First, we look at the death of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified for us, the physical veil was torn, and the spiritual veil was truly opened.  The Bible records the circumstances of His death in detail, and even the Gentile centurion realized that He was the Son of God!  In His death we see God’s mercy and the fulfillment of two prophecies.  Second, we talked about the burial of Jesus, with Joseph asking for His body to be laid in his own new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.  The Pharisee Nicodemus was also mentioned. He had previously talked with Jesus about born against, God’s love for the world, and whoever practices the truth will come to the Light.  Finally we touched on the details of Jesus’ resurrection, although it is a controversial topic, and we explained why we see this way in the Bible.  The Bible is saying that at dawn on the first day of the week, Jesus’ resurrection was discovered by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Then they divided into two groups. Mary Magdalene went to see Peter and John, and the other Mary went to see them other women.  The Gospel of John narrates what happened in the former. After the two disciples returned, Mary Magdalene was the first to see the resurrected Jesus alone. However, because Jesus had not ascended to heaven at that time, she could not touch Him.  As for the other Mary who went to see the other women, she met them on the road and joined Mary Magdalene in the tomb, so Mary Magdalene was included here.  They saw the appearance of two angels, and they told all these things to the eleven apostles and the rest.  In the Gospel of Mark we see an obvious contradiction. Because the Bible is inspired by God, we will ask the same question as before, what does God want to tell us through this obvious contradiction?  Here again we see that the consistency of the Bible does not refer to literal words, but the fact that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.  We also recalled one of the possible writing methods of the Bible, that is, how to write it to possibly correct the errors in the various versions in original languages we have them now.

1. The death of Jesus

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.”(Luke 23:44-49)

 We saw that Jesus nailed the cross for us and bled for us, and the material veil of the temple was actually torn in two. No wonder the book of Hebrews says spiritually, “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) Here we see that what happens in the physical world has spiritual significance.  We also see the reaction of the Gentiles and the people who gathered to watch.  He died at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It didn’t take long for Him to be crucified. We see that God’s mercy allowed Him to suffer less.  We will share this in detail later.

Matthew’s Gospel records the same thing in more detail, “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; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!””(Matthew 27:50-54)

The centurion and others did not see those resurrected saints, because they did not appear until after Jesus was resurrected.  But it was enough that the Centurion and others saw other things!  You see, even the Gentiles believed that “Certainly this man was innocent.” The innocent man refers to the Son of God.  There is also a brief account of the temple veil being torn in two from top to bottom and the Gentiles seeing that He was truly the Son of God in Mark 15:37-39. 

“Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.””(John 19:31- 37)

Although it is not said here who was the person who saw this, we know that the person was John, because this event is recorded in the Gospel of John, and as we have shared before, John was the only apostle before the cross.  We saw before that Jesus had to be crucified and use His blood to accomplish the plan of salvation, and He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39) Even so, the scripture says that He died before ordinary people died, so we see God’s mercy in allowing Him to suffer less pain in His last moments on earth.  Because of this, two prophecies were thus fulfilled.

The scriptures related to the former are as follows.  In the Passover lamb, “…nor are you to break any bone of it.”(Exodus 12:46) Jesus is our true Passover Lamb, “He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus is a righteous man, and the Psalm says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.”(Psalm 34:19-20) Here we see why Jesus will not break a bone.

The latter is, ““I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”(Zechariah 12:10) We know that Jesus is the firstborn Son who brings us into the kingdom of God, as the book of Romans 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) “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

(Revelation 1:7) When Jesus comes again, He will come with the clouds, but now aren’t all the tribes of the earth looking to the one who was pierced?

Some say that His death on the cross before the robbers was to fulfill this prophecy, and that they would look to Him who pierced Him.  But if this is the case, Jesus did not need to die so early. He could have died before the piecing, so it should be because of God’s mercy that His suffering was reduced.

