就像以前每一次一樣，這篇文章是基於在油管(YouTube)上分享的專題查經，所以我們在開始時有簡短的詩歌敬拜，這次我們是唱了愛的真諦這一首詩 (參哥林多前書 13:4-8)，我們特別要提到，『…又有恩慈；…』(哥林多前書 13:4) 原文是說愛是恩慈，而『愛是永不止息。…』(哥林多前書 13:8) 中文的翻譯比英文的翻譯更易使中國人瞭解。

     我們首先來看「彼此相愛」的新命令，解釋說這為什麼是新命令。第二，耶穌預言了彼得三次不認主，因其之成就而看到彼得是真後悔了，回頭以後就堅固弟兄，帶領他們往前，三位一體的神也用神蹟堅定了他的地位。第三，主真是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着主沒有人能到父那裏去。第四，經文告訴我們，見到主耶穌就是見到了父神，那時是他們可以直接看見耶穌，但現今是我們雖然沒有見過祂，卻是愛祂，也討論了我們能做更大的事是指什麼。最後，我們討論了耶穌應許保惠師、就是真理的聖靈的降臨，這應許在耶穌死而復活後的第一個五旬節成就了，祂來了要引導我們進入一切的真理。

1. 彼此相愛的新命令

        『他(賣主的猶大)1既出去，耶穌就說：「如今人子得了榮耀，神在人子身上也得了榮耀。神要因自己榮耀人子，並且要快快地榮耀他。「小子們，我還有不多的時候與你們同在，後來你們要找我，但我所去的地方你們不能到。這話我曾對猶太人說過，如今也照樣對你們說。「我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛(G25, Agapao love, 動詞)；我怎樣愛(G25)你們，你們也要怎樣相愛(G25)。你們若有彼此相愛的心(G26, Agape love, 名詞)，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」』(約翰福音 13:31-35)

        一開始就說到耶穌釘十字架的榮耀，對於這點，耶穌復活後說得很清楚，『耶穌對他們(離開耶路撒冷去以馬忤斯的兩門徒)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 (釘上十字架而死)，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」』(路加福音 24:25-26) 祂也因此榮耀了父神的名，因『…我(耶穌)原是為這(釘十字架)時候來的。』(約翰福音 12:27) 父神自己說耶穌也因此榮耀了父神的名，你看，當耶穌說，『父啊，願你榮耀你的名。」 當時就有聲音從天上來說：「我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。」』(約翰福音 12:28)

        耶穌的確對猶太人像在約翰福音 13:33 所說的，『…我所去的地方你們不能到。…』祂是在約翰福音 7:33-34 說的，『…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。」』(約翰福音 7:33-34)  當然他們不能到，耶穌是要釘十字架而死，『…而且從死裏復活，現今在神的右邊，…』 (羅馬書 8:34)  是的，『耶穌知道父已將萬有交在他手裏，且知道自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裏去。』(約翰福音 13:3) 人怎麼可能沒有死就回到天上？耶穌是完全的人，祂被釘十字架後而死後，才能回到天上，所以那時會和現在一樣的說，『小子們，我還有不多的時候與你們同在，後來你們要找我，但我所去的地方你們不能到。…』(約翰福音 13:33)

        基督徒都有內住的聖靈，『豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裏頭的；…』(哥林多前書 6:19) 而這『聖靈就是神藉着耶穌基督我們救主厚厚澆灌在我們身上的。』(提多書 3:6) 三位一體的『…神就是愛(Agape love, G26, 名詞)。』(約翰一書 4:8) 而聖靈是三位一體的神中的一位，因此基督徒都已經在裏面有了神的愛，必須治死老我，這愛才能彰顯出來，就如聖經所說，『你們若順從肉體活着，必要死；若靠着聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活着。』(羅馬書 8:13)  所以這經文是要我們顧惜屬靈的生命，至於我們不知何時會死的肉體生命，我們不必憂慮，因為神會做最好的安排。這並不是說我們完全不要照顧我們肉體的生命，譬如，在我們肉體的生命中不要『…隨從外邦人的心意行邪淫、惡慾、醉酒、荒宴、羣飲，…』(彼得前書 4:3) 我們也要抽出時間有合宜的運動，而不是一昧的說，反正神會作工，每一件事情上都要和神同工。

     所以是『我賜給你們一條新命令，…』(約翰福音 13:34) 因神的愛已在我們心裏，才有可能完成這新命令。在舊約中的舊命令是，『…卻要愛人如己。…』(利未記 19:18) 這導致的結果當然會是彼此相愛。但舊約時沒有內住的聖靈，人只能用人的愛彼此相愛。在新約時候不同了，神的愛已在基督徒裏面，難怪耶穌賜給了我們「彼此相愛」的新命令！

2. 耶穌預言彼得三次不認主

       『西門彼得問耶穌說：「主往哪裏去？」 耶穌回答說：「我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。」彼得說：「主啊，我為甚麼現在不能跟你去？我願意為你捨命。」耶穌說：「你願意為我捨命嗎？我實實在在地告訴你：雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」』(約翰福音 13:36-38)

       彼得是要留在地上完成他的使命的，所以耶穌會在分離的禱告中這樣祈求，『我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。』(約翰福音 17:15) 是的，彼得在血氣裏，就是他從老我的角度看，也就是所謂的從人的角度看，真是願意為耶穌捨命。但在老我裏面是完全沒有選擇，就像保羅說的，『我也知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。故此，我所願意的善，我反不做；我所不願意的惡，我倒去做。』(羅馬書 7:18-19)

     因信心可以自由選擇而相信聖經是神所默示的，而老我沒有選擇，  因此信心不在老我裏面。當我們在信心裏面相信聖經是神所默示時，就會在邏輯中看到，從聖經的角度看就是從神的角度看。反之不然，從神的角度看是大於從聖經的角度看，因神是無限，而聖經是由有限的字句組成，無限絕對是大於有限，絕對不可能畫等號的。回到彼得身上，我們看見他靠人的力量是不行的，當他真正面臨生死的關頭時就退縮了(參路加福音 22:54-60) 最後是『主轉過身來看彼得，彼得便想起主對他所說的話：「今日雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」他就出去痛哭。』(路加福音 22:61-62)

        我們看到彼得是真後悔了，他雖然知道這預言，耶穌告訴他說，『我實實在在地告訴你：你年少的時候，自己束上帶子，隨意往來；但年老的時候，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你到不願意去的地方。』(約翰福音 21:18) 『耶穌說這話，是指着彼得要怎樣死，榮耀神。…』(約翰福音 21:19) 他最終仍然為主而亡。

     聖經說，『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) 所以他最後還是帶領了門徒往前，三位一體的神也用神蹟堅定了他的地位。他第一次的個人宣道，就有『…領受他話的人就受了洗。那一天，門徒約添了三千人。』(使徒行傳 2:41) 這沒有加上婦女和小孩的人數，因那時的傳統只算男人的。我特別的要強調這是他的第一次個人的的宣道，因為在這之前他是和別人一起宣道的。

     再看他第二次的個人宣道，『…聽道之人有許多信的，男丁數目約到五千。』(使徒行傳 4:4) 很清楚，這也應驗了耶穌在最後的晚餐中的一個預言，『主又說：「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) 他的確也這樣做了。

3. 主耶穌是道路、真理、生命

       『「你們心裏不要憂愁，你們信神，也當信我。在我父的家裏有許多住處，若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了。我去原是為你們預備地方去。我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裏去；我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。我往哪裏去，你們知道；那條路，你們也知道。」多馬對他說：「主啊，我們不知道你往哪裏去，怎麼知道那條路呢？」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。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 14:1-7)

