼二鱼的神迹中，『耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，就分给那坐著的人，分鱼也是这样，…』(约翰福音 6:11) 这不是为著祝谢饼和鱼，而是代表擘开自己的身体，供应他们灵粮，很显然他们并没有体会耶稣的心意！找祂只是吃饼得饱。其实这是和耶稣亲自设立的擘饼礼相同，在擘饼礼中，『耶稣接过杯来，祝谢了，说：「你们拿这个，大家分著喝。…又拿起饼来，祝谢了，就擘开，递给他们，说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的，你们也应当如此行，为的是记念我。」饭后也照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我血所立的新约，是为你们流出来的。」』(路加福音 22:17-20) 以前我们在『3104 谢饭的迷思 – 圣经没有说要谢饭』中详细的讨论这点，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。

    这不是无中生有的神迹，这只有在创造世界时发生过，因这还是要有五饼二鱼做开始，然而这么少的食物却喂饱了这么人，且『…都随著他们所要的。』(约翰福音 6:11) 当然这是神迹，神的供应从不会不够。就像当『基列寄居的提斯比人以利亚对亚哈说：「我指著所事奉永生耶和华以色列的神起誓，这几年我若不祷告，必不降露，不下雨。」』(列王纪上 17:1) 那时就有『耶和华的话临到他说：「你起身往西顿的撒勒法去，住在那里，我已吩咐那里的一个寡妇供养你。」』(列王纪上 17:8-9) 『以利亚对她说：「不要惧怕，可以照你所说的去做吧！只要先为我做一个小饼，拿来给我，然后为你和你的儿子做饼。因为耶和华以色列的神如此说：『坛内的面必不减少，瓶里的油必不缺短，直到耶和华使雨降在地上的日子。』」妇人就照以利亚的话去行。她和她家中的人并以利亚，吃了许多日子。坛内的面果不减少，瓶里的油也不缺短，正如耶和华借以利亚所说的话。』(列王纪上 17:13-16) 在旧约的这例子中说明了神的供给恰恰好。在新约这一个神迹中，甚至是还有余，『…就是众人吃了剩下的，收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。』(约翰福音 6:13)

2. 耶稣平静风和海的神迹       

    『到了晚上，他的门徒下海边去，上了船，要过海往迦百农去。天已经黑了，耶稣还没有来到他们那里。忽然狂风大作，海就翻腾起来。门徒摇橹约行了十里多路，看见耶稣在海面上走，渐渐近了船，他们就害怕。耶稣对他们说：「是我，不要怕！」门徒就喜欢接他上船，船立时到了他们所要去的地方。』(约翰福音 6:16-21)     

    我们看到原先应是足够风平浪静的，要不然门徒不会上船过海的，出乎他们的意料，天气是突然变得不好的。同样的事情也记载在马太福音 14:22-33 和马可福音 6:45-52，马太福音记载的更详细。行了五饼二鱼的神迹后，『耶稣随即催门徒上船，先渡到那边去，等他叫众人散开。散了众人以后，他就独自上山去祷告。到了晚上，只有他一人在那里。那时，船在海中，因风不顺，被浪摇撼。夜里四更天，耶稣在海面上走，往门徒那里去。门徒看见他在海面上走，就惊慌了，说：「是个鬼怪！」便害怕，喊叫起来。耶稣连忙对他们说：「你们放心，是我，不要怕！」彼得说：「主，如果是你，请叫我从水面上走到你那里去。」耶稣说：「你来吧！」 彼得就从船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶稣那里去；只因见风甚大，就害怕，将要沉下去，便喊著说：「主啊，救我！」耶稣赶紧伸手拉住他，说：「你这小信的人哪，为甚么疑惑呢？」他们上了船，风就住了。在船上的人都拜他，说：「你真是神的儿子了。」』(马太福音 14:21-33)        

    马可福音也说，『但门徒看见他在海面上走，以为是鬼怪，就喊叫起来。』(马可福音 6:49)  虽然门徒认识耶稣，但在这种天气的夜里四更天是看不清楚的，的确以为祂是鬼怪，所幸他们还能听得到耶稣的声音。马可福音且说，『这是因为他们不明白那分饼的事，心里还是愚顽。』(马可福音 6:52) 最终他们知道祂是神的儿子而拜祂，因风浪停止了。        

    如果彼得定睛在耶稣身上，一点问题都没有，可以在海面上行走。从人的角度看，彼得的信心是够大了，因这信心让他能在海面上行走，可是从耶稣(神)的角度看，他只是小信的人，这样的标准和人的标准是何等的不同啊！当他为环境所左右时，就站不住了，这也是我们常常要避免的光景，要定睛在主耶稣身上，治死老我，不看环境，不要做小信的人！

3. 要为那存到永生的食物劳力       

    『第二日，站在海那边的众人，知道那里没有别的船，只有一只小船；又知道耶稣没有同他的门徒上船，乃是门徒自己去的。然而，有几只小船从提比哩亚来，靠近主祝谢后分饼给人吃的地方。众人见耶稣和门徒都不在那里，就上了船，往迦百农去找耶稣。既在海那边找著了，就对他说：「拉比，是几时到这里来的？」耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们找我，并不是因见了神迹，乃是因吃饼得饱。不要为那必坏的食物劳力，要为那存到永生的食物劳力，就是人子要赐给你们的，因为人子是父神所印证的。」众人问他说：「我们当行甚么，才算做神的工呢？」耶稣回答说：「信神所差来的，这就是做神的工。」他们又说：「你行甚么神迹，叫我们看见就信你？你到底做甚么事呢？我们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，如经上写著说：『他从天上赐下粮来给他们吃。』」耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：那从天上来的粮，不是摩西赐给你们的，乃是我父将天上来的真粮赐给你们。因为神的粮，就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。」』(约翰福音 6:22-33)     

    这里记载的很清楚，从众人的角度看，他们没有办法想像耶稣在行五饼二鱼的神迹后，是如何能到那边的，但知道门徒在那边，因此众人去找祂和他们。我们已在前面分享过，众人只是为了世上的食物去找到祂，却不是为了可存到永远的灵粮而劳力！灵粮是指耶稣基督自己，因『耶稣说：「我就是生命的粮，到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。』(约翰福音 6:35)     