2. The burial of Jesus

“And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”(Luke 23:50-56)

Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. He did a very difficult thing. Jesus was crucified, which was absolutely politically incorrect. However, Joseph was willing to ask for the body of Jesus in a political environment that was very unfavorable to him, not changing his hope because of Jesus’ death, and willing to bury Jesus in the tomb prepared for himself.  We also saw that after they returned, they prepared spices and ointments to anoint Jesus, but they did not anoint Jesus because Jesus was resurrected.  Therefore, the only burial  anointment for Jesus was Mary of Bethany did, who anointed Him beforehand, because the Bible says very clearly, “For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.” (Matthew 26:12) And “Truly I (Jesus) say to you,  “wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.””(Matthew 26:13) This matter is recorded in three gospels, namely Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8, so it is true wherever the gospel was preached, what this woman had done was told.  By the way, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus twice, because the Gospel of John clarifies, “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”(John 11:1-2) The first time she anointed Jesus was recorded in Luke 7:36-38, and the second time was recorded in John 12:1-8. This time, Jesus said, “…Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.”(John 12:7)

The same incident is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.”(Matthew 27:57-61)

The Gospel of Mark basically records the same thing, “When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.”(Mark 15:42-47)

First of all, we notice that the Gospel of Matthew talks about Mary, referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who knew the place where He was buried, while the Gospel of Mark talks about Mary, the mother of Joseph. Later we will share why the book of Matthew is correct.

We have seen that Joseph was not only a member of the Council, but also a wealthy man. It was very reasonable that he could afford to prepare a tomb hewn in the rock for himself.  By now, you should have seen that we try to use uncontroversial scriptures to describe what happened whenever possible. For example, the above is from the narratives of the three gospels added together, that is, from their union, we then know what happened about some things.  This is because these verses are so clear, so much better than if we were to recount them all together!  If there is an obvious contradiction, we would ask what does God want to tell us through this obvious contradiction in the Bible?

Regarding the burial of Jesus, the Gospel of John adds, “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. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”(John 19:39-42)

The Pharisee Nicodemus had previously talked to Jesus about born again, God’s love for the world, and whoever practices the truth must come to the Light.  (See John 3:1-21) The Bible only mentions him once before. He came at night, talked about it, and then became a disciple silently. Therefore, the Gospel of John says, “Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?””(John 7:50-51) Now He’s out in the open!

“Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”(Matthew 27:62-66) So the tomb of Jesus was not only blocked by big stones, but also guarded by soldiers.

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3. Details of Jesus’ Resurrection

In the book of Romans, it says, “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”(Romans 4:25) How can we be justified without resurrection?  Concerning the resurrection, the Gospel of Matthew says this, “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.”(Matthew 28:1-15)

From the second half of these verses above, we see that the soldiers lied because of the money, and the priests and elders clearly violated the Law which says that we shouldn’t lie. Therefore, the book of James says, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) Don’t say one thing, but do the opposite.

Then we look at the order of events after Jesus’ resurrection.  First of all, what we see from the Gospel of Matthew is that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb,” so they knew about the Lord’s resurrection, but they did not say they saw Jesus.  They did not enter the tomb the first time because the angel of the Lord rolled away the stone and sat on it.  Notice that both the angel and Jesus spoke of going to Galilee to meet the resurrected Jesus.  Then they divided into two groups: Mary Magdalene went to Peter and John, and Mary went to the other women.  Why do you say this?

Let’s take a look at what the Gospel of John says, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes.”(John 20:1-10)

Because the Gospel of John says that only Mary Magdalene came to tell Peter and John, and we have also seen that Mary Magdalene used us, so that Mary must have gone to another place.  Peter arrived later but entered the tomb first, so John was more cautious, while Peter entered the tomb regardless of anything.  Because of the burial cloth that Peter saw, he believed the words of Mary Magdalene which said that they did not know where the body of the Lord was placed, because it was then explained that they did not understand the meaning of the Bible, which said that the Lord would rise from the dead.