        一開始耶穌就隱藏的說，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 因信祂就是信神。而且祂應許了有第二次的再來，那時會接我們到天上，聖經明說了，『…我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。』(約翰福音 14:3) 主也明說了，『…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) 『…不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 怎麼能夠不信主呢？

4. 見到主耶穌就是見到了父神

       『腓力對他說：「求主將父顯給我們看，我們就知足了。」耶穌對他說：「腓力，我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我嗎？人看見了我，就是看見了父，你怎麼說『將父顯給我們看』呢？我在父裏面，父在我裏面，你不信嗎？我對你們所說的話，不是憑着自己說的，乃是住在我裏面的父做他自己的事。你們當信我，我在父裏面，父在我裏面；即或不信，也當因我所做的事信我。我實實在在地告訴你們：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事，因為我往父那裏去。你們奉我的名無論求甚麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。」』(約翰福音 14:8-14)

     我們看到腓力是真不懂，所以他問了人會覺得該問的問題，這一段就明說了看見主耶穌就是見到了父神。在新約時如同在舊約時一樣，我們不能直接看到父神，這就像耶和華對摩西說，『…你不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。』(出埃及記 33:20 但新約時代的確是有所不同，那時是他們可以直接看見耶穌，但現今是，『你們雖然沒有見過他，卻是愛他；如今雖不得看見，卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂，並且得着你們信心的果效，就是(靈)魂的救恩。』(彼得前書 1:8-9) 這裏說的大喜樂是可以經歷的。因中國人通常都是靈魂一起說，所以和合本的翻譯也會通常如此，在這裏原文只有魂字。彼得前書在原文中都是在說魂，而不是如和合本的翻譯用靈魂兩字在一起。

     當耶穌說，『…即或不信，也當因我所做的事信我。』(約翰福音 14:11) 我們看到基督徒是要有信心的行為的，就像經文所說，『…信心若沒有行為就是死的。』(雅各書 2:17) 耶穌說，『我實實在在地告訴你們：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事，因為我往父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:12) 我以前是想我們怎麼可能比耶穌做更大的事，現在瞭解了，這話是在祂道成肉身時說的，信祂的人是在和祂道成肉身的時候比較。

    當祂道成肉身時受到肉身的限制，祂奉遣活動的範圍是在加利利海到死海的附近，而這裏是說因祂往父那裏去，現在沒有了肉身的限制，可在任何地方和任何時間，藉著主觀的証據和客觀的事實彰顯祂的存在。我的見証除了一件是客觀的事實外，都是主觀的証據，關於這客觀的事實，我們以前在『2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』分享過，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。

     因為至少我們不會侷限於耶穌到過的地方，所以聖經會說，『但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。』(使徒行傳 1:8) 而信祂的人如果在不顧自己的生命下，現在是加起來基本是可以在任何時間裏到任何地方，也就是直到地極，這也就是比祂道成肉身時能做更大的事。

       雖然重複了兩次，『你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。』(約翰福音 14:14) 重點是『…叫父因兒子得榮耀。』(約翰福音 14:13) 所以這不是張空白支票，看前後文就知道要合一在先。譬如這經文說，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。』(約翰福音 17:20-22)

5. 應許保惠師、就是真理的聖靈的降臨

       『你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。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。我不撇下你們為孤兒，我必到你們這裏來。還有不多的時候，世人不再看見我，你們卻看見我，因為我活着，你們也要活着。到那日你們就知道我在父裏面，你們在我裏面，我也在你們裏面。』(約翰福音 14:15-20)

     我們在第一句就看到，有愛是會行出來的。保惠師就是真理的聖靈，『只等真理的聖靈來了，他要引導你們明白(原文: 進入)一切的真理，他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。』(約翰福音 16:13) 聖靈在耶穌死而復活後的第一個五旬節降臨了 (參使徒行傳 2:1-13) 。我們也看到了『…他(聖靈)來了，就要為我(耶穌)，作見證。』 (約翰福音 15:26) 不是憑自己說的。

       雖然基督徒像世人一樣也看不見摸不著聖靈，但有內住的聖靈，就能藉著聖靈的不同彰顯就能認識祂。耶穌現在是以聖靈的方式在我們裏面，就是剛才提的主觀的証據和客觀的事實。當然沒有撇下我們為孤兒，我們知道祂永遠活著，也活在我們的心中，使我們能得到永生。我們現在知道，『…我在父裏面，你們在我裏面，我也在你們裏面。』(約翰福音 14:20) 是的，要合一。

(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 us first look at the new commandment to “love one another” and explain why this is a new commandment.  Second, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny the Lord three times, and its fulfillment of His prophecy. And we see that Peter was truly repentant. After turning back, Peter strengthened his brothers and led them forward. The Triune God also used miracles to confirm his position.  Third, the Lord is truly the way, and the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through the Lord.  Fourth, the Scripture tells us that seeing the Lord Jesus is the same as seeing God the Father. At that time, they could see Jesus directly, but now, although we have not seen Him, we love Him. It also discusses how we can do greater things. What does the matter refer to?  Finally, we discussed Jesus’ promise of the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of truth, which was fulfilled on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He came to guide us into all truth.

1. The new command to love one another

“Therefore when he (Judas the betrayer) had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love (G25, Agapao, verb) one another, even as I have loved (G25) you, that you also love (G25) one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (G26, Agape love, noun) for one another.””(John 13:31-35)

 At the beginning, it talks about the glory of Jesus’ crucifixion. After His resurrection, Jesus said to them (the two disciples who left Jerusalem for 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?”(Luke 24:25-26) Thus He also gloried the name of God the Father by this way, since it is clearly stated that “…I (Jesus) came for this (crucifixion) time.”(John 12:27) God the Father Himself said that Jesus also glorified the name of God the Father because of this. You see, when Jesus said, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.””(John 12:28)

 Jesus did say to the Jews before, “…Where I am going, you cannot come” as said in John 13:33. This was in John 7:33-34, where “…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.””(John 7:33-34) Of course they could not, Jesus was to be crucified and die, “…yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, …”(Romans 8:34) Yes, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.”(John 13:3) How is it possible for people to return to heaven without dying?  Jesus is a complete man. He returned to heaven only after He was crucified and died. So He would say then as He does now, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”(John 13:33)

 Christians all have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”(1 Corinthians 6:19) This is the Holy Spirit “whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior”(Titus 3:6) The Trinity “…God is love (Agape love, G26, noun).” (1 John 4:8) The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons in the Trinity, so Christians already have the love of God within them. They must put to death the old self so that this love can be manifested, as the Bible says, “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13) So this verse is asking us to cherish our spiritual life. As for our physical life which will die at time unspecified, we don’t need to worry because God will make the best arrangement.  This does not mean that we should not take care of our physical life at all. For example, in our physical life we ​​shouldn’t “…have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, …”(1 Peter 4:3) We should also take time out to do appropriate exercise instead of just blindly saying that God will work anyway since we should work with God in everything.

 So it indeed is “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, …”(John 13:34) Because God’s love is already in our hearts, it is possible to fulfill this new commandment.  The old command in the Old Testament is, “…but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; …”(Leviticus 19:18) The result of this will of course be love for one another.  But in the Old Testament, there was no indwelling Holy Spirit, and people could only love one another with human love.  Things are different in the New Testament. God’s love is already in Christians. No wonder Jesus gave us a new commandment to “love one another!”

2. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times

“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”(John 13: 36-38)

 Peter was to stay on earth to complete his mission, so Jesus prayed like this in the high priestly prayer, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”(John 17:15) Yes, Peter in the flesh, that is, from the perspective of his old self, or from the so-called human perspective, was truly willing to lay down his life for Jesus.  But in the old self there is absolutely no choice, as Paul said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”(Romans 7:18-19)

 Because faith allows free choice to believe that the Bible is inspired by God, but the old self has no choice, so faith is not in the old self.  When we believe in faith that the Bible is inspired by God, we will see logically that looking at it from the Bible’s perspective is looking at it from God’s perspective.  On the contrary, from God’s perspective it is greater than from the Bible’s perspective, because God is infinite, and the Bible is composed of finite words. The infinite is absolutely greater than the finite, and it is absolutely impossible to draw an equal sign between the two.  Back to Peter, we see that he could not rely on human strength, and when he was really faced with the moment of life and death, he retreated (see Luke 22:54-60). Finally for this event, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”(Luke 22:61-62)

 We see that Peter truly regretted his actions. Although he knew this prophecy, as Jesus told him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.””(John 21:18) “Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!””(John 21:19) He knew ahead, but still chose to follow Jesus to death. This was what happened in the end that he died for Him.

 The Bible says, “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) So Peter finally led the disciples forward, and the Triune God also used miracles to confirm his position.  During his first personal sermon, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”(Acts 2:41) This does not include the number of women and children, because the tradition at that time only counted the men.  I want to emphasize that this was his first personal sermon because before this he had preached with others.

 Let’s look at his second personal sermon, “But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”(Acts 4:4) Clearly, these also fulfilled a prophecy of Jesus at the Last Supper: “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) And he did just that.

3. Lord Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life

““Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.””(John 14:1-7)

 At the very beginning of these verses, Jesus said in a hidden way, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) Because believing in Him is believing in God.  Moreover, He promised that He would come again the second time and take us to heaven. The Bible clearly states, “…where I am, there you may be also.”(John 14:3) The Lord also clearly said, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) Same as “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) How could one not believe in the Lord?

4. Seeing the Lord Jesus is same as seeing God the Father

“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:8-14)

 We can see that Philip really did not understand, so he asked questions that people would think that they were necessary to ask. This passage clearly states that seeing the Lord Jesus is the same as seeing God the Father.  

 In the New Testament as in the Old Testament, we cannot see God the Father directly, just as the Lord said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) But the New Testament era is indeed different. At that time, they could see Jesus directly, but now it is, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”(1 Peter 1:8-9) The greatly rejoice mentioned here can be experienced. 

 When Jesus said, “…otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”(John 14:11) We see that Christians must have actions of faith, just as the scripture says, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”(James 2:17) Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”(John 14:12) I used to wonder how we could possibly do greater things than Jesus did. Now I understand that these words were spoken when He became flesh. Those who believe in Him are compared with Him when He became flesh.

 When He became flesh, He was limited by His flesh. The scope of His activities was from the Sea of ​​Galilee to the Dead Sea. But here, because He is going to the Father, He is no longer limited by His flesh and can be anywhere. His existence is demonstrated through subjective evidences and objective facts.  Except for one objective fact, all my testimonies are subjective evidences. Regarding this objective fact, we have shared it before in “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others.” Please go to the website “ https://a-christian-voice.com/ ” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

 Because at least we are not limited to the places Jesus visited, so the Bible will say, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) If those who believe in Him do not care about their own lives, putting them together, they can basically go anywhere at any time, that is, to the ends of the earth. This is “…he will do …greater works than these he will do…”(John 14:12)

 Although the verse, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:14), was repeated twice, the key point is “…the Father may be glorified in the Son.”(John 14:13) This is not a blank check. If you read the context, you will know that unity comes first.  For example, this verse says, ““I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one.”(John 17:20-22)    

5. The coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of truth

““If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 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. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”(John 14:15-20)

We see in the first sentence that love can be put into practice.  The Comforter is the Spirit of truth. “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.”(John 16:13) The Holy Spirit came on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection (see Acts 2:1-13).  We also saw that “When the Helper comes, …He will testify about Me.”(John 15:26) Not on your own initiative.

 Although Christians, like the rest of the world, cannot see or touch the Holy Spirit, they have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them and can know Him through His different manifestations, which are the subjective evidences and objective facts just mentioned. Jesus is now in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Thus, He has never left us orphans. We know that He lives forever and lives in our hearts so that we can obtain eternal life.  We now know, “…I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”(John 14:20) Yes, be united.

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

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

    首先，我们看到耶稣是神差遣来的世上的光，父给祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，也显示出祂一生都顺服神。第二， 我们看那三位一体的神中的一位耶稣是爱，祂以为门徒洗脚我们的榜样，告诉基督徒要彼此顺服，我们也看到基督徒要有信心的行为，不要像犹大般的心里刚硬。第三，我们来看看接待主耶稣这点，并说明犹大是自愿卖主的，且举了一个「同我吃饭的人用脚踢我」的经验。我们提到了这里有预知的事，所以『…可以信我是基督。』(约翰福音 13:19) 也讨论了受差遣是谁所引起的相关疑问。

1. 耶稣是神差遣来的世上的光

    『耶稣大声(G2896)说：「信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我来的。人看见我，就是看见那差我来的。我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。「若有人听见我的话不遵守，我不审判他。我来本不是要审判世界，乃是要拯救世界。弃绝我、不领受我话的人，有审判他的，就是我所讲的道(G3056)，在末日要审判他。因为我没有凭著自己讲，惟有差我来的父，已经给我命令，叫我说甚么，讲甚么。我也知道他的命令就是永生。故此，我所讲的话正是照著父对我所说的。」』(约翰福音 12:44-50)     

    首先我们注意祂是大声说，当祂大声说时，我们要特别注意。譬如说另一次为这经文，『节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声(G2896)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。』」』(约翰福音 7:37-38) 那差遣耶稣来的是谁呢？保罗说得很清楚，『…神就差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的形状，作了赎罪祭，在肉体中定了罪案。』(罗马书 8:3) 而神的儿子很显然是耶稣，『那时，耶稣从加利利的拿撒勒来，在约旦河里受了约翰的洗。他从水里一上来，就看见天裂开了，圣灵仿佛鸽子，降在他身上。又有声音从天上来，说：「你是我的爱子，我喜悦你。」』(马可福音 1:9-11) 信祂的就是信神的，当然是这样，因『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30)     

    这道(G3056)是指什么呢？就是指耶稣自己，这点在约翰福音一开始就明说了，『太初有道(G3056)，道(G3056)与神同在，道(G3056)就是神。这道太初与神同在。万物是借著他造的，凡被造的，没有一样不是借著他造的。』(约翰福音 1:1-3) 所以祂等于换了一种方式在说，『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(约翰福音 3:16-17) 祂第一次来本就不是审判世界，而是为要完成救恩，启示录所提到的白色大宝座的审判要到末日才会来临(参启示录 20:11-15)     

    祂又明说了一次，『我在世上的时候，是世上的光。』(约翰福音 9:5) 要趁著白日行走才不会跌倒，且『你们应当趁著有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。」…』(约翰福音 12:36) 父给祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，这经文显示出祂一生都顺服神，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。 …』(约翰福音 14:31) 这不是说神是一个命令一个动作的神，如果神没有给祂命令，祂也会站在神那边，这点可从耶稣出耶利哥发生的事看到，那时有两个瞎子，『耶稣就动了慈心，把他们的眼睛一摸，他们立刻看见，就跟从了耶稣。』(马太福音 20: 34) 很显然的是耶稣自己动了慈心，神没有给祂命令，祂也的确是站在神那边。当初如此，今日对我们亦然，当没有圣灵感动时，我们也一定要站在神那边。     

    请注意，『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) 我们怎么可以不信呢！我们最后要强调的一点，圣经都是神所默示的，所以我们到处都可以看到「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」，当我们不把圣经的话打折扣时，就可以看见神有时(但不多)默示了在字句上有的明显的矛盾，不是圣经错了，是我们没到读懂，是要了解神为什么要默示这样的明显的矛盾给我们，到底是要传递给我们什么样的讯息，我们在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』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。谢谢。