    我们看到耶稣受试探时，『那试探人(魔鬼)的进前来，对他说：「你若是神的儿子，可以吩咐这些石头变成食物。」』(马太福音 4:3) 祂的确是神的儿子，不需要证明什么给撒但看，祂很清楚的『…回答说：「经上记著说：『人活著，不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』」』(马太福音 4:4) 这是引用了申命记的话，『他(耶和华)苦炼你，任你饥饿，将你和你列祖所不认识的吗哪赐给你吃，使你知道人活著不是单靠食物，乃是靠耶和华口里所出的一切话。』(申命记 8:3) 从这经文，我们看到基督徒活在世上，是需要灵粮和世上的食物，缺一不可。       

    祂说到了自己是人子，『…因为他是人子，就赐给他行审判的权柄。』(约翰福音 5:27) 祂『…说：「信神所差来的，这就是做神的工。」』(约翰福音 6:29) 祂是的确在说祂自己，因经文很清楚的说到祂是被父神差遣来的。例如，『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 3:17) 和『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)     

    祂不是刚行过五饼二鱼的神迹吗？怎么他们又『…说：「你行甚么神迹，叫我们看见就信你？你到底做甚么事呢？』(约翰福音 6:30) 难怪保罗会说，『犹太人是要神迹，希腊人是求智慧。』(哥林多前书 1:22)

    在旷野中来自天上的吗哪，不是以色列人靠著维持肉体的生命吗？但他们没有注意到这也是灵粮。经文不是说得很清楚吗？『…那从天上来的粮，不是摩西赐给你们的，乃是我父将天上来的真粮赐给你们。因为神的粮，就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。』(约翰福音 6:32-33) 祂明说，『…我就是道路、真理、生命，若不借著我，没有人能到父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:6) 我们分享过，读经的目的是要得生命，就如耶稣自己说的，『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40)     

    生命只能从神来，保罗说得很清楚，『我栽种了，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) 我们知道，『他(神)愿意万人得救，明白真道。因为只有一位神，在神和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。』(提摩太前书 2:4-5)     

    我们再看看耶稣也是如此，我们知道老底嘉的教会把耶稣关在门外，祂仍然说，『看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。』(启示录 3:20) 祂是多么的希望众人能悔改啊！现在耶稣也是以圣灵的方式内住在信徒的心中，现在能做这生长之事的只有三位一体的神中的圣灵，所以读经一定要被圣灵带领得生命。

    专题查经一直在强调这一点，照以上引用的经文，知道这是圣经的应许，只要我们甘心情愿的相信，神的绝对主权，会使每一个人都可以这样做的。所以对一个基督徒而言，得到生命实在是比看到神迹重要的多，不要本末倒置！

(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』。)  

       首先我們仔細的看了五餅二魚的神蹟，五餅二魚的神蹟顯然是一個主要的神蹟，在四本福音書都有，我們必須四本福音書一起看才可能還原當時的情景，也就是說我們必須選四本福音書所描述的聯集，我們討論其提到的事。第二，我們談到了耶穌平靜風和海的神蹟，就是彼得在海上行走的事。除路加福音沒有記載外，其他三本福音書都有，我們簡短的談到它們所記載的。看到了我們要定睛在主耶穌身上，治死老我，不看環境，不要做小信的人！最後我們看到的是要為那存到永生的靈糧而勞力，知道得生命的重要，所以對一個基督徒而言，得到生命實在是比看到神蹟重要的多，不要本末倒置！

1. 五餅二魚的神蹟

        『這事以後，耶穌渡過加利利海，就是提比哩亞海。有許多人因為看見他在病人身上所行的神蹟，就跟隨他。耶穌上了山，和門徒一同坐在那裏。那時猶太人的逾越節近了。』(約翰福音 6:1-4) 從這裏，我們約略知道五餅二魚的神蹟發生的地點和時間。順便再提一次，神蹟的原文和英文都是做記號(sign)的意思，和合本翻譯為神蹟。

        五餅二魚的神蹟顯然是一個主要的神蹟，在四本福音書都有，我們必須四本福音書一起看才可能還原當時的情景，我們現在就以約翰福音為主而參考其他本的福音書，也就是要取四本福音書描述的聯集。

     首先我們來看門徒本來的意思，『天將晚的時候，門徒進前來說：「這是野地，時候已經過了，請叫眾人散開，他們好往村子裏去，自己買吃的。」』(馬太福音 14:15) 而『耶穌說：「不用他們去，你們給他們吃吧！」』(馬太福音 14:16) 耶穌一生都順服神的帶領，祂道成肉身時是完全的人，不能見神，『…因為人見我(耶和華)的面不能存活。』(出埃及記 33:20) 所以這帶領是透過聖靈的，『神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 所以這帶領是透過聖靈的，祂知道要行五餅二魚的神蹟。

     於是發生了約翰福音 6:5-10 所述的事情，就是『耶穌舉目看見許多人來，就對腓力說：「我們從哪裏買餅叫這些人吃呢？」他說這話是要試驗腓力，他自己原知道要怎樣行。腓力回答說：「就是二十兩銀子的餅，叫他們各人吃一點，也是不夠的。」有一個門徒，就是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈，對耶穌說：「在這裏有一個孩童，帶着五個大麥餅、兩條魚，只是分給這許多人，還算甚麼呢？」耶穌說：「你們叫眾人坐下。」原來那地方的草多，眾人就坐下，數目約有五千。』(約翰福音 6:5-10)