After the two disciples had returned, “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.”(John 20:11-18)

 We see again that the spiritual body of Jesus after his resurrection is very different. Unless He is willing to appear to people, people cannot know Him.  Jesus opened the eyes of Mary Magdalene in Hebrew so that she could see Him.  Please note that it is clearly stated here that Mary Magdalene did not go in. She saw the two angels and knew where they were sitting.  She was alone and was the first to see the resurrected Jesus, but she did not touch Him.  After she saw the Lord at this time, she told the disciples what the Lord had said to her.  We also see what the book of Hebrews says, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”(Hebrews 2:11)

Then why does the Gospel of Matthew say, “… And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”(Matthew 28:9) What about?  From the viewpoints that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, it should be because Mary Magdalene did not tell Matthew directly, so the Gospel of Matthew has different records.  Although this kind of thing does not happen often, we believe that the last written Gospel of John did correct very few differences in words. Of course, the Gospel of John also added things that were not recorded in the other three Synoptic Gospels. Here we see that the events happened at the same time in all Gospels, and once again we see that the consistency of the Bible does not refer to the words, but what God tells us through is consistent.

Let’s see what the Gospel of Luke says? “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.”(Luke 24:1-12)

Before we mentioned that the other Mary in the book of Matthew should have gone to meet other women. They should have met them on the road, otherwise those women would not have prepared spices and came to the tomb. Mary Magdalene should still be there at that time, and they met together, otherwise the Gospel of Luke would not say that they told all these things together to the eleven apostles and the rest, including Mary Magdalene.  This time, unlike the two Mary’s in the first time, the women went in this rime, that is, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb in the second time.  They suddenly saw the appearance of two angels. This was the same number that Matthew said Mary Magdalene had seen outside the tomb before, but this time they did not say where they were.  And they remembered the words of Jesus, which were the same as those given in the Gospel of Matthew, including Mary Magdalene, and they told all these things to the eleven apostles and the rest.  Although those people did not believe it, Peter probably believed it at that time and ran to the tomb a second time, wondering in his heart what had happened.

Here we try to restore everything that happened, and we use what God tells us through the Bible to be consistent.  Please note that the Bible does not explicitly say that John corrected and supplemented the other three gospels, but we still use the fact that John’s gospel was written last, and it is reasonable to assume this.

Let’s take a look at how the Gospel of Mark says, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”(Mark 16:1-8)

The resurrection of Jesus mentioned here in Mark’s Gospel and the previous one should be the same thing, because the time stated in the four gospels is the same, at dawn on the first day of the week, but there is an obvious contradiction.  First, the people who went to the tomb, Matthew’s Gospel said that they included that Mary, while Mark’s Gospel talked about the Mary, who is the mother of Joseph, and Salome.  Here, we may choose to believe the Gospel of Matthew, because Matthew is an apostle and should know better, and we know that Mark heard about it.  The main thing is the second point. The three of them went into the tomb and saw only one angel.  Although the angel also mentioned that they would go to Galilee first, it was said that the three of them, including Mary Magdalene, did not tell others because they were afraid, so there is an obvious contradiction here since Mary Magdalene did tell.  Since the Bible is inspired by God, we will ask the same question as before, what does God want to tell us through obvious contradictions?  This should be similar to what we discussed before in “3. The time of the temptation of Jesus and its order” of “1046 The genealogy and the temptations of Jesus, and controversial issues – The image of Jesus (1).” There are more than three things to be tempted by. The order of the three things mentioned in Luke Chapter 4 is different from the order mentioned in Matthew Chapter 4, but in terms of the order in which the temptation event occurred, Luke does say that Yes, it was written in the order of events, after the baptism of Jesus.  The Bible is inspired by God. If we are told that it must be literally identical, and thus we think the Bible is wrong and ignore the fact that the Bible is inspired by God. Here we are asked not to pay attention to the detail but the order of the same event. The important thing is to say that the same event occurred.

Please note that with the exception of Mark, the other three gospels are consistent, which leads us to a possible approach to biblical inspiration.  Please note that I did not say that the Bible was written this way, but I just emphasized that God already knew that the Bible could not be handed down without error in the original version. He must have considered this issue when he inspired it. Here is just one example to share a method that people can think of, and He will definitely do it more thoughtfully.