2. 三位一体的神中的一位耶稣是爱       

    『逾越节以前，耶稣知道自己离世归父的时候到了，他既然爱世间属自己的人，就爱他们到底。吃晚饭的时候（魔鬼已将卖耶稣的意思放在西门的儿子加略人犹大心里），耶稣知道父已将万有交在他手里，且知道自己是从神出来的，又要归到神那里去，就离席站起来脱了衣服，拿一条手巾束腰，随后把水倒在盆里，就洗门徒的脚，并用自己所束的手巾擦干。挨到西门彼得，彼得对他说：「主啊，你洗我的脚吗？」耶稣回答说：「我所做的，你如今不知道，后来必明白。」彼得说：「你永不可洗我的脚！」 耶稣说：「我若不洗你，你就与我无分了。」西门彼得说：「主啊，不但我的脚，连手和头也要洗！」耶稣说：「凡洗过澡的人，只要把脚一洗，全身就干净了；你们是干净的，然而不都是干净的。」耶稣原知道要卖他的是谁，所以说：「你们不都是干净的。」耶稣洗完了他们的脚，就穿上衣服，又坐下，对他们说：「我向你们所做的，你们明白吗？你们称呼我夫子，称呼我主，你们说的不错，我本来是。我是你们的主，你们的夫子，尚且洗你们的脚，你们也当彼此洗脚。我给你们作了榜样，叫你们照著我向你们所做的去做。我实实在在地告诉你们：仆人不能大于主人，差人也不能大于差他的人。你们既知道这事，若是去行就有福了。」』(约翰福音 13:1-17)        

    祂知道很清楚祂的时间到了，在变化山上，不是『忽然有摩西、以利亚两个人同耶稣说话；他们在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31)        

    『…因为神就是爱。』(约翰一书 4:8) 就爱属祂的人到底，为他们洗脚，并说『我是你们的主，你们的夫子，尚且洗你们的脚，你们也当彼此洗脚。』(约翰福音 13:14) 这不是说，『又当存敬畏基督的心，彼此顺服。』(以弗所书 5:21) 祂不是给了我们一个榜样吗？要知道，『…只有一位是你们的夫子，你们都是弟兄。』(马太福音 23:8) 先是顺服神，然后要彼此顺服，互相洗脚。就像，『若旁边坐著的得了启示，那先说话的就当闭口不言。』(哥林多前书 14:30)  这不是说神给了后来的人启示，先话话的人不就该顺服吗！我们再看，『耶稣回答说：「我所做的，你如今不知道，后来必明白。」』(约翰福音 13:7) 我们现在不是就明白了吗！

    最后说，『我实实在在地告诉你们：仆人不能大于主人，差人也不能大于差他的人。你们既知道这事，若是去行就有福了。」』(约翰福音 13:16-17) 要能行才行，『虚浮的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是死的吗？』(雅各书 2:20) 在启示录中，『我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，从他面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了。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。』(启示录 20:11-12) 没有在生命册上的人只是暂时活著，因『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)     

    最后的审判是照所行的，基督徒要有信心的行为，这样的行为是主要他们做的。经文说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。当那日，必有许多人对我说：『主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道，奉你的名赶鬼，奉你的名行许多异能吗？』我就明明地告诉他们说：『我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！』』(马太福音 7:21-23) 主不是明讲了他们并不在做主要他们做的事，如果他们顺服主而去做主的事，主怎么会说不认识他们呢？再举一个启示录中老底嘉教会的例子(参启示录 3:14-22)，经文说，『你说：我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。』启示录 3:17) 你想他们是在做神要他们做的事吗？你看耶稣说，『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) 祂不会要他们把祂关在心门外的。        

    有些人如卖主的犹大般心里是何等的刚硬啊！耶稣因为爱也帮犹大洗脚，但仍不能挽回他，虽然我们知道，『吃晚饭的时候（魔鬼已将卖耶稣的意思放在西门的儿子加略人犹大心里），』(约翰福音 13:2) 但这不能成为他的借口，『…因他是个贼，又带著钱囊，常取其中所存的。』(约翰福音 12:6) 如果不是他有这样的破口，怎么会允许撒但进入他的心呢？我们也会接著在下一段经文，看到他应已知道耶稣预先知道他会卖祂，仍然硬著心，用实际的出去的行动做出来！

3. 接待主耶稣和用脚踢我       

    『我这话不是指著你们众人说的，我知道我所拣选的是谁。现在要应验经上的话，说：『同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』「如今事情还没有成就，我要先告诉你们，叫你们到事情成就的时候，可以信我是基督。我实实在在地告诉你们：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」耶稣说了这话，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。」门徒彼此对看，猜不透所说的是谁。有一个门徒，是耶稣所爱的，侧身挨近耶稣的怀里。西门彼得点头对他说：「你告诉我们，主是指著谁说的。」那门徒便就势靠著耶稣的胸膛，问他说：「主啊，是谁呢？」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！」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。犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。』(约翰福音 13:18-30)    

    我们首先来看耶稣会心里忧愁这一点，这就说明了祂是完全的人，如果祂用祂的神性的话，跟本就不会忧愁。我们也可在客西马尼园的祷告看到这一点，『于是带著彼得和西庇太的两个儿子同去，就忧愁起来，极其难过，便对他们说：「我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死；你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。」他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(马太福音 26:37-39) 祂是完全的人，会忧愁且祷告求父叫这杯离开，但祂在道成肉身时选择一生顺服神，所以最后还是照著神的意思去成就。

    耶稣所爱的那门徒是指约翰，祂很清楚的预言，『我这话不是指著你们众人说的，我知道我所拣选的是谁。现在要应验经上的话，说：『同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』』(约翰福音 13:18) 我们看见了祂真正预先知道要卖祂的是犹大，除卖主的犹大外，其他的都不知道是谁，我们不是看见，『…耶稣就蘸了一点饼，递给加略人西门的儿子犹大。』(约翰福音 13:26) 关于这经文，是引用诗篇的类似经文，『连我知己的朋友，我所倚靠吃过我饭的，也用脚踢我。』(诗篇 41:9) 耶稣的确是和卖主的犹大吃饭了，但显然他不是祂的知己的朋友。如果你们记得当耶稣要选十二个门徒时，祂是『…出去，上山祷告，整夜祷告神。』(路加福音 6:12) 就是要确是神是要祂选包括卖主的犹大这个人，他卖主，怎么不是用脚踢主的写照呢？

    其实不止是现在可以经历，『…同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』(约翰福音 13:18) 更是可以经历诗篇 41:9 的知己朋友那部份，在这里，我可以和大家分享一个这样的经验。有一次，有一个人莫名其妙的请我们夫妇和他全家人去吃饭，就我事后所了解的，他大约是觉得神要他经历约翰福音 13:18，所以就请了我们。同一件事情，我后来才发觉神要我经历的是诗篇 41:9，因为我以前以为他是知己的朋友，最后是真的被踢了一脚。     

    记得那一次是送给他、我们夫妇都觉得没有问题的电子邮件，回应是以神的名义告诉我，把我比喻成猪狗，说『不要把圣物给狗，也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前，恐怕牠践踏了珍珠，转过来咬你们。』(马太福音 7:6) 又说还有更严厉的话，只是没有说出来，所以我不知道那些话，很久以前的事，也不知道他现在记不记得那些话。从此以后，我们基本上已十多年没有交通过了！他在世人眼中是很属灵的人，要不就不会以神的名义对我如此说话，当然我后来发觉话也不对，人也不是如此，要不然神不会让我经历客观的事实这件事，这是我们以前在『2123 神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』讨论过的，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。