      我們看到如果要花錢去買食物大概至少要花二十兩銀子。我們也看到眾人能夠坐下是因為那裏草多，馬可福音更清楚的說，『耶穌吩咐他們(門徒)，叫眾人一幫一幫地坐在青草地上。眾人就一排一排地坐下，有一百一排的，有五十一排的。』(馬可福音 6:39-40) 聖經沒有明講這麼多人中是不是除孩子的五餅二魚外，還有沒有別人帶食物，所以不必亂猜這點。至少那時門徒看到的只有孩子的五餅二魚，這孩子也願意奉獻他所有，然後就發生了以下所述的事情，就是『耶穌說：「拿過來給我。」』(馬太福音 14:18) 接著就是『耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，就分給那坐着的人，分魚也是這樣，都隨着他們所要的。他們吃飽了，耶穌對門徒說：「把剩下的零碎收拾起來，免得有糟蹋的。」他們便將那五個大麥餅的零碎，就是眾人吃了剩下的，收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。』(約翰福音 6:11-13) 『吃的人，除了婦女孩子，約有五千。』(馬太福音 14:21) 聖經沒有明講到底餵飽的是多少人，即然神藉聖經沒有使我們知道，尊重神，就不要亂猜了。也請注意，那十二個籃子中只有餅沒有魚，因為分餅是象徵著祂的身體為我們擘開。

        最後是，『眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟，就說：「這真是那要到世間來的先知。」耶穌既知道眾人要來強逼他作王，就獨自又退到山上去了。』(約翰福音 6:14-15) 我們來看另兩段經文就知道耶穌為什麼會這樣做，『當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候，有許多人看見他所行的神蹟，就信了他的名。耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:23-25) 當人只因看見神蹟而暫時相信，沒有神蹟時就不會相信了，耶穌知道人心裏所存的，怎會將自己交託他們呢！

     在五餅二魚的神蹟後，『眾人見耶穌和門徒都不在那裏，就上了船，往迦百農去找耶穌。既在海那邊找着了，就對他說：「拉比，是幾時到這裏來的？」耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們找我，並不是因見了神蹟，乃是因吃餅得飽。不要為那必壞的食物勞力，要為那存到永生的食物勞力，就是人子要賜給你們的，因為人子是父神所印證的。」』(約翰福音 6:24-27)  而『我(耶穌)就是生命的糧。』(約翰福音 6:48) 所以我們要做1的是要得著耶穌，有祂的生命。

     耶穌也知道行神蹟奇事的重要，因『耶穌就對他(大臣)說：「若不看見神蹟奇事，你們總是不信。」』(約翰福音 4:48) 祂在道成肉身時行了多少神蹟，大臣是『…他自己和全家就都信了。』(約翰福音 4:53) 但相信祂的人沒有多少！所以看到神蹟並不是代表得著生命，重要的是要信祂得生命，不要本末倒置。

     在五餅二魚的神蹟中，『耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，就分給那坐着的人，分魚也是這樣，…』(約翰福音 6:11) 這不是為著祝謝餅和魚，而是代表擘開自己的身體，供應他們靈糧，很顯然他們並沒有體會耶穌的心意！找祂只是吃餅得飽。其實這是和耶穌親自設立的擘餅禮相同，在擘餅禮中，『耶穌接過杯來，祝謝了，說：「你們拿這個，大家分着喝。…又拿起餅來，祝謝了，就擘開，遞給他們，說：「這是我的身體，為你們捨的，你們也應當如此行，為的是記念我。」飯後也照樣拿起杯來，說：「這杯是用我血所立的新約，是為你們流出來的。」』(路加福音 22:17-20) 以前我們在『2104 謝飯的迷思 – 聖經沒有說要謝飯』中詳細的討論這點，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。

        這不是無中生有的神蹟，這只有在創造世界時發生過，因這還是要有五餅二魚做開始，然而這麼少的食物卻餵飽了這麼人，且『…都隨着他們所要的。』(約翰福音 6:11) 當然這是神蹟，神的供應從不會不夠。就像當『基列寄居的提斯比人以利亞對亞哈說：「我指着所事奉永生耶和華以色列的神起誓，這幾年我若不禱告，必不降露，不下雨。」』

(列王紀上 17:1) 那時就有『耶和華的話臨到他說：「你起身往西頓的撒勒法去，住在那裏，我已吩咐那裏的一個寡婦供養你。」』(列王紀上 17:8-9) 『以利亞對她說：「不要懼怕，可以照你所說的去做吧！只要先為我做一個小餅，拿來給我，然後為你和你的兒子做餅。因為耶和華以色列的神如此說：『罎內的麪必不減少，瓶裏的油必不缺短，直到耶和華使雨降在地上的日子。』」婦人就照以利亞的話去行。她和她家中的人並以利亞，吃了許多日子。罎內的麪果不減少，瓶裏的油也不缺短，正如耶和華藉以利亞所說的話。』(列王紀上 17:13-16) 在舊約的這例子中說明了神的供給恰恰好。在新約這一個神蹟中，甚至是還有餘，『…就是眾人吃了剩下的，收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。』(約翰福音 6:13)

2. 耶穌平靜風和海的神蹟

       『到了晚上，他的門徒下海邊去，上了船，要過海往迦百農去。天已經黑了，耶穌還沒有來到他們那裏。忽然狂風大作，海就翻騰起來。門徒搖櫓約行了十里多路，看見耶穌在海面上走，漸漸近了船，他們就害怕。耶穌對他們說：「是我，不要怕！」門徒就喜歡接他上船，船立時到了他們所要去的地方。』(約翰福音 6:16-21)

     我們看到原先應是足夠風平浪靜的，要不然門徒不會上船過海的，出乎他們的意料，天氣是突然變得不好的。同樣的事情也記載在馬太福音 14:22-33 和馬可福音 6:45-52，馬太福音記載的更詳細。行了五餅二魚的神蹟後，『耶穌隨即催門徒上船，先渡到那邊去，等他叫眾人散開。散了眾人以後，他就獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，只有他一人在那裏。那時，船在海中，因風不順，被浪搖撼。夜裏四更天，耶穌在海面上走，往門徒那裏去。門徒看見他在海面上走，就驚慌了，說：「是個鬼怪！」便害怕，喊叫起來。耶穌連忙對他們說：「你們放心，是我，不要怕！」彼得說：「主，如果是你，請叫我從水面上走到你那裏去。」耶穌說：「你來吧！」 彼得就從船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶穌那裏去；只因見風甚大，就害怕，將要沉下去，便喊着說：「主啊，救我！」耶穌趕緊伸手拉住他，說：「你這小信的人哪，為甚麼疑惑呢？」他們上了船，風就住了。在船上的人都拜他，說：「你真是神的兒子了。」』(馬太福音 14:21-33) 