Here, we use the basic theory of coding theory to illustrate one of the solutions to this problem.  In today’s computers, binary bits are used, and numbers are represented by a series of zeros and ones.  When we want to share a zero or a one with another computer, there must be a transmission channel in the middle, but the transmission channel must have errors, just like the original version will be passed down in different versions in original languages which will definitely contain errors.  The basic theory behind a method that can automatically correct a transmission line error is as follows.  If we see zero then send three zeros, and when we see one, we send three ones. At this time, if the signal received contains only an one, we will know that the signal sent is zero, which means that a transmission channel error, which turns the bit into other way, will be automatically corrected an generated error.  In short, because the probability of the channel generating more errors each time will be lower, we can send more duplicate bits when we see a bit. In other words, the output speed will be slower by this way, but we can correct more errors generated by the transmission channel.

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What does this have to do with the Bible?  Isn’t this similar to biblical consistency?  The consistency of the Bible tells us that the same conclusion can be reached by using different scriptures. Compared with the writing method that only needs to be written once, the length of this writing method is increased, but the errors will be reduced.  In coding theory, we trade time for fewer errors because we send signals slowly.  Here, we use length to achieve the same effect.  From this perspective, the Gospel of Matthew is also correct. As mentioned above, God uses the Bible to tell us that the events that happened are the same, not that they must be literally identical.

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

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

    我们首先看耶稣被判钉十字架的过程，彼拉多很清楚的知道，按著罗马的律法，耶稣并没有犯该死的罪，他不能合法的钉耶稣十字架。最后是他非法的钉耶稣在十字架上，虽他尝试，但他不能洗掉他的罪。第二，我们看到了耶稣开始的时候是自己背的十字架，后半段是古利奈人西门帮祂背的。第三，有些妇女为耶稣的钉十字架而痛哭，祂也再次预言了耶路撒冷的被毁。第四，我们看一下耶稣的钉十字架的最后过程。最后我们指出，是在何时讨论过，和祂同钉十字架的一个强盗，因为有信心的行为，没有受洗就升到了乐园。在这里，我们看到了对比，另外一个强盗是死不悔改。我们也看到了耶稣没有从十字架下来，因为救恩本就是要这样成就的。我们也看到祂道成肉身时，是完全是神，也是完全的人。因为是完全的人，是没有能力从十字架上面下来，如果有意念告诉你说祂有能力从十字架上面下来，这一定是出于撒但，因为圣经清楚的说，神是信实的。

1. 耶稣被判钉十字架      

    因路加福音是按著事情，不是事件，的发生次序来讲的，所以继续看路加福音说到耶稣是怎样的被判钉上了十字架！我们上次谈到了『彼拉多说：「…但你们有个规矩，在逾越节要我给你们释放一个人，你们要我给你们释放犹太人的王吗？」』(约翰福音 18:38-39) 于是『众人却一齐喊著说：「除掉这个人！释放巴拉巴给我们！」这巴拉巴是因在城里作乱杀人，下在监里的。彼拉多愿意释放耶稣，就又劝解他们。无奈他们喊著说：「钉他十字架！钉他十字架！」彼拉多第三次对他们说：「为甚么呢？这人做了甚么恶事呢？我并没有查出他甚么该死的罪来。所以，我要责打他，把他释放了。」他们大声催逼彼拉多，求他把耶稣钉在十字架上。他们的声音就得了胜。彼拉多这才照他们所求的定案，把他们所求的那作乱杀人、下在监里的释放了，把耶稣交给他们，任凭他们的意思行。』(路加福音 23:18-25)    

    在这里，我们看到彼拉多的初衷是要释放耶稣，因为他找不出耶稣犯了甚么该死的罪来。但因他们的声音得了胜，而任凭他们的意思行。下面会更详细的叙述所发生的事情。我们先看在耶稣被戏弄的事上，马太福音记载更详细，『巡抚的兵就把耶稣带进衙门，叫全营的兵都聚集在他那里。他们给他脱了衣服，穿上一件朱红色袍子；用荆棘编作冠冕，戴在他头上；拿一根苇子放在他右手里，跪在他面前，戏弄他说：「恭喜，犹太人的王啊！」又吐唾沫在他脸上，拿苇子打他的头。戏弄完了，就给他脱了袍子，仍穿上他自己的衣服，带他出去，要钉十字架。』(马太福音 27:27-31)    

