我們首先來看耶穌實實在在地告訴我們什麼重要的事情，我們討論了這些事情，因其重要性，就請你們自己看看這段的細節，不在這裏敘述大綱了。第二，我們詳細的討論了讀經和邏輯的關係。我們看到基督徒必須活在信心中，相信新約和舊約兩者都是神所默示的。因為聖經是神所默示的，我們相信，(1) 神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，和  (2) 不把聖經的話打折扣。而基督徒一定要在 (1) 和 (2) 的前提下，使用 (3) 邏輯。第三，我們看到耶穌提到真理的見証是從天而來。在其中我們首先指出，那裏可以找得到以前討論過的、許多華人教會都沒注意到的一個原文字 G2919 (審判, judge)，接著我們看到在舊約的確是要至少兩個人作見証的，我們看到和耶穌同作見証的是父，我們也看到新約和舊約有一項不同，雖然在兩者中，我們都不能看見父，但在新約中，人看見了耶穌，就是看見了父。最後我們來看人的心是何等的剛硬啊！在其中，我們從彙編的原文中詳細的討論了一個會引人錯誤的和合本的翻譯，我們也詳細的討論了這字心竅的意義，而現在只有聖靈能開我們的心竅，實在是不要消滅聖靈的感動。

1. 耶穌實實在在地告訴我們什麼？

        『耶穌對他們(猶太人)說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：子，憑着自己不能做甚麼，惟有看見父所做的，子才能做；父所做的事，子也照樣做。父愛子，將自己所做的一切事指給他看，還要將比這更大的事指給他看，叫你們希奇。父怎樣叫死人起來，使他們活着，子也照樣隨自己的意思使人活着。父不審判甚麼人，乃將審判的事全交與子，叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一樣。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子來的父。「我實實在在地告訴你們：那聽我話、又信差我來者的，就有永生，不至於定罪，是已經出死入生了。我實實在在地告訴你們：時候將到，現在就是了，死人要聽見神兒子的聲音，聽見的人就要活了。因為父怎樣在自己有生命，就賜給他兒子也照樣在自己有生命，並且因為他是人子，就賜給他行審判的權柄。「你們不要把這事看作希奇。時候要到，凡在墳墓裏的，都要聽見他的聲音，就出來。行善的，復活得生；作惡的，復活定罪。」』(約翰福音 5:19-29)

        我們以前談過，在這裏我們要再次強調，這字眼「實實在在地」出現的時候，我們要特別的注意所說的話。我們首先看到耶穌能做的事是什麼，就是父所做的。我們看到了父是怎樣的愛子，那這更大的事是指什麼呢？根據神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，我現在並不能十分確定是指什麼，就以後再說吧！

        再下面一段我們看到三位一體的神的一位、耶穌有絕對的主權，因這裏是說「隨自己的意思」，『並且因為他是人子，就賜給他行審判的權柄。』(約翰福音 5:27) 所以照神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，「…白色的大寶座與坐在上面的…」(參啓示錄 20:11)，那坐在上面的是主耶穌 ，因那坐在上面的是行審判的。目的很單純，『叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一樣。…』(約翰福音 5:23)

     在這裏我們要再強調一次，基督徒必須活在信心中，相信新約和舊約兩者都是神所默示的。因為聖經是神所默示，我們相信，(1) 神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。所以聖經的無誤不是指字句上，如果是字句上的，就會有明顯的矛盾，我們以前在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』中詳細的討論過這問題，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。也因為聖經是神所默示的，我們就要行出，(2) 不把聖經的話打折扣。

        又是說「實實在在地」，『…信差我來者的，就有永生，…』(約翰福音 5:24) 這段不就是在說，『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) 又再一次看到「實實在在地」，『…時候將到，現在就是了，…』(約翰福音 5:25) 這不指新約的時代即將在耶穌死而復活後降臨嗎？我們不都是出生時就是不信的死人嗎？因為我們是亞當的後裔，出生時就被罪玷汚的。神是一直都在尋找人，給人機會，但人可以不要，直到我們能有一個能聽的耳，在一般的情況下信而受浸得救，就像經文所說，『你若口裏認耶穌為主，心裏信神叫他從死裏復活，就必得救。因為人心裏相信，就可以稱義；口裏承認，就可以得救。』(羅馬書 10:9-10)  這是得救的意思，你可以看看彙編中所有得救在新約中這字的經文，就可明瞭這字的意思，不要過度的解讀！

    特例是指一位和耶穌同釘十字架的強盜，『耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。」』(路加福音 23:43) 他跟本都沒機會受水洗，不是每一個基督徒都是和他一樣的，聖經沒有明說每一個基督徒都會去樂園等待，這只有神知道，我們能確定的是，『我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。…』(啓示錄 20:12) 這死了的人裏面一定包括了一些基督徒。如果每一個基督徒都已知在樂園等，只要看樂園中有那些人就可以，不再需要生命册，而聖經是明說，『…案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。…』(啓示錄 20:12) 而神不是做虛工的神，如『雨雪從天而降，並不返回，卻滋潤地土，使地上發芽結實，使撒種的有種，使要吃的有糧。我口所出的話也必如此，決不徒然返回，卻要成就我所喜悅的，在我發它去成就的事上必然亨通。』(以賽亞書 55:10-11)

        讀經的目的是要得生命，就像耶穌自己說的，『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40) 所以不是要追求神蹟，而是信主得到生命的改變，模成耶穌的形像，就像經文所說，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣(形像, image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 所以基督徒是以信開始，要走上成聖之路，一般成聖之路要走一生之久。其實這也有例外的，如果參照使徒行傳 7:54-60，就知道司提反在被石頭打死前說的話和耶穌在十字架上的一句話相似，而耶穌也站著迎接他，所以他在那時以前已經被模成了耶穌的形像。所以有些聖經隱藏的意思是可用邏輯推導出來的，就像聖經沒有用三位一體的神這個辭，但絕對能從邏輯中看到這概念。這裏也說明了為什麼賜給耶穌行審判的權柄，因為他是人子。

        最後一段有關於，『行善的，復活得生；作惡的，復活定罪。』(約翰福音 5:29) 這不就是啓示錄所說的，『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。於是海交出其中的死人，死亡和陰間也交出其中的死人。他們都照各人所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:12-13) 『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) 在生命册上的基督徒也是要因信心的行為受審判，這信心的行為就是雅各書所說的，『身體沒有靈(G4151)(魂)是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。』(雅各書 2:26) 我 們又看到，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。

2. 讀經與邏輯的關係

     我們看一下邏輯，邏輯是由公理和邏輯機理兩部份所構成的，所以不同的領域會從不同的公理開始，但邏輯機理是相同的，否則做研究的人就不可能發表論文，所以這裏的公理是在講數學或科學上許多人看到的一般原則。其實在生活上也類似，譬如說，對一個正常的人來說，殺人是不好的，對是否要殺人的選擇來說，他的邏輯機理會告訴他選擇善的一面，不殺人。但對食人族來說，公理是、殺其他族的人是善的，他的邏輯機理和正常人相同，要選擇善的一面，於是去殺別族的人。從這個簡單的例子，我們也可以看到邏輯機理是相同的，但每個人對一件事的個人公理是不同的。

     當聖靈直接啓示我們、或藉著別人啓示我們時，我們的個人公理就會因之而改變。例如，以利沙的僕人原先看不到火車火馬，這是他原先的個人公理，他現在的個人公理是、原先他的個人公理加上滿山有火車火馬。   

     這例子在列王紀下 6:8-17，其中說到亞蘭王與以色列人爭戰，派車馬軍兵圍困了以利沙所在的城，僕人看不到火車火馬，但『以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人(僕人)的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』(列王紀下 6:17) 耶和華使僕人能看見火車火馬，所以在這件事上，僕人的邏輯機理沒有改變，但他的個人公理加上，從「看不見」改變成「看見」了，知道滿山有火車火馬。簡言之，主耶和華就是如這件事情所發生的類似，用改變我們的個人公理方式來引導我們。聖經不是說，『你的言語一解開，就發出亮光，使愚人通達。』(詩篇 119:130) 當看見亮光後，我們對這件事的個人公理基本上就會改變了。

    所以為避免誤會， 我應該說，一個人的決定是基於「他的個人公理」加上「大家都相同的邏輯機理」，而後者是由神來，和神相同，但神的公理和我們大不相同。譬如衪的公理是有絕對的主權，隨時可行神蹟，而人的個人公理，最多祇是在神允許下、能夠成為行神蹟的管道而已。 

     在這裏我們要再強調一次，基督徒必須活在信心中，相信新舊約兩者都是神所默示的。因為聖經是神所默示，所以我們相信 (1) 神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，和行出來 (2) 不把聖經的話打折扣。對一個基督徒而言，我們在信心中有了 (1) 和 (2)，而當有了 (1) 和 (2) 作為我們的個人公理，我們才可以在某一件事上、使用邏輯機理而能達到正確的結論。對一個不信主的非基督徒而言，沒有 (1) 和 (2)，只用邏輯機理就會得到不可知論的結論，認為神是否存在是不可知的。所以基督徒一定要在 (1) 和 (2) 的前提下，使用 (3) 邏輯。

3. 耶穌提到真理的見証是從天而來

       『「我憑着自己不能做甚麼，我怎麼聽見，就怎麼審判(G2919, judge)。我的審判也是公平的，因為我不求自己的意思，只求那差我來者的意思。我若為自己作見證，我的見證就不真；另有一位給我作見證，我也知道他給我作的見證是真的。「你們曾差人到約翰那裏，他為真理作過見證。其實我所受的見證不是從人來的，然而我說這些話，為要叫你們得救。約翰是點着的明燈，你們情願暫時喜歡他的光。「但我有比約翰更大的見證，因為父交給我要我成就的事，就是我所做的事，這便見證我是父所差來的。差我來的父也為我作過見證。你們從來沒有聽見他的聲音，也沒有看見他的形像。你們並沒有他的道存在心裏，因為他所差來的，你們不信。你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。」』(約翰福音 5:30-40)

        我們以前特別的討論過 G2919 (判斷, judge)這個字，因這是許多華人教會沒注意到的，這是在『2114 兩次潔淨聖殿、重生、和神愛世人 – 約翰福音 (3)』中的『3. 神愛世人、得救和定罪、及光』討論的，對這篇文章有興趣的人，可到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。

        在舊約的確是要至少兩個人作見証的，就像經文所述，『人無論犯甚麼罪，作甚麼惡，不可憑一個人的口作見證，總要憑兩三個人的口作見證才可定案。』(申命記 19:15) 所以經文明講，耶穌那時候為什麼不是獨自作見証的，因為父和祂是兩個，新舊約都是一位神，作事的原則是完全相同的。在舊約時，『他使摩西知道他的法則，叫以色列人曉得他的作為。』(詩篇 103:7) 所以在新約讀經時，要儘可能的讀出祂的法則。新約中也說，『你們是以外貌判斷人，我卻不判斷人。就是判斷人，我的判斷也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。你們的律法上也記着說：『兩個人的見證是真的。』我是為自己作見證，還有差我來的父也是為我作見證。』(約翰福音 8:15-18)

        在新約時代，保羅也和舊約一樣的這麼說，『這是我第三次要到你們那裏去。憑兩三個人的口作見證，句句都要定準。』(哥林多後書 13:1) 且說，『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) 希伯來書不是講得很清楚嗎？『人干犯摩西的律法，憑兩三個見證人尚且不得憐恤而死。』(希伯來書 10:28)

        這裏說到人會喜歡施洗約翰的原因，他只是耶穌的先鋒，他只是施悔改的洗禮(參馬可福音 1:2-4, 使徒行傳 13:2; 19:4) 耶穌明說祂的真理見証從那裏來，而祂要做的事是很多，我們可從這經文略窺一二，『這人(尼哥低母)夜裏來見耶穌，說：「拉比，我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」』((約翰福音 3:2) 但對我們最重要的是這一件事，就是死而復活，完成了救恩的計劃，使我們得救。『耶穌被交給人，是為我們的過犯；復活，是為叫我們稱義。』(羅馬書 4:25) 所以耶穌不只是為我們釘上十字架受死，更是要復活使我們得生。

        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) 在舊約時他們是不可能聽見祂的聲音，看見祂的形像的，即使在新約時也是如此。新約的不同點是在當『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？』(約翰福音 14:8-9) 因為『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 耶穌現在是以聖靈的方式，內住在我們心裏，所以祂在大使中說的，『…我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音 28:20) 在今生就這樣成就了。在永生更是，『我未見(新耶路撒冷)城內有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊為城的殿。』(啓示錄 21:22)

        這裏也很清楚的說明，道不在他們(猶太人)心中的原因，是因為『…你們心裏沒有神的愛。』(約翰福音 5:42)   關於最後得生命的那一段，我們已在前面已分享過，就不多說了。

4. 人的心是何等的剛硬啊！

       『「我不受從人來的榮耀，但我知道，你們心裏沒有神的愛。我奉我父的名來，你們並不接待我；若有別人奉自己的名來，你們倒要接待他。你們互相受榮耀，卻不求從獨一之神來的榮耀，怎能信我呢？「不要想我在父面前要告你們，有一位告你們的，就是你們所仰賴的摩西。你們如果信摩西，也必信我，因為他書上有指着我寫的話。你們若不信他的書，怎能信我的話呢？」』(約翰福音 5:41-47)

        人基本上是『…互相受榮耀，卻不求從獨一之神來的榮耀，…』(約翰福音 5:44) 『人憑着自己說，是求自己的榮耀；惟有求那差他來者(神)的榮耀，這人是真的，在他(耶穌)心裏沒有不義。』(約翰福音 7:18) 我們看到人的的剛硬是因為心裏沒有神的愛，難怪耶和華在舊約時『說：「你去告訴這百姓說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。』要使這百姓心(H3820)蒙脂油，耳朵發沉，眼睛昏迷；恐怕(lest, G3379)眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，便得醫治。」』(以賽亞書 6:9-10) 和合本的翻譯又是說要使，又是說恐怕，好像神是故意如此！如果我們看原文，就知道不是說恐怕，新約更很清楚的指出，不是神故意使這百姓心蒙脂油等等，他們的心本就是剛硬的。

        我們來看這原文字 H3820 出現了593次，在以賽亞書出現了30次，我們就只看這30次，看到以下的兩節經文就是它在以賽亞書中典型的用法。『「耶和華啊，求你記念我在你面前怎樣存完全的心(H3820)，按誠實行事，又做你眼中所看為善的。」希西家就痛哭了。』(以賽亞書 38:3) 和『你素來倚仗自己的惡行說：『無人看見我。』你的智慧聰明使你偏邪，並且你心(H4820)裏說：『惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的。』』(以賽亞書 47:10) 這原文字 H4820 完全沒有要使的意義，不知和合本為什麼這樣翻譯？這樣的翻譯會造成誤會。看詩篇就說得很清楚，『無奈我的民不聽我的聲音，以色列全不理我。我便任憑他們心裏剛硬，隨自己的計謀而行。』(詩篇 81:11-12) 

        在新約更很清楚的指出，不是神故意使這百姓心蒙脂油等等，他們的心本就是剛硬。『所以我(耶穌)用比喻對他們講，是因他們看也看不見，聽也聽不見，也不明白。在他們身上，正應了以賽亞的預言，說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉着；恐怕(lest, G3379)眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。』(馬太福音 13:13-15)

        最後說到要告他們的是摩西，因為他們因不相信而沒有讀懂他書上指著耶穌所說的話。在耶穌從死裏復活後，『耶穌對他們(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，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」於是從摩西和眾先知起，凡經上所指着自己的話都給他們講解明白了。』(路加福音 24:25-27) 最後是『他們就立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇見十一個使徒和他們的同人聚集在一處。』(路加福音 24:33) 我們看到正這個字在原文沒有，雖然原文沒有，但的確是正好。

    『於是耶穌開他們(所有在場的人)的心竅(G3563, 希臘文 nous)，使他們能明白聖經。』(路加福音 24:45) 在我們剛才引用的路加福音 24:25-27，是明說是耶穌講解明白了，並沒有說他們瞭解了，但現在他們絕對瞭解，因為他們在被開心竅的人當中。這原文字 G3563 出現了 24 次，因在路加福音只出現這麼一次，我們必須看其他的 23 次，來看它的意義， 從下面三節典型的經文中我們就可以看見。『不要效法這個世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。』(羅馬書 12:2) 和『這卻怎麼樣呢？我要用靈禱告，也要用悟性(G3563)禱告；我要用靈歌唱，也要用悟性(G3563)歌唱。』(哥林多前書 14:15) 所以保羅會說，『 所以那說方言的，就當求着能翻出來。我若用方言禱告，是我的靈禱告，但我的悟性(G3563)沒有果效。』(哥林多前書 14:13-14) 第三節經文是，『智慧的心(G3563)在此可以思想。那七頭就是女人所坐的七座山。』(啓示錄 17:9) 現在只有聖靈能開我們的心竅，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)

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

Let’s first look at what important things Jesus truly truly told us. We have discussed these things. Because of their importance, please look at the details of this paragraph for yourself. I will not describe the outline here. Second, we discussed the relationship between Bible reading and logic in detail.  We see that Christians must live by faith and believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God.  Because the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that (1) what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and (2) we do not discount the words of the Bible.  Christians must use (3) logic under the premise of (1) and (2).  Third, we see that Jesus mentioned that the testimony of truth comes from heaven.  In it, we first pointed out that there can be found an original word G2919 (judge) that many Chinese churches have not noticed before. Then we saw that in the Old Testament, at least two people are indeed required to bear witness. We see that the one who witnesses with Jesus is the Father. We also see one difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament. Although in both, we cannot see the Father, in the New Testament, when people see Jesus, they see Father.  Finally, let’s look at how hard people’s hearts are!  In it, we discussed in detail a misleading translation of the Union Version from the original text. We also discussed in detail the meaning of the word “mind.” Now only the Holy Spirit can open our mind. “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

1. What does Jesus truly truly tell us?

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”(John 5:19 – 29)

We have talked before, and here we want to emphasize again that when the word “truly truly” appears, we must pay special attention to what said.  We first see what Jesus can do that the Father does.  We have seen how the Father loves the Son, but what does this greater works mean?  According to what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, I am not quite sure what it means now, so I will talk about it later!

In the next paragraph we see that one person of the Trinity, Jesus, has absolute sovereignty, so it is said here “…to whom He wishes.”(John 5:21), “and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”(John 5:27) Therefore, according to what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, “.. a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, …”(Revelation 20:11), that one who sat upon Ii must be the Lord Jesus, because He who sits on it is the one who judges.  The purpose is simple, 

 “​​so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. …”(John 5:23)

Here we would like to emphasize once again that Christians must live in faith and believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God.  Because the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that (1) what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.  Therefore, the inerrancy of the Bible does not refer to the words. If it is the words, there will be obvious contradictions. We have discussed this issue in detail in “1111 The True Meaning of Biblical Inerrancy.” Please go to “https://a- “christian-voice.com/” website, and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life.”  And because the Bible is inspired by God, we must act on it and (2) not discount any words of the Bible.

It also says, “Truly, truly, …believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, …”(John 5:24) Doesn’t this passage just mean, “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) And once again we see “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, …”(John 5:25) Doesn’t this refer to the coming of  New Testament era soon after Jesus’ death and resurrection?  Aren’t we all born dead in unbelief?  This is because we are descendants of Adam, we are tainted by sin at birth.  God is always looking for people and giving them opportunities, but people reject Him until they can have an ear that can hear. Under normal circumstances, one can believe and be baptized and be saved. Just as the scripture says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”(Romans 10:9-10) This is the meaning of salvation. You can look at all the verses in the New Testament where the word salvation is used to understand the meaning of this word. Don’t over-interpret it!

A special case refers to a thief who was crucified with Jesus. “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) Not every Christian is in the same situation as he was, who had no opportunity to be baptized in water. The Bible does not clearly say that every Christian will go to paradise to wait. Only God knows this. What we can be sure of is, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, …”(Revelation 20:12) These dead must include some Christians.  If every Christian already knew that he would be in Paradise, we would just have to look at who was in Paradise, and there would be no need for the Book of Life. The Bible clearly says, “…books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; …”(Revelation 20:12) And God is not a God who does empty work, for example, ““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:10-11)

The purpose of reading the Bible is to have life, as Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) So it is not to pursue miracles, but to believe in the Lord and get a change in life and be conformed to the image of Jesus, as the scripture says, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29) Therefore, Christians start with faith and embark on the road to sanctification. Generally, the road to sanctification takes a lifetime.  In fact, there are exceptions to this. If you refer to Acts 7:54-60, you will know that what Stephen said before being stoned to death was similar to what Jesus said on the cross, and Jesus also stood to greet him, so he before that time had been conformed into the image of Jesus.  Therefore, some hidden meanings in the Bible can be deduced by logic. For example, the Bible does not use the term Trinity God, but this concept can definitely be seen from logic.  This scripture also explains why Jesus was given the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.

The last paragraph is about “…those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”(John 5:29) Isn’t this what the Book of  Revelation says, “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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:12-13) “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) Christians in the book of life will also be judged for their acts of faith. This act of faith is what James says, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”(James 2:26) Here, we can also see that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

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2. The relationship between Bible reading and logic

Let’s take a look at logic. Logic is composed of axioms and logical mechanisms, so different fields will start with different axioms, but the logical mechanisms are the same for all. Otherwise, researchers will not be able to publish papers, so here an axiom is a general principle that many people see in mathematics or science.  In fact, it is similar in life. For example, for a normal person, killing is not good. When it comes to the choice of whether to kill, his logical mechanism will tell him to choose the good side and not kill.  But for cannibals, the axiom is that killing people of other tribes is good. Their logical mechanism is the same as that of normal people. They must choose the good side, so they kill people of other tribes.  From this simple example, we can also see that the logical mechanism is the same, but each person’s personal axiom for one thing is different.

When the Holy Spirit reveals us directly or through others, our personal axiom will change.  For example, Elisha’s servant could not see chariots of fire and horses. This was his original personal axiom. His current personal axiom is his original personal axiom plus the mountains were filled with chariots of fire and horses. ​ ​

This example is found in 2 Kings 6:8-17, which says that the king of Syria was fighting against the Israelites and sent chariots and horses to surround the city where Elisha was. The servants could not see the chariots or horses of fire, but “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”(2 Kings 6:17) The Lord enables his servant to see chariots of fire and horses, so in this matter, the servant’s logical mechanism has not changed, but his personal axiom has changed from “unseen” to “seen” the chariots and horses of fire all over the mountain.  In short, the Lord Jehovah guides us in ways that change our personal axiom, just as what happened to the servant.  Doesn’t the Bible say, “The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”(Psalm 119:130) When we see the light, our personal views on the matter will basically change.

So to avoid misunderstanding, I should say that a person’s decision is based on “his personal axioms” plus “the same logical mechanism that everyone has”, and the latter comes from God and is the same as God, but God’s axioms are different from ours.  For example, His axioms have absolute sovereignty and can perform miracles at any time, while man’s personal axioms say that we can only become a channel for performing miracles with God’s permission. ​

Here we would like to emphasize again that Christians must live in faith and believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God.  Because the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that (1) what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and acts out (2) does not discount the words of the Bible.  For a Christian, we have (1) and (2) in our faith, and when we have (1) and (2) as our personal axioms, we can use logic on a certain matter through the logical mechanism to reach the correct conclusion.  For a non-Christian who does not believe in the Lord, without (1) and (2), just using the logical mechanism will lead to the agnosticism that whether God exists is unknowable.  Therefore, Christians must use (3) logic under the premise of (1) and (2).