        馬可福音也說，『但門徒看見他在海面上走，以為是鬼怪，就喊叫起來。』(馬可福音 6:49)  雖然門徒認識耶穌，但在這種天氣的夜裏四更天是看不清楚的，的確以為祂是鬼怪，所幸他們還能聽得到耶穌的聲音。馬可福音且說，『這是因為他們不明白那分餅的事，心裏還是愚頑。』(馬可福音 6:52) 最終他們知道祂是神的兒子而拜祂，因風浪停止了。

        如果彼得定睛在耶穌身上，一點問題都沒有，可以在海面上行走。從人的角度看，彼得的信心是夠大了，因這信心讓他能在海面上行走，可是從耶穌(神)的角度看，他只是小信的人，這樣的標準和人的標準是何等的不同啊！當他為環境所左右時，就站不住了，這也是我們常常要避免的光景，要定睛在主耶穌身上，治死老我，不看環境，不要做小信的人！

3. 要為那存到永生的食物勞力

       『第二日，站在海那邊的眾人，知道那裏沒有別的船，只有一隻小船；又知道耶穌沒有同他的門徒上船，乃是門徒自己去的。然而，有幾隻小船從提比哩亞來，靠近主祝謝後分餅給人吃的地方。眾人見耶穌和門徒都不在那裏，就上了船，往迦百農去找耶穌。既在海那邊找着了，就對他說：「拉比，是幾時到這裏來的？」耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們找我，並不是因見了神蹟，乃是因吃餅得飽。不要為那必壞的食物勞力，要為那存到永生的食物勞力，就是人子要賜給你們的，因為人子是父神所印證的。」眾人問他說：「我們當行甚麼，才算做神的工呢？」耶穌回答說：「信神所差來的，這就是做神的工。」他們又說：「你行甚麼神蹟，叫我們看見就信你？你到底做甚麼事呢？我們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，如經上寫着說：『他從天上賜下糧來給他們吃。』」耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：那從天上來的糧，不是摩西賜給你們的，乃是我父將天上來的真糧賜給你們。因為神的糧，就是那從天上降下來賜生命給世界的。」』(約翰福音 6:22-33)

     這裏記載的很清楚，從眾人的角度看，他們沒有辦法想像耶穌在行五餅二魚的神蹟後，是如何能到那邊的，但知道門徒在那邊，因此眾人去找祂和他們。我們已在前面分享過，眾人只是為了世上的食物去找到祂，卻不是為了可存到永遠的靈糧而勞力！靈糧是指耶穌基督自己，因『耶穌說：「我就是生命的糧，到我這裏來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴。』(約翰福音 6:35) 

     我們看到耶穌受試探時，『那試探人(魔鬼)的進前來，對他說：「你若是神的兒子，可以吩咐這些石頭變成食物。」』(馬太福音 4:3) 祂的確是神的兒子，不需要証明什麼給撒但看，祂很清楚的『…回答說：「經上記着說：『人活着，不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裏所出的一切話。』」』(馬太福音 4:4) 這是引用了申命記的話，『他(耶和華)苦煉你，任你飢餓，將你和你列祖所不認識的嗎哪賜給你吃，使你知道人活着不是單靠食物，乃是靠耶和華口裏所出的一切話。』(申命記 8:3) 從這經文，我們看到基督徒活在世上，是需要靈糧和世上的食物，缺一不可。

       祂說到了自己是人子，『…因為他是人子，就賜給他行審判的權柄。』(約翰福音 5:27) 祂『…說：「信神所差來的，這就是做神的工。」』(約翰福音 6:29) 祂是的確在說祂自己，因經文很清楚的說到祂是被父神差遣來的。例如，『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 3:17) 和『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)

     祂不是剛行過五餅二魚的神蹟嗎？怎麼他們又『…說：「你行甚麼神蹟，叫我們看見就信你？你到底做甚麼事呢？』(約翰福音 6:30) 難怪保羅會說，『猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧。』(哥林多前書 1:22)

        在曠野中來自天上的嗎哪，不是以色列人靠著維持肉體的生命嗎？但他們沒有注意到這也是靈糧。經文不是說得很清楚嗎？『…那從天上來的糧，不是摩西賜給你們的，乃是我父將天上來的真糧賜給你們。因為神的糧，就是那從天上降下來賜生命給世界的。』(約翰福音 6:32-33) 祂明說，『…我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:6) 我們分享過，讀經的目的是要得生命，就如耶穌自己說的，『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40) 

     生命只能從神來，保羅說得很清楚，『我栽種了，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) 我們知道，『他(神)願意萬人得救，明白真道。因為只有一位神，在神和人中間，只有一位中保，乃是降世為人的基督耶穌。』(提摩太前書 2:4-5)

     我們再看看耶穌也是如此，我們知道老底嘉的教會把耶穌關在門外，祂仍然說，『看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20) 祂是多麼的希望眾人能悔改啊！現在耶穌也是以聖靈的方式內住在信徒的心中，現在能做這生長之事的只有三位一體的神中的聖靈，所以讀經一定要被聖靈帶領得生命。

     專題查經一直在強調這一點，照以上引用的經文，知道這是聖經的應許，只要我們甘心情願的相信，神的絕對主權，會使每一個人都可以這樣做的。所以對一個基督徒而言，得到生命實在是比看到神蹟重要的多，不要本末倒置！

(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 looked carefully at the miracle of the five loaves and two fish. The miracle of the five loaves and two fish is obviously a major miracle. It is found in the four Gospels. We must read the four Gospels together to restore the scene at that time. That is to say, we must choose the union of what the four Gospels describe, and we discuss the things mentioned in them.  Second, we talked about Jesus’ miracle of calming the wind on the sea, which was regarding Peter walking on the sea.  Except for Gospel Luke, which does not record it, the other three Gospels have it, and we briefly touch upon what they record.  We also see that we must fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus, put our old self to death, ignore the environment, and don’t be a person of little faith!  In the end, what we see is that we must work hard for the spiritual food that lasts to eternal life, and know the importance of having life. Therefore, for a Christian, having life is really much more important than seeing miracles. Don’t put the cart before the horse!