    这里说到了虽然兵丁不相信祂，戏弄祂，但实质上的确是跪在了他面前。这使我想到了雅各书说的，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22) 我们实在该看的，是要看一个人怎么做，不能只听他怎么讲，要看那人有没有以身作则。在这里我们也看到了，『他诚然担当我们的忧患，背负我们的痛苦；我们却以为他受责罚，被神击打苦待了。哪知他为我们的过犯受害，为我们的罪孽压伤。因他受的刑罚，我们得平安；因他受的鞭伤，我们得医治。』(以赛亚书 53:4-5) 其实祂不只是在十字架上这样做了，也是平日的岁月中如此行，举例来说，『耶稣说：「狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，人子却没有枕头的地方。」』(马太福音 8:20) 所以『神使那无罪的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。』(哥林多后书 5:21)    

    我们谈过，约翰亲眼看见了发生的事情，所以约翰福音记载更详尽。约翰福音是这样说的，『但你们有个规矩，在逾越节要我给你们释放一个人，你们要我给你们释放犹太人的王吗？」他们又喊著说：「不要这人，要巴拉巴！」这巴拉巴是个强盗。当下彼拉多将耶稣鞭打了。兵丁用荆棘编作冠冕戴在他头上，给他穿上紫袍，又挨近他说：「恭喜犹太人的王啊！」他们就用手掌打他。彼拉多又出来对众人说：「我带他出来见你们，叫你们知道我查不出他有甚么罪来。」耶稣出来，戴著荆棘冠冕，穿著紫袍。彼拉多对他们说：「你们看这个人！」祭司长和差役看见他，就喊著说：「钉他十字架！钉他十字架！」 彼拉多说：「你们自己把他钉十字架吧！我查不出他有甚么罪来。」犹太人回答说：「我们有律法，按那律法，他是该死的！因他以自己为神的儿子。」』(约翰福音 18:39-19:7)       

    我们看到彼拉多是相当配合犹大人的不在安息日进衙门习俗的，等下我们在经文中可看到，他进出衙门多次，就是坐堂也在衙门外。我们在这里要再强调一次，按著罗马的律法，耶稣并没有犯该死的罪，所以彼拉多很清楚的知道，他不能合法的钉耶稣上十字架，最后是彼拉多非法的钉耶稣在十字架上。    

    我们再看约翰福音接著说，『彼拉多听见这话，越发害怕。又进衙门，对耶稣说：「你是哪里来的？」耶稣却不回答。彼拉多说：「你不对我说话吗？你岂不知我有权柄释放你，也有权柄把你钉十字架吗？」耶稣回答说：「若不是从上头赐给你的，你就毫无权柄办我，所以把我交给你的那人，罪更重了。」从此彼拉多想要释放耶稣，无奈犹太人喊著说：「你若释放这个人，就不是凯撒的忠臣。凡以自己为王的，就是背叛凯撒了。」彼拉多听见这话，就带耶稣出来，到了一个地方，名叫铺华石处，希伯来话叫厄巴大，就在那里坐堂。那日是预备逾越节的日子。约有午正，彼拉多对犹太人说：「看哪，这是你们的王！」他们喊著说：「除掉他！除掉他！钉他在十字架上！」 彼拉多说：「我可以把你们的王钉十字架吗？」 祭司长回答说：「除了凯撒，我们没有王！」于是，彼拉多将耶稣交给他们去钉十字架。』(约翰福音 19:8-16)     

    虽然以人的角度看，彼拉多是有权柄非法的钉耶稣上十字架，但最终的权柄在神，因耶稣说，『…若不是从上头赐给你的，你就毫无权柄办我，…』(约翰福音 19:11) 我们也看到了彼拉多因政治的原因妥协了。      

    马太福音 27:15-26 基本上是说同一件事，但说了『巡抚原知道，他们是因为嫉妒才把他解了来。』(马太福音 27:18)  且清楚的说，『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)      