    可能有人会问，为什么『…可以信我是基督。』(约翰福音 13:19) 因为这里有预知的事，是撒但不能做的，对于这点，讲到这事的有一些地方，我们现在看其中的一点就知道了。如果撒但能预知，牠就不会介入耶稣的钉上十字架，帮助完成救恩的计划。经文不是明说，『除酵节又名逾越节近了。…这时，撒但入了那称为加略人犹大的心，他本是十二门徒里的一个。…找机会，要趁众人不在跟前的时候把耶稣交给他们。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 当然最后是没有趁著犹大的心意，因为事情的发生是在众人面前，如经文所说，『说话之间，来了许多人。那十二个门徒里名叫犹大的，走在前头，就近耶稣，要与他亲嘴。耶稣对他说：「犹大！你用亲嘴的暗号卖人子吗？」』(路加福音 22:47-48) 他是在众人面前亲嘴的，亲嘴本是亲蜜的动作，却被犹大用来作为暗号！     

    有人说，『他吃了(那饼)以后，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(翰福音 13:27) 所以他有什么办法呢？有的，圣经不是明说，『…你们要顺服神。务要抵挡魔鬼，魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。』(雅各书 4:7) 对犹大来说，他是个贼，不能抵挡金钱的诱惑，只为了三十块钱就卖了耶稣，『这就应了先知耶利米的话，说：「他们用那三十块钱，就是被估定之人的价钱，是以色列人中所估定的。』(马太福音 27:9) 所以他是自愿接受撒但的诱惑的。      

    我们看到，『犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。』(约翰福音 13:30) 有人就说，都是那饼惹的祸，只要耶稣不蘸那饼给他吃不是就好了吗？不是的，就像我们先前讨论过的，耶稣只是告诉他我已预先知道了，只是他的心刚硬，不听。这都是发生在晚餐中，然而还特别指出那时候是夜间，所以是已经非常晚了，可是他还是一心一意的要出去卖主。      

    耶稣是奉父差遣来的，在祂生前，祂差遣了十二使徒，『耶稣叫了十二个门徒来，差遣他们两个两个地出去，也赐给他们权柄，制伏污鬼。』(马可福音 6:7) 那时卖主的犹大是那十二位之一，所以他不仅仅看过神迹，但也曾自己能有权柄，能行制伏污鬼的神迹，但仍然卖主，他的心到底有多刚硬啊！ 『这事以后，主又设立七十个人，差遣他们两个两个地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去。』(路加福音 10:1) 『又对门徒说：「听从你们的就是听从我；弃绝你们的就是弃绝我；弃绝我的就是弃绝那差我来的。」』(路加福音 10:16) 这不就是耶稣说的，『我实实在在地告诉你们：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」』(约翰福音 13:20)  请注意，都是两个两个出去的，这点是非常重要。譬如旧约说，『两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人独睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。』(传道书 4:9-12) 新约也说，『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)        

    复活后的耶稣说，『但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得著能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。」』(使徒行传 1:8) 在分离的祷告中，祂说，『我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。』(约翰福音 17:20-21) 大使命很清楚的说，『…天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我(耶稣)了。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，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。』(马太福音 28:18-20) 这是和合本的翻译，也是相当多的牧师这样做的，但如果依照圣经应该是，『…奉耶稣基督的名受洗，…』 (使徒行传 2:38)  归于父、子、圣灵的名(和合本另译)。』 我们看到不少人只以为大使命是使人受洗，却忘了要教训人去遵守行出来，要人甘心情愿的遵守行出来是要以身作则的，要不别人会说你自己都不遵守，为什么要我们遵守呢？我们以前谈过这点就不多说了。所以基督徒都是有大使命奉差遣的，我们又一次看到，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。

(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，我們看到耶穌是神差遣來的世上的光，父給祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，也顯示出祂一生都順服神。第二，我們看那三位一體的神中的一位耶穌是愛，祂以為門徒洗腳我們的榜樣，告訴基督徒要彼此順服，我們也看到基督徒要有信心的行為，不要像猶大般的心裏剛硬。第三，我們來看看接待主耶穌這點，並說明猶大是自願賣主的，且舉了一個「同我吃飯的人用腳踢我」的經驗。我們提到了這裏有預知的事，所以『…可以信我是基督。』(約翰福音 13:19) 也討論了受差遣是誰所引起的相關疑問。

1. 耶穌是神差遣來的世上的光

       『耶穌大聲(G2896)說：「信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我來的。人看見我，就是看見那差我來的。我到世上來，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗裏。「若有人聽見我的話不遵守，我不審判他。我來本不是要審判世界，乃是要拯救世界。棄絕我、不領受我話的人，有審判他的，就是我所講的道(G3056)，在末日要審判他。因為我沒有憑着自己講，惟有差我來的父，已經給我命令，叫我說甚麼，講甚麼。我也知道他的命令就是永生。故此，我所講的話正是照着父對我所說的。」』(約翰福音 12:44-50)

     首先我們注意祂是大聲說，當祂大聲說時，我們要特別注意。譬如說另一次為這經文，『節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲(G2896)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。』」』(約翰福音 7:37-38) 那差遣耶穌來的是誰呢？保羅說得很清楚，『…神就差遣自己的兒子成為罪身的形狀，作了贖罪祭，在肉體中定了罪案。』(羅馬書 8:3) 而神的兒子很顯然是耶穌，『那時，耶穌從加利利的拿撒勒來，在約旦河裏受了約翰的洗。他從水裏一上來，就看見天裂開了，聖靈彷彿鴿子，降在他身上。又有聲音從天上來，說：「你是我的愛子，我喜悅你。」』(馬可福音 1:9-11) 信祂的就是信神的，當然是這樣，因『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30)

     這道(G3056)是指什麼呢？就是指耶穌自己，這點在約翰福音一開始就明說了，『太初有道(G3056)，道(G3056)與神同在，道(G3056)就是神。這道太初與神同在。萬物是藉着他造的，凡被造的，沒有一樣不是藉着他造的。』(約翰福音 1:1-3) 所以祂等於換了一種方式在說，『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(約翰福音 3:16-17) 祂第一次來本就不是審判世界，而是為要完成救恩，啓示錄所提到的白色大寶座的審判要到末日才會來臨(參啓示錄 20:11-15)

     祂又明說了一次，『我在世上的時候，是世上的光。』(約翰福音 9:5) 要趁著白日行走才不會跌倒，且『你們應當趁着有光，信從這光，使你們成為光明之子。」…』(約翰福音 12:36) 父給祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，這經文顯示出祂一生都順服神，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。 …』(約翰福音 14:31) 這不是說神是一個命令一個動作的神，如果神沒有給祂命令，祂也會站在神那邊，這點可從耶穌出耶利哥發生的事看到，那時有兩個瞎子，『耶穌就動了慈心，把他們的眼睛一摸，他們立刻看見，就跟從了耶穌。』(馬太福音 20: 34) 很顯然的是耶穌自己動了慈心，神沒有給祂命令，祂也的確是站在神那邊。當初如此，今日對我們亦然，當沒有聖靈感動時，我們也一定要站在神那邊。

     請注意，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 我們怎麼可以不信呢！我們最後要強調的一點，聖經都是神所默示的，所以我們到處都可以看到「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」，當我們不把聖經的話打折扣時，就可以看見神有時(但不多)默示了在字句上有的明顯的矛盾，不是聖經錯了，是我們沒到讀懂，是要瞭解神為什麼要默示這樣的明顯的矛盾給我們，到底是要傳遞給我們什麼樣的訊息，我們在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』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。謝謝。