 ​

1. The miracle of five loaves and two fish

​”After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.”(John 6:1-4)

From here, we roughly know the place and time when the miracle of the five loaves and two fish occurred.  By the way, I would like to mention again that the original text and English of miracle both mean to make a sign, and the Union Version translates it as a miracle.

The miracle of the five loaves and two fishes is obviously a major miracle. It is found in all four Gospels. We must read the four Gospels together to restore the scene at that time. Now we will focus on the Gospel of John and refer to the other Gospels when needed. In other words, we take a union of descriptions from the four Gospels.

First, let’s look at the original intensions of the disciples: “When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.””(Matthew 14:15) “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!””(Matthew 14:16) Jesus obeyed God’s leadership all His life, and He was a complete man when He became flesh. People cannot see God, “…for no man can see Me (Jehovah) and live!”(Exodus 33:20) So this leadership is through the Holy Spirit, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) So this guidance is through the Holy Spirit, and He knew that He had to perform the miracle of five loaves and two fish.

So what happened is described in John 6:5-10 as follows, “Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.(John 6:5-10)

We saw that if they had to spend money to buy food, it would cost at least two hundred denarii.  We also see that the people were able to sit down because there was a lot of grass there. Mark’s Gospel says more clearly, “And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.”(Mark 6:39-40) The Bible does not clearly say whether among so many people, apart from the five loaves and two fish from the child, there was anyone else who brought food, so there is no need to speculate on this point.  At least at that time, all the disciples saw were the child’s five loaves and two fish, and the child was willing to give all he had. Then the following thing happened, that is, “And He said, “Bring them here to Me.””(Matthew 14:18) Next, “Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”(John 6:11-13) “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.”(Matthew 14:21) The Bible does not clearly say how many people were fed. Since God has not let us know through the Bible, respect God, so we should not make random guesses.  Please also note that the twelve baskets contained only loaves and no fish, because the breaking of the loaves symbolizes the breaking of His body for us.

Finally, “Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.”(John 6:14-15) Let’s look at the other two passages and we will know why Jesus did this.

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:23-25) When people only believe temporarily because they see miracles, and they will not believe when there were without miracles. Jesus knows what is in people’s hearts, so how could he entrust Himself to them!

After the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, “So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.””(John 6:24-27) And “I (Jesus) am the bread of life.”(John 6:48) So what we have to do is to gain Jesus and have His life. ​

Jesus also knew the importance of performing signs and wonders, because “…Jesus said to him (the royal official), “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””(John 4:48) When He was incarnate, He performed many miracles. However, not too many people believed Him! Among the believers, the royal official is among them, since the Bible says, “…he himself believed and his whole household.”(John 4:53) So seeing a miracle does not mean you will have life. The important thing is to believe in Him and have life. Don’t put the cart before the horse.

In the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, “Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish …”(John 6:11) This is not for blessing the loaves and fish, but it was to represent breaking His body to provide them with spiritual food. Obviously they did not understand Jesus’ thoughts!  Finding Him is due to eating bread and being satisfied.  In fact, this event is the same as the breaking of bread ceremony instituted by Jesus Himself. During the breaking of bread ceremony, “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; …And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.””(Luke 22:17-20) Previously we were in “1104 The Myth of Giving Thanks for Food – The Bible Doesn’t Say So” discussed this point in detail. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

This is not a miracle out of nothing, which only happened when the world was created, because it still had to start with five loaves and two fish. However, such a small amount of food fed so many people, and “…as much as they wanted.”(John 6:11) This of course is a miracle, God’s provision is always enough. It is just like the case when “Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.””(1 Kings 17:1) “Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.””(1 Kings 17:8-9) “Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’” So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.”(1 Kings 17:13-16) This example in the Old Testament illustrates that God’s provision is just right.  In this miracle in the New Testament, there is even a surplus, “So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”(John 6:13)

2. Jesus’ miracle of calming the wind in sea

“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”(John 6:16-21)

We see that it should have been calm enough, otherwise the disciples would not have boarded the boat and crossed the sea. To their surprise, the weather suddenly turned bad.  The same thing is also recorded in Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52, but Matthew records it in more detail.  After performing the miracle of five loaves and two fish, “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!””(Matthew 14:21-33)

The Gospel of Mark also says, “But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out.”(Mark 6:49) Although the disciples knew Jesus, they couldn’t see clearly at night in such weather and thought He was a ghost. Fortunately, they could still hear Jesus’ voice.  Mark’s Gospel further says, “for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”(Mark 6:52) Finally they knew that He was the Son of God and worshiped Him, because the storm stopped after He boarded. ​

If Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, there would be no problem at all and he could walk on the sea.  From a human perspective, Peter’s faith was big enough, because this faith allowed him to walk on the sea. However, from the perspective of Jesus (God), he was just a person of little faith. Such standards and human standards are quite a difference!  When he is swayed by the environment, he cannot stand on the sea anymore. This is also a situation we often need to avoid. We must focus on the Lord Jesus, put our old self to death, ignore the environment, and do not be a person of little faith!

3. Work for food that lasts to eternal life

“The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.””(John 6:22-33)

The record here is very clear. From the perspective of the crowd, they could not imagine how Jesus could get there after performing the miracle of five loaves and two fish. However, they knew that the disciples were there, so everyone went to find Him and them.  We have shared before that people only work to find Him for earthly food, but not for spiritual food that can last forever!  Spiritual food refers to Jesus Christ Himself, because “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”(John 6:35)

We see that when Jesus was tempted, “And the tempter (devil) came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.””(Matthew 4:3) He is indeed the Son of God. He didn’t need to prove anything to Satan. He clearly answered, “…It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”(Matthew 4:4) This is a quote from Deuteronomy, “He (the Lord) humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”(Deuteronomy 8:3) From this scripture, we see that Christians need both spiritual food and worldly food when living in the world. None of them is dispensable.