3. Jesus mentioned that the testimony of truth comes from heaven

““I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish⁠—the very works that I do⁠—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:30-40)

We have discussed the word G2919 (judge) in particular before, because many Chinese churches have not noticed this. This is in “3. God loves the world, salvation and condemnation, and light” of the article “1114 Twice cleansing of the temple, rebirth, and God’s love for the world – Book of John (3).” Those who are interested in this article can go to the website of “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life.”

In the Old Testament, at least two people are indeed required to bear witness. As the scripture says, ““A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”(Deuteronomy 19:15) Therefore, the scriptures explain why Jesus did not bear witness alone at that time. This is because the Father and Him are two persons. Both the Old and New Testaments are one God, and the principles of doing things are exactly the same.  In the Old Testament, “He made known His ways to Moses,

His acts to the sons of Israel.”(Psalm 103:7) Therefore, when reading the New Testament, you must read His ways as much as possible.  The New Testament also says, “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”(John 8:15-18)

In the New Testament era, Paul also said the same thing as in the Old Testament, “This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”(2 Corinthians 13:1) Furthermore, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”(1 Timothy 5:19) Doesn’t the book of Hebrews make it very clear? “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”(Hebrews 10:28)

Here we talk about the reason why people like John the Baptist. He is just the forerunner of Jesus. He only gives the baptism of repentance (see Mark 1:2-4, Acts 13:2; 19:4). Jesus clearly stated that His testimony of the truth comes from heaven, and there are many things He has to do. We can get a glimpse of it from this scripture, “this man (Nicodemus) came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””(John 3:2) But the most important thing for us is this. Death and resurrection completed the plan of salvation so that we could be saved. “He (Jesus) who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) So was crucified and died for us, and He was resurrected so that we might live.

The Lord Jehovah said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) In the Old Testament, it was impossible for them to hear His voice or see His face. Like, even in the New Testament.  The difference in the New Testament is that when “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’?”(John 14:8-9) Because “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) Jesus now lives in our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit, so He said in the great mission, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28: 20) It is so in this life, and even more so in eternity, “I saw no temple in it (New Jerusalem), for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”(Revelation 21:22).

It is also clearly stated here that the reason why the Word is not in their (Jewish) hearts is because “…you do not have the love of God in yourselves.”(John 5:42) We have already shared the end part about having life, so we won’t say more.

4. How hard is the human heart!

“I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?””(John 5:41-47)

Basically, people “…receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?”(John 5:44) “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him (Jesus), He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”(John 7:18) We see that people’s hardness is because they do not have the love of God in their hearts. No wonder the Lord said in the Old Testament: “He said, “Go, and tell this people (H3820):  ‘Keep on listening, but do not(H3820) perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise (lest, G3379) they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.””(Isaiah 6:9-10) The translation of the Union Version says both to make them, as if God did this on purpose!  If we look at the original text, we will know that it is not referring to making them. The New Testament points out more clearly that God did not deliberately cause the hearts of these people to be filled with fat, etc. Their hearts were already hardened.

In the New Testament, it is more clearly pointed out that God did not deliberately cause the hearts of this people to be fat, etc., their hearts were already hardened.

“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise (G3379) they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’”(Matthew 13:13-15) ​

It was Moses who as finally said would accuse them because they did not understand what he said about Jesus in his book because they did not believe.  After Jesus rose from the dead, “And He said to them (the two disciples on the way to Emmaus), “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:25-27) Finally, “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them.”(Luke 24:33) 

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“Then He opened their (all those present) minds (G3563, Greek nous) so that they could understand the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:45) In the Luke 24:25-27 we just quoted, it is clearly stated that Jesus explained it clearly, but it did not say that they understood it, but now they definitely understand it, because they were enlightened together with the people.  

This original text G3563 appears 24 times. Since it only appears once in the Gospel of Luke, we must look at the other 23 times to see its meaning. We can see it from the following three typical verses. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (G3563), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2) and “What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind (G3563) also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind (G3563) also.”(1 Corinthians 14:15) So Paul would say, “Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind (G3563) is unfruitful.”(1 Corinthians 14:13-14) The third verse is, “Here is the mind (G3563) which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”(Revelation 17:9) Now only the Holy Spirit can open our minds. “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

​(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，我们看到先知在本地是没有人尊敬的原因。第二，我们看到了耶稣是可以用话语遥远的治愈快要死的人，耶稣知道神迹奇事的重要，但重要的是祂的道，信祂，而不是看神迹，不要本末倒置！第三，我们借著耶稣治愈了那因犯罪而躺著三十八年的病人的神迹，我们也照神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，如何分辩古卷的记载及翻译是否正确。最后，我们看到耶稣是守了安息日真正的真谛，而不是律法上安息日的时间。虽然祂给了我们示范，我们该守的是律法的真谛而不是条文，但当时的犹太人并不了解，反而将祂钉上十字架，却反而成就了救恩。

1. 先知在本地是没有人尊敬的       

    『过了那两天，耶稣离了那地方，往加利利去。因为耶稣自己作过见证说：「先知在本地是没有人尊敬的。」到了加利利，加利利人既然看见他在耶路撒冷过节所行的一切事，就接待他，因为他们也是上去过节。』(约翰福音 4:43-45)        

    请注意，祂离开撒马利亚后，并不是回到自己的家乡，而是到加利利去，因先知在本地是没有人尊敬的，类似的经文在马太福音 13:57，马可福音 6:4，和路加福音 4:24 都提过，所以这件事在四福音书都提到，也代表了其重要性。其原因是从人的角度看，家乡的人以为对耶稣太熟习了，他们怎么会相信耶稣能信异能呢？(参马太福音 13:53-57) 经文说得很清楚，『到了安息日，他在会堂里教训人。 众人听见，就甚希奇，说：「这人从哪里有这些事呢？所赐给他的是甚么智慧？他手所做的是何等的异能呢？这不是那木匠吗？不是马利亚的儿子雅各、约西、犹大、西门的长兄吗？他妹妹们不也是在我们这里吗？」他们就厌弃他。』(马可福音 6:2-3) 那时就是连他的弟兄也不信(参约翰福音 7:5)，『他也诧异他们不信，就往周围乡村教训人去了。』(马可福音 6:6) 难怪祂没有回自己的家乡！     

    要顺便一提的是，虽然圣经没有明说，所有的弟兄姊妹在祂死而复活后都相信祂，但至少圣经明说了，『至于别的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我(保罗)都没有看见。』(加拉太书 1:19) 雅各不只是相信而已，并成为了使徒。        

    在耶稣宣教后，这是祂第一次上耶路撒冷，是因逾越节而上去的，这次『…有许多人看见他所行的神迹(sign, G4592)，就信了他的名。』(约翰福音 2:23) 加利利人也在其中，他们就因此而接待祂。

2. 耶稣以话语遥远的治愈快要死的人       

    『耶稣又到了加利利的迦拿，就是他从前变水为酒的地方。有一个大臣，他的儿子在迦百农患病。他听见耶稣从犹太到了加利利，就来见他，求他下去医治他的儿子，因为他儿子快要死了。耶稣就对他说：「若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。」那大臣说：「先生，求你趁著我的孩子还没有死就下去。」耶稣对他说：「回去吧！你的儿子活了。」 那人信耶稣所说的话，就回去了。正下去的时候，他的仆人迎见他，说他的儿子活了。他就问甚么时候见好的。他们说：「昨日未时热就退了。」他便知道这正是耶稣对他说「你儿子活了」的时候，他自己和全家就都信了。这是耶稣在加利利行的第二件神迹，是他从犹太回去以后行的。』(约翰福音 4:46-54)        

    这件神迹记载的很清楚，也看到耶稣可以用祂所说的话，就遥远的治好那快要死了的儿子。从人的角度看，一定要在一口气还在的时候要找到耶稣，其实耶稣是可以让死人复活的。在这经文中，我们看到，『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。」』(约翰福音 11:21-22) 当『耶稣说：「你兄弟必然复活。」』(约翰福音 11:23) 时，她的回答是，『马大说：「我知道在末日复活的时候，他必复活。」』(约翰福音 11:24) 她没有想到就是当天，耶稣以话语成就了祂的旨意。(参约翰福音 11:25-45)        

    耶稣知道神迹奇事的重要，因『耶稣就对他说：「若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。」』(约翰福音 4:48) 我们看到，『当耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候，有许多人看见他所行的神迹，就信了他的名。耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:23-25) 因祂知道，神迹本是用来为救恩効力的，『…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) 祂也深知，『因为假基督、假先知将要起来，显大神迹、大奇事。倘若能行，连选民也就迷惑了。』(马太福音 24:24) 人常常为超自然的事情所迷惑，所以一定要分辩。重要的是祂的道，信祂，而不是看神迹，我们看到在祂道成肉身的那段时间中，『他虽然在他们面前行了许多神迹，他们还是不信他。』(约翰福音 12:37)        

    我们也看到，『… 使徒…行了许多奇事、神迹。』(使徒行传 2:43) 保罗说得很清楚，『除了基督借我做的那些事，我甚么都不敢提，只提他借我言语作为，用神迹奇事的能力，并圣灵的能力，使外邦人顺服。』(罗马书 15:18) 他又说，『我在你们中间，用百般的忍耐，借著神迹、奇事、异能，显出使徒的凭据来。』(哥林多后书 12:12)  我们要注意，神迹奇事有其重要性，只是要分辩，要以道为主，神迹奇事只是为证实祂的道，不要本末倒置！     

    最后我们来看看那大臣的信心，首先是他的儿子在迦百农，他是事前就相信耶稣能医治他的儿子，所以他跑了不短的路到迦拿来见耶稣。当他见到耶稣后又相信祂的话，且用信心的行为「下去」来表示！更因仆人带来的讯息证实了耶稣用话语遥治了他的儿子。当经历了这样的神迹，你想一个正常人会不信吗？难怪他自己和全家就都信了。

3. 耶稣治愈了躺著三十八年的病人       

    『这事以后，到了犹太人的一个节期，耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。在耶路撒冷，靠近羊门有一个池子，希伯来话叫作毕士大，旁边有五个廊子。里面躺著瞎眼的、瘸腿的、血气枯干的许多病人。有古卷加：等候水动；因为有天使按时(G2540)下池子搅动那水，水动之后，谁先下去，无论害甚么病就痊愈了。）在那里有一个人，病了三十八年。耶稣看见他躺著，知道他病了许久(G5540)，就问他说：「你要痊愈吗？」病人回答说：「先生，水动的时候，没有人把我放在池子里；我正去的时候，就有别人比我先下去。」耶稣对他说：「起来，拿你的褥子走吧！」那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子来走了。』(约翰福音 5:1-9)        

    这神迹非常消楚的记载了、这个因耶稣话语而得医治的躺著的病人。很显然的，水是会动的，他看到别人得到痊愈自己却来不及，只好等在那里，这一等就等了三十八年，是自己犯罪而得的惩罚了三十八年，因『后来耶稣在殿里遇见他，对他说：「你已经痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」』(约翰福音 5:14) 我们可看见罪的可怕！虽然圣经没有明说是犯了什么罪，但有三十八的惩罚，不会是小罪，因神是有怜悯有恩典的。请注意，他是立刻痊愈的。     

    耶稣明知他想痊愈，却仍然问他，是主怜悯了他，也显出了祂有权柄赦罪，就像这些经文所说，『或说『你的罪赦了』，或说『你起来行走』，哪一样容易呢？但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄。」就对瘫子说：「起来，拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人就起来，回家去了。』(马太福音 9:5-7) 我们知道这两者都不容易，我们都不能做，祂显出了祂的主权，两者都做了！        

    在新约的时代，我们只要悔改，就会在属灵上没有惩罚，因『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) 在属世上，我们还是要付出代价，这就如和耶稣同钉十字架的强盗，『耶稣对他说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。」』(路加福音 23:43) 这显然是指属灵的事。在属世上，他仍然被钉在十字架上而死，遵守罗马的法律，如同耶稣被钉十架而死一样。        

    最后我们来判断一下，古卷的记载是否有问题？我们说过水是会动的，这显然不是指风吹而水动，撒但和牠的差役不会去搅动水，因此搅动水的是天使，这是对的。在这经文中用了两个原文字， G5550 和 G2540，在汇编中比较了这两个字，前者是指不定的一段时间，所以这里是说许久，后者是指固定的时间或是特别的场合，是可以翻译成按时或是指毕士大的那个场合。如果是固定了时间，那些人只要在固定时间来就可以了，如果是指毕士大那个场合，水动就会随时发生！照神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，应该他们不会事先知道，有不少这样的例子，譬如说，这就犹如撒母耳膏大卫时一样。        

    让我们来看膏大卫的这件事情，耶和华对撒母耳说，『你要请耶西来吃祭肉，我就指示你所当行的事。我所指给你的人，你要膏他。』(撒母耳记上 16:3) 你看这里，撒母耳是先相信祂，并有信心的行为来表示他的信心，然后耶和华才指示他。     

    最后是，『耶西叫他七个儿子都从撒母耳面前经过，撒母耳说：「这都不是耶和华所拣选的。」撒母耳对耶西说：「你的儿子都在这里吗？」 他回答说：「还有个小的，现在放羊。」 撒母耳对耶西说：「你打发人去叫他来；他若不来，我们必不坐席。」耶西就打发人去叫了他来。他面色光红，双目清秀，容貌俊美。 耶和华说：「这就是他，你起来膏他。」』(撒母耳记上 16:10-12) 你看，撒母耳连要膏谁事先都不知道，他在信心中往前，知道耶和华最后一分钟会指示他。     

    在现实生活中，圣灵的工作也常是最后一分钟才做，我们非得在信心中往前不可。我经历过不少这样的事情，以这次的专题查经为例，一直到今天早上我才完全准备好，你如果问我为什么不提早预备，我试过，但没有话，尤有甚著，有一次我在一星期前就准备，反而把两次的话一小部份搞在一起了，从此以后就看情况，通常要到星期五才有话语出来，有时比较早，因现实上有其他的事，必须要提早准备，到目前为止，神从来不误事。这就是我以前强调的，一定要让圣灵带领才有可能不强解圣经，要不就和我以前一样，看不懂，所以我不只是为大家准备也是为了自己，因圣灵的带领看懂一些以前不懂的地方，就如我以前跟本没注意到这两个原文字，G5550 和 G2540 和其不同。就是今天，我也不能完全读出来，也会有读进去的时候，一发觉到自己的错误，就要更正，如过去有些专题查经的更正一样。     

    每个人都可被圣灵带领的，想想启示录中的老底嘉教会把耶稣关在门外，祂仍说，『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) 三位一体的神中的圣灵，巴不得每个人都真正的心甘情愿开心门。

4. 耶稣守安息日的真谛       

    『那天是安息日，所以犹太人对那医好的人说：「今天是安息日，你拿褥子是不可的！」他却回答说：「那使我痊愈的对我说：『拿你的褥子走吧』」他们问他说：「对你说『拿褥子走』的是甚么人？」那医好的人不知道是谁，因为那里的人多，耶稣已经躲开了。后来耶稣在殿里遇见他，对他说：「你已经痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」那人就去告诉犹太人，使他痊愈的是耶稣。』所以犹太人逼迫耶稣，因为他在安息日做了这事。耶稣就对他们说：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」所以犹太人越发想要杀他，因他不但犯了安息日，并且称神为他的父，将自己和神当作平等。』(约翰福音 5:10-18)        

    我们看到耶稣是守了安息日的真谛，而不是律法上安息日的时间。我们以前在『2050 马太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶稣的形像 (5)』中的『4. 人子是安息日的主』讨论过这点，就不多说了，你可到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。在这经文中，『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) 从神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，很清楚的知道，这是指要受律法的真谛，而不是指表面上的字句。          

    请注意，耶稣是躲开了，显然不是要借这神迹扬名，圣经上还有些这样的例子，大家可以自己去看看。在这里，虽然耶稣给我们作了示范，我们该守的是律法的真谛而不是条文，但当时的犹太人并不了解，这里很清楚的说到犹太人反起了杀心，这里也说到犹太人越法想到杀祂的原因，基本上这原因也是祂最后被钉十字架的原因。     

    当祂因卖主的犹大被捕、而受大祭司该亚法审判时，我们看到『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 26:65-66) 『到了早晨，众祭司长和民间的长老，大家商议要治死耶稣，就把他捆绑，解去交给巡抚彼拉多。』(马太福音 27:1-2) 送交彼拉多是因为当时的犹太人没有杀人的权柄。        

    彼拉多在罗马的律法中也找不出祂有什么该死的原因，这可从经文看出，『彼拉多传齐了祭司长和官府并百姓，就对他们说：「你们解这人到我这里，说他是诱惑百姓的。看哪，我也曾将你们告他的事，在你们面前审问他，并没有查出他甚么罪来；就是希律也是如此，所以把他送回来。可见他没有做甚么该死的事。故此，我要责打他，把他释放了。」』(路加福音 23:13-16) 这经文会谈到希律，因彼拉多『既晓得耶稣属希律所管，就把他送到希律那里去。那时希律正在耶路撒冷。』(路加福音 23:7) 看相应的经文就知道希律为什么把祂送回来。     

    在众人的压力下，『彼拉多见说也无济于事，反要生乱，就拿水在众人面前洗手，说：「流这义人的血，罪不在我，你们承当吧！」众人都回答说：「他的血归到我们和我们的子孙身上。」于是彼拉多释放(强盗)巴拉巴给他们，把耶稣鞭打了，交给人钉十字架。』(马太福音 27:24-26) 彼拉多是洗手了，但洗不掉他明知故犯的罪！却因耶稣的钉十字架成就了救恩，『…乃用自己的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。』(希伯来书 9:12) 在一个人成圣的路上，不会不犯罪的，我们依靠的就是耶稣的宝血，可以悔改。我们不要做一个明知故犯的人，而要做一个需要悔改时，就能随时悔改的人。

(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，我們看到先知在本地是沒有人尊敬的原因。第二，我們看到了耶穌是可以用話語遥遠的治愈快要死的人，耶穌知道神蹟奇事的重要，但重要的是祂的道，信祂，而不是看神蹟，不要本末倒置！第三，我們藉著耶穌治愈了那因犯罪而躺著三十八年的病人的神蹟，我們也照神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，如何分辨古卷的記載及翻譯是否正確。最後，我們看到耶穌是守了安息日真正的真諦，而不是律法上安息日的時間。雖然祂給了我們示範，我們該守的是律法的真諦而不是條文，但當時的猶太人並不瞭解，反而將祂釘上十字架，卻反而成就了救恩。

1. 先知在本地是沒有人尊敬的

       『過了那兩天，耶穌離了那地方，往加利利去。因為耶穌自己作過見證說：「先知在本地是沒有人尊敬的。」到了加利利，加利利人既然看見他在耶路撒冷過節所行的一切事，就接待他，因為他們也是上去過節。』(約翰福音 4:43-45)

        請注意，祂離開撒馬利亞後，並不是回到自己的家鄉，而是到加利利去，因先知在本地是沒有人尊敬的，類似的經文在馬太福音 13:57，馬可福音 6:4，和路加福音 4:24 都提過，所以這件事在四福音書都提到，也代表了其重要性。其原因是從人的角度看，家鄉的人以為對耶穌太熟習了，他們怎麼會相信耶穌能信異能呢？(參馬太福音 13:53-57) 經文說得很清楚，『到了安息日，他在會堂裏教訓人。 眾人聽見，就甚希奇，說：「這人從哪裏有這些事呢？所賜給他的是甚麼智慧？他手所做的是何等的異能呢？這不是那木匠嗎？不是馬利亞的兒子雅各、約西、猶大、西門的長兄嗎？他妹妹們不也是在我們這裏嗎？」他們就厭棄他。』(馬可福音 6:2-3) 那時就是連他的弟兄也不信(參約翰福音 7:5)，『他也詫異他們不信，就往周圍鄉村教訓人去了。』(馬可福音 6:6) 難怪祂沒有回自己的家鄉！

     要順便一提的是，雖然聖經沒有明說，所有的弟兄姊妹在祂死而復活後都相信祂，但至少聖經明說了，『至於別的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我(保羅)都沒有看見。』(加拉太書 1:19) 雅各不只是相信而已，並成為了使徒。

        在耶穌宣教後，這是祂第一次上耶路撒冷，是因逾越節而上去的，這次『…有許多人看見他所行的神蹟(sign, G4592)，就信了他的名。』(約翰福音 2:23) 加利利人也在其中，他們就因此而接待祂。

2. 耶穌以話語遥遠的治愈快要死的人

       『耶穌又到了加利利的迦拿，就是他從前變水為酒的地方。有一個大臣，他的兒子在迦百農患病。他聽見耶穌從猶太到了加利利，就來見他，求他下去醫治他的兒子，因為他兒子快要死了。耶穌就對他說：「若不看見神蹟奇事，你們總是不信。」那大臣說：「先生，求你趁着我的孩子還沒有死就下去。」耶穌對他說：「回去吧！你的兒子活了。」 那人信耶穌所說的話，就回去了。正下去的時候，他的僕人迎見他，說他的兒子活了。他就問甚麼時候見好的。他們說：「昨日未時熱就退了。」他便知道這正是耶穌對他說「你兒子活了」的時候，他自己和全家就都信了。這是耶穌在加利利行的第二件神蹟，是他從猶太回去以後行的。』(約翰福音 4:46-54)

        這件神蹟記載的很清楚，也看到耶穌可以用祂所說的話，就遥遠的治好那快要死了的兒子。從人的角度看，一定要在一口氣還在的時候要找到耶穌，其實耶穌是可以讓死人復活的。在這經文中，我們看到，『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。」』(約翰福音 11:21-22) 當『耶穌說：「你兄弟必然復活。」』(約翰福音 11:23) 時，她的回答是，『馬大說：「我知道在末日復活的時候，他必復活。」』(約翰福音 11:24) 她沒有想到就是當天，耶穌以話語成就了祂的旨意。(參約翰福音 11:25-45)

        耶穌知道神蹟奇事的重要，因『耶穌就對他說：「若不看見神蹟奇事，你們總是不信。」』(約翰福音 4:48) 我們看到，『當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候，有許多人看見他所行的神蹟，就信了他的名。耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:23-25) 因祂知道，神蹟本是用來為救恩効力的，『…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) 祂也深知，『因為假基督、假先知將要起來，顯大神蹟、大奇事。倘若能行，連選民也就迷惑了。』(馬太福音 24:24) 人常常為超自然的事情所迷惑，所以一定要分辨。重要的是祂的道，信祂，而不是看神蹟，我們看到在祂道成肉身的那段時間中，『他雖然在他們面前行了許多神蹟，他們還是不信他。』(約翰福音 12:37) 

        我們也看到，『… 使徒…行了許多奇事、神蹟。』(使徒行傳 2:43) 保羅說得很清楚，『除了基督藉我做的那些事，我甚麼都不敢提，只提他藉我言語作為，用神蹟奇事的能力，並聖靈的能力，使外邦人順服。』(羅馬書 15:18) 他又說，『我在你們中間，用百般的忍耐，藉着神蹟、奇事、異能，顯出使徒的憑據來。』(哥林多後書 12:12)  我們要注意，神蹟奇事有其重要性，只是要分辨，要以道為主，神蹟奇事只是為証實祂的道，不要本末倒置！