2. 三位一體的神中的一位耶穌是愛

       『逾越節以前，耶穌知道自己離世歸父的時候到了，他既然愛世間屬自己的人，就愛他們到底。吃晚飯的時候（魔鬼已將賣耶穌的意思放在西門的兒子加略人猶大心裏），耶穌知道父已將萬有交在他手裏，且知道自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裏去，就離席站起來脫了衣服，拿一條手巾束腰，隨後把水倒在盆裏，就洗門徒的腳，並用自己所束的手巾擦乾。挨到西門彼得，彼得對他說：「主啊，你洗我的腳嗎？」耶穌回答說：「我所做的，你如今不知道，後來必明白。」彼得說：「你永不可洗我的腳！」 耶穌說：「我若不洗你，你就與我無分了。」西門彼得說：「主啊，不但我的腳，連手和頭也要洗！」耶穌說：「凡洗過澡的人，只要把腳一洗，全身就乾淨了；你們是乾淨的，然而不都是乾淨的。」耶穌原知道要賣他的是誰，所以說：「你們不都是乾淨的。」耶穌洗完了他們的腳，就穿上衣服，又坐下，對他們說：「我向你們所做的，你們明白嗎？你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。我是你們的主，你們的夫子，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。我給你們作了榜樣，叫你們照着我向你們所做的去做。我實實在在地告訴你們：僕人不能大於主人，差人也不能大於差他的人。你們既知道這事，若是去行就有福了。」』(約翰福音 13:1-17)

        祂知道很清楚祂的時間到了，在變化山上，不是『忽然有摩西、以利亞兩個人同耶穌說話；他們在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31) 

        『…因為神就是愛。』(約翰一書 4:8) 就愛屬祂的人到底，為他們洗腳，並說『我是你們的主，你們的夫子，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。』(約翰福音 13:14) 這不是說，『又當存敬畏基督的心，彼此順服。』(以弗所書 5:21) 祂不是給了我們一個榜樣嗎？要知道，『…只有一位是你們的夫子，你們都是弟兄。』(馬太福音 23:8) 先是順服神，然後要彼此順服，互相洗腳。就像，『若旁邊坐着的得了啓示，那先說話的就當閉口不言。』(哥林多前書 14:30)  這不是說神給了後來的人啓示，先話話的人不就該順服嗎！我們再看，『耶穌回答說：「我所做的，你如今不知道，後來必明白。」』(約翰福音 13:7) 我們現在不是就明白了嗎！

        最後說，『我實實在在地告訴你們：僕人不能大於主人，差人也不能大於差他的人。你們既知道這事，若是去行就有福了。」』(約翰福音 13:16-17) 要能行才行，『虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？』(雅各書 2:20) 在啓示錄中，『我又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的，從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑着這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:11-12) 沒有在生命册上的人只是暫時活著，因『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15) 

     最後的審判是照所行的，基督徒要有信心的行為，這樣的行為是主要他們做的。經文說，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。當那日，必有許多人對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能嗎？』我就明明地告訴他們說：『我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧！』』(馬太福音 7:21-23) 主不是明講了他們並不在做主要他們做的事，如果他們順服主而去做主的事，主怎麼會說不認識他們呢？再舉一個啓示錄中老底嘉教會的例子(參啓示錄 3:14-22)，經文說，『你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』啓示錄 3:17) 你想他們是在做神要他們做的事嗎？你看耶穌說，『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) 祂不會要他們把祂關在心門外的。

        有些人如賣主的猶大般心裏是何等的剛硬啊！耶穌因為愛也幫猶大洗腳，但仍不能挽回他，雖然我們知道，『吃晚飯的時候（魔鬼已將賣耶穌的意思放在西門的兒子加略人猶大心裏），』(約翰福音 13:2) 但這不能成為他的藉口，『…因他是個賊，又帶着錢囊，常取其中所存的。』(約翰福音 12:6) 如果不是他有這樣的破口，怎麼會允許撒但進入他的心呢？我們也會接著在下一段經文，看到他應已知道耶穌預先知道他會賣祂，仍然硬著心，用實際的出去的行動做出來！

3. 接待主耶穌和用腳踢我

       『我這話不是指着你們眾人說的，我知道我所揀選的是誰。現在要應驗經上的話，說：『同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』「如今事情還沒有成就，我要先告訴你們，叫你們到事情成就的時候，可以信我是基督。我實實在在地告訴你們：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」耶穌說了這話，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。」門徒彼此對看，猜不透所說的是誰。有一個門徒，是耶穌所愛的，側身挨近耶穌的懷裏。西門彼得點頭對他說：「你告訴我們，主是指着誰說的。」那門徒便就勢靠着耶穌的胸膛，問他說：「主啊，是誰呢？」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！」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。猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。那時候是夜間了。』(約翰福音 13:18-30)

    我們首先來看耶穌會心裏憂愁這一點，這就說明了祂是完全的人，如果祂用祂的神性的話，跟本就不會憂愁。我們也可在客西馬尼園的禱告看到這一點，『於是帶着彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子同去，就憂愁起來，極其難過，便對他們說：「我心裏甚是憂傷，幾乎要死；你們在這裏等候，和我一同警醒。」他就稍往前走，俯伏在地禱告說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(馬太福音 26:37-39) 祂是完全的人，會憂愁且禱告求父叫這杯離開，但祂在道成肉身時選擇一生順服神，所以最後還是照著神的意思去成就。

     耶穌所愛的那門徒是指約翰，祂很清楚的預言，『我這話不是指着你們眾人說的，我知道我所揀選的是誰。現在要應驗經上的話，說：『同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』』(約翰福音 13:18) 我們看見了祂真正預先知道要賣祂的是猶大，除賣主的猶大外，其他的都不知道是誰，我們不是看見，『…耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大。』(約翰福音 13:26) 關於這經文，是引用詩篇的類似經文，『連我知己的朋友，我所倚靠吃過我飯的，也用腳踢我。』(詩篇 41:9) 耶穌的確是和賣主的猶大吃飯了，但顯然他不是祂的知己的朋友。如果你們記得當耶穌要選十二個門徒時，祂是『…出去，上山禱告，整夜禱告神。』(路加福音 6:12) 就是要確是神是要祂選包括賣主的猶大這個人，他賣主，怎麼不是用腳踢主的寫照呢？

     其實不止是現在可以經歷，『…同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』(約翰福音 13:18) 更是可以經歷詩篇 41:9 的知己朋友那部份，在這裏，我可以和大家分享一個這樣的經驗。有一次，有一個人莫名其妙的請我們夫婦和他全家人去吃飯，就我事後所瞭解的，他大約是覺得神要他經歷約翰福音 13:18，所以就請了我們。同一件事情，我後來才發覺神要我經歷的是詩篇 41:9，因為我以前以為他是知己的朋友，最後是真的被踢了一腳。

     記得那一次是送給他、我們夫婦都覺得沒有問題的電子郵件，回應是以神的名義告訴我，把我比喻成豬狗，說『不要把聖物給狗，也不要把你們的珍珠丟在豬前，恐怕牠踐踏了珍珠，轉過來咬你們。』(馬太福音 7:6) 又說還有更嚴厲的話，只是沒有說出來，所以我不知道那些話，很久以前的事，也不知道他現在記不記得那些話。從此以後，我們基本上已十多年沒有交通過了！他在世人眼中是很屬靈的人，要不就不會以神的名義對我如此說話，當然我後來發覺話也不對，人也不是如此，要不然神不會讓我經歷客觀的事實這件事，這是我們以前在『2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』討論過的，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。

        可能有人會問，為什麼『…可以信我是基督。』(約翰福音 13:19) 因為這裏有預知的事，是撒但不能做的，對於這點，講到這事的有一些地方，我們現在看其中的一點就知道了。如果撒但能預知，牠就不會介入耶穌的釘上十字架，幫助完成救恩的計劃。經文不是明說，『除酵節又名逾越節近了。…這時，撒但入了那稱為加略人猶大的心，他本是十二門徒裏的一個。…找機會，要趁眾人不在跟前的時候把耶穌交給他們。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 當然最後是沒有趁著猶大的心意，因為事情的發生是在眾人面前，如經文所說，『說話之間，來了許多人。那十二個門徒裏名叫猶大的，走在前頭，就近耶穌，要與他親嘴。耶穌對他說：「猶大！你用親嘴的暗號賣人子嗎？」』(路加福音 22:47-48) 他是在眾人面前親嘴的，親嘴本是親蜜的動作，卻被猶大用來作為暗號！