He spoke of Himself as the Son of Man, “and He (God) gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”(John 5:27) Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”(John 6:29) He was indeed speaking of Himself, because the scripture is clearly stated that He was sent by God the Father.  For example, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:17) and “But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””(Matthew 15:24)

Didn’t He just perform the miracle of five loaves and two fish?  Why did they say to Him, “…What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?”(John 6:30) No wonder Paul said, “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom.”(1 Corinthians 1:22)

In the wilderness, wasn’t the manna from heaven that the Israelites relied on to maintain their physical life?  But they fail to notice that this is also spiritual food.  Doesn’t the scripture make it very clear? “…it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.””(John 6:32-33) He clearly said, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) We have shared that the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life, just as Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40)

Life can only come from God, Paul said very clearly, “I 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) We know, “who (God) desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”(1 Timothy 2:4-5)

Let’s look at that it’s the same with Jesus. Why? We know that the church in Laodicea shut Jesus out, but He still said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) How He hopes that everyone will repent!  Now Jesus also lives in the hearts of believers in the form of the Holy Spirit. Now the only one can do this growth thing is the Holy Spirit, Who is one of the Trinity. Therefore, when reading the Bible, you must be led by the Holy Spirit to gain life.

Topicwise Bible studies have always emphasized this point. According to the scriptures quoted above, we know that this is the promise by the Bible. As long as we are willing to believe, God’s absolute sovereignty will enable everyone to do this.  Therefore, for a Christian, having life is really much more important than seeing miracles. Don’t put the cart before the horse!

​(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.”)

    我们首先来看耶稣实实在在地告诉我们什么重要的事情，我们讨论了这些事情，因其重要性，就请你们自己看看这段的细节，不在这里叙述大纲了。第二，我们详细的讨论了读经和逻辑的关系。我们看到基督徒必须活在信心中，相信新约和旧约两者都是神所默示的。因为圣经是神所默示的，我们相信，(1) 神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，和  (2) 不把圣经的话打折扣。而基督徒一定要在 (1) 和 (2) 的前提下，使用 (3) 逻辑。第三，我们看到耶稣提到真理的见证是从天而来。在其中我们首先指出，那里可以找得到以前讨论过的、许多华人教会都没注意到的一个原文字 G2919 (审判, judge)，接著我们看到在旧约的确是要至少两个人作见证的，我们看到和耶稣同作见证的是父，我们也看到新约和旧约有一项不同，虽然在两者中，我们都不能看见父，但在新约中，人看见了耶稣，就是看见了父。最后我们来看人的心是何等的刚硬啊！在其中，我们从汇编的原文中详细的讨论了一个会引人错误的和合本的翻译，我们也详细的讨论了这字心窍的意义，而现在只有圣灵能开我们的心窍，实在是不要消灭圣灵的感动。

1. 耶稣实实在在地告诉我们什么？        

    『耶稣对他们(犹太人)说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：子，凭著自己不能做甚么，惟有看见父所做的，子才能做；父所做的事，子也照样做。父爱子，将自己所做的一切事指给他看，还要将比这更大的事指给他看，叫你们希奇。父怎样叫死人起来，使他们活著，子也照样随自己的意思使人活著。父不审判甚么人，乃将审判的事全交与子，叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。「我实实在在地告诉你们：那听我话、又信差我来者的，就有永生，不至于定罪，是已经出死入生了。我实实在在地告诉你们：时候将到，现在就是了，死人要听见神儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了。因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命，并且因为他是人子，就赐给他行审判的权柄。「你们不要把这事看作希奇。时候要到，凡在坟墓里的，都要听见他的声音，就出来。行善的，复活得生；作恶的，复活定罪。」』(约翰福音 5:19-29)        

    我们以前谈过，在这里我们要再次强调，这字眼「实实在在地」出现的时候，我们要特别的注意所说的话。我们首先看到耶稣能做的事是什么，就是父所做的。我们看到了父是怎样的爱子，那这更大的事是指什么呢？根据神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，我现在并不能十分确定是指什么，就以后再说吧！        

    再下面一段我们看到三位一体的神的一位、耶稣有绝对的主权，因这里是说「随自己的意思」，『并且因为他是人子，就赐给他行审判的权柄。』(约翰福音 5:27) 所以照神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，「…白色的大宝座与坐在上面的…」(参启示录 20:11)，那坐在上面的是主耶稣 ，因那坐在上面的是行审判的。目的很单纯，『叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。…』(约翰福音 5:23)     

    在这里我们要再强调一次，基督徒必须活在信心中，相信新约和旧约两者都是神所默示的。因为圣经是神所默示，我们相信，(1) 神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。所以圣经的无误不是指字句上，如果是字句上的，就会有明显的矛盾，我们以前在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』中详细的讨论过这问题，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』。也因为圣经是神所默示的，我们就要行出，(2) 不把圣经的话打折扣。        

    又是说「实实在在地」，『…信差我来者的，就有永生，…』(约翰福音 5:24) 这段不就是在说，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 又再一次看到「实实在在地」，『…时候将到，现在就是了，…』(约翰福音 5:25) 这不指新约的时代即将在耶稣死而复活后降临吗？我们不都是出生时就是不信的死人吗？因为我们是亚当的后裔，出生时就被罪玷污的。神是一直都在寻找人，给人机会，但人可以不要，直到我们能有一个能听的耳，在一般的情况下信而受浸得救，就像经文所说，『你若口里认耶稣为主，心里信神叫他从死里复活，就必得救。因为人心里相信，就可以称义；口里承认，就可以得救。』(罗马书 10:9-10)  这是得救的意思，你可以看看汇编中所有得救在新约中这字的经文，就可明了这字的意思，不要过度的解读！

    特例是指一位和耶稣同钉十字架的强盗，『耶稣对他说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。」』(路加福音 23:43) 他跟本都没机会受水洗，不是每一个基督徒都是和他一样的，圣经没有明说每一个基督徒都会去乐园等待，这只有神知道，我们能确定的是，『我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。…』(启示录 20:12) 这死了的人里面一定包括了一些基督徒。如果每一个基督徒都已知在乐园等，只要看乐园中有那些人就可以，不再需要生命册，而圣经是明说，『…案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。…』(启示录 20:12) 而神不是做虚工的神，如『雨雪从天而降，并不返回，却滋润地土，使地上发芽结实，使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。我口所出的话也必如此，决不徒然返回，却要成就我所喜悦的，在我发它去成就的事上必然亨通。』(以赛亚书 55:10-11)        