     最後我們來看看那大臣的信心，首先是他的兒子在迦百農，他是事前就相信耶穌能醫治他的兒子，所以他跑了不短的路到迦拿來見耶穌。當他見到耶穌後又相信祂的話，且用信心的行為「下去」來表示！更因僕人帶來的訊息証實了耶穌用話語遥治了他的兒子。當經歷了這樣的神蹟，你想一個正常人會不信嗎？難怪他自己和全家就都信了。

3. 耶穌治愈了躺著三十八年的病人

       『這事以後，到了猶太人的一個節期，耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。在耶路撒冷，靠近羊門有一個池子，希伯來話叫作畢士大，旁邊有五個廊子。裏面躺着瞎眼的、瘸腿的、血氣枯乾的許多病人。有古卷加：等候水動；因為有天使按時(G2540)下池子攪動那水，水動之後，誰先下去，無論害甚麼病就痊癒了。）在那裏有一個人，病了三十八年。耶穌看見他躺着，知道他病了許久(G5540)，就問他說：「你要痊愈嗎？」病人回答說：「先生，水動的時候，沒有人把我放在池子裏；我正去的時候，就有別人比我先下去。」耶穌對他說：「起來，拿你的褥子走吧！」那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子來走了。』(約翰福音 5:1-9)

        這神蹟非常消楚的記載了、這個因耶穌話語而得醫治的躺著的病人。很顯然的，水是會動的，他看到別人得到痊愈自己卻來不及，只好等在那裏，這一等就等了三十八年，是自己犯罪而得的懲罰了三十八年，因『後來耶穌在殿裏遇見他，對他說：「你已經痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」』(約翰福音 5:14) 我們可看見罪的可怕！雖然聖經沒有明說是犯了什麼罪，但有三十八的懲罰，不會是小罪，因神是有憐憫有恩典的。請注意，他是立刻痊愈的。

     耶穌明知他想痊愈，卻仍然問他，是主憐憫了他，也顯出了祂有權柄赦罪，就像這些經文所說，『或說『你的罪赦了』，或說『你起來行走』，哪一樣容易呢？但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。」就對癱子說：「起來，拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人就起來，回家去了。』(馬太福音 9:5-7) 我們知道這兩者都不容易，我們都不能做，祂顯出了祂的主權，兩者都做了！

        在新約的時代，我們只要悔改，就會在屬靈上沒有懲罰，因『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) 在屬世上，我們還是要付出代價，這就如和耶穌同釘十字架的強盜，『耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。」』(路加福音 23:43) 這顯然是指屬靈的事。在屬世上，他仍然被釘在十字架上而死，遵守羅馬的法律，如同耶穌被釘十架而死一樣。

        最後我們來判斷一下，古卷的記載是否有問題？我們說過水是會動的，這顯然不是指風吹而水動，撒但和牠的差役不會去攪動水，因此攪動水的是天使，這是對的。在這經文中用了兩個原文字， G5550 和 G2540，在彙編中比較了這兩個字，前者是指不定的一段時間，所以這裏是說許久，後者是指固定的時間或是特別的場合，是可以翻譯成按時或是指畢士大的那個場合。如果是固定了時間，那些人只要在固定時間來就可以了，如果是指畢士大那個場合，水動就會隨時發生！照神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，應該他們不會事先知道，有不少這樣的例子，譬如說，這就猶如撒母耳膏大衞時一樣。

        讓我們來看膏大衞的這件事情，耶和華對撒母耳說，『你要請耶西來吃祭肉，我就指示你所當行的事。我所指給你的人，你要膏他。』(撒母耳記上 16:3) 你看這裏，撒母耳是先相信祂，並有信心的行為來表示他的信心，然後耶和華才指示他。

     最後是，『耶西叫他七個兒子都從撒母耳面前經過，撒母耳說：「這都不是耶和華所揀選的。」撒母耳對耶西說：「你的兒子都在這裏嗎？」 他回答說：「還有個小的，現在放羊。」 撒母耳對耶西說：「你打發人去叫他來；他若不來，我們必不坐席。」耶西就打發人去叫了他來。他面色光紅，雙目清秀，容貌俊美。 耶和華說：「這就是他，你起來膏他。」』(撒母耳記上 16:10-12) 你看，撒母耳連要膏誰事先都不知道，他在信心中往前，知道耶和華最後一分鐘會指示他。

     在現實生活中，聖靈的工作也常是最後一分鐘才做，我們非得在信心中往前不可。我經歷過不少這樣的事情，以這次的專題查經為例，一直到今天早上我才完全準備好，你如果問我為什麼不提早預備，我試過，但沒有話，尤有甚著，有一次我在一星期前就準備，反而把兩次的話一小部份搞在一起了，從此以後就看情況，通常要到星期五才有話語出來，有時比較早，因現實上有其他的事，必須要提早準備，到目前為止，神從來不誤事。這就是我以前強調的，一定要讓聖靈帶領才有可能不強解聖經，要不就和我以前一樣，看不懂，所以我不只是為大家準備也是為了自己，因聖靈的帶領看懂一些以前不懂的地方，就如我以前跟本沒注意到這兩個原文字，G5550 和 G2540 和其不同。就是今天，我也不能完全讀出來，也會有讀進去的時候，一發覺到自己的錯誤，就要更正，如過去有些專題查經的更正一樣。

     每個人都可被聖靈帶領的，想想啓示錄中的老底嘉教會把耶穌關在門外，祂仍說，『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) 三位一體的神中的聖靈，巴不得每個人都真正的心甘情願開心門。

4. 耶穌守安息日的真諦

       『那天是安息日，所以猶太人對那醫好的人說：「今天是安息日，你拿褥子是不可的！」他卻回答說：「那使我痊愈的對我說：『拿你的褥子走吧』」他們問他說：「對你說『拿褥子走』的是甚麼人？」那醫好的人不知道是誰，因為那裏的人多，耶穌已經躲開了。後來耶穌在殿裏遇見他，對他說：「你已經痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」那人就去告訴猶太人，使他痊愈的是耶穌。』所以猶太人逼迫耶穌，因為他在安息日做了這事。耶穌就對他們說：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」所以猶太人越發想要殺他，因他不但犯了安息日，並且稱神為他的父，將自己和神當作平等。』(約翰福音 5:10-18)

        我們看到耶穌是守了安息日的真諦，而不是律法上安息日的時間。我們以前在『2050 馬太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶穌的形像 (5)』中的『4. 人子是安息日的主』討論過這點，就不多說了，你可到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。在這經文中，『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) 從神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來看，很清楚的知道，這是指要受律法的真諦，而不是指表面上的字句。

     請注意，耶穌是躲開了，顯然不是要藉這神蹟揚名，聖經上還有些這樣的例子，大家可以自己去看看。在這裏，雖然耶穌給我們作了示範，我們該守的是律法的真諦而不是條文，但當時的猶太人並不瞭解，這裏很清楚的說到猶太人反起了殺心，這裏也說到猶太人越法想到殺祂的原因，基本上這原因也是祂最後被釘十字架的原因。

     當祂因賣主的猶大被捕、而受大祭司該亞法審判時，我們看到『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 26:65-66) 『到了早晨，眾祭司長和民間的長老，大家商議要治死耶穌，就把他捆綁，解去交給巡撫彼拉多。』(馬太福音 27:1-2) 送交彼拉多是因為當時的猶太人沒有殺人的權柄。

        彼拉多在羅馬的律法中也找不出祂有什麼該死的原因，這可從經文看出，『彼拉多傳齊了祭司長和官府並百姓，就對他們說：「你們解這人到我這裏，說他是誘惑百姓的。看哪，我也曾將你們告他的事，在你們面前審問他，並沒有查出他甚麼罪來；就是希律也是如此，所以把他送回來。可見他沒有做甚麼該死的事。故此，我要責打他，把他釋放了。」』(路加福音 23:13-16) 這經文會談到希律，因彼拉多『既曉得耶穌屬希律所管，就把他送到希律那裏去。那時希律正在耶路撒冷。』(路加福音 23:7) 看相應的經文就知道希律為什麼把祂送回來。

     在眾人的壓力下，『彼拉多見說也無濟於事，反要生亂，就拿水在眾人面前洗手，說：「流這義人的血，罪不在我，你們承當吧！」眾人都回答說：「他的血歸到我們和我們的子孫身上。」於是彼拉多釋放(強盜)巴拉巴給他們，把耶穌鞭打了，交給人釘十字架。』(馬太福音 27:24-26) 彼拉多是洗手了，但洗不掉他明知故犯的罪！卻因耶穌的釘十字架成就了救恩，『…乃用自己的血，只一次進入聖所，成了永遠贖罪的事。』(希伯來書 9:12) 在一個人成聖的路上，不會不犯罪的，我們依靠的就是耶穌的寶血，可以悔改。我們不要做一個明知故犯的人，而要做一個需要悔改時，就能隨時悔改的人。

(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 the reason why no one respects a prophet locally.  Second, we have seen that Jesus can heal people who are dying from afar with words. Jesus knows the importance of signs and wonders, but the important thing is His Word, believing in Him, not looking at miracles, and thus don’t put the cart before the horse!  Third, through the miracle of Jesus healing the sick man who had been lying for thirty-eight years due to his sin, we also from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent to examine whether the records and translations in the ancient scrolls are correct.   Finally, we see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the legal Sabbath time.  Although He gave us an example that what we should abide by is the true meaning of the Law rather than the letter, the Jews at that time did not understand it and instead nailed Him to the cross, which actually achieved salvation.

1. No one respects a prophet locally

 “After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.”(John 4:43-45)

Please note that after He left Samaria, He did not return to His hometown, but to Galilee, because a prophet was not respected there. Similar verses are in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, and Luke 4:24, so this matter is mentioned in the four Gospels, which also represents its importance.  The reason is that from a human perspective, people in His hometown thought they were too familiar with Jesus. How could they believe that Jesus could perform miracles?  (See Matthew 13:53-57) The scripture says very clearly, “When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.”(Mark 6:2-3) At that time, even his brothers did not believe (see John 7:5). “And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”(Mark 6:6) No wonder He didn’t go back to His hometown!

By the way, although the Bible does not clearly say that all His brothers and sisters believed in Him after His death and resurrection, at least the Bible clearly says, “But I (Paul) did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”(Galatians 1:19) James not only believed but became an apostle.

After Jesus preached, this was the first time He went to Jerusalem. He went up for the Passover. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs (G4592) which He was doing.”(John 2:23) The Galileans were among them, and they received Him for this reason.

2. Jesus healed a person people who were dying remotely with His words

“Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”(John 4:46-54)

This miracle (sign) is recorded very clearly, and it also shows that Jesus could use the words He spoke to heal his dying son from afar.  From a human perspective, you must find Jesus while one is still alive. In fact, Jesus can resurrect the dead.  In this passage, we see, “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.””(John 11:21-22) When “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.””‘(John 11:23), her response was, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”(John 11:24) She did not expect that on that day, Jesus would accomplish what He said with His words.  (See John 11:25-45)

Jesus knew the importance of signs and wonders, because “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””(John 4:48) We see, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:23-25) Because He knew that miracles were used to work for salvation, “…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) He also knew very well, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:24) People are often confused by supernatural things, so they must be discerned.  What is important is His Word, believing in Him, rather than looking at miracles. We see that during the time when He was incarnate, “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.”(John 12:37)

We also see,”…many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”(Acts 2:43) Paul made it very clear, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.”(Romans 15:18) He also said, “I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”(2 Corinthians 12:11-12) So, Paul performed miracles too. We must pay attention to the fact that signs and wonders have their own importance. We just need to distinguish supernatural things and let the Word be the main thing. Miracles and wonders are only to confirm His Word. Don’t put the cart before the horse!

Finally, let’s take a look at faith of the royal official. First, his son was in Capernaum. He believed in advance that Jesus could heal his son, so he ran a long way to Cana to see Jesus.  When he saw Jesus, he believed His words again and expressed it with an act of faith: “Going down!”  What’s more, the message brought by the servant confirmed that Jesus used words to heal his son remotely.  After experiencing such a miracle, do you think a normal person would not believe it?  No wonder he and his whole family believed it.

 ​

3. Jesus healed a sick man who had been lying there for thirty-eight years

“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons (G2540) into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time (G5550) in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.”(John 5:1-9)

This miracle is a very clear which recorded that the lying sick man was healed by the words of Jesus.  Obviously, water can move. He saw others being healed but he was too late, so he had to wait there. He waited for thirty-eight years, which was the punishment for his sin since “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.””(John 5:14) We can see the horror of sin!  Although the Bible does not clearly state what kind of sin he had committed, there are thirty-eight punishments, and it will not be a small sin, because God is merciful and gracious.  Notice, he was healed immediately.

Jesus knew that he wanted to be healed, but he still asked him that. It showed that the Lord had mercy on him and that He had the authority to forgive sins. It is just like the case that these verses say, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”⁠—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home.”(Matthew 9:5-7) We know that neither is easy and neither of us can do it. He demonstrated His sovereignty by doing both!

In the age of the New Testament, as long as we repent, we will not be punished spiritually, because “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) In this world, we still have to pay a price, just like the thief who was crucified with Jesus. “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) This obviously refers to spiritual things.  In the earthly world, he was still crucified and died, obeying Roman law, just as Jesus was crucified and died. ​

Finally, let’s judge whether there is anything wrong with the records in the ancient scrolls stated in the brackets?  We have said that water can move. This obviously does not mean that the wind moves the water. Satan and his servants will not stir the water. Therefore, it is the angels who stir the water. This is correct.  Two original words are used in this scripture, G5550 and G2540. These two words were compared in the Strong’s Concordance. The former refers to an indefinite period of time, so here it means a long time, and the latter refers to a fixed time or a special time. It can be translated as ‘at certain seasons’ or refers to ‘the occasion of Bethesda.’  If the time is fixed, those people only need to come at the fixed time. If it refers to the Bethesda’s occasion, the water movement will happen at any time!  Judging from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, they should not know it in advance. There are many such examples. For example, this is like when Samuel anointed David.

Let’s look at the event of the anointing of David. The Lord said to Samuel, “You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.””(1 Samuel 16:3) You see here, Samuel believed in Him first and had acts of faith to show his faith, and then Jehovah showed him.

Finally, “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.””(1 Samuel 16:10-12) You see, Samuel didn’t even know in advance who he was going to anoint. He went forward in faith, knowing that the LORD would instruct him in the last minute.

In real life, the work of the Holy Spirit is often done at the last minute. We must move forward in faith.  I have experienced many such things. Take this topic-wise Bible study as an example. I was not fully prepared until this morning. If you ask me why I didn’t prepare in advance, I tried, but nothing happened. At one time I prepared a week in advance, but put together a small part of the two week speeches. From then on, it depends on the situation, usually it takes until Friday for the words to come out, sometimes earlier, because in reality there are other things to do sometimes and thus I must be prepared in advance. So far, God has never missed anything.  This is what I have emphasized before. Only by letting the Holy Spirit lead can we not forcefully interpret the Bible. Otherwise, you will be just like me before, unable to understand the Bible. So I prepare it not only for everyone else but also for myself, because of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I can understand some things what I didn’t understand before. For example, I didn’t notice the two original words G5550 and G2540 before, whose difference were discussed earlier.  Even today, I can’t read it out from the Bible  completely. There will be times when I read it in. Once I find my mistakes, I have to correct them, just like the corrections I made in some topic-wise Bible studies in the past.

Everyone can be led by the Holy Spirit. Think about the church in Laodicea in the Book of Revelation. Jesus was shut out of the door, but He still said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) The Holy Spirit in the Trinity likes to see that everyone is truly willing to open their doors in hearts.

4. The true meaning of Jesus’ Sabbath keeping

“So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”(John 5:10-18)

We see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the time of the Sabbath in the Law.  We have discussed this point before in “4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

” of “1050 The call of Matthew, fasting, and Sabbath -The image of Jesus (5),“ so I won’t say more. After going to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, please click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article. In the verse, it says, ” ​​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) From what the Bible tells us is consistent, it refers the true meaning of the Law, not the letters.

Please note that Jesus obviously did not want to use this miracle to become famous for He had slipped away. There are some such examples in the Bible, which you can take a look for yourself.  Here, although Jesus gave us an example, what we should keep is the true meaning of the law rather than the letter, but the Jews at that time did not understand it. It is clearly mentioned here that the Jews were rebellious and murderous, and it is also mentioned here the reason why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him. And it was basically the reason why He was ultimately crucified.

When He was arrested after Judas’ betrayal and was tried by the high priest Caiaphas, we see that “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 26:65-66) “Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.”(Matthew 27:1-2) It was sent to Pilate because the Jews at that time did not have the authority to kill.

Pilate could not find any reason for his death in Roman’s law. This can be seen from the scripture, “Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.””(Luke 23:13-16) This passage will talk about Herod, because when Pilate “…learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.”(Luke 23:7) If you look at the corresponding scriptures, you will know why Herod sent Him back.

Under the pressure of the crowd, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas (a criminal ) for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Matthew 27:24-26) Pilate washed his hands, but he could not wash away the sins he knowingly committed!  But salvation was accomplished through the crucifixion of Jesus, “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Hebrews 9:12) On the road to sanctification, one will fail to sin. We rely on the precious blood of Jesus to repent.  We should not be people who knowingly commit sins, but people who can repent at any time when we need to repent.

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

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

     首先我们来看施洗约翰没下监时的见证和观点，他非常的清楚的知道耶稣是从天上来的，知道祂必兴旺，我必衰微。第二，我们讨论耶稣必须和撒马利亚妇人谈话，是圣灵带领的，在这件事上，我们看见神常用巧合来引导人，但不是所有的巧合都是神的引导。第三，我们看看耶稣要给她的活水是什么，经文清楚的说那活水就是圣灵。最后讨论真正拜父的要用心灵和真理拜祂，而不能如和合本的翻译说要用心灵和诚实拜祂，我们用出埃及记中，以色列人诚实的以为金牛犊就是耶和华做例子，详细的讨论这相应的原文字实在是不能像和合本一样的翻译为诚实，这样错误的翻译真会害死很多人，不要停留在错误的诚实中，要分辩，要悔改！不过这样的错误会有一个好处，就是意识到其和圣经不合，会仔细的读相关的经文，找出错误在那里。在这段的最后，我们利用这段经文来详细讨论一个基督徒常说的，我对圣经的看见和你的看见不一样，到底意谓著什么，错误在那里？

1. 施洗约翰没下监时的见证和观点         

    『这事以后，耶稣和门徒到了犹太地，在那里居住施洗。约翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因为那里水多，众人都去受洗。那时约翰还没有下在监里。约翰的门徒和一个犹太人辩论洁净的礼，就来见约翰说：「拉比，从前同你在约旦河外、你所见证的那位，现在施洗，众人都往他那里去了。」约翰说：「若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得甚么。我曾说『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你们自己可以给我作见证。娶新妇的就是新郎，新郎的朋友站著听见新郎的声音就甚喜乐，故此我这喜乐满足了。他必兴旺，我必衰微。」「从天上来的，是在万有之上；从地上来的，是属乎地，他所说的也是属乎地。从天上来的是在万有之上。他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的。神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。信子的人有永生，不信子的人得不著永生，神的震怒常在他身上。」』(约翰福音 3:22-36)         

    首先我们看到了施洗约翰施洗的地方，他的门徒以为耶稣也亲自施洗，『（其实不是耶稣亲自施洗，乃是他的门徒施洗。）』(约翰福音 4:2) 施洗约翰知道他只是基督耶稣的先锋，他知道自己只是新郎的朋友，有著好得不能再好的态度，『他必兴旺，我必衰微。』(约翰福音 3:30) 其实我们现在治死老我也是一样，祂必兴旺，我必衰微，也只有这样，我们才可以模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)。         

    施洗约翰非常确定耶稣是天上来的，因『约翰又作见证说：「我曾看见圣灵仿佛鸽子从天降下，住在他(耶稣)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) 他知道从天而来的是在万有之上，且预知耶稣虽见证了在天上的所见所闻，但基本上没有人相信祂。你看，祂道成肉身时，在地上行了多少神迹，有多少人真正相信祂，且最终被钉上了十字架，所以这是预知。而『那领受他见证的，就印上印(sealed, G4972, 两次, 在希腊文中是这样的去加强语气)，证明神是真的。』(约翰福音 3:33) 我们也看到耶稣道成肉身那段时间，『…神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 而耶稣也是，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 真是『父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。』(约翰福音 3:35)      #####最后提到的约翰福音 3:36 是和约翰福音 3:18 讲的是一致的。我们也看到，耶稣道成肉身那段时间，神是透过圣灵来引导祂的，这点非常清楚，因那段日子祂是完全的人，而耶和华对摩西『…说：「你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及记 33:20) 所以祂那段时间也不能见神的面，要不，祂就不是完全的人了。耶稣说，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 这只是在说一个事实，因祂本是三位一体的神中的一位，这是与生具来的，就像一个王子过乞丐的生活，就说他不是王子是不对的，所以耶稣在道成肉身的那段时间，仍是完全的神。

2. 必须和撒马利亚妇人谈话       

     『主知道法利赛人听见他收门徒施洗比约翰还多，（其实不是耶稣亲自施洗，乃是他的门徒施洗。）他就离了犹太，又往加利利去。必须经过撒马利亚，于是到了撒马利亚的一座城，名叫叙加，靠近雅各给他儿子约瑟的那块地。在那里有雅各井。耶稣因走路困乏，就坐在井旁。那时约有午正。有一个撒马利亚的妇人来打水，耶稣对她说：「请你给我水喝。」那时门徒进城买食物去了。』(约翰福音 4:1-8)         

    我们首先从人的角度看，从犹大到加利利去至少有两条路，一是经过撒玛利亚的直路较短，一是先渡过约但河再北上的绕道而行，当然是较久，因『…犹太人和撒马利亚人没有来往。』(约翰福音 4:9) 所以犹太人通常愿意绕道而行，多花一些时间，不是「必须」经过撒玛利亚，可是这里是说「必须」，为什么是必须的？我们知道耶稣的一生都顺服神的带领，就像祂自己说的，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 而『神所差来的(道成肉身的耶稣)，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 我们在这里看到了神是借著圣灵、三位一体的神中的一位、带领道成肉身的耶稣，所以是圣灵很清楚的让祂看到，祂那时「必须」经过撒玛利亚，要和撒玛利亚妇人谈那一席话。        

    对一些人说，好像事情的发生在巧合里面，耶稣正好遇见午正来打水的那个撒马利亚的妇人，但我们如果看路得记就知道，神常用巧合来引导人，这点我们就不多讲，请你们自己回去看路得记。请注意，不是说所有的巧合都是神的引导，要分辩，不能划等号。        

    我们看到，『那时门徒进城买食物去了。』(约翰福音 4:8) 所以关于耶稣对她后面讲的那一段关于活水的话题，门徒当时是不在场的。当门徒买到食物回来的『这其间，门徒对耶稣说：「拉比，请吃。」耶稣说：「我有食物吃，是你们不知道的。」门徒就彼此对问说：「莫非有人拿甚么给他吃吗？」耶稣说：「我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，做成他的工。』(约翰福音 4:31-34) 这里我们不是又看到祂必须经过撒玛利亚才能做成神的工吗？