     有人說，『他吃了(那餅)以後，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(翰福音 13:27) 所以他有什麼辦法呢？有的，聖經不是明說，『…你們要順服神。務要抵擋魔鬼，魔鬼就必離開你們逃跑了。』(雅各書 4:7) 對猶大來說，他是個賊，不能抵擋金錢的誘惑，只為了三十塊錢就賣了耶穌，『這就應了先知耶利米的話，說：「他們用那三十塊錢，就是被估定之人的價錢，是以色列人中所估定的。』(馬太福音 27:9) 所以他是自願接受撒但的誘惑的。

      我們看到，『猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。那時候是夜間了。』(約翰福音 13:30) 有人就說，都是那餅惹的禍，只要耶穌不蘸那餅給他吃不是就好了嗎？不是的，就像我們先前討論過的，耶穌只是告訴他我已預先知道了，只是他的心剛硬，不聽。這都是發生在晚餐中，然而還特別指出那時候是夜間，所以是已經非常晚了，可是他還是一心一意的要出去賣主。

      耶穌是奉父差遣來的，在祂生前，祂差遣了十二使徒，『耶穌叫了十二個門徒來，差遣他們兩個兩個地出去，也賜給他們權柄，制伏污鬼。』(馬可福音 6:7) 那時賣主的猶大是那十二位之一，所以他不僅僅看過神蹟，但也曾自己能有權柄，能行制伏汚鬼的神蹟，但仍然賣主，他的心到底有多剛硬啊！ 『這事以後，主又設立七十個人，差遣他們兩個兩個地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去。』(路加福音 10:1) 『又對門徒說：「聽從你們的就是聽從我；棄絕你們的就是棄絕我；棄絕我的就是棄絕那差我來的。」』(路加福音 10:16) 這不就是耶穌說的，『我實實在在地告訴你們：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」』(約翰福音 13:20)  請注意，都是兩個兩個出去的，這點是非常重要。譬如舊約說，『兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人獨睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。』(傳道書 4:9-12) 新約也說，『控告長老的呈子，非有兩三個見證就不要收。』(提摩太前書 5:19)

        復活後的耶穌說，『但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。」』(使徒行傳 1:8) 在分離的禱告中，祂說，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。』(約翰福音 17:20-21) 大使命很清楚的說，『…天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我(耶穌)了。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，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音 28:18-20) 這是和合本的翻譯，也是相當多的牧師這樣做的，但如果依照聖經應該是，『…奉耶穌基督的名受洗，…』 (使徒行傳 2:38)  歸於父、子、聖靈的名(和合本另譯)。』 我們看到不少人只以為大使命是使人受洗，卻忘了要教訓人去遵守行出來，要人甘心情願的遵守行出來是要以身作則的，要不別人會說你自己都不遵守，為什麼要我們遵守呢？我們以前談過這點就不多說了。所以基督徒都是有大使命奉差遣的，我們又一次看到，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。

(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, we see that Jesus is the light of the world sent by God. The command given by the Father is that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life, which also shows that He obeyed God throughout His life.  Second, we see that Jesus, one of the Trinity, is love. He sets an example for his disciples by washing their feet. He tells Christians to submit to one another. We also see that Christians must have acts of faith and not be as hard-hearted as Judas. Third, let’s talk about receiving Jesus, and also explain that Judas voluntarily betrayed the Lord. We also cited an experience in which “…He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.”(John 13:18) We mentioned that there is foreknowledge here, so “…you may believe that I am He.”(John 13:19) We also discuss the related questions raised by who was sent.

1. Jesus is the light of the world sent by God

“And Jesus cried out (G2896) and said, “He who lieves in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word (G3056) I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.””(John 12:44-50)

 First of all, we should pay attention to whether He speaks loudly. When He speaks loudly, we must pay special attention.  For example, another time for this verse, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried (G2896) 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.’””(John 7:37-38) Who sent Jesus?  Paul made it very clear, “…God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.”(Romans 8:3) And the Son of God is obviously Jesus, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.””(Mark 1:9-11) He who believes in Him believes in God. Of course, this is true, for “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30)​

 What does this word (G3056) refer to?  It refers to Jesus Himself. This is clearly stated at the beginning of the Book of John, “In the beginning was the Word (G3056), and the Word (G3056) was with God, and the Word (G3056) was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”(John 1:1-3) So He is saying in another way, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:16-17) His first coming was not to judge the world, but to complete salvation. The judgment of the great white throne mentioned in the Book of Revelation will not come until the end of time (see Revelation 20:11-15)

 He said clearly again, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”(John 9:5) You must walk while it is daylight so that you will not stumble, and “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light….”(John 12:36) The Father’s command to Him is that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. This verse shows that He obeyed God throughout his life, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) This does not mean that God is a God who commands and acts one everything. If God did not give Him a command, He would still stand on God’s side. This happened when Jesus left Jericho. When he saw that there were two blind men, “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”(Matthew 20:34) It is obvious that Jesus Himself was moved by compassion. God did not give Him a command, and He was indeed on God’s side.  This was true at that time, and it is true for us today. Even when there is no inspiration from the Holy Spirit, we must stand on God’s side.

​​ Please note, “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) How can we not believe it!  The last point we want to emphasize is that the Bible is inspired by God, so we can see everywhere that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” When we do not discount the words of the Bible, we can see that God sometimes (but not many times) inspired obvious contradictions in words. It is not that the Bible is wrong, but that we have not understood it. It is to understand why God inspired such obvious contradictions to us and what kind of messages He wants to pass on to us. 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 this article.  Thanks.

2. Jesus, one of the Trinity, is love

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John 13:1-17)

 He knew very clearly when His time would come. On the Mount of Transfiguration, “And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31)

 We know that “…God is love.”(1 John 4:8) He loves His own to the end, washing their feet, saying, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”(John 13:14) Doesn’t this mean? “…be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”(Ephesians 5:21) Didn’t He give us an example? We must know, “…One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.”(Matthew 23:8) First obey God, then obey one another and wash each other’s feet.  It is like, “But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.”(1 Corinthians 14:30) Doesn’t this mean that God has given revelations to this later one, and those who spoke first should obey the revelation and stop talking!  Let’s look at it again, “Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.””(John 13:7) Don’t we understand it now?

 Finally, he said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John 13:16-17) You must be able to do it. “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”(James 2:20) In the Book of Revelation, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:11-12) People who are not written in the book of life only live temporarily, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15)

The final judgment is based on deeds. Christians must have acts of faith. Such acts have to be what the Lord wants them to do.  The scripture says, ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”(Matthew 7:21-23) Didn’t the Lord clearly say that they were not doing what He asked them to do? If they obeyed the Lord and did His things, how could the Lord say that He did not know them?  Let’s take another example from the church in Laodicea in the Book of Revelation (see Revelation 3:14-22). The scripture says, “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”(Revelation 3:17) Do you think they were doing what God wanted them to do?  You see Jesus 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) He will for sure not ask them to shut Him out of their hearts.

 How hard-hearted some people are like Judas, the traitor!  Jesus also washed the feet of Judas out of love, but still could not restore him. Although “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.”(John 13: 2) But he couldn’t use it as an excuse, “…because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.”(John 12:6) If he hadn’t had such a breach, how could he have allowed Satan to enter his heart?  We will also see in the next passage that he should have known that Jesus knew in advance that he would betray Him, but he still hardened his heart and did it with practical actions!