    读经的目的是要得生命，就像耶稣自己说的，『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40) 所以不是要追求神迹，而是信主得到生命的改变，模成耶稣的形像，就像经文所说，『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样(形像, image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 所以基督徒是以信开始，要走上成圣之路，一般成圣之路要走一生之久。其实这也有例外的，如果参照使徒行传 7:54-60，就知道司提反在被石头打死前说的话和耶稣在十字架上的一句话相似，而耶稣也站著迎接他，所以他在那时以前已经被模成了耶稣的形像。所以有些圣经隐藏的意思是可用逻辑推导出来的，就像圣经没有用三位一体的神这个辞，但绝对能从逻辑中看到这概念。这里也说明了为什么赐给耶稣行审判的权柄，因为他是人子。

    最后一段有关于，『行善的，复活得生；作恶的，复活定罪。』(约翰福音 5:29) 这不就是启示录所说的，『我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。于是海交出其中的死人，死亡和阴间也交出其中的死人。他们都照各人所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:12-13) 『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15) 在生命册上的基督徒也是要因信心的行为受审判，这信心的行为就是雅各书所说的，『身体没有灵(G4151)(魂)是死的，信心没有行为也是死的。』(雅各书 2:26) 我 们又看到，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。

2. 读经与逻辑的关系     

    我们看一下逻辑，逻辑是由公理和逻辑机理两部份所构成的，所以不同的领域会从不同的公理开始，但逻辑机理是相同的，否则做研究的人就不可能发表论文，所以这里的公理是在讲数学或科学上许多人看到的一般原则。其实在生活上也类似，譬如说，对一个正常的人来说，杀人是不好的，对是否要杀人的选择来说，他的逻辑机理会告诉他选择善的一面，不杀人。但对食人族来说，公理是、杀其他族的人是善的，他的逻辑机理和正常人相同，要选择善的一面，于是去杀别族的人。从这个简单的例子，我们也可以看到逻辑机理是相同的，但每个人对一件事的个人公理是不同的。     

    当圣灵直接启示我们、或借著别人启示我们时，我们的个人公理就会因之而改变。例如，以利沙的仆人原先看不到火车火马，这是他原先的个人公理，他现在的个人公理是、原先他的个人公理加上满山有火车火马。           

    这例子在列王纪下 6:8-17，其中说到亚兰王与以色列人争战，派车马军兵围困了以利沙所在的城，仆人看不到火车火马，但『以利沙祷告说：「耶和华啊，求你开这少年人(仆人)的眼目，使他能看见。」耶和华开他的眼目，他就看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。』(列王纪下 6:17) 耶和华使仆人能看见火车火马，所以在这件事上，仆人的逻辑机理没有改变，但他的个人公理加上，从「看不见」改变成「看见」了，知道满山有火车火马。简言之，主耶和华就是如这件事情所发生的类似，用改变我们的个人公理方式来引导我们。圣经不是说，『你的言语一解开，就发出亮光，使愚人通达。』(诗篇 119:130) 当看见亮光后，我们对这件事的个人公理基本上就会改变了。    

    所以为避免误会， 我应该说，一个人的决定是基于「他的个人公理」加上「大家都相同的逻辑机理」，而后者是由神来，和神相同，但神的公理和我们大不相同。譬如衪的公理是有绝对的主权，随时可行神迹，而人的个人公理，最多祇是在神允许下、能够成为行神迹的管道而已。     

    在这里我们要再强调一次，基督徒必须活在信心中，相信新旧约两者都是神所默示的。因为圣经是神所默示，所以我们相信 (1) 神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，和行出来 (2) 不把圣经的话打折扣。对一个基督徒而言，我们在信心中有了 (1) 和 (2)，而当有了 (1) 和 (2) 作为我们的个人公理，我们才可以在某一件事上、使用逻辑机理而能达到正确的结论。对一个不信主的非基督徒而言，没有 (1) 和 (2)，只用逻辑机理就会得到不可知论的结论，认为神是否存在是不可知的。所以基督徒一定要在 (1) 和 (2) 的前提下，使用 (3) 逻辑。

3. 耶稣提到真理的见证是从天而来       

    『「我凭著自己不能做甚么，我怎么听见，就怎么审判(G2919, judge)。我的审判也是公平的，因为我不求自己的意思，只求那差我来者的意思。我若为自己作见证，我的见证就不真；另有一位给我作见证，我也知道他给我作的见证是真的。「你们曾差人到约翰那里，他为真理作过见证。其实我所受的见证不是从人来的，然而我说这些话，为要叫你们得救。约翰是点著的明灯，你们情愿暂时喜欢他的光。「但我有比约翰更大的见证，因为父交给我要我成就的事，就是我所做的事，这便见证我是父所差来的。差我来的父也为我作过见证。你们从来没有听见他的声音，也没有看见他的形像。你们并没有他的道存在心里，因为他所差来的，你们不信。你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。」』(约翰福音 5:30-40)        

    我们以前特别的讨论过 G2919 (判断, judge)这个字，因这是许多华人教会没注意到的，这是在『2114 两次洁净圣殿、重生、和神爱世人 – 约翰福音 (3)』中的『3. 神爱世人、得救和定罪、及光』讨论的，对这篇文章有兴趣的人，可到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』。        

    在旧约的确是要至少两个人作见证的，就像经文所述，『人无论犯甚么罪，作甚么恶，不可凭一个人的口作见证，总要凭两三个人的口作见证才可定案。』(申命记 19:15) 所以经文明讲，耶稣那时候为什么不是独自作见证的，因为父和祂是两个，新旧约都是一位神，作事的原则是完全相同的。在旧约时，『他使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。』(诗篇 103:7) 所以在新约读经时，要尽可能的读出祂的法则。新约中也说，『你们是以外貌判断人，我却不判断人。就是判断人，我的判断也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。你们的律法上也记著说：『两个人的见证是真的。』我是为自己作见证，还有差我来的父也是为我作见证。』(约翰福音 8:15-18)        