    我们最后来看看她为什么会在午正热的时候来打水，那时是应该留在家中纳凉的时候，这是为什么只会有她一人，她选择了那个时段是可以有机会成功的避开众人的，我们来看看为什么。『耶稣说：「你去叫你丈夫也到这里来。」妇人说：「我没有丈夫。」 耶稣说：「你说没有丈夫，是不错的。你已经有五个丈夫，你现在有的，并不是你的丈夫，你这话是真的。」』(约翰福音 4:16-18) 这样的人当时是不会被大多数人所接受的，难怪她会尽可能选择能避开人的时段去打水！

3. 活水是指什么？        

    『撒马利亚的妇人对他说：「你既是犹太人，怎么向我一个撒马利亚妇人要水喝呢？」原来犹太人和撒马利亚人没有来往。耶稣回答说：「你若知道神的恩赐和对你说『给我水喝』的是谁，你必早求他，他也必早给了你活水。」妇人说：「先生，没有打水的器具，井又深，你从哪里得活水呢？我们的祖宗雅各将这井留给我们，他自己和儿子并牲畜也都喝这井里的水，难道你比他还大吗？」耶稣回答说：「凡喝这水的，还要再渴；人若喝我所赐的水，就永远不渴。我所赐的水要在他里头成为泉源，直涌到永生。」妇人说：「先生，请把这水赐给我，叫我不渴，也不用来这么远打水。」耶稣说：「你去叫你丈夫也到这里来。」妇人说：「我没有丈夫。」 耶稣说：「你说没有丈夫，是不错的。你已经有五个丈夫，你现在有的，并不是你的丈夫，你这话是真的。」妇人说：「先生，我看出你是先知。我们的祖宗在这山上礼拜，你们倒说，应当礼拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。」』(约翰福音 4:9-20)         

    我们一开始就看到，耶稣预备好要赐活水给她，必须经过撒马利亚做成神的工。我们也看到了她的回答，从人的角度看是绝对正确的，然后耶稣回答她说祂讲的是永远不渴的活水，且『…我所赐的水要在他里头成为泉源，直涌到永生。』(约翰福音 4:14) 这是讲属灵的事情。我们看她从人的角度一听有这么好的东西，当然想要，于是就说，『…也不用来这么远打水。』(约翰福音 4:15) 我们看到她是住得相当的远，当有太阳时，选择了午正打水，是会有相当长的时间瀑露在太阳底下的，相当的不容易。因他们是第一次见面，所以当耶稣将她『素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了…』(约翰福音 4:29)的时候，她知道祂是一位先知，就用一个现有的事实去问耶稣，我们就会在下面一段来看耶稣的回答。

    在看耶稣的回答前，我们就从经文看来看那活水究竟是什么呢？『(住棚节)节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声说：「人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝！信我的人，就如经上所说：『从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。』」耶稣这话是指著信他之人要受圣灵说的。那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀。』(约翰福音 7:37-39)     

    我们看到祂是站著高声说，很显然的祂是要别人听到祂的话。的确那时圣灵还没有赐下来， 到耶稣死而复活后的五旬节，圣灵才赐了！下来，就像这些经文所说，『五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子；又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。他们就都被圣灵充满，按著圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。』(使徒行传 2:1-4) 所以那活水是指赐下的圣灵。

4. 真正拜父的要用心灵和真理拜祂

    『耶稣说：「妇人，你当信我。时候将到，你们拜父也不在这山上，也不在耶路撒冷。你们所拜的，你们不知道；我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。时候将到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实(truth, G225)拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。神是(个)灵，所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。」妇人说：「我知道弥赛亚（就是那称为基督的）要来，他来了，必将一切的事都告诉我们。」耶稣说：「这和你说话的就是他。」』(约翰福音 4:21-26)      

    在我们详细讨论原文的这个字 G225，为什么不能翻译做诚实前，我们看到了祂直接承认自己是弥赛亚，并不像祂传道的晚期时，都要别人先说祂是基督。譬如，耶稣在被大祭司审问的时候，『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。…』(马太福音 26:63-64)     

    从这些经文，我们看到她的确相信了祂，『…那妇人作见证说：「他将我素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了。」于是撒马利亚人来见耶稣，求他在他们那里住下，他便在那里住了两天。因耶稣的话，信的人就更多了，便对妇人说：「现在我们信，不是因为你的话，是我们亲自听见了知道这真是救世主。」』(约翰福音 4:39-42)      #####很显然的，至少有人信了她的话，于是他们求祂住下要听更多的。我们看见，人有自由意志，虽是信的人就更多了，还是有不信的人。我们也看到「亲自」是非常的重要，不要做二手的基督徒，只听别人或圣经说，要亲自去体会。我们看到那妇人自己一得救，就去告诉别人，成功的宣道，不是在等待著。        

    请注意，原文是说神是灵，并没有个字。我们就来看耶稣的回答，祂说，『…我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。』(约翰福音 4:22) 这和保罗说的是一致的，『我不以福音为耻，这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。』(罗马书 1:16) 在旧约中，我们可以很清楚的看到只有以色列人是神的选民。譬如，摩西在这点上说明得很清楚，『哪一大国的人有神与他们相近，像耶和华我们的神在我们求告他的时候与我们相近呢？又哪一大国有这样公义的律例典章，像我今日在你们面前所陈明的这一切律法呢？』(申命记 4:7-8)       

    祂又说，『时候将到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实(真理, truth, G225)拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。』(约翰福音 4:23) 我们来看 G225 这个字，汇编说，它总共出现了 110 次，在约翰福音就出现了 25次，我们看那 25 次，就可以看到它的意义是和这典型的经文相同，就是，『道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理(truth, G225)。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。』(约翰福音 1:14) 所以我实在不能了解和合本在这里 G225 这字翻译做诚实，而不是原文说的「真理」。

    有人可能会说这字 G225 可以有两个意思啊！我们来看一个旧约中诚实的例子，就会更清楚这实在是不可能。如果我们参照出埃及记 32:1-8，就知道那时做了一个金牛犊，且他们『…献燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。』(出埃及记 32:6)  他们说，『…以色列啊，这是领你出埃及地的神！』(出埃及记 32:4) 他们是诚实的相信这金牛犊就是耶和华。但『耶和华吩咐摩西说：「(从山上)下去吧！因为你的百姓，就是你从埃及地领出来的，已经败坏了。他们快快偏离了我所吩咐的道，为自己铸了一只牛犊，向它下拜献祭说：『以色列啊，这就是领你出埃及地的神！』」』(出埃及记 32:7-8) 你想神是要这样不在真理中的诚实人拜祂吗？所以这字 G225 实在是不能翻译成诚实，这样错误的翻译真会害死很多人，不要停留在错误的诚实中，要分辩，要悔改！不过这样的错误会有一个好处，就是意识到其和圣经不合，会仔细的读相关的经文，找出错误在那里。       

    我们最后讨论一个我以前知道是对的，但不知如何回答的问题，就是基督徒常在现实中说，我们的看法不一样，而保罗明说，『你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。』(腓立比书 2:2) 这不是看起来保罗的话和现实有矛盾吗？到底该如何解释这现象呢？

    我们说过，神是无限，而人是有限，我们不可能完全了解圣经，因三位一体的神可以随时开我们的眼睛，看到我们以前不知道的事情，如以利沙的仆人眼睛被开一样，『以利沙祷告说：「耶和华啊，求你开这少年人的眼目，使他能看见。」耶和华开他的眼目，他就看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。』(列王纪下 6:17) 现在我们就借著约翰福音 4:21-26 来说明这现象。     

    首先，我们假设神在其中给我们所有的讯息可以用一个长方块来表示，我们可以用其中的一个黑圆块代表在成圣的路上，神给我们看见其中的一些讯息。问题是对同一件事情，我们又加上了一些自己的意见，这是用在长方块外和黑圆块联结的椭圆来表示，但是每个人有自己不同的意见，也就会有不同颜色的椭圆。虽然黑圆块是一样的，但最后联结的形状就不一样了，这是为什么基督徒常说我们的看法不同！我们可看见是要「读出来」圣经的真义，而不是读进去自己的想法，去强解圣经。

图一: 我们的看法不一样的示意图

    即使没有读进去自己的想法，因不同人走在成圣之路的进度会不一样，就用长方块中不同颜色的椭圆来表示，因他们在同一个长方块中，是相容的，不会不同的！当然，如果我们一定要定义说这也是不同的，那就没办法了！至少要分辩出两种的不同。如果两人之中至少有一个有能听的耳，就可能因别人的话得到启示。

图二: 成圣之路的进度不同的示意图

    我还要提一下，我们怎么能确定我们的椭圆一定在方块中呢？因为我们在每一个题目上，就像约翰福音4:21-26 一样，都是用在基于圣经话语的圣经概念、来读出来圣经对这题目有的概念，这怎么不会在圣经要给的讯息中呢！ 

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

     首先我們來看施洗約翰沒下監時的見証和觀點，他非常的清楚的知道耶穌是從天上來的，知道祂必興旺，我必衰微。第二，我們討論耶穌必須和撒馬利亞婦人談話，是聖靈帶領的，在這件事上，我們看見神常用巧合來引導人，但不是所有的巧合都是神的引導。第三，我們看看耶穌要給她的活水是什麼，經文清楚的說那活水就是聖靈。最後討論真正拜父的要用心靈和真理拜祂，而不能如和合本的翻譯說要用心靈和誠實拜祂，我們用出埃及記中，以色列人誠實的以為金牛犢就是耶和華做例子，詳細的討論這相應的原文字實在是不能像和合本一樣的翻譯為誠實，這樣錯誤的翻譯真會害死很多人，不要停留在錯誤的誠實中，要分辨，要悔改！不過這樣的錯誤會有一個好處，就是意識到其和聖經不合，會仔細的讀相關的經文，找出錯誤在那裏。在這段的最後，我們利用這段經文來詳細討論一個基督徒常說的，我對聖經的看見和你的看見不一樣，到底意謂著什麼，錯誤在那裏？

1. 施洗約翰沒下監時的見証和觀點

         『這事以後，耶穌和門徒到了猶太地，在那裏居住施洗。約翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因為那裏水多，眾人都去受洗。那時約翰還沒有下在監裏。約翰的門徒和一個猶太人辯論潔淨的禮，就來見約翰說：「拉比，從前同你在約旦河外、你所見證的那位，現在施洗，眾人都往他那裏去了。」約翰說：「若不是從天上賜的，人就不能得甚麼。我曾說『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你們自己可以給我作見證。娶新婦的就是新郎，新郎的朋友站着聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂，故此我這喜樂滿足了。他必興旺，我必衰微。」「從天上來的，是在萬有之上；從地上來的，是屬乎地，他所說的也是屬乎地。從天上來的是在萬有之上。他將所見所聞的見證出來，只是沒有人領受他的見證。那領受他見證的，就印上印，證明神是真的。神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。父愛子，已將萬有交在他手裏。信子的人有永生，不信子的人得不着永生，神的震怒常在他身上。」』(約翰福音 3:22-36)

         首先我們看到了施洗約翰施洗的地方，他的門徒以為耶穌也親自施洗，『（其實不是耶穌親自施洗，乃是他的門徒施洗。）』(約翰福音 4:2) 施洗約翰知道他只是基督耶穌的先鋒，他知道自己只是新郎的朋友，有著好得不能再好的態度，『他必興旺，我必衰微。』(約翰福音 3:30) 其實我們現在治死老我也是一樣，祂必興旺，我必衰微，也只有這樣，我們才可以模成耶穌的形像(參羅馬書 8:29)。

         施洗約翰非常確定耶穌是天上來的，因『約翰又作見證說：「我曾看見聖靈彷彿鴿子從天降下，住在他(耶穌)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) 他知道從天而來的是在萬有之上，且預知耶穌雖見証了在天上的所見所聞，但基本上沒有人相信祂。你看，祂道成肉身時，在地上行了多少神蹟，有多少人真正相信祂，且最終被釘上了十字架，所以這是預知。而『那領受他見證的，就印上印(sealed, G4972, 兩次, 在希臘文中是這樣的去加強語氣)，證明神是真的。』(約翰福音 3:33) 我們也看到耶穌道成肉身那段時間，『…神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 而耶穌也是，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 真是『父愛子，已將萬有交在他手裏。』(約翰福音 3:35)

     最後提到的約翰福音 3:36 是和約翰福音 3:18 講的是一致的。我們也看到，耶穌道成肉身那段時間，神是透過聖靈來引導祂的，這點非常清楚，因那段日子祂是完全的人，而耶和華對摩西『…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) 所以祂那段時間也不能見神的面，要不，祂就不是完全的人了。耶穌說，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 這只是在說一個事實，因祂本是三位一體的神中的一位，這是與生具來的，就像一個王子過乞丐的生活，就說他不是王子是不對的，所以耶穌在道成肉身的那段時間，仍是完全的神。

2. 必須和撒馬利亞婦人談話

        『主知道法利賽人聽見他收門徒施洗比約翰還多，（其實不是耶穌親自施洗，乃是他的門徒施洗。）他就離了猶太，又往加利利去。必須經過撒馬利亞，於是到了撒馬利亞的一座城，名叫敍加，靠近雅各給他兒子約瑟的那塊地。在那裏有雅各井。耶穌因走路困乏，就坐在井旁。那時約有午正。有一個撒馬利亞的婦人來打水，耶穌對她說：「請你給我水喝。」那時門徒進城買食物去了。』(約翰福音 4:1-8)

         我們首先從人的角度看，從猶大到加利利去至少有兩條路，一是經過撒瑪利亞的直路較短，一是先渡過約但河再北上的繞道而行，當然是較久，因『…猶太人和撒馬利亞人沒有來往。』(約翰福音 4:9) 所以猶太人通常願意繞道而行，多花一些時間，不是「必須」經過撒瑪利亞，可是這裏是說「必須」，為什麼是必須的？我們知道耶穌的一生都順服神的帶領，就像祂自己說的，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 而『神所差來的(道成肉身的耶穌)，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 我們在這裏看到了神是藉著聖靈、三位一體的神中的一位、帶領道成肉身的耶穌，所以是聖靈很清楚的讓祂看到，祂那時「必須」經過撒瑪利亞，要和撒瑪利亞婦人談那一席話。

        對一些人說，好像事情的發生在巧合裏面，耶穌正好遇見午正來打水的那個撒馬利亞的婦人，但我們如果看路得記就知道，神常用巧合來引導人，這點我們就不多講，請你們自己回去看路得記。請注意，不是說所有的巧合都是神的引導，要分辨，不能劃等號。

        我們看到，『那時門徒進城買食物去了。』(約翰福音 4:8) 所以關於耶穌對她後面講的那一段關於活水的話題，門徒當時是不在場的。當門徒買到食物回來的『這其間，門徒對耶穌說：「拉比，請吃。」耶穌說：「我有食物吃，是你們不知道的。」門徒就彼此對問說：「莫非有人拿甚麼給他吃嗎？」耶穌說：「我的食物就是遵行差我來者的旨意，做成他的工。』(約翰福音 4:31-34) 這裏我們不是又看到祂必須經過撒瑪利亞才能做成神的工嗎？

        我們最後來看看她為什麼會在午正熱的時候來打水，那時是應該留在家中納涼的時候，這是為什麼只會有她一人，她選擇了那個時段是可以有機會成功的避開眾人的，我們來看看為什麼。『耶穌說：「你去叫你丈夫也到這裏來。」婦人說：「我沒有丈夫。」 耶穌說：「你說沒有丈夫，是不錯的。你已經有五個丈夫，你現在有的，並不是你的丈夫，你這話是真的。」』(約翰福音 4:16-18) 這樣的人當時是不會被大多數人所接受的，難怪她會儘可能選擇能避開人的時段去打水！

3. 活水是指什麼？

        『撒馬利亞的婦人對他說：「你既是猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒馬利亞婦人要水喝呢？」原來猶太人和撒馬利亞人沒有來往。耶穌回答說：「你若知道神的恩賜和對你說『給我水喝』的是誰，你必早求他，他也必早給了你活水。」婦人說：「先生，沒有打水的器具，井又深，你從哪裏得活水呢？我們的祖宗雅各將這井留給我們，他自己和兒子並牲畜也都喝這井裏的水，難道你比他還大嗎？」耶穌回答說：「凡喝這水的，還要再渴；人若喝我所賜的水，就永遠不渴。我所賜的水要在他裏頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。」婦人說：「先生，請把這水賜給我，叫我不渴，也不用來這麼遠打水。」耶穌說：「你去叫你丈夫也到這裏來。」婦人說：「我沒有丈夫。」 耶穌說：「你說沒有丈夫，是不錯的。你已經有五個丈夫，你現在有的，並不是你的丈夫，你這話是真的。」婦人說：「先生，我看出你是先知。我們的祖宗在這山上禮拜，你們倒說，應當禮拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。」』(約翰福音 4:9-20)

         我們一開始就看到，耶穌預備好要賜活水給她，必須經過撒馬利亞做成神的工。我們也看到了她的回答，從人的角度看是絕對正確的，然後耶穌回答她說祂講的是永遠不渴的活水，且『…我所賜的水要在他裏頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。』(約翰福音 4:14) 這是講屬靈的事情。我們看她從人的角度一聽有這麼好的東西，當然想要，於是就說，『…也不用來這麼遠打水。』(約翰福音 4:15) 我們看到她是住得相當的遠，當有太陽時，選擇了午正打水，是會有相當長的時間瀑露在太陽底下的，相當的不容易。因他們是第一次見面，所以當耶穌將她『素來所行的一切事都給我說出來了…』(約翰福音 4:29)的時候，她知道祂是一位先知，就用一個現有的事實去問耶穌，我們就會在下面一段來看耶穌的回答。

     在看耶穌的回答前，我們就從經文看來看那活水究竟是什麼呢？『(住棚節)節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲說：「人若渴了，可以到我這裏來喝！信我的人，就如經上所說：『從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。』」耶穌這話是指着信他之人要受聖靈說的。那時還沒有賜下聖靈來，因為耶穌尚未得着榮耀。』(約翰福音 7:37-39) 

     我們看到祂是站著高聲說，很顯然的祂是要別人聽到祂的話。的確那時聖靈還沒有賜下來， 到耶穌死而復活後的五旬節，聖靈才賜了！下來，就像這些經文所說，『五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子；又有舌頭如火焰顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。他們就都被聖靈充滿，按着聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。』(使徒行傳 2:1-4) 所以那活水是指賜下的聖靈。

4. 真正拜父的要用心靈和真理拜祂

       『耶穌說：「婦人，你當信我。時候將到，你們拜父也不在這山上，也不在耶路撒冷。你們所拜的，你們不知道；我們所拜的，我們知道，因為救恩是從猶太人出來的。時候將到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實(truth, G225)拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。神是(個)靈，所以拜他的，必須用心靈和誠實拜他。」婦人說：「我知道彌賽亞（就是那稱為基督的）要來，他來了，必將一切的事都告訴我們。」耶穌說：「這和你說話的就是他。」』(約翰福音 4:21-26)

      在我們詳細討論原文的這個字 G225，為什麼不能翻譯做誠實前，我們看到了祂直接承認自己是彌賽亞，並不像祂傳道的晚期時，都要別人先說祂是基督。譬如，耶穌在被大祭司審問的時候，『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。…』(馬太福音 26:63-64)

     從這些經文，我們看到她的確相信了祂，『…那婦人作見證說：「他將我素來所行的一切事都給我說出來了。」於是撒馬利亞人來見耶穌，求他在他們那裏住下，他便在那裏住了兩天。因耶穌的話，信的人就更多了，便對婦人說：「現在我們信，不是因為你的話，是我們親自聽見了知道這真是救世主。」』(約翰福音 4:39-42) 

     很顯然的，至少有人信了她的話，於是他們求祂住下要聽更多的。我們看見，人有自由意志，雖是信的人就更多了，還是有不信的人。我們也看到「親自」是非常的重要，不要做二手的基督徒，只聽別人或聖經說，要親自去體會。我們看到那婦人自己一得救，就去告訴別人，成功的宣道，不是在等待著。

        請注意，原文是說神是靈，並沒有個字。我們就來看耶穌的回答，祂說，『…我們所拜的，我們知道，因為救恩是從猶太人出來的。』(約翰福音 4:22) 這和保羅說的是一致的，『我不以福音為恥，這福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希臘人。』(羅馬書 1:16) 在舊約中，我們可以很清楚的看到只有以色列人是神的選民。譬如，摩西在這點上說明得很清楚，『哪一大國的人有神與他們相近，像耶和華我們的神在我們求告他的時候與我們相近呢？又哪一大國有這樣公義的律例典章，像我今日在你們面前所陳明的這一切律法呢？』(申命記 4:7-8)

       祂又說，『時候將到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實(真理, truth, G225)拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。』(約翰福音 4:23) 我們來看 G225 這個字，彙編說，它總共出現了 110 次，在約翰福音就出現了 25次，我們看那 25 次，就可以看到它的意義是和這典型的經文相同，就是，『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理(truth, G225)。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。』(約翰福音 1:14) 所以我實在不能瞭解和合本在這裏 G225 這字翻譯做誠實，而不是原文說的「真理」。

     有人可能會說這字 G225 可以有兩個意思啊！我們來看一個舊約中誠實的例子，就會更清楚這實在是不可能。如果我們參照出埃及記 32:1-8，就知道那時做了一個金牛犢，且他們『…獻燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起來玩耍。』(出埃及記 32:6)  他們說，『…以色列啊，這是領你出埃及地的神！』(出埃及記 32:4) 他們是誠實的相信這金牛犢就是耶和華。但『耶和華吩咐摩西說：「(從山上)下去吧！因為你的百姓，就是你從埃及地領出來的，已經敗壞了。他們快快偏離了我所吩咐的道，為自己鑄了一隻牛犢，向它下拜獻祭說：『以色列啊，這就是領你出埃及地的神！』」』(出埃及記 32:7-8) 你想神是要這樣不在真理中的誠實人拜祂嗎？所以這字 G225 實在是不能翻譯成誠實，這樣錯誤的翻譯真會害死很多人，不要停留在錯誤的誠實中，要分辨，要悔改！不過這樣的錯誤會有一個好處，就是意識到其和聖經不合，會仔細的讀相關的經文，找出錯誤在那裏。

       我們最後討論一個我以前知道是對的，但不知如何回答的問題，就是基督徒常在現實中說，我們的看法不一樣，而保羅明說，『你們就要意念相同，愛心相同，有一樣的心思，有一樣的意念，使我的喜樂可以滿足。』(腓立比書 2:2) 這不是看起來保羅的話和現實有矛盾嗎？到底該如何解釋這現象呢？

       我們說過，神是無限，而人是有限，我們不可能完全瞭解聖經，因三位一體的神可以隨時開我們的眼睛，看到我們以前不知道的事情，如以利沙的僕人眼睛被開一樣，『以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』(列王紀下 6:17) 現在我們就藉著約翰福音 4:21-26 來說明這現象。

     首先，我們假設神在其中給我們所有的訊息可以用一個長方塊來表示，我們可以用其中的一個黑圓塊代表在成聖的路上，神給我們看見其中的一些訊息。問題是對同一件事情，我們又加上了一些自己的意見，這是用在長方塊外和黑圓塊聯結的椭圓來表示，但是每個人有自己不同的意見，也就會有不同顏色的橢圓。雖然黑圓塊是一樣的，但最後聯結的形狀就不一樣了，這是為什麼基督徒常說我們的看法不同！我們可看見是要「讀出來」聖經的真義，而不是讀進去自己的想法，去強解聖經。

圖一: 我們的看法不一樣的示意圖

    即使沒有讀進去自己的想法，因不同人走在成聖之路的進度會不一樣，就用長方塊中不同顏色的橢圓來表示，因他們在同一個長方塊中，是相容的，不會不同的！當然，如果我們一定要定義說這也是不同的，那就沒辦法了！至少要分辨出兩種的不同。如果兩人之中至少有一個有能聽的耳，就可能因別人的話得到啓示。

圖二: 成聖之路的進度不同的示意圖

    我還要提一下，我們怎麼能確定我們的橢圓一定在方塊中呢？因為我們在每一個題目上，就像約翰福音4:21-26 一樣，都是用在基於聖經話語的聖經概念、來讀出來聖經對這題目有的概念，這怎麼不會在聖經要給的訊息中呢！

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

First, let’s look at the testimony and opinions of John the Baptist when he was not in prison. He knew very clearly that Jesus came from heaven, and that “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Second, we discussed that Jesus had to talk to the Samaritan woman and was led by the Holy Spirit. In this matter, we saw that God often uses coincidences to guide people, but not all coincidences are God’s guidance.  Third, let’s see what kind of living water Jesus was going to give her. The scripture clearly says that the living water is the Holy Spirit.  Finally, we discussed that those who truly worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and truth, rather than worshiping Him in spirit and truth as the Chinese Union Version translation says. We use the example in Exodus where the Israelites honestly believed that the golden calf was Jehovah. We also discuss details regarding the corresponding original text and conclude very clearly that its corresponding word in original text really cannot be translated as honesty like in the Union Version. Such a wrong translation will really kill many people. Don’t stay in the wrong honesty, be discerning, and repent!  However, one advantage of such an error is that you will realize that it is inconsistent with the Bible, and you will read the relevant scriptures carefully to find out where the error is.  At the end of this paragraph, we use the quoted verses in this section to discuss in detail what a Christian often says, “My view of the Bible is different from yours.” What does it mean, and where is the error?