3. Receive the Lord Jesus and kick me

“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, 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. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 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.” 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. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”(John 13:18-30)

 Let’s first look at the fact that Jesus became troubled in spirit. This shows that He is a complete human being. If He used His divinity, He would not have such way at all.  We also see this in the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.””

(Matthew 26:37-39) He was a complete man and would grieve and pray to the Father to let this cup pass away. However, when He became flesh, He chose to obey God throughout His life, so in the end He chose to obey God and do anything according to God’s will.

 The disciple whom Jesus loved refers to John, and He prophesied very clearly, “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’”(John 13:18) We have seen that He really knew in advance that Judas would betray Him. No one else knew who it was ex.cept Judas who would betray Him. Didn’t we see? “…He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”(John 13:26) Regarding this verse, a similar verse is quoted from the Psalms, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”(Psalm 41:9) Jesus did eat with Judas, the traitor, but it was obvious that he was not His close friend.  If you remember when Jesus was choosing his twelve disciples, “…He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”(Luke 6:12) He wanted to make sure that God wanted Him to choose the man Judas who betrayed Him. How could he not be a portrayal of kicking the Lord when he betrayed the Lord? Nowadays, you can also experience that “…He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.”(John 13:18) Not only that, you can also experience that “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, …Has lifted up his heel against me.”(Psalm 41:9) Here, I can share such an experience with you.  Once, a man invited us, my wife and me, with his whole family to dinner out of nowhere. From what I learned afterwards, he probably felt that God wanted him to experience John 13:18, so he invited us.  For the same thing, I later realized that what God wanted me to experience was Psalm 41:9, because I thought he was a close friend, but in the end he really kicked me. ​

 I remember that it started from an email sent to him, which both of us felt that it was okay. The response was to tell me in the name of God, comparing me to a pig or a dog, by saying, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”(Matthew 7:6) He also said that there were more severe words, but he didn’t say them out, so I don’t know those words. This happened a long time ago, and I don’t know if he remembers those words now.  Since then, we have basically not communicated with each other for more than ten years!  In the eyes of the world, he is a very spiritual person. Otherwise, he would not have spoken to me like this in the name of God. Of course, I later found out that his words were wrong, and so is his person. Otherwise, God would not have allowed me to experience objective facts, which are something we have discussed before in “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others.” Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“. Click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

​ Some people may ask, why “…you may believe that I am He.”(John 13:19) Because there are things that are foreseen here that Satan cannot do. Regarding this, there are some places that talk about this matter. We can understand it now by looking at one of them.  If Satan could have foreseen it, he would not have intervened in Jesus’ crucifixion to help complete the plan of salvation.  The scripture do clearly say, “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. …And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. …began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.”(Luke 22:1-6) Of course, in the end, Judas couldn’t do it apart from the crowd, because the incident happened in front of everyone. As the scripture says, “While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?””(Luke 22:47-48) He kissed Him in front of everyone. The kiss was originally an act of intimacy, but Judas used it as a sign. Come as a secret code!

 Some people say, “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. …”(John 13:27) So what can he do?  Yes, he can do something for sure. The Bible does clearly say, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”(James 4:7) To Judas, he was a thief who could not resist the temptation of money, so he sold Jesus for only thirty pieces of silver. “Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel.””(Matthew 27:9) So he willingly accepted Satan’s temptation. ​

 We see, “So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”(John 13:30) Some people said that it was all the fault of the morsel. Wouldn’t it be fine as long as Jesus didn’t dip the morsel for him to eat?  No, as we discussed earlier, Jesus was simply telling him that I knew it beforehand, but his heart was hardened and he would not listen.  This all happened during dinner, but the verse also pointed out that it was night time, so it was very late, but he still wanted to go out and sell Jesus wholeheartedly.

 Jesus was sent by the Father. He sent the Twelve Apostles as the verse says, “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”(Mark 6:7) At that time, Judas, the betrayer, was one of the twelve, so he not only saw miracles, but he also had the authority to perform miracles to subdue unclean spirits. But he still sold Jesus, how hard was his heart? “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.”(Luke 10:1) And he said to his disciples,

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”(Luke 10:16) Isn’t this what Jesus said? “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”(John 13:20) Please note that they all went out two by two. This is very important.  For example, the Old Testament says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) The New Testament also says, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”(1 Timothy 5:19)

 ​

 After the resurrection, Jesus said,

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) In the prayer of separation, He said, ““I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”(John 17:20-21) The Great Commission says very clearly, “…All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20) This is the translation problem, and quite a few pastors do this, but according to the Bible it should be, “…be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”(Acts 2:38) To the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (another translation in Union Version).” We have seen that many people only think that the Great Commission is to get people baptized, but they forget to teach people to obey and practice it. If you want people to obey it willingly and practice it, you must set an example. Otherwise, others will say that you don’t obey it yourself. Why should we obey it?  We have talked about this before so I won’t say more.  Therefore, Christians are all sent with the Great Commission. Once again, we see that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent

​

(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.”)

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

1. 马利亚因相信耶稣的预言而膏耶稣

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

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

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

2. 耶稣骑驴驹进耶路撒冷       

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

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

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

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

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

3. 希腊人求见耶稣

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

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

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

4. 麦子似的生命

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

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

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

5. 父神从天上直说了耶稣荣耀其名

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

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

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

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

6. 以赛亚看见耶稣的荣耀并他的预言的应验       

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. 馬利亞因相信耶穌的預言而膏耶穌

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

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

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

2. 耶穌騎驢駒進耶路撒冷

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

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

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

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

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

3. 希臘人求見耶穌

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

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

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

4. 麥子似的生命

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

        耶穌實實在在的告訴我們，生命要像一粒麥子，祂不只說說而已，這就是祂的生命寫照，祂是真正的為了我們上十字架，死了，完成了救恩，就結出了許多子粒來，使許多人相信了而得救，得到那永生的屬靈生命。從這些經文，我們也看到了耶穌為什麼會『…對門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得着生命。』(馬太福音 16:24-25)

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

5. 父神從天上直說了耶穌榮耀其名

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

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

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

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

6. 以賽亞看見耶穌的榮耀並他的預言的應驗

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Mary anointed Jesus because she believed in His prophecies

 ​

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

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

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

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

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

(John 12:12-19)

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. The Greeks asked to see Jesus

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

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

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

4. Wheat-like life

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

(John 12:23-26)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. 拉撒路的患病       

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

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

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

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

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

2. 拉撒路之死       

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. 马大的信心       

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

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

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

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

4. 马利亚的信心       

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

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

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

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

5. 拉撒路复活的过程       

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

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

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

6. 法利赛人和大祭司的政治考量       

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. 拉撒路的患病

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

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

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

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

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

2. 拉撒路之死

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. 馬大的信心

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

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

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

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

4. 馬利亞的信心

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

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

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

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

5. 拉撒路復活的過程

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

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

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

6. 法利賽人和大祭司的政治考量

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 ​

1. Lazarus’ illness

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

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

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

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

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

2. Death of Lazarus

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Martha’s faith

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

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

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

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

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4. Mary’s Faith

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

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

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

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

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

5. The process of the resurrection of Lazarus

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

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

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

6. Political considerations of the Pharisees and high priests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

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

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

1. 主耶稣是羊的门、要生命更丰盛       

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. 主耶稣是好牧人       

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

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

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

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

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

3. 耶稣与父神原为一       

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. 耶稣和施洗约翰       

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. 主耶穌是羊的門、要生命更豐盛

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. 主耶穌是好牧人

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

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

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

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

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

3. 耶穌與父神原為一

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. 耶穌和施洗約翰

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd

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

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

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

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

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

3. Jesus and God the Father are one

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Jesus and John the Baptist

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

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

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

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

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