    在新约时代，保罗也和旧约一样的这么说，『这是我第三次要到你们那里去。凭两三个人的口作见证，句句都要定准。』(哥林多后书 13:1) 且说，『控告长老的呈子，非有两三个见证就不要收。』(提摩太前书 5:19) 希伯来书不是讲得很清楚吗？『人干犯摩西的律法，凭两三个见证人尚且不得怜恤而死。』(希伯来书 10:28)        

    这里说到人会喜欢施洗约翰的原因，他只是耶稣的先锋，他只是施悔改的洗礼(参马可福音 1:2-4, 使徒行传 13:2; 19:4) 耶稣明说祂的真理见证从那里来，而祂要做的事是很多，我们可从这经文略窥一二，『这人(尼哥低母)夜里来见耶稣，说：「拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。」』((约翰福音 3:2) 但对我们最重要的是这一件事，就是死而复活，完成了救恩的计划，使我们得救。『耶稣被交给人，是为我们的过犯；复活，是为叫我们称义。』(罗马书 4:25) 所以耶稣不只是为我们钉上十字架受死，更是要复活使我们得生。        

    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) 在旧约时他们是不可能听见祂的声音，看见祂的形像的，即使在新约时也是如此。新约的不同点是在当『腓力对他说：「求主将父显给我们看，我们就知足了。」耶稣对他说：「腓力，我与你们同在这样长久，你还不认识我吗？人看见了我，就是看见了父，你怎么说『将父显给我们看』呢？』(约翰福音 14:8-9) 因为『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 耶稣现在是以圣灵的方式，内住在我们心里，所以祂在大使中说的，『…我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。』(马太福音 28:20) 在今生就这样成就了。在永生更是，『我未见(新耶路撒冷)城内有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊为城的殿。』(启示录 21:22)        

    这里也很清楚的说明，道不在他们(犹太人)心中的原因，是因为『…你们心里没有神的爱。』(约翰福音 5:42)   关于最后得生命的那一段，我们已在前面已分享过，就不多说了。

4. 人的心是何等的刚硬啊！       

    『「我不受从人来的荣耀，但我知道，你们心里没有神的爱。我奉我父的名来，你们并不接待我；若有别人奉自己的名来，你们倒要接待他。你们互相受荣耀，却不求从独一之神来的荣耀，怎能信我呢？「不要想我在父面前要告你们，有一位告你们的，就是你们所仰赖的摩西。你们如果信摩西，也必信我，因为他书上有指著我写的话。你们若不信他的书，怎能信我的话呢？」』(约翰福音 5:41-47)           

    人基本上是『…互相受荣耀，却不求从独一之神来的荣耀，…』(约翰福音 5:44) 『人凭著自己说，是求自己的荣耀；惟有求那差他来者(神)的荣耀，这人是真的，在他(耶稣)心里没有不义。』(约翰福音 7:18) 我们看到人的的刚硬是因为心里没有神的爱，难怪耶和华在旧约时『说：「你去告诉这百姓说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。』要使这百姓心(H3820)蒙脂油，耳朵发沉，眼睛昏迷；恐怕(lest, G3379)眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，便得医治。」』(以赛亚书 6:9-10) 和合本的翻译又是说要使，又是说恐怕，好像神是故意如此！如果我们看原文，就知道不是说恐怕，新约更很清楚的指出，不是神故意使这百姓心蒙脂油等等，他们的心本就是刚硬的。        

    我们来看这原文字 H3820 出现了593次，在以赛亚书出现了30次，我们就只看这30次，看到以下的两节经文就是它在以赛亚书中典型的用法。『「耶和华啊，求你记念我在你面前怎样存完全的心(H3820)，按诚实行事，又做你眼中所看为善的。」希西家就痛哭了。』(以赛亚书 38:3) 和『你素来倚仗自己的恶行说：『无人看见我。』你的智慧聪明使你偏邪，并且你心(H4820)里说：『惟有我，除我以外再没有别的。』』(以赛亚书 47:10) 这原文字 H4820 完全没有要使的意义，不知和合本为什么这样翻译？这样的翻译会造成误会。看诗篇就说得很清楚，『无奈我的民不听我的声音，以色列全不理我。我便任凭他们心里刚硬，随自己的计谋而行。』(诗篇 81:11-12)        

    在新约更很清楚的指出，不是神故意使这百姓心蒙脂油等等，他们的心本就是刚硬。『所以我(耶稣)用比喻对他们讲，是因他们看也看不见，听也听不见，也不明白。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(lest, G3379)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 13:13-15)        

    最后说到要告他们的是摩西，因为他们因不相信而没有读懂他书上指著耶稣所说的话。在耶稣从死里复活后，『耶稣对他们(以马忤斯的两门徒)说：「无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害，又进入他的荣耀，岂不是应当的吗？」于是从摩西和众先知起，凡经上所指著自己的话都给他们讲解明白了。』(路加福音 24:25-27) 最后是『他们就立时起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇见十一个使徒和他们的同人聚集在一处。』(路加福音 24:33) 我们看到正这个字在原文没有，虽然原文没有，但的确是正好。

    『于是耶稣开他们(所有在场的人)的心窍(G3563, 希腊文 nous)，使他们能明白圣经。』(路加福音 24:45) 在我们刚才引用的路加福音 24:25-27，是明说是耶稣讲解明白了，并没有说他们了解了，但现在他们绝对了解，因为他们在被开心窍的人当中。这原文字 G3563 出现了 24 次，因在路加福音只出现这么一次，我们必须看其他的 23 次，来看它的意义， 从下面三节典型的经文中我们就可以看见。『不要效法这个世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:2) 和『这却怎么样呢？我要用灵祷告，也要用悟性(G3563)祷告；我要用灵歌唱，也要用悟性(G3563)歌唱。』(哥林多前书 14:15) 所以保罗会说，『 所以那说方言的，就当求著能翻出来。我若用方言祷告，是我的灵祷告，但我的悟性(G3563)没有果效。』(哥林多前书 14:13-14) 第三节经文是，『智慧的心(G3563)在此可以思想。那七头就是女人所坐的七座山。』(启示录 17:9) 现在只有圣灵能开我们的心窍，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19)

(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』。)