1. John the Baptist’s testimony and opinions when he was not in prison

“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized⁠— for John had not yet been thrown into prison. Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””(John 3:22-36)

First of all, we saw the place where John the Baptist baptized. His disciples thought that Jesus also baptized Himself, “(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)”(John 4:2) John the Baptist knew that he was just the forerunner of Christ Jesus. He knew that he was just a friend of the bridegroom, with the very best attitude, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”(John 3:30) In fact, it is the same for us now in order to put the old self to death. He must increase and we must decrease. Only in this way can we be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29).

John the Baptist was very sure that Jesus came from heaven, because “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) He knew that what came from heaven was above all things, and he foresaw that basically no one believed in Him although He witnessed what He saw and heard in heaven.  You see, when He became flesh, He performed many miracles on earth, how many people truly believed in Him, and were eventually crucified, so this was foreknowledge.  And “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this (sealed, G4972, twice, in Greek to emphasize the tone), that God is true.”(John 3:33) We also see that during the time when Jesus became flesh, “…God …gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) And Jesus also said, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) It is true that “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”

The last mentioned John 3:36 is consistent with John 3:18.  We also see that during the time when Jesus became flesh, God guided Him through the Holy Spirit. This is very clear, because He was a perfect man during those days, and the Lord said to Moses: “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) Therefore, He could not see the face of God during that period, otherwise He would not be a perfect man.  Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” This is just a fact.

 Because He is one of the Trinity, He is born as God. Just like a prince living the life of a beggar, it is wrong to say that he is not a prince. So during the time when Jesus was incarnated, Jesus was still fully God.

2. Must talk to the Samaritan woman

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.”(John 4:1-8)

Let us first look at it from a human perspective. There are at least two ways to go from Judah to Galilee. One is the short straight road through Samaria, and the other is the detour that first crosses the Jordan River and then goes north. At that time, “…Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”(John 4:9) Therefore, Jews were usually willing to take a detour and spend more time. It was not necessary to go through Samaria, but it is said that it was necessary. Why is it necessary?  We know that Jesus obeyed God’s leading throughout his life, as He Himself said, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) And “For He (Jesus in the flesh) whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) We see here that God led the incarnate Jesus through the Holy Spirit, one of the Trinity, so it was the Holy Spirit who clearly made Him see that He “must” at that time pass through Samaria, and He had to talk to the Samaritan woman.

Some people say that things seemed to happen by coincidence. Jesus happened to meet the Samaritan woman who came to draw water at noon. But if we read the Book of Ruth, we will know that God often uses coincidences to guide people. On this point we won’t go into details. Please go back and read the Book of Ruth yourself.  Please note that this does not mean that all coincidences are God’s guidance. They must be distinguished and cannot be equated.

During the time “…His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food,” (John 4:8) Jesus and the woman talked about the topic of living water. Thus the disciples were not present at the time when the topic was talked.  When the disciples came back from buying food, they “…were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”(John 4:31-34) Here we see again that He ‘must’ go through Samaria in order to accomplish the work of God.

Finally, let’s take a look at why she came to fetch water in the heat about noon. That should be the time when she should stay at home to cool off. She chose that time period so she could have a chance to escape the others successfully. This is why she was the only one there. Let us see why from verses, “He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.””

(John 4:16-18) Such a person would not be accepted by most people at that time. No wonder she would choose to avoid people as much as possible to fetch water!

3. What does living water mean?

“Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.””(John 4:9-20)

We saw from the beginning that Jesus was ready to give her living water and had to go through Samaria to complete God’s work.  We also saw her answer, which was absolutely correct from a human perspective, and then Jesus answered her that He was talking about living water that you will never thirst for, and “the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”(John 4:14) This is about spiritual things.  We saw that from a human perspective, when she heard that there was such a good thing, of course she wanted it, so she ” said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.””(John 4:15) We see that she lives quite far away. When the sun is shining when she chooses to fetch water about noon, she will be exposed to the sun for a long time, which is quite difficult.  Because it was their first meeting, when Jesus told her about “all the things that I have done; …”(John 4:29), she knew that He was a prophet, so she asked Him about an existing controversy. We’ll look at Jesus’ answer in the next paragraph.

Before looking at Jesus’ answer, let’s look at what the living water is from the scriptures. “Now on the last day (of the Feast of Booths), the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”(John 7:37-39)

We see Him standing and speaking loudly. It is obvious that He wants others to hear His words.  It is true that the Holy Spirit had not been given at that time. It was not until Pentecost after Jesus died and was resurrected that the Holy Spirit was given!  Come down, as these verses say, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”(Acts 2:1-4) So the living water refers to the given Holy Spirit.

4. True worshipers must worship the Father in spirit and truth

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””(John 4:21-26)

First, we see that Jesus directly admitted that He was the Messiah, unlike in the later stages of His ministry, when He asked others to first say that He was the Christ.  For example, when Jesus was being questioned by the high priest, “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.””(Matthew 26:63- 64)

From these verses, we see that she did believe Him, “From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.””(John 4:39-42)

Apparently, at least some believed her, and they begged Him to stay and hear more.  We see that people have free will, and although there are more people who believe, there are still people who do not believe.  We also see that “personally know” is very important. Don’t be a second-hand Christian who only listens to others or what the Bible says. You must experience it yourself.  We see that as soon as the woman was saved, she didn’t wait and immediately went to tell others, which led to a successful preaching.

Let’s now look at Jesus’ answer. He said, “…we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”(John 4:22) This is consistent with what Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”(Romans 1:16) In the Old Testament, we can clearly see that only the Israelites are God’s chosen people.  For example, Moses made it very clear on this point, “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”(Deuteronomy 4:7-8)

He also said, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth (G225); for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”(John 4:23) Let’s look at the word G225. According to the Strong’s Concordance, it appears 110 times in total, and it appears 25 times in the Book of John. If we look at those 25 times, we can see that its meaning is the same as in the typical scripture, that is, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (G225).”(John 1:14) So I really can’t understand that the word G225 here in the Chinese Union Version is translated as honesty, rather than “truth” as in the original text. ​

Some people may say that the word G225 can have two meanings!  If we look at an example of honesty from the Old Testament, it will become clearer that this is really impossible.  If we look at Exodus 32:1-8, we see that a golden calf was made at that time, and they “…offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”(Exodus 32:6) They said, “…This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”(Exodus 32:4) They honestly believed that the golden calf was Jehovah.  But “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down (from the mountain) at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’””(Exodus 32:7-8) Do you think God wants such honest people to worship Him who are not in the truth? Therefore, this word G225 really cannot be translated as honesty. Such wrong translation will really kill many people. Don’t stay in the wrong honesty, be discerning, and repent!  However, one advantage of such an error is that you will realize that it is inconsistent with the Bible, and you will read the relevant scriptures carefully to find out where the error is.

We’ll conclude this section by discussing a question that I knew to be true but didn’t know how to answer before. Christians often say in reality that we don’t think the same way, but Paul clearly said, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”(Philippians 2:2) Doesn’t it seem like there is a contradiction between Paul’s words and reality?  How to explain this phenomenon?

We have said that God is infinite and man is limited. It is impossible for us to fully understand the Bible, because the Triune God can open our eyes at any time and see things we did not know before, just like the eyes of Elisha’s servant were opened, “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”(2 Kings 6:17) Now we will use John 4:21-26 to illustrate this phenomenon.

First, we assume that all the messages God gives us in these verses can be represented by a rectangular block, and we can use the black solid circle in Fig. 1 to represent some of the messages God shows us on the road to sanctification.  The problem is that we have added some of our own opinions on the same thing, which is represented by an ellipse connected to the black circle outside the rectangular square, but everyone has their own different opinions, and thus they are represented by also different colors. Although the black circle are the same, the shape of the final connection is different for different people. This is why Christians often say that our views are different!  We can see that we need to “read out” the true meaning of the Bible represented by black corcle, rather than reading in our own thoughts to forcefully interpret the Bible, which are represented by different color ellipsis.

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of our different views

Even if you have not read in your own thoughts, because different people will have different progress on the road to sanctification, they are represented by ovals of different colors in the rectangle. Because they are in the same rectangle, they are compatible although they are in different position. Of course, if we must define that these are also different views, so be it! At least you have to distinguish the difference between these two kinds.  If at least one of the two inside the rectangular has ears which can hear, it is possible for him to receive revelation from the words of the other.

Fig. 2: Schematic diagram showing the different stages of the path to sanctification​

I would also like to mention the last question here, how can we be sure that our ellipse must be inside the rectangular?  Because on every topic, just like John 4:21-26, we use biblical concepts based on biblical words to read out the concepts the Bible has on this topic. How come this is not what the Bible wants to give in its message!

​(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.”)

    首先我们谈谈为什么洁净圣殿有两次及其内容，也看到了对能读经的人来说，读经是非少不可。从犹太人的反应，我们也看到了信心是要从心里发出。第二，我们谈到了耶稣与尼哥低母关于重生的对话，看到了重生的人就是因信称义的人，一次因信而得救的人是救恩计划中的第一步。讨论了为一次得救就永远得救，如果不强解圣经，就不会觉得这样做会不公平，也讨论了救恩计划中的得救意谓什么，和要仰望主耶稣才能得永生。最后我们讨论了神爱世人、得救和定罪、及(真)光。圣经明讲神爱世人，信祂儿子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已经定了！但我们不能用这句话论断人，而认为现在不信的人就是罪已经定了的人，因为我们不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也许明天就信了，只有盖棺论定时还一直不信，那时罪就是已经定了！因为注意到判断和论断在原文中都用的是同一个字，中文的如此翻译会造成混乱！所以我们详细的讨论了这点。在这一段中，我们也简略在最后提到了(真)光。

1. 耶稣两次洁净圣殿       

    『犹太人的逾越节近了，耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。看见殿里有卖牛、羊、鸽子的，并有兑换银钱的人坐在那里。耶稣就拿绳子做成鞭子，把牛羊都赶出殿去，倒出兑换银钱之人的银钱，推翻他们的桌子。又对卖鸽子的说：「把这些东西拿去！不要将我父的殿当作买卖的地方。」他的门徒就想起经上记著说：「我为你的殿，心里焦急，如同火烧。」因此犹太人问他说：「你既做这些事，还显甚么神迹给我们看呢？」耶稣回答说：「你们拆毁这殿，我三日内要再建立起来。」犹太人便说：「这殿是四十六年才造成的，你三日内就再建立起来吗？」但耶稣这话，是以他的身体为殿。所以到他从死里复活以后，门徒就想起他说过这话，便信了圣经和耶稣所说的。当耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候，有许多人看见他所行的神迹，就信了他的名。耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:13-25)        

    这是耶稣的第一次洁净圣殿，第二次洁净圣殿是在预备最后的晚餐后，这经文将时间是在预备最后的晚餐后讲得很清楚，『耶稣和门徒将近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其和伯大尼，在橄榄山那里。耶稣就打发两个门徒，对他们说：「你们往对面村子里去，一进去的时候，必看见一匹驴驹拴在那里，是从来没有人骑过的，可以解 开，牵来。』(马可福音 11:1-2) 然后是『耶稣进了耶路撒冷，入了圣殿，周围看了各样物件。天色已晚，就和十二个门徒出城，往伯大尼去了。』(马可福音 11:11)  直到『第二天，他们从伯大尼出来，…』(马可福音 11:12)  于是『他们来到耶路撒冷。耶稣进入圣殿，赶出殿里做买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子，也不许人拿著器具从殿里经过。便教训他们说：「经上不是记著说『我的殿必称为万国祷告的殿』吗？ 你们倒使它成为贼窝了。」』(马可福音 11:15-17) 这时祂才第二次洁净圣殿，等下我们会谈到第一次。

    同样的一件事，在马太福音的记载是相同的，『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；对他们说：「经上记著说：『我的殿必称为祷告的殿』，你们倒使它成为贼窝了！」』(马太福音 21:12-13) 这是非常重要的一件事，在路加福音也同样的记载，『耶稣进了殿，赶出里头做买卖的人，对他们说：「经上说：『我的殿必作祷告的殿』，你们倒使它成为贼窝了。」』(路加福音 19:45-46) 耶稣很清楚的说神的殿为祷告的殿，祂非清理圣殿不可，因为现在成了贼窝了。        

    我们看到在约翰福音的这些经文是指耶稣的第一次洁净圣殿，在祂第二次洁净圣殿之前，在迦拿婚筵后的逾越节，时间上和第二次洁净圣殿差相当多。有人把这次混为一团，所以我们要说明清楚。至于祂为什么需要第二次，很显然的是犹太人第一次没有悔改，在祂第一次清理圣殿后又故态复发。请注意，在第一次时，门徒想起了经上的话，这里就看到当时祂提到的门徒是知道旧约圣经的，如果门徒不知道，怎么可以想起呢？所以基督徒是要知道圣经的话，才可以遵守的。        

    犹太人对清理圣殿的事不是因而大怒，而是要祂显神迹(记号, sign, G4592)给他们看，于是就引起了耶稣是以祂的身体作为殿的那些话，『所以到他从死里复活以后，门徒就想起他说过这话，便信了圣经和耶稣所说的。』(约翰福音 2:22) 我们又一次看见「想起」的重要，了解要知道圣经中发生的事是非常的重要，对于能读经的人来说，焉可不读经！对一个因文盲而不能读经的人，也可以从别人的话中去了解圣经。所以不要强解圣路，引人走到歪路，这是要向神负责的。        

    有些人可能一时见了神迹就会相信神的大能，没有神迹就反悔了，当日如此，今日亦然，所以『耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:24-25) 我们不要做这种人，要从心里发出信心。

2 . 耶稣与尼哥低母关于重生的对话       

    『有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥德慕，是犹太人的官。这人夜里来见耶稣，说：「拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。」耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你：人若不重生，就不能见神的国。」尼哥德慕说：「人已经老了，如何能重生呢？岂能再进母腹生出来吗？」耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你：人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。我说『你们必须重生』，你不要以为希奇。风随著意思吹，你听见风的响声，却不晓得从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此。」尼哥德慕问他说：「怎能有这事呢？」耶稣回答说：「你是以色列人的先生，还不明白这事吗？我实实在在地告诉你：我们所说的，是我们知道的；我们所见证的，是我们见过的；你们却不领受我们的见证。我对你们说地上的事，你们尚且不信；若说天上的事，如何能信呢？除了从天降下仍旧在天的人子，没有人升过天。摩西在旷野怎样举蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫一切信他的都得永生。」』(约翰福音 3:1-15)        

    尼哥低母在这里的翻译是尼哥德慕， 从这里我们可以看到当时犹大的情况，他是官，不敢白天见耶稣，只能夜晚来，我们可以从他相信耶稣、是由神那里来作师傅的看到这点。耶稣就告诉他，人要得救就必须走上信心之路的第一步，因信称义。于是尼可底母当时就问了一个、那时的正常人都会问的属世界的问题，就是人岂能再进母腹生出来。耶稣就解释给他听人如何能进神的国，要从水和圣灵生，所以受水洗对一般人是有必要的，而受圣灵的洗是非要不可，这和耶稣同钉十字架的强盗的特例不同，他没有机会受水洗，但受了相当是圣灵的洗(参本路加福音 23:39-43)  一般人是不会没有机会受水洗的，当然不能每一个人都可以如耶稣般的受浸水礼，有些人的身体状况只能受点水礼，难道这些人就不能得救吗？绝对不是。重要的是宣告自己是属基督耶稣的，就像经文所说，『这水所表明的洗礼，现在借著耶稣基督复活，也拯救你们；这洗礼本不在乎除掉肉体的污秽，只求在神面前有无亏的良心。』(彼得前书 3:21)        

    这里也带出了圣灵如风的概念，我们的确不知圣灵如何工作，祂是三位一体的神中的一位，有绝对的主权。人们常会问重生到底是指什么？是在救恩计划中得救的第一步。圣经很清楚的说明要迈出的第一步是什么，就是罗马书所说的，『因为人心里相信，就可以称义；口里承认，就可以得救(G4991)。』(罗马书 10:10) 这里的字 G4991 是指在救恩计划中因耶稣而得救，就像经文所说，『因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们借著我们主耶稣基督得救(G4991)。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:9) 这里是用的同一个字。当时的环境是会因口里承认而丧失生命的，比现在一般的环境更艰难，但原则是一样的。在现在的一般情况，至少会是被视为异类，而在特例中，也有冒著生命危险的，甚至会丧失生命。        

    圣经的说法很清楚，不管人怎么说，神不会骗人，一次得救就永远得救，因『人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；虽然得救(G4982)，乃像从火里经过的一样。』(哥林多前书 3:15) 请注意这里用的字是 G4982，这个字的意思可以从下列经文中看出来。『保罗对百夫长和兵丁说：「这些人若不等在船上，你们必不能得救(G4982)。」(使徒行传 27:31) 『因为，凡要救(G4982)自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必救了(G4982)生命。』(马可福音 8:35) 『我现在心里忧愁，我说甚么才好呢？父啊，救(G4982)我脱离这时候，但我原是为这时候来的。』(约翰福音 12:27) 我们可以看到 G4982 是指一般说的救、或是指在救恩计划中的得救。       

    在哥林多前书中是不可能在讲一般的救，很清楚在说救恩计划中的得救，是指一次得救就永远得救，而有人试著从人的角度看而认为不公平，其实是没有看懂圣经！启示录明说，当新耶路撒冷城从天降下时，有人不能进城，『…只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去。』(启示录 21:27) 这不是说每一个在生命册上的人都可进城，只有『那些洗净自己衣服的有福了！可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言编造虚谎的。』(启示录 22:14-15) 城外的是那些堕落的、但一次得救就永远得救的基督徒，虽然在城外比下硫磺火湖的非基督徒好多了，但他们也只能在城外哀哭切齿了！        

    我们再看这个字 G4991 (salvation) 救恩的计划中的得救，共出现 43 次，这字 G4992 和 G4991 相同，只出现 5 次。如果我们看所有的经文，就很清楚的知道是指救恩计划中的得救。例如，『我不以福音为耻，这福音本是神的大能，要救(G4991)一切相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。』(罗马书 1:16) 又，『耶稣说：「今天救恩(G4991)到了这家，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。』(路加福音 19:9) 而且『凡有血气的，都要见神的救恩(G4992)！』(路加福音 3:6)        

    最后，『耶稣回答说：「你是以色列人的先生，(还)而不明白这事吗？』(约翰福音 3:10) 原文不是用的还字。当然他那时不会明了耶稣讲的，因他是后来才做祂的门徒，我们可以从耶稣死后由他所做的事看到这点，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜里去见耶稣的，带著没药和沉香约有一百斤前来。他们就照犹太人殡葬的规矩，把耶稣的身体用细麻布加上香料裹好了。』(约翰福音 19:39-40)        

    请注意，原文没有「仍旧在天」这些字，只说耶稣是在天堂，所以是说祂是从天降下的，而不是说祂道成肉身时分身仍在天堂，这样的分身就不是完全的人了，但耶稣在那段时间中，仍有著与生俱来的神子身份，所以也是完全的神。至于在旧约中摩西举蛇这件事，『…凡被蛇咬的，一望这铜蛇，就活了。』(民数记 21:9) 这是需要仰望就可以的信心的，耶稣被钉上了十字架，不就如那铜蛇相似吗，我们要借著信心仰望祂而得到永生。我们信的时候，神就『…救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。』(歌罗西书 1:13-14) 只是对一个走成圣之路的人最开始是绝对不可能做到一直在基督里的，常常会从在基督里滑出来。譬如说因犯罪而又不肯悔改的基督徒，1怎么会有有可能在基督里呢？所以我们是要永远停留在基督里才行。

• 神爱世人、得救和定罪、及光       

    『「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。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。」「光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备；但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。」』(约翰福音 3:16-21)        

    我们知道神爱世人，信祂儿子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已经定了！不知道为什么有人觉得每个人都有新灵，不信的人不是罪已经定了吗？我们的旧灵早就被罪玷污已死了，我们可以从创世纪的前几章看到这点。不信的人罪是已经定了，这话没有错，只是任何时候信了，主的宝血就能洁净他，使罪得赦免。     

    我们都是亚当的后裔，从出生时候就是被罪玷污的，这就像塞特一样，『亚当活到一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形像样式和自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。』(创世记 5:3) 那时的亚当已被罪玷污，所以塞特出生时就是被罪玷污的，没有一个人出生时就信主的，所以所有的人还没信主前，我们都是已经被定罪的。但我们不能用这句话论断人，而认为现在不信的人就是罪已经定了的人，非下地狱不可了，因为我们不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也许明天就信了，只有盖棺论定时还一直不信，那时才能确定那是罪已经定了的人！我见过一个人在临死前一阵子才想通受洗了，据他太太说，她受洗后就变得很平安的一直到过世，所以我们真不知道神会如何工作。       

    所以『你们不要论断(judge, G2919)人，就不被论断(judge, G2919)；你们不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；…』(路加福音 6:37)  我们来看看论断这字，因此来看另一经文，『你这人哪，你论断(G2919)行这样事的人，自己所行的却和别人一样！你以为能逃脱神的审判吗？』(罗马书 2:3) 我们再来看耶稣说的经文，『你们是以外貌判断(judge, G2919)人，我却不判断(G2919, 动词)人。就是判断(G2919)人，我的判断(judgement, G2920, 名词)也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。』(约翰福音 8:15-16) 请注意，这里原文都是用同一个字 G2919，只是中文有时翻成判断，有时翻成论断，会使人混乱，造成误会。这里很清楚的说为什么说耶稣的判断是真的，因为父神在祂道成肉身期间是与祂同在的，祂的判断就是父神的判断。     

    我们再看这一节经文，『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(discern, G1253)好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 这个字 G1253 只出现三次，另外两次为『信心软弱的，你们要接纳，但不要辩论(G1253)所疑惑的事。』(罗马书 14:1) 和『又叫一人能行异能，又叫一人能作先知，又叫一人能辩别(G1253)诸灵，又叫一人能说方言，又叫一人能翻方言。』(哥林多前书 12:10)  要能分辩(G1253)怎么可能不在判断里面呢？ 一个长大成人的人是圣灵充满的人，真正判断的是圣灵，怎么会不是真的呢？只是不要自己判断(论断)人，这是会 有可能错的判断，而常常会引起争端。

    最后是谈到了(真)光，经文说，『生命在他(耶稣)里头，这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。』(约翰福音 1:4-5) 在这里的经文很清楚的说明不爱(真)光倒爱黑暗的原因，我们以前分享过，在这里就不多讨论了。

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

    首先我們談談為什麼潔淨聖殿有兩次及其內容，也看到了對能讀經的人來說，讀經是非少不可。從猶太人的反應，我們也看到了信心是要從心裏發出。第二，我們談到了耶穌與尼哥低母關於重生的對話，看到了重生的人就是因信稱義的人，一次因信而得救的人是救恩計劃中的第一步。討論了為一次得救就永遠得救，如果不強解聖經，就不會覺得這樣做會不公平，也討論了救恩計劃中的得救意謂什麼，和要仰望主耶穌才能得永生。最後我們討論了神愛世人、得救和定罪、及(真)光。聖經明講神愛世人，信祂兒子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已經定了！但我們不能用這句話論斷人，而認為現在不信的人就是罪已經定了的人，因為我們不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也許明天就信了，只有蓋棺論定時還一直不信，那時罪就是已經定了！因為注意到判斷和論斷在原文中都用的是同一個字，中文的如此翻譯會造成混亂！所以我們詳細的討論了這點。在這一段中，我們也簡略在最後提到了(真)光。

1. 耶穌兩次潔淨聖殿

       『猶太人的逾越節近了，耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。看見殿裏有賣牛、羊、鴿子的，並有兌換銀錢的人坐在那裏。耶穌就拿繩子做成鞭子，把牛羊都趕出殿去，倒出兌換銀錢之人的銀錢，推翻他們的桌子。又對賣鴿子的說：「把這些東西拿去！不要將我父的殿當作買賣的地方。」他的門徒就想起經上記着說：「我為你的殿，心裏焦急，如同火燒。」因此猶太人問他說：「你既做這些事，還顯甚麼神蹟給我們看呢？」耶穌回答說：「你們拆毀這殿，我三日內要再建立起來。」猶太人便說：「這殿是四十六年才造成的，你三日內就再建立起來嗎？」但耶穌這話，是以他的身體為殿。所以到他從死裏復活以後，門徒就想起他說過這話，便信了聖經和耶穌所說的。當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候，有許多人看見他所行的神蹟，就信了他的名。耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:13-25)

        這是耶穌的第一次潔淨聖殿，第二次潔淨聖殿是在預備最後的晚餐後，這經文將時間是在預備最後的晚餐後講得很清楚，『耶穌和門徒將近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其和伯大尼，在橄欖山那裏。耶穌就打發兩個門徒，對他們說：「你們往對面村子裏去，一進去的時候，必看見一匹驢駒拴在那裏，是從來沒有人騎過的，可以解

開，牽來。』(馬可福音 11:1-2) 然後是『耶穌進了耶路撒冷，入了聖殿，周圍看了各樣物件。天色已晚，就和十二個門徒出城，往伯大尼去了。』(馬可福音 11:11)  直到『第二天，他們從伯大尼出來，…』(馬可福音 11:12)  於是『他們來到耶路撒冷。耶穌進入聖殿，趕出殿裏做買賣的人，推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子，也不許人拿着器具從殿裏經過。便教訓他們說：「經上不是記着說『我的殿必稱為萬國禱告的殿』嗎？ 你們倒使它成為賊窩了。」』(馬可福音 11:15-17) 這時祂才第二次潔淨聖殿，等下我們會談到第一次。

        同樣的一件事，在馬太福音的記載是相同的，『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；對他們說：「經上記着說：『我的殿必稱為禱告的殿』，你們倒使它成為賊窩了！」』(馬太福音 21:12-13) 這是非常重要的一件事，在路加福音也同樣的記載，『耶穌進了殿，趕出裏頭做買賣的人，對他們說：「經上說：『我的殿必作禱告的殿』，你們倒使它成為賊窩了。」』(路加福音 19:45-46) 耶穌很清楚的說神的殿為禱告的殿，祂非清理聖殿不可，因為現在成了賊窩了。

        我們看到在約翰福音的這些經文是指耶穌的第一次潔淨聖殿，在祂第二次潔淨聖殿之前，在迦拿婚筵後的逾越節，時間上和第二次潔淨聖殿差相當多。有人把這次混為一團，所以我們要說明清楚。至於祂為什麼需要第二次，很顯然的是猶太人第一次沒有悔改，在祂第一次清理聖殿後又故態復發。請注意，在第一次時，門徒想起了經上的話，這裏就看到當時祂提到的門徒是知道舊約聖經的，如果門徒不知道，怎麼可以想起呢？所以基督徒是要知道聖經的話，才可以遵守的。

        猶太人對清理聖殿的事不是因而大怒，而是要祂顯神蹟(記號, sign, G4592)給他們看，於是就引起了耶穌是以祂的身體作為殿的那些話，『所以到他從死裏復活以後，門徒就想起他說過這話，便信了聖經和耶穌所說的。』(約翰福音 2:22) 我們又一次看見「想起」的重要，瞭解要知道聖經中發生的事是非常的重要，對於能讀經的人來說，焉可不讀經！對一個因文盲而不能讀經的人，也可以從別人的話中去瞭解聖經。所以不要強解聖路，引人走到歪路，這是要向神負責的。

        有些人可能一時見了神蹟就會相信神的大能，沒有神蹟就反悔了，當日如此，今日亦然，所以『耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:24-25) 我們不要做這種人，要從心裏發出信心。

2. 耶穌與尼哥低母關於重生的對話

       『有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕，是猶太人的官。這人夜裏來見耶穌，說：「拉比，我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你：人若不重生，就不能見神的國。」尼哥德慕說：「人已經老了，如何能重生呢？豈能再進母腹生出來嗎？」耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你：人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。從肉身生的，就是肉身；從靈生的，就是靈。我說『你們必須重生』，你不要以為希奇。風隨着意思吹，你聽見風的響聲，卻不曉得從哪裏來，往哪裏去；凡從聖靈生的，也是如此。」尼哥德慕問他說：「怎能有這事呢？」耶穌回答說：「你是以色列人的先生，還不明白這事嗎？我實實在在地告訴你：我們所說的，是我們知道的；我們所見證的，是我們見過的；你們卻不領受我們的見證。我對你們說地上的事，你們尚且不信；若說天上的事，如何能信呢？除了從天降下仍舊在天的人子，沒有人升過天。摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必照樣被舉起來，叫一切信他的都得永生。」』(約翰福音 3:1-15)

        尼哥低母在這裏的翻譯是尼哥德慕， 從這裏我們可以看到當時猶大的情況，他是官，不敢白天見耶穌，只能夜晚來，我們可以從他相信耶穌、是由神那裏來作師傅的看到這點。耶穌就告訴他，人要得救就必須走上信心之路的第一步，因信稱義。於是尼可底母當時就問了一個、那時的正常人都會問的屬世界的問題，就是人豈能再進母腹生出來。耶穌就解釋給他聽人如何能進神的國，要從水和聖靈生，所以受水洗對一般人是有必要的，而受聖靈的洗是非要不可，這和耶穌同釘十字架的強盜的特例不同，他沒有機會受水洗，但受了相當是聖靈的洗(參本路加福音 23:39-43)  一般人是不會沒有機會受水洗的，當然不能每一個人都可以如耶穌般的受浸水禮，有些人的身體狀況只能受點水禮，難道這些人就不能得救嗎？絕對不是。重要的是宣告自己是屬基督耶穌的，就像經文所說，『這水所表明的洗禮，現在藉着耶穌基督復活，也拯救你們；這洗禮本不在乎除掉肉體的污穢，只求在神面前有無虧的良心。』(彼得前書 3:21)

        這裏也帶出了聖靈如風的概念，我們的確不知聖靈如何工作，祂是三位一體的神中的一位，有絕對的主權。人們常會問重生到底是指什麼？是在救恩計劃中得救的第一步。聖經很清楚的說明要邁出的第一步是什麼，就是羅馬書所說的，『因為人心裏相信，就可以稱義；口裏承認，就可以得救(G4991)。』(羅馬書 10:10) 這裏的字 G4991 是指在救恩計劃中因耶穌而得救，就像經文所說，『因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉着我們主耶穌基督得救(G4991)。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:9) 這裏是用的同一個字。當時的環境是會因口裏承認而喪失生命的，比現在一般的環境更艱難，但原則是一樣的。在現在的一般情況，至少會是被視為異類，而在特例中，也有冒著生命危險的，甚至會喪失生命。

        聖經的說法很清楚，不管人怎麼說，神不會騙人，一次得救就永遠得救，因『人的工程若被燒了，他就要受虧損，自己卻要得救；雖然得救(G4982)，乃像從火裏經過的一樣。』(哥林多前書 3:15) 請注意這裏用的字是 G4982，這個字的意思可以從下列經文中看出來。『保羅對百夫長和兵丁說：「這些人若不等在船上，你們必不能得救(G4982)。」(使徒行傳 27:31) 『因為，凡要救(G4982)自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了(G4982)生命。』(馬可福音 8:35) 『我現在心裏憂愁，我說甚麼才好呢？父啊，救(G4982)我脫離這時候，但我原是為這時候來的。』(約翰福音 12:27) 我們可以看到 G4982 是指一般說的救、或是指在救恩計劃中的得救。

       在哥林多前書中是不可能在講一般的救，很清楚在說救恩計劃中的得救，是指一次得救就永遠得救，而有人試著從人的角度看而認為不公平，其實是沒有看懂聖經！啓示錄明說，當新耶路撒冷城從天降下時，有人不能進城，『…只有名字寫在羔羊生命冊上的才得進去。』(啓示錄 21:27) 這不是說每一個在生命册上的人都可進城，只有『那些洗淨自己衣服的有福了！可得權柄能到生命樹那裏，也能從門進城。城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的，並一切喜好說謊言編造虛謊的。』(啓示錄 22:14-15) 城外的是那些墮落的、但一次得救就永遠得救的基督徒，雖然在城外比下硫磺火湖的非基督徒好多了，但他們也只能在城外哀哭切齒了！

        我們再看這個字 G4991(salvation) 救恩的計劃中的得救，共出現 43 次，這字 G4992 和 G4991 相同，只出現 5 次。如果我們看所有的經文，就很清楚的知道是指救恩計劃中的得救。例如，『我不以福音為恥，這福音本是神的大能，要救(G4991)一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希臘人。』(羅馬書 1:16) 又，『耶穌說：「今天救恩(G4991)到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』(路加福音 19:9) 而且『凡有血氣的，都要見神的救恩(G4992)！』(路加福音 3:6)

        最後，『耶穌回答說：「你是以色列人的先生，(還)而不明白這事嗎？』(約翰福音 3:10) 原文不是用的還字。當然他那時不會明瞭耶穌講的，因他是後來才做祂的門徒，我們可以從耶穌死後由他所做的事看到這點，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜裏去見耶穌的，帶着沒藥和沉香約有一百斤前來。他們就照猶太人殯葬的規矩，把耶穌的身體用細麻布加上香料裹好了。』(約翰福音 19:39-40)

        請注意，原文沒有「仍舊在天」這些字，只說耶穌是在天堂，所以是說祂是從天降下的，而不是說祂道成肉身時分身仍在天堂，這樣的分身就不是完全的人了，但耶穌在那段時間中，仍有著與生俱來的神子身份，所以也是完全的神。至於在舊約中摩西舉蛇這件事，『…凡被蛇咬的，一望這銅蛇，就活了。』(民數記 21:9) 這是需要仰望就可以的信心的，耶穌被釘上了十字架，不就如那銅蛇相似嗎，我們要藉著信心仰望祂而得到永生。我們信的時候，神就『…救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏；我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。』(歌羅西書 1:13-14) 只是對一個走成聖之路的人最開始是絕對不可能做到一直在基督裏的，常常會從在基督裏滑出來。譬如說因犯罪而又不肯悔改的基督徒，1怎麼會有有可能在基督裏呢？所以我們是要永遠停留在基督裏才行。

3. 神愛世人、得救和定罪、及光

       『「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。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。」「光來到世間，世人因自己的行為是惡的，不愛光倒愛黑暗，定他們的罪就是在此。凡作惡的便恨光，並不來就光，恐怕他的行為受責備；但行真理的必來就光，要顯明他所行的是靠神而行。」』(約翰福音 3:16-21)

        我們知道神愛世人，信祂兒子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已經定了！不知道為什麼有人覺得每個人都有新靈，不信的人不是罪已經定了嗎？我們的舊靈早就被罪玷汚已死了，我們可以從創世紀的前幾章看到這點。不信的人罪是已經定了，這話沒有錯，只是任何時候信了，主的寶血就能潔淨他，使罪得赦免。

     我們都是亞當的後裔，從出生時候就是被罪玷汚的，這就像塞特一樣，『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似，就給他起名叫塞特。』(創世記 5:3) 那時的亞當已被罪玷汚，所以塞特出生時就是被罪玷汚的，沒有一個人出生時就信主的，所以所有的人還沒信主前，我們都是已經被定罪的。但我們不能用這句話論斷人，而認為現在不信的人就是罪已經定了的人，非下地獄不可了，因為我們不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也許明天就信了，只有蓋棺論定時還一直不信，那時才能確定那是罪已經定了的人！我見過一個人在臨死前一陣子才想通受洗了，據他太太說，她受洗後就變得很平安的一直到過世，所以我們真不知道神會如何工作。

       所以『你們不要論斷(judge, G2919)人，就不被論斷(judge, G2919)；你們不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；…』(路加福音 6:37)  我們來看看論斷這字，因此來看另一經文，『你這人哪，你論斷(G2919)行這樣事的人，自己所行的卻和別人一樣！你以為能逃脫神的審判嗎？』(羅馬書 2:3) 我們再來看耶穌說的經文，『你們是以外貌判斷(judge, G2919)人，我卻不判斷(G2919, 動詞)人。就是判斷(G2919)人，我的判斷(judgement, G2920, 名詞)也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。』(約翰福音 8:15-16) 請注意，這裏原文都是用同一個字 G2919，只是中文有時翻成判斷，有時翻成論斷，會使人混亂，造成誤會。這裏很清楚的說為什麼說耶穌的判斷是真的，因為父神在祂道成肉身期間是與祂同在的，祂的判斷就是父神的判斷。

     我們再看這一節經文，『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(discern, G1253)好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 這個字 G1253 只出現三次，另外兩次為『信心軟弱的，你們要接納，但不要辯論(G1253)所疑惑的事。』(羅馬書 14:1) 和『又叫一人能行異能，又叫一人能作先知，又叫一人能辨別(G1253)諸靈，又叫一人能說方言，又叫一人能翻方言。』(哥林多前書 12:10)  要能分辨(G1253)怎麼可能不在判斷裏面呢？ 一個長大成人的人是聖靈充滿的人，真正判斷的是聖靈，怎麼會不是真的呢？只是不要自己判斷(論斷)人，這是會 有可能錯的判斷，而常常會引起爭端。

    最後是談到了(真)光，經文說，『生命在他(耶穌)裏頭，這生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗裏，黑暗卻不接受光。』(約翰福音 1:4-5) 在這裏的經文很清楚的說明不愛(真)光倒愛黑暗的原因，我們以前分享過，在這裏就不多討論了。

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

First, let’s talk about why there were two cleansings of the temple and their contents. We also saw that for those who can read the Bible, reading the Bible is indispensable.  From the Jewish reaction, we also see that faith must come from the heart.  Second, we talked about the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about rebirth, and saw that those who are regenerated are those who are justified by faith, and those who are saved once by faith are the first step in the plan of salvation.  We discussed that once saved we are saved forever. If we do not forcefully interpret the Bible, we would not think it would be unfair. We also discussed what salvation means in the plan of salvation, and how we must look up to the Lord Jesus to obtain eternal life.  Finally, we discussed God’s love for the world, salvation and damnation, and (true) light.  The Bible clearly says that God loves the world, and those who believe in the name of His Son will not be condemned, but those who do not believe are already condemned!  But we cannot use this sentence to judge people, and think that those who do not believe now are already condemned, because we do not know how God works. People who do not believe today may believe tomorrow. For those people who will still not believe until their coffins are sealed, the sin has already been condemned!  It is noted that the translation in Chinese Union Version translates the word judgement in different ways for various occasions, such a translation causes confusion!  So, we discussed this in detail.  In the end of this paragraph, we also briefly mention (true) light.

1. Jesus cleansed the temple twice

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:13-25)

This is the first time Jesus cleansed the temple. The second time He cleansed the temple was after preparing the last supper. This scripture makes it clear that the time was after preparing the last supper, “As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.”(Mark 11:1-2) Then “Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.”(Mark 11:11) “On the next day, …they had left Bethany, …”(Mark 11:12) “Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out 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; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.””(Mark 11:15-17) This is the second time He cleaned the temple, and we’ll talk about the first time later.

The same thing is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, “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. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.””(Matthew 21:12-13) This is a very important thing which is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, “Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.””(Luke 19:45-46) Jesus clearly said that the house of God is a house of prayer, and He had to clean it up because it was now a robbers’ den.

We see these verses in John’s Gospel refer to Jesus’ first cleansing of the temple, before His second cleansing of the temple, at the Passover after the wedding at Cana. If we compare the time for these two cleansing, they are quite different and there is no way to refer to the same event. Since some people are confusing about these two, we want to make it clear.  As for why He needed a second time, it is obvious that the Jews did not repent the first time and fell back into their old ways after He cleansed the temple the first time.  Please note that the first time, the disciples remembered the words of the Bible. Here we see that the disciples He mentioned at that time knew the Old Testament. If the disciples did not know, how could they remember it?  Therefore, Christians must know the words of the Bible before they can obey them.

The Jews were not angry about the cleansing of the temple, but wanted Him to show them a sign (G4592). This led to the words of Jesus which talked about using His body as a temple. “So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.”(John 2:22) We once again see the importance of “remembering”. So, it is very important to understand what happens in the Bible. For those who can read the Bible, how can they not read the Bible!  A person who cannot read the Bible due to illiteracy can also understand the Bible from other people’s words.  Therefore, do not forcefully interpret the Bible and thus lead people astray. This is something you must be responsible to God for.

Some people may believe in the power of God when they see a miracle, but regret it when there is no miracle. This was true then, and it is true today. Therefore, “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:24-25) We should not be this kind of person. We must have faith from our hearts.

2. The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about rebirth

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”(John 3:1-15)

From here we can see the situation of Judas at that time. Nicodemus was an official and did not dare to see Jesus during the day. He could only come at night. We can learn from the fact that he believed that Jesus was from God as a teacher. Jesus told him that in order to be saved, a person must take the first step on the road of faith and be justified by faith.  So Nicodemus asked a worldly question that normal people at that time would ask, that is, how can a man enter his mother’s womb and be born again?  Jesus explained to him how to enter the kingdom of God. He must be born of water and the Spirit. Therefore, being baptized with water is necessary for ordinary people, and being baptized with the Holy Spirit is mandatory. 

We can see this in the special case of the criminal who was crucified with Jesus. He did not have the opportunity to be baptized by water, but he was baptized by the equivalence. Jesus Himself said to him, “…“Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) (see Luke 23:39-43). Most people will have the opportunity to be baptized by water. Of course, not everyone can be baptized like Jesus. Some people’s physical conditions cannot be immersed in water and they have to be baptized in different format. Can these baptized people in different format be saved?  Absolutely yes.  The important thing is to declare that you belong to Christ Jesus, as the scripture says, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you⁠—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience⁠—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 3:21)​

This also brings out the concept of the Holy Spirit being like the wind. We really don’t know how the Holy Spirit works. He is one of the Trinity God and has absolute sovereignty.  People often ask what does it mean to be born again?  It is the first step to salvation in the plan of salvation.  The Bible clearly explains what the first step is, which is what the book of Romans says, “for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (G4991).(Romans 10:10) The word G4991 here refers to salvation through Jesus in the plan of salvation, as in the scripture says, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation (G4991)through our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:9) The same word is used here.  The environment at that time was more difficult than today’s general environment, but the principle was the same.  In today’s general situation, at least they will be regarded Christians as aliens, but in special cases, some will risk their lives or even lose their lives.

The Bible is very clear. No matter what people say, God will not deceive people. Once saved, you are saved forever, because “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved (G4982), yet so as through fire.”(1 Corinthians 3:15) Please note that the word used here is G4982. The meaning of this word can be seen from the following scriptures. “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved (G4982).””(Acts 27:31) “For whoever wishes to save (G4982) his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save (G4982) it.”(Mark 8:35) “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save (G4982) Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”(John 12:27) We can see that G4982 refers to salvation in general, or to salvation in the plan of salvation.

It is impossible to talk about the general salvation in 1 Corinthians 3:15. It is very clear that it is talking about salvation in the salvation plan, which means once saved and eternally saved. However, some people try to look at it from a human perspective and think it is unfair. In fact, this is because such a people don’t understand the Bible correctly!  The Book of Revelation clearly says that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, not everyone will be able to enter the city, “…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”(Revelation 21:27) This does not mean that everyone who is in the book of life can enter the city, only “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”(Revelation 22:14-15) Those outside the city are those Christians who have fallen, but once saved, they are saved forever. Although they are much better outside the city than the non-Christians who went to the lake of fire and brimstone, they can only live in the environment with weeping and gnashing of teeth outside the city!

Let’s look at the word G4991 (salvation), salvation in the plan of salvation, which appears 43 times in total. The meaning of the word G4992 is the same as G4991, appearing only 5 times.  If we look at all the scriptures, it is clear that it refers to salvation in the plan of salvation.  For example, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation (G4991) to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”(Romans 1:16) “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation (G4991) has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”(Luke 19:9) And “And all flesh will see the salvation (G4992) of God.”(Luke 3:6) Finally, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”(John 3:10) Of course, he would not understand what Jesus said at that time, because he became His disciple later, we can see this from what he did after Jesus’ death, “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)

Please note that in ​John 3:13, it says “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” Unlike what is translated in the Union Version translation, it contains the words (Jesus) “still in heaven.” In the original text, it only says that Jesus is in heaven, so it means that He came down from heaven as in this translation says. It does not mean that His avatar was still in heaven when He became flesh. Such an avatar is not a complete human being. However, during that time, Jesus still had the inherent identity of the Son of God, so He was also fully God.  

As for the matter of Moses lifting up the snake in the Old Testament, “…if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.”(Numbers 21:9) This requires faith that need only be looked up to. Jesus was crucified on the cross, isn’t it similar to the bronze serpent? We must look up to Him through faith and gain eternal life.  When we believed, God “…rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) It’s just that for a person who is on the road to sanctification, it is absolutely impossible to stay in Christ all the time at the beginning, and he will often slip out of being in Christ.  For example, how can it be possible for a Christian who has sinned and refused to repent to be in Christ?  Therefore, we must remain in Christ forever.

3. God loves the world, salvation and condemnation, and light

““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. 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. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.””(John 3:16-21)

We know that God so loves the world that those who believe in the name of His Son will not be condemned, but those who do not believe are already condemned!  I don’t know why some people think that everyone has a new spirit. Aren’t those who don’t believe already condemned?  Our old spirit has long been tainted and dead by sin, as we can see from the first few chapters of Genesis.  Those who do not believe are already condemned. This is not a wrong saying. However, if they believe at any time, the precious blood of the Lord can cleanse them and forgive their sins.

We are all descendants of Adam, tainted by sin from birth, just like Seth, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”(Genesis 5:3) At that time, Adam was tainted by sin be already, so Seth was tainted by sin when he was born. No one believed in the Lord when he was born, so before all people believe in the Lord, we All have been convicted. 

We cannot use this sentence to judge people and think that those who do not believe now are already condemned and must go to hell, because we do not know how God works. People who do not believe today may believe tomorrow. Only when a person still doesn’t believe it when the coffin is sealed, then can I be sure that the person is the one who has already been convicted! I saw a man who finally figured out the he wanted to be baptized, a little while before he died. According to his wife, she became very peaceful after being baptized until he died. So we really don’t know how God will work.

So, ““Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; …”(Luke 6:37) Let’s take a look the word judgment, so let’s look at another verse, “But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment (G2919) on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment (G2917, noun) of God?”(Romans 2:3) Let’s look at the verses that Jesus said, “You judge (G2919, verb) according to the flesh; I am not judging (G2919) anyone. But even if I do judge (G2919), My judgment (G2920, noun) is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”(John 8:15-16) Please note that the original text here uses the same word G2919, but in Chinese it is sometimes translated differently, which confuses people and causes misunderstanding.  It is very clear here why Jesus’ judgment is true, because God the Father was with Him during His incarnation, and His judgment is the judgment of God the Father.

Let’s look at this verse, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern (G1253) good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) This word G1253 only appears three times, and the other two times are “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment (G1253) on his opinions.”(Romans 14:1) and “and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing (G1253) of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.” How can one be able to discern (G1253) without doing judgement?  How could it not be true that a person who has grown up is a person filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who really judges?  Just don’t judge people by yourself. This is a judgment that may be wrong and often leads to disputes.

Finally, it talks about (true) light. The scripture says, “In Him (Jesus)  was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”(John 1:4-5) The verses here clearly explain the reason for not loving (true) light but loving darkness. We have shared it before, so we won’t discuss it here ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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

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

首先我们来看耶稣是神的儿子和羔羊，在亚伯拉罕时代是公羊耶代了以撒，在新约是神的儿子作为羔羊，在十字架上一次献祭而流血，为我们完成了救恩，取代我们而死，也只I 88有祂的血能除罪，『我们若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。』(约翰一书 1:7)   我们必须靠著圣灵，追求如司提反般的满有圣灵。第二，我们谈到了安得烈和彼得的呼召，看到了引见的重要，进而知道每一个基督徒该行大使命。第三，我们详细讨论了腓力和拿但业的呼召，又一次看到了引见的重要，也看到了拿但业是看到耶稣所行的才信，而『耶稣对他(多马)说：「你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！」』(约翰福音 20:29) 我们看到了主的讯息「上去下来」，是告诉我们，人要先相信才行，然后才会有大大的天上的祝福。最后，我们讨论了耶稣在迦拿的婚筵中的第一个神迹，看到了祂顺服了圣灵的带领，而不是在将就祂母亲的话。在这个水变成酒的神迹中，有本质上的改变，是在说跟随祂的基督徒，是会有生命的改变的。我们也讨论了耶稣那时是采取低恣态的，因耶稣知道自己的时间还没有到。

1. 耶稣是神的儿子和羔羊       

『次日，约翰看见耶稣来到他那里，就说：「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。这就是我曾说『有一位在我以后来，反成了在我以前的，因他本来在我以前。』是我先前不认识他，如今我来用水施洗，为要叫他显明给以色列人。」约翰又作见证说：「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 1:29-34)        

施洗约翰说耶稣是神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的，羔羊是献祭用的，这里已隐喻到耶稣会流血受死。希伯来书很清楚的说，『按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血洁净的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯来书 9:22) 在亚伯拉罕的时候是公羊取代了以撒，就像经文所说，『亚伯拉罕举目观看，不料，有一只公羊，两角扣在稠密的小树中，亚伯拉罕就取了那只公羊来，献为燔祭，代替他的儿子。』(创世记 22:13)  『亚伯拉罕给那地方起名叫「耶和华以勒」，直到今日人还说：「在耶和华的山上必有预备。」』(创世记 22:14)      

在新约时代，希伯来书是这样说的，『凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屡次献上一样的祭物，这祭物永不能除罪。但基督献了一次永远的赎罪祭，就在神的右边坐下了，从此等候(G1551)他仇敌成了他的脚凳。因为他一次献祭，便叫那得以成圣的人永远完全。圣灵也对我们作见证，因为他既已说过：「主说，那些日子以后，我与他们所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法写在他们心上，又要放在他们的里面。」以后就说：「我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯。」这些罪过既已赦免，就不用再为罪献祭了。』(希伯来书 10:11-18) 请注意，这里用的是「等候(G1551)」，就是现在还不是耶稣已有这样的脚凳，但这事未来一定会成就。

祂怎么献祭呢？就是被钉上了十字架而成就了救恩，所以祂在十字架会『…说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵(魂)交付神了。』(约翰福音 19:30) 『…我们既因耶稣的血，得以坦然进入至圣所，是借著他给我们开了一条又新又活的路，从幔子经过，这幔子就是他的身体。』(希伯来书 10:19-20) 『因为罪的工价乃是死，惟有神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生。』(罗马书 6:23) 所以在新约，是耶稣基督作为羔羊似的取代了我们，自己钉上了十字架而死，也明说了我们一定要使自己在基督耶稣里去得到永生，不要在成圣的路上因罪从基督里滑出来，虽然犯罪会难免，但仍要尽心、尽力、尽意的与神同工，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 1弥迦书说得很清楚，『世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善，他向你所要的是甚么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。』(弥迦书 6:8) 关于幔子裂开这事，不只是在讲属灵的事，也真实的发生过，在十字架上，『耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，…』(马太福音 27:50-51)     

再注意一点，这里是引用旧约的预言，『耶和华说：「那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上。我要作他们的神，他们要作我的子民。他们各人不再教导自己的邻舍和自己的弟兄说：『你该认识耶和华。』因为他们从最小的到至大的，都必认识我。我要赦免他们的罪孽，不再记念他们的罪恶。」这是耶和华说的。』(耶利米书 31:33-34) 要知道，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍(G145, 只出现这一次)习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 所以我们先要分辩自己是否长大成人，不要上撒但的当，用这段经文做借口说，我不必再听别人的话了！如果这样，最可能的是走上了歪路而不自知，如同启示录所说的老底嘉教会一样。也请注意，『以后就说：「我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯。」』(希伯来书 10:17) 这是我们很高兴且该知道的，也明讲了在新约的时代是不必再献祭了。

施洗约翰很清楚的知道耶稣虽出生在后，但祂本来在我以前，其实我们也可从旧约中看到这点。譬如经文说，『耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了；亚伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(创世记 18:33) 这和亚伯拉罕说话的耶和华是指三位一体的神中的耶稣。这不会是父神，因为耶和华对摩西『说：「你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及记 33:20) 谈话后的亚伯拉罕是活得好好的。这也不会是圣灵，亚伯拉罕不会看见灵的。所以说这耶华华只能是三位一体的神的耶稣，那时施洗约翰还没有出生呢！所以他会说耶稣本来在他之前。        

在这里，施洗约翰是很清楚的知道，耶稣是神的儿子，即使如此，他看到自己在监狱中的遭遇不是如自己所想的还是会软弱的。这点经文说得很清楚，『约翰在监里听见基督所做的事，就打发两个门徒去，问他说：「那将要来的是你吗？还是我们等候别人呢？」』(马太福音 11:2-3) 我们看到是人都是会软弱的，即使如施洗约翰这么刚强也会如此，所以我们跌倒时不必担心，认自己的罪再爬起来，有屡败屡战的态度，不要让撒但得逞。     

我们必须要靠著圣灵，追求如司提反般的满有圣灵，不是只要一次被圣灵充满。我们以前分享过，只要我们直求，圣灵一定会有一次的充满我们，只是没有说时间，在这里就不多说了。(参路加福音 11:5-13)  所以经文是说，『…司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人；…』(使徒行传 6:5) 又说，『司提反是以智慧和圣灵说话，众人敌挡不住。』(使徒行传 6:10) 他甚至愿意为主摆上自己的生命，就像经文所说，『他们正用石头打的时候，司提反呼吁主说：「求主耶稣接收我的灵(魂)！」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。…』(使徒行传 7:59-60) 请注意，这里说的是灵，他是有一个新灵的基督徒，知道『…灵仍归于赐灵的神。』(传道书 12:7) 他是第一位为主殉道的门徒，难怪主会站在神的右边欢迎他，没有人有这份殊荣。(参使徒行传 7:55-56)  

2. 安得烈和彼得的呼召        

『再次日，约翰同两个门徒站在那里。他见耶稣行走，就说：「看哪，这是神的羔羊！」两个门徒听见他的话，就跟从了耶稣。耶稣转过身来，看见他们跟著，就问他们说：「你们要甚么？」 他们说：「拉比，在哪里住？」（「拉比」翻出来就是「夫子」。）耶稣说：「你们来看。」他们就去看他在哪里住，这一天便与他同住。那时约有申正了。听见约翰的话，跟从耶稣的那两个人，一个是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找著自己的哥哥西门，对他说：「我们遇见弥赛亚了！」（「弥赛亚」翻出来就是「基督」。）于是领他去见耶稣。 耶稣看著他说：「你是约翰的儿子西门，你要称为矶法。」（「矶法」翻出来就是「彼得」。）』(约翰福音 1:35-42)        

我们看到安得烈是相当清楚旧约的，他知道神的羔羊是弥赛亚，而且跟从了祂。圣经没有讲另一位听到施洗约翰的话是谁，只知道安得烈是其中的一位。他们本是跟随施洗约翰的，他们听了约翰的话，就跟从了耶稣，也想知道祂住那里，耶稣就邀请他们同住，自己去判断祂的确是弥赛亚。在这里我们也看到，彼得若没有安得烈的引见，他可能就会完全没有机会的，可见得引见是非常重要的。这不就是『…信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。』(罗马书 10:17)

所以每个人都应该有大使命感，引见不信主的人知道耶稣的事迹和话语，也知道圣经的教导。大使命就像耶稣所说的，『天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。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) 我们看到了大使命不只是要人受洗，更是要教训人遵守，走上成圣之路。常与我们同在可以看成是附带的奖励，而不是为了这奖励去宣教，不要本末倒置。     

对于施洗这点，应该是这样说的，要奉耶稣的名施洗，归于父、子、圣灵的名下，因为在新约时，『彼得说：「你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。』(使徒行传 2:38) 圣经上没有说到有牧师这职位，这是人的制度，很多的时候要牧师去受洗！我们来看看新约中众多例子的一个，『于是吩咐车站住，腓利和太监二人同下水里去，腓利就给他施洗。』(使徒行传 8:36-38) 腓利那里是牧师呢？虽然新约明讲他是传福音的，如『第二天，我们(保罗他们)离开那里，来到凯撒利亚，就进了传福音的腓利家里，和他同住。他是那七个执事里的一个。』(使徒行传 21:8) 他显然是被圣灵充满的，因『从水里上来，主的灵把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行传 8:39) 被圣灵充满的传福音的弟兄怎么不能帮人施洗呢？读经是要看圣经怎么说，而不是看人的教导如何，我们一直在强调这点，也知道这样做不能为看人教导的人所接受，但这是正路，要行在其间，就如以赛亚所说，『主虽然以艰难给你当饼，以困苦给你当水，你的教师却不再隐藏，你眼必看见你的教师。你或向左或向右，你必听见后边有声音说：「这是正路，要行在其间。」』(以赛亚书 30:20-21) 我们实在是要相信，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，就会因此在圣经中看到许多平常看不到的事情。

3. 腓力和拿但业的呼召       

『又次日，耶稣想要往加利利去，遇见腓力，就对他说：「来，跟从我吧！」这腓力是伯赛大人，和安得烈、彼得同城。腓力找著拿但业，对他说：「摩西在律法上所写的和众先知所记的那一位，我们遇见了，就是约瑟的儿子拿撒勒人耶稣。」拿但业对他说：「拿撒勒还能出甚么好的吗？」 腓力说：「你来看！」耶稣看见拿但业来，就指著他说：「看哪，这是个真以色列人，他心里是没有诡诈的。」拿但业对耶稣说：「你从哪里知道我呢？」 耶稣回答说：「腓力还没有招呼你，你在无花果树底下，我就看见你了。」拿但业说：「拉比，你是神的儿子，你是以色列的王！」耶稣对他说：「因为我说在无花果树底下看见你，你就信吗？你将要看见比这更大的事。」又说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。」』(约翰福音 1:43-51)        

首先我们看到腓力知道耶稣就是那一位，那一位是指『耶和华就对我(摩西)说：『他们所说的是。我必在他们弟兄中间，给他们兴起一位先知像你。我要将当说的话传给他；他要将我一切所吩咐的都传给他们。谁不听他奉我名所说的话，我必讨谁的罪。』』(申命记 18:17-19) 我们看到腓力被呼召后就立刻跟从了耶稣，因他随后引见了拿但业，在这里我们又一次看见引见的重要性。当然不是每个被引到耶稣面前的人都会接受耶稣的，记得有一次这样做时，被骂得狗血喷头，所以是要看情况才行，否则只是让别人徒增反感。        

我们也看到了拿但业的最开始的反应，是多么的瞧不起耶稣啊！有先入为主的想法，因就他所知，『…拿撒勒还能出甚么好的吗？…』(约翰福音 1:46) 腓力就很有智慧的要他自己去判断。拿但业见到耶稣后，看到了祂所行的，就相信了祂是神的儿子。在这里我们也看到那颗无花果树是和耶稣有相当远的距离的，要不然拿但业不会有那样的反应。     

的确，他跟随耶稣后见要了更大的事，因为祂又告诉他们两个，『…将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。』(约翰福音 1:51) 这使我想到了另一段经文，就是雅各在出了别是巴往哈兰的路上，在伯特利睡著了，他『梦见一个梯子立在地上，梯子的头顶著天，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下来。耶和华站在梯子以上说：「我是耶和华你祖亚伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神，我要将你现在所躺卧之地赐给你和你的后裔。你的后裔必像地上的尘沙那样多，必向东西南北开展，地上万族必因你和你的后裔得福。我也与你同在，你无论往哪里去，我必保佑你，领你归回这地，总不离弃你，直到我成全了向你所应许的。』(创世记 28:12-15) 我们在这里可看到神有绝对的主权，雅各那时并没有求，是神主动的给他祝福。我们如果看雅各的一生，就知道他是紧紧抓住神的，这包括了临终前为以色列的十二支派祝福的预言(参创世记 49:1-28)，所以这主动也不是枉然的，神只是预先就知道了他的一生会是这样。简言之，「上去下来」是给了我们一个非常重要的讯息，人要先相信才行，然后才会有大大的天上的祝福。

4. 迦拿的婚筵       

『第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶亲的筵席，耶稣的母亲在那里。耶稣和他的门徒也被请去赴席。酒用尽了，耶稣的母亲对他说：「他们没有酒了。」耶稣说：「母亲，我与你有甚么相干？我的时候还没有到。」他母亲对用人说：「他告诉你们甚么，你们就做甚么。」照犹太人洁净的规矩，有六口石缸摆在那里，每口可以盛两三桶水。耶稣对用人说：「把缸倒满了水。」他们就倒满了，直到缸口。耶稣又说：「现在可以舀出来，送给管筵席的。」他们就送了去。管筵席的尝了那水变的酒，并不知道是哪里来的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎来，对他说：「人都是先摆上好酒，等客喝足了，才摆上次的；你倒把好酒留到如今！」这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。这事以后，耶稣与他的母亲、弟兄和门徒都下迦百农去，在那里住了不多几日。』(约翰福音 2:1-12)        

我们看见了耶稣的母亲是在这婚筵中有一些执事的，如果她只是一般客人，她是不会管有没有酒的这件事。在祂的母亲的介入后，虽然祂明知祂的时间还没有到，但是仍然顺服了圣灵的带领，而不是将就了祂母亲的话，后者是我所知道的有些人和天主教的看法。如果圣灵带领祂的是不要行第一个神迹的话，母亲的话又能怎么样呢？不过在这里看到圣灵的带领和母亲的话是一致的，母亲的话就因此成就了，不要本末倒置。我们知道，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 我们也知道，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 而又知道，『…神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 祂在道成肉身时，『…取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 祂和我们不同的是由圣灵感孕，从无罪开始，但『…他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。』(希伯来书 4:15) 我们看到了父是借著圣灵在引领祂，所以我们会说祂是在顺服圣灵的带领，知道要行那第一个神迹。        

这可以从另外一件事情看到的确是圣灵的带领，因这就像在当时犹太人的住棚节近了发生的事，『耶稣就对他们(祂弟兄)说：「我的时候还没有到，你们的时候常是方便的。世人不能恨你们，却是恨我，因为我指证他们所做的事是恶的。你们上去过节吧！我现在不上去过这节，因为我的时候还没有满。」耶稣说了这话，仍旧住在加利利。』(约翰福音 7:6-9) 所以那时祂没有圣灵的感动要祂去，并没说未来也一定是会没有圣灵的感动要祂去。

在这里，我们看到祂本是没有打算要去的，『但他弟兄上去以后，他也上去过节，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。』(约翰福音 7:10) 这是在顺服圣灵的带领，因祂知道要『到了节期，耶稣上殿里去教训人。』(约翰福音 7:14) 也知道，『节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声说：「人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝！信我的人，就如经上所说：从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。』」』(约翰福音 7:37-38) 祂是站著高声说这话的，所以是要人听到这话而相信。

我们再看看神迹的本身，是水变成酒，是本质上的改变，所以是在说跟随祂的基督徒，是会有生命的改变的。祂行的神迹，最初只有舀水的用人知道，因他是照母亲的话去行，也可由管筵席的口中知道，他也完全不知道有水变成好酒的本质上的改变，其实就算是舀水的用人告诉大家，也最可能是大家不会相信的。        

但显然后来是有一些人知道了，因为经文说，『这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。』(约翰福音 2:11) 所以至少他带的门徒后来是知道了，因耶稣知道自己的时间还没有到，祂是采取低恣态，祂不会是做广告似的让大家都知道，照神借圣经告诉我们是一致的来说，知道这件事的人应该不多。至于那舀水的用人是否会因这神迹相信了祂，圣经没有明说，神既然觉得我们不需要知道，尊重神，就不要猜，猜也不会得到唯一的结论，而且这也不是重点，圣经对于不是重点的事情不会明讲的。

(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』。)  

    首先我們來看耶穌是神的兒子和羔羊，在亞伯拉罕時代是公羊耶代了以撒，在新約是神的兒子作為羔羊，在十字架上一次獻祭而流血，為我們完成了救恩，取代我們而死，也只有祂的血能除罪，『我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。』(約翰一書 1:7)   我們必須靠著聖靈，追求如司提反般的滿有聖靈。第二，我們談到了安得烈和彼得的呼召，看到了引見的重要，進而知道每一個基督徒該行大使命。第三，我們詳細討論了腓力和拿但業的呼召，又一次看到了引見的重要，也看到了拿但業是看到耶穌所行的才信，而『耶穌對他(多馬)說：「你因看見了我才信，那沒有看見就信的有福了！」』(約翰福音 20:29) 我們看到了主的訊息「上去下來」，是告訴我們，人要先相信才行，然後才會有大大的天上的祝福。最後，我們討論了耶穌在迦拿的婚筵中的第一個神蹟，看到了祂順服了聖靈的帶領，而不是在將就祂母親的話。在這個水變成酒的神蹟中，有本質上的改變，是在說跟隨祂的基督徒，是會有生命的改變的。我們也討論了耶穌那時是採取低恣態的，因耶穌知道自己的時間還沒有到。

1. 耶穌是神的兒子和羔羊

       『次日，約翰看見耶穌來到他那裏，就說：「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。這就是我曾說『有一位在我以後來，反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。』是我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要叫他顯明給以色列人。」約翰又作見證說：「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 1:29-34)

        施洗約翰說耶穌是神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的，羔羊是獻祭用的，這裏已隱喻到耶穌會流血受死。希伯來書很清楚的說，『按着律法，凡物差不多都是用血潔淨的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯來書 9:22) 在亞伯拉罕的時候是公羊取代了以撒，就像經文所說，『亞伯拉罕舉目觀看，不料，有一隻公羊，兩角扣在稠密的小樹中，亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來，獻為燔祭，代替他的兒子。』(創世記 22:13)  『亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫「耶和華以勒」，直到今日人還說：「在耶和華的山上必有預備。」』(創世記 22:14)

      在新約時代，希伯來書是這樣說的，『凡祭司天天站着事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物，這祭物永不能除罪。但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在神的右邊坐下了，從此等候(G1551)他仇敵成了他的腳凳。因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。聖靈也對我們作見證，因為他既已說過：「主說，那些日子以後，我與他們所立的約乃是這樣：我要將我的律法寫在他們心上，又要放在他們的裏面。」以後就說：「我不再記念他們的罪愆和他們的過犯。」這些罪過既已赦免，就不用再為罪獻祭了。』(希伯來書 10:11-18) 請注意，這裏用的是「等候(G1551)」，就是現在還不是耶穌已有這樣的腳凳，但這事未來一定會成就。

        祂怎麼獻祭呢？就是被釘上了十字架而成就了救恩，所以祂在十字架會『…說：「成了！」便低下頭，將靈(魂)交付神了。』(約翰福音 19:30) 『…我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所，是藉着他給我們開了一條又新又活的路，從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體。』(希伯來書 10:19-20) 『因為罪的工價乃是死，惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裏，乃是永生。』(羅馬書 6:23) 所以在新約，是耶穌基督作為羔羊似的取代了我們，自己釘上了十字架而死，也明說了我們一定要使自己在基督耶穌裏去得到永生，不要在成聖的路上因罪從基督裏滑出來，雖然犯罪會難免，但仍要盡心、盡力、盡意的與神同工，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 1彌迦書說得很清楚，『世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善，他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。』(彌迦書 6:8) 關於幔子裂開這事，不只是在講屬靈的事，也真實的發生過，在十字架上，『耶穌又大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。忽然，殿裏的幔子從上到下裂為兩半，…』(馬太福音 27:50-51)

     再注意一點，這裏是引用舊約的預言，『耶和華說：「那些日子以後，我與以色列家所立的約乃是這樣：我要將我的律法放在他們裏面，寫在他們心上。我要作他們的神，他們要作我的子民。他們各人不再教導自己的鄰舍和自己的弟兄說：『你該認識耶和華。』因為他們從最小的到至大的，都必認識我。我要赦免他們的罪孽，不再記念他們的罪惡。」這是耶和華說的。』(耶利米書 31:33-34) 要知道，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅(G145, 只出現這一次)習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 所以我們先要分辨自己是否長大成人，不要上撒但的當，用這段經文做藉口說，我不必再聽別人的話了！如果這樣，最可能的是走上了歪路而不自知，如同啓示錄所說的老底嘉教會一樣。也請注意，『以後就說：「我不再記念他們的罪愆和他們的過犯。」』(希伯來書 10:17) 這是我們很高興且該知道的，也明講了在新約的時代是不必再獻祭了。

        施洗約翰很清楚的知道耶穌雖出生在後，但祂本來在我以前，其實我們也可從舊約中看到這點。譬如經文說，『耶和華與亞伯拉罕說完了話就走了；亞伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(創世記 18:33) 這和亞伯拉罕說話的耶和華是指三位一體的神中的耶穌。這不會是父神，因為耶和華對摩西『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) 談話後的亞伯拉罕是活得好好的。這也不會是聖靈，亞伯拉罕不會看見靈的。所以說這耶華華只能是三位一體的神的耶穌，那時施洗約翰還沒有出生呢！所以他會說耶穌本來在他之前。

        在這裏，施洗約翰是很清楚的知道，耶穌是神的兒子，即使如此，他看到自己在監獄中的遭遇不是如自己所想的還是會軟弱的。這點經文說得很清楚，『約翰在監裏聽見基督所做的事，就打發兩個門徒去，問他說：「那將要來的是你嗎？還是我們等候別人呢？」』(馬太福音 11:2-3) 我們看到是人都是會軟弱的，即使如施洗約翰這麼剛強也會如此，所以我們跌倒時不必擔心，認自己的罪再爬起來，有屢敗屢戰的態度，不要讓撒但得逞。

     我們必須要靠著聖靈，追求如司提反般的滿有聖靈，不是只要一次被聖靈充滿。我們以前分享過，只要我們直求，聖靈一定會有一次的充滿我們，只是沒有說時間，在這裏就不多說了。(參路加福音 11:5-13)  所以經文是說，『…司提反，乃是大有信心、聖靈充滿的人；…』(使徒行傳 6:5) 又說，『司提反是以智慧和聖靈說話，眾人敵擋不住。』(使徒行傳 6:10) 他甚至願意為主擺上自己的生命，就像經文所說，『他們正用石頭打的時候，司提反呼籲主說：「求主耶穌接收我的靈(魂)！」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。…』(使徒行傳 7:59-60) 請注意，這裏說的是靈，他是有一個新靈的基督徒，知道『…靈仍歸於賜靈的神。』(傳道書 12:7) 他是第一位為主殉道的門徒，難怪主會站在神的右邊歡迎他，沒有人有這份殊榮。(參使徒行傳 7:55-56)

2. 安得烈和彼得的呼召

        『再次日，約翰同兩個門徒站在那裏。他見耶穌行走，就說：「看哪，這是神的羔羊！」兩個門徒聽見他的話，就跟從了耶穌。耶穌轉過身來，看見他們跟着，就問他們說：「你們要甚麼？」 他們說：「拉比，在哪裏住？」（「拉比」翻出來就是「夫子」。）耶穌說：「你們來看。」他們就去看他在哪裏住，這一天便與他同住。那時約有申正了。聽見約翰的話，跟從耶穌的那兩個人，一個是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找着自己的哥哥西門，對他說：「我們遇見彌賽亞了！」（「彌賽亞」翻出來就是「基督」。）於是領他去見耶穌。 耶穌看着他說：「你是約翰的兒子西門，你要稱為磯法。」（「磯法」翻出來就是「彼得」。）』(約翰福音 1:35-42)

        我們看到安得烈是相當清楚舊約的，他知道神的羔羊是彌賽亞，而且跟從了祂。聖經沒有講另一位聽到施洗約翰的話是誰，只知道安得烈是其中的一位。他們本是跟隨施洗約翰的，他們聽了約翰的話，就跟從了耶穌，也想知道祂住那裏，耶穌就邀請他們同住，自己去判斷祂的確是彌賽亞。在這裏我們也看到，彼得若沒有安得烈的引見，他可能就會完全沒有機會的，可見得引見是非常重要的。這不就是『…信道是從聽道來的，聽道是從基督的話來的。』(羅馬書 10:17)

     所以每個人都應該有大使命感，引見不信主的人知道耶穌的事蹟和話語，也知道聖經的教導。大使命就像耶穌所說的，『天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。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) 我們看到了大使命不只是要人受洗，更是要教訓人遵守，走上成聖之路。常與我們同在可以看成是附帶的獎勵，而不是為了這獎勵去宣教，不要本末倒置。

     對於施洗這點，應該是這樣說的，要奉耶穌的名施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名下，因為在新約時，『彼得說：「你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。』(使徒行傳 2:38) 聖經上沒有說到有牧師這職位，這是人的制度，很多的時候要牧師去受洗！我們來看看新約中眾多例子的一個，『…於是吩咐車站住，腓利和太監二人同下水裏去，腓利就給他施洗。』(使徒行傳 8:36-38) 腓利那裏是牧師呢？雖然新約明講他是傳福音的，如『第二天，我們(保羅他們)離開那裏，來到凱撒利亞，就進了傳福音的腓利家裏，和他同住。他是那七個執事裏的一個。』(使徒行傳 21:8) 他顯然是被聖靈充滿的，因『從水裏上來，主的靈把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行傳 8:39) 被聖靈充滿的傳福音的弟兄怎麼不能幫人施洗呢？讀經是要看聖經怎麼說，而不是看人的教導如何，我們一直在強調這點，也知道這樣做不能為看人教導的人所接受，但這是正路，要行在其間，就如以賽亞所說，『主雖然以艱難給你當餅，以困苦給你當水，你的教師卻不再隱藏，你眼必看見你的教師。你或向左或向右，你必聽見後邊有聲音說：「這是正路，要行在其間。」』(以賽亞書 30:20-21) 我們實在是要相信，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，就會因此在聖經中看到許多平常看不到的事情。

3. 腓力和拿但業的呼召

       『又次日，耶穌想要往加利利去，遇見腓力，就對他說：「來，跟從我吧！」這腓力是伯賽大人，和安得烈、彼得同城。腓力找着拿但業，對他說：「摩西在律法上所寫的和眾先知所記的那一位，我們遇見了，就是約瑟的兒子拿撒勒人耶穌。」拿但業對他說：「拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？」 腓力說：「你來看！」耶穌看見拿但業來，就指着他說：「看哪，這是個真以色列人，他心裏是沒有詭詐的。」拿但業對耶穌說：「你從哪裏知道我呢？」 耶穌回答說：「腓力還沒有招呼你，你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。」拿但業說：「拉比，你是神的兒子，你是以色列的王！」耶穌對他說：「因為我說在無花果樹底下看見你，你就信嗎？你將要看見比這更大的事。」又說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們將要看見天開了，神的使者上去下來在人子身上。」』(約翰福音 1:43-51)

        首先我們看到腓力知道耶穌就是那一位，那一位是指『耶和華就對我(摩西)說：『他們所說的是。我必在他們弟兄中間，給他們興起一位先知像你。我要將當說的話傳給他；他要將我一切所吩咐的都傳給他們。誰不聽他奉我名所說的話，我必討誰的罪。』』(申命記 18:17-19) 我們看到腓力被呼召後就立刻跟從了耶穌，因他隨後引見了拿但業，在這裏我們又一次看見引見的重要性。當然不是每個被引到耶穌面前的人都會接受耶穌的，記得有一次這樣做時，被罵得狗血噴頭，所以是要看情況才行，否則只是讓別人徒增反感。

        我們也看到了拿但業的最開始的反應，是多麼的瞧不起耶穌啊！有先入為主的想法，因就他所知，『…拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？…』(約翰福音 1:46) 腓力就很有智慧的要他自己去判斷。拿但業見到耶穌後，看到了祂所行的，就相信了祂是神的兒子。在這裏我們也看到那顆無花果樹是和耶穌有相當遠的距離的，要不然拿但業不會有那樣的反應。

     的確，他跟隨耶穌後見要了更大的事，因為祂又告訴他們兩個，『…將要看見天開了，神的使者上去下來在人子身上。』(約翰福音 1:51) 這使我想到了另一段經文，就是雅各在出了別是巴往哈蘭的路上，在伯特利睡著了，他『夢見一個梯子立在地上，梯子的頭頂着天，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下來。耶和華站在梯子以上說：「我是耶和華你祖亞伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神，我要將你現在所躺臥之地賜給你和你的後裔。你的後裔必像地上的塵沙那樣多，必向東西南北開展，地上萬族必因你和你的後裔得福。我也與你同在，你無論往哪裏去，我必保佑你，領你歸回這地，總不離棄你，直到我成全了向你所應許的。』(創世記 28:12-15) 我們在這裏可看到神有絕對的主權，雅各那時並沒有求，是神主動的給他祝福。我們如果看雅各的一生，就知道他是緊緊抓住神的，這包括了臨終前為以色列的十二支派祝福的預言(參創世記 49:1-28)，所以這主動也不是枉然的，神只是預先就知道了他的一生會是這樣。簡言之，「上去下來」是給了我們一個非常重要的訊息，人要先相信才行，然後才會有大大的天上的祝福。

4. 迦拿的婚筵

       『第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶親的筵席，耶穌的母親在那裏。耶穌和他的門徒也被請去赴席。酒用盡了，耶穌的母親對他說：「他們沒有酒了。」耶穌說：「母親，我與你有甚麼相干？我的時候還沒有到。」他母親對用人說：「他告訴你們甚麼，你們就做甚麼。」照猶太人潔淨的規矩，有六口石缸擺在那裏，每口可以盛兩三桶水。耶穌對用人說：「把缸倒滿了水。」他們就倒滿了，直到缸口。耶穌又說：「現在可以舀出來，送給管筵席的。」他們就送了去。管筵席的嘗了那水變的酒，並不知道是哪裏來的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎來，對他說：「人都是先擺上好酒，等客喝足了，才擺上次的；你倒把好酒留到如今！」這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來，他的門徒就信他了。這事以後，耶穌與他的母親、弟兄和門徒都下迦百農去，在那裏住了不多幾日。』(約翰福音 2:1-12)

        我們看見了耶穌的母親是在這婚筵中有一些執事的，如果她只是一般客人，她是不會管有沒有酒的這件事。在祂的母親的介入後，雖然祂明知祂的時間還沒有到，但是仍然順服了聖靈的帶領，而不是將就了祂母親的話，後者是我所知道的有些人和天主教的看法。如果聖靈帶領祂的是不要行第一個神蹟的話，母親的話又能怎麼樣呢？不過在這裏看到聖靈的帶領和母親的話是一致的，母親的話就因此成就了，不要本末倒置。我們知道，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 我們也知道，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 而又知道，『…神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 祂在道成肉身時，『…取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 祂和我們不同的是由聖靈感孕，從無罪開始，但『…他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』(希伯來書 4:15) 我們看到了父是藉著聖靈在引領祂，所以我們會說祂是在順服聖靈的帶領，知道要行那第一個神蹟。

        這可以從另外一件事情看到的確是聖靈的帶領，因這就像在當時猶太人的住棚節近了發生的事，『耶穌就對他們(祂弟兄)說：「我的時候還沒有到，你們的時候常是方便的。世人不能恨你們，卻是恨我，因為我指證他們所做的事是惡的。你們上去過節吧！我現在不上去過這節，因為我的時候還沒有滿。」耶穌說了這話，仍舊住在加利利。』(約翰福音 7:6-9) 所以那時祂沒有聖靈的感動要祂去，並沒說未來也一定是會沒有聖靈的感動要祂去。

     在這裏，我們看到祂本是沒有打算要去的，『但他弟兄上去以後，他也上去過節，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。』(約翰福音 7:10) 這是在順服聖靈的帶領，因祂知道要『到了節期，耶穌上殿裏去教訓人。』(約翰福音 7:14) 也知道，『節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲說：「人若渴了，可以到我這裏來喝！信我的人，就如經上所說：從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。』」』(約翰福音 7:37-38) 祂是站著高聲說這話的，所以是要人聽到這話而相信。

        我們再看看神蹟的本身，是水變成酒，是本質上的改變，所以是在說跟隨祂的基督徒，是會有生命的改變的。祂行的神蹟，最初只有舀水的用人知道，因他是照母親的話去行，也可由管筵席的口中知道，他也完全不知道有水變成好酒的本質上的改變，其實就算是舀水的用人告訴大家，也最可能是大家不會相信的。

        但顯然後來是有一些人知道了，因為經文說，『這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來，他的門徒就信他了。』(約翰福音 2:11) 所以至少他帶的門徒後來是知道了，因耶穌知道自己的時間還沒有到，祂是採取低恣態，祂不會是做廣告似的讓大家都知道，照神藉聖經告訴我們是一致的來說，知道這件事的人應該不多。至於那舀水的用人是否會因這神蹟相信了祂，聖經沒有明說，神既然覺得我們不需要知道，尊重神，就不要猜，猜也不會得到唯一的結論，而且這也不是重點，聖經對於不是重點的事情不會明講的。

(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, let’s look at Jesus as the Son of God and the Lamb. In the time of Abraham, it was the ram that replaced Isaac. In the New Testament, Jesus as the Son of God as the lamb replaced us. He shed His blood as a sacrifice on the cross and completed salvation for us. He died in our place, and only His blood can take away sins. “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”(1 John 1:7) We must rely on the Holy Spirit and pursue to be full of the Holy Spirit like Stephen.  Second, we talked about the calling of Andrew and Peter, saw the importance of introduction, and then knew that every Christian should carry out the Great Commission.  Third, we discussed the calling of Philip and Nathanael in detail, and once again saw the importance of introduction, and also saw that Nathanael only believed after seeing what Jesus had done, and “Jesus said to him (Thomas), “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””(John 20:29) We have seen the Lord’s message, ‘ascending and descending’ tells us that people must first believe, and then there will be great blessings from heaven.  Finally, we discussed Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, which saw Him obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than making do with the words of His mother.  In this miracle of water turning into wine, there is an essential change, which means that Christians who follow Him will have an essential change in their lives.  We also discussed that Jesus took a low-key attitude at that time because Jesus knew that His time had not yet come.

1. Jesus is the Son of God and the Lamb

​”The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 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 1:29-34)

John the Baptist said that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. The lamb is used for sacrifice. This is a metaphor that Jesus will bleed and die.  The book of Hebrews says very clearly, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”(Hebrews 9:22) In the time of Abraham, it was the ram that replaced Isaac. As the scripture says, “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.”(Genesis 22:13) “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.””(Genesis 22:14)

In the New Testament era, the book of Hebrews says this, “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting (G1551) from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says,  “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:11-18) Please note that the word “waiting (G1551)” is used here, which means that Jesus does not have such a footstool yet, but it will definitely happen in the future. ​

How did He offer the sacrifice?  Salvation was achieved by His being crucified on the cross, so at the cross “…He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30) “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.”(Hebrews 10:19-20) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 6:23) Therefore, in the New Testament era, it is Jesus Christ who replaced us like a lamb. He was crucified and died for us. It is also clearly stated that we must reside ourselves in Jesus Christ in order to obtain eternal life. On the road to sanctification, one often slips out of Christ because of sin. Although sin is inevitable, you must still work with God with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind. “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) The book of Micah makes it very clear, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”(Micah 6:8) Regarding the tearing of the veil, it is not only talking about spiritual things, but also really happened. On the cross, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; …”(Matthew 27:50-51)

Note that this is a quote from the Old Testament prophecy, ““But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””(Jeremiah 31:33-34) You must know, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses (G145, only appears once) trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) So we must first discern whether we have grown up and not fall into Satan’s trap of using this passage as an excuse to say, I don’t have to listen to others anymore!  If so, it is most likely that they have gone astray without realizing it, just like the church in Laodicea mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  Please also note, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17) This is something we should be happy to know, and it also clearly states that in the new covenant in the New Testament era, there is no need to offer sacrifices anymore.

John the Baptist knew very well that although Jesus was born after me, He was originally before me. In fact, we can also see this from the Old Testament.  For example, the scripture says, “As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD (H3068, Jehovah) departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”(Genesis 18:33) The Jehovah who spoke to Abraham refers to Jesus, the Trinity of God.  This could not be God the Father, because Jehovah said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) After the conversation, Abraham was alive and well. This could not be the Holy Spirit. Abraham could not see the spirit.  Therefore, this Jehovah can only be Jesus, the Trinity God. John the Baptist had not yet been born at that time!  So he would say that Jesus was before him.

Here, John the Baptist knew very clearly that Jesus was the Son of God. Even so, he still felt weak when he saw that his experience in prison was not what he thought.  This scripture makes it very clear, “Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?””(Matthew 11:2-3) We see that all people will be weak, even if they are as strong as John the Baptist, so we don’t have to worry when we fall. We should admit our sins and get up again. Even there will be repeated failures, we must still have a fighting attitude this way and don’t let Satan win.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit and pursue being full with the Holy Spirit like Stephen. It is not just about being filled with the Holy Spirit once.  We have shared before that as long as we ask directly, the Holy Spirit will definitely fill us once. We had such a promise but without mentioning when it will happen. We shared this before, so we won’t say more here.  (See Luke 11:5-13) So the scripture says, “…Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, …”(Acts 6:5) It also says “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”(Acts 6:10) He was even willing to lay down his life for the Lord, as the scripture says, 

“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 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 7:59-60) Please note that what is mentioned here is the spirit. He is a Christian who has a new spirit and knows that “…the spirit will return to God who gave it.”(Ecclesiastes 12:7) He was the first disciple to be martyred for the Lord. No wonder the Lord would stand at the right hand of God to welcome him. No one has this honor.  (See Acts 7:55-56)

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2. The calling of Andrew and Peter

“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”(John 1:35-42)

We see that Andrew knew the Old Testament quite well. He knew that the Lamb of God was the Messiah and followed Him.  The Bible does not say who the other person was who heard the words of John the Baptist, only that Andrew was one of them.  They were followers of John the Baptist. After hearing John’s words, they followed Jesus and wanted to know where He lived. Jesus invited them to stay with them and judge for themselves that He was indeed the Messiah.  Here we also see that if Peter had not been introduced by Andrew, he might have had no chance at all. This shows that introduction is very important.  Isn’t this just that “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17)

Therefore, everyone should have a sense of the Great Commission and introduce unbelievers to know the deeds and words of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.  The Great Commission is like Jesus said, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “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) We have seen that the Great Commission is not just for people to be baptized, but also to teach people to obey and embark on the road to sanctification.  Staying with us can be viewed as an incidental reward, rather than missionary work for the reward. Don’t put the cart before the horse.

Regarding baptism, what should be said is this: baptize in the name of Jesus, into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because in the New Testament, “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2:38) The Bible does not mention the position of a pastor at all. This is a human system, where many times a pastor is required for being baptized! Let’s look at one of the many examples in the New Testament, ” “…And he (eunuch) ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.”(Acts 8:36-38). Was Philip a pastor? Although the New Testament clearly states that he was a preacher of the gospel, for example, “On the next day we (Paul and others) left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.”(Acts 21:8) He was obviously filled with the Holy Spirit, for “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; …”(Acts 8:39) How come brothers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and preach the gospel cannot help people baptize? Reading the Bible depends on what the Bible says, not what people teach. We have been emphasizing this point, and we know doing this is very hard to those who look up to the teaching from other people, but this is the right way, and you must walk in it, as Isaiah said, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, “Be gone!””(Isaiah 30:20-21) We really have to believe that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and we by this way will see many things in the Bible that we usually cannot see.

3. The call of Philip and Nathanael

“The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote⁠—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.””(John 1:43-51)

First, we see that Philip knew that Jesus was the one, and that the one refers to “The LORD said to me (Moses), ‘They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:17-19) We see that Philip immediately followed Jesus after being called, because he then introduced Nathanael. Here we see again the importance of introduction.  Of course, not everyone who is led to Jesus will accept Him. I remember one time when I did this, I was scolded to death. So it depends on the situation, otherwise it will just make others more resentful.

We also saw Nathanael’s initial reaction, how much he looked down on Jesus!  He had preconceived ideas, because as far as he knew, “…Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? .. “(John 1:46) Philip wisely asked him to judge for himself.  After Nathanael met Jesus and saw what He had done, he believed that He was the Son of God.  Here we also see that the fig tree was quite far away from Jesus, otherwise Nathanael would not have reacted like that.

From this verse, “… ​you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,” it reminds me of another passage, that is, on the way out of Beersheba to Haran, Jacob fell asleep in Bethel. “He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.””(Genesis 28:12-15) We can see here that God has absolute sovereignty. Jacob did not ask for it, but God took the initiative to bless him. If we look at Jacob’s life, we will know that he clung to God. This includes the prophecy of blessing the twelve tribes of Israel before his death (see Genesis 49:1-28), so this initiative is not in vain. Yes, God just knew in advance that his life would be like this. In short, ‘ascending and descending’ gives us a very important message. People must believe first, and then they will receive great blessings from heaven.

4. The wedding feast at Cana

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.”(John 2:1-12)

We have seen that the mother of Jesus had involved playing a role at the wedding feast. If she was just an ordinary guest, she would not have cared about whether there was wine or not.  After His Mother’s intervention, although He knew His time had not yet come, He still obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than giving in to His Mother’s words, which is the view of some people and the what I know about Catholic Church.  If the Holy Spirit was leading Him not to perform the first miracle, what could the mother’s words do?  However, here we see that the guidance of the Holy Spirit was consistent with the mother’s words, so the mother’s words were fulfilled. Don’t put the cart before the horse.  We know, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) We also know, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) And He knew that “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God (Jesus); for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) When He became flesh, He “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Unlike us, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and began without sin, “but One (Jesus) who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15) We see that the Father is leading Him through the Holy Spirit, so we would say that He was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit and knew to perform the first miracle.

This can be seen from another thing that it is indeed the leading of the Holy Spirit, because this is like what happened when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was approaching, “So Jesus said to them (His brothers), “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.”(John 7:6-9) So He did not have the Holy Spirit to move Him to go at that time, and it did not say that He would definitely not have the Holy Spirit to move Him to go in the future.

Here, we see that He had no intention of going, “But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.”(John 7:10) This was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, because He knew that “But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.”(John 7:14) Also know, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”” (John 7:37-38) He stood and spoke this with a loud voice, so that people would hear it and believe it.

Regarding the miracle (sign) that water turns into wine, it is an essential change, so it means that Christians who follow Him will have an essential change in their lives.  The miracle He performed were initially known only to the man who ladled out the water, because he did it according to His mother’s words. They could also know it from the mouth of the person in charge of the banquet, who was also completely unaware of the essential change of water turning into good wine. In fact, even if It was the man who scooped the water who told everyone, and most likely no one would believe it.

But apparently some people knew about it later, because the scripture says, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”(John 2:11) So at least the disciples He led knew it later, because Jesus knew that His time had not yet come, so He took a low-key attitude, and He would not let everyone know as if He was advertising. What God tells us through the Bible is consistent. There should not be many people who knew about this.  As for whether the servant who scooped the water believed in Him because of this miracle, the Bible does not say clearly. Since God feels that we do not need to know about that,  and we must respect Him, we should not guess. Guessing will not lead to the only conclusion anyway, and this is not the point that here wants to convey. The Bible does not speak explicitly about matters that are not important.

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

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