    在这里我们看到了，最后是彼拉多非法的钉耶稣在十字架上，你想他真能洗掉他的罪吗？当然不能。耶稣虽然要照预定的去世，看犹太人以后的遭遇，真正是耶稣的血归在他们的子孙身上了！我们也看到马可福音 15:6-15 基本上是说同一件事，所以这重要的一件事情，四本福音书都有记载。我们谈过约翰福音是在其他三本福音书之后写的，相信约翰是说了那三本没有说到的细节，从这件事的记录上我们应可看到这一点。

2. 古利奈人西门背耶稣的十字架       

    最初显然是照罗马人的规矩，耶稣开始的时候是自己背的十字架。这是约翰看到的事情，『他们就把耶稣带了去。耶稣背著自己的十字架出来，到了一个地方，名叫髑髅地，希伯来话叫各各他。』(约翰福音 19:17)       

    我们知道，『耶稣说：「狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，人子却没有枕头的地方。」』(马太福音 8:20) 福音书也说祂常常彻夜祷告。从人的角度看，『犹太人说：「你还没有五十岁，岂见过亚伯拉罕呢？」』(约翰福音 8:57) 那时耶稣才三十多岁，外表以人看起来的确是衰老不少。从这些经文看来，那时耶稣的体力应该不是很好的，祂背自己的十字架还没到目的地的时候，就这样记载著，『带耶稣去的时候，有一个古利奈人西门，从乡下来，他们就抓住他，把十字架搁在他身上，叫他背著跟随耶稣。』(路加福音 23:26) 如果耶稣能的话，他们不会抓一个人帮祂背十字架的，所以后半段是西门帮祂背的。       

    关于古利奈人西门的事，马太福音 27:32 和马可福音 15:21 也有记载，后者是这样说，『有一个古利奈人西门，就是亚历山大和鲁孚的父亲，从乡下来，经过那地方。他们就勉强他同去，好背著耶稣的十字架。』(马可福音 15:21)

3. 妇女为耶稣痛哭       

    在耶稣钉十字架的路上，『有许多百姓跟随耶稣，内中有好些妇女，妇女们为他号咷痛哭。耶稣转身对她们说：「耶路撒冷的女子，不要为我哭，当为自己和自己的儿女哭。因为日子要到，人必说：『不生育的和未曾怀胎的，未曾乳养婴孩的，有福了！』那时，人要向大山说：『倒在我们身上！』向小山说：『遮盖我们！』这些事既行在有汁水的树上，那枯干的树将来怎么样呢？」』(路加福音 23:27-31)       

    如果不是全部、但绝对是有些妇女直到了十字架前，因经文说，『站在耶稣十字架旁边的，有他母亲与他母亲的姊妹，并革罗罢的妻子马利亚和抹大拉的马利亚。』(约翰福音 19:25) 当然她们是为耶稣钉十字架而痛苦，但耶稣是在讲她们该为耶路撒冷哭，我们也看到耶路撒冷那时尚有汁水的树，但也有枯干的树，神的审判是全面的，但我们看到了不同，因经文说，『…那枯干的树将来怎么样呢？』(路加福音 23:31) 所以祂是再次预言了耶路撒冷的被毁。

4. 耶稣的钉十字架      

    路加福音接著就，『又有两个犯人，和耶稣一同带来处死。到了一个地方，名叫髑髅地，就在那里把耶稣钉在十字架上，又钉了两个犯人：一个在左边，一个在右边。当下耶稣说：「父啊，赦免他们！因为他们所做的，他们不晓得。」兵丁就拈阄分他的衣服。百姓站在那里观看。官府也嗤笑他，说：「他救了别人，他若是基督，神所拣选的，可以救自己吧！」兵丁也戏弄他，上前拿醋送给他喝，说：「你若是犹太人的王，可以救自己吧！」在耶稣以上有一个牌子写著：「这是犹太人的王。」』(路加福音 23:32-38)    

    所以即使在这个时候，耶稣也为敌人祷告。司提反被正用石头打的时候，不也是做类似的祷告吗？他『…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 7:60)    

    马可福音 15:22-27 基本上是记载了同一件事情，『他们带耶稣到了各各他地方（各各他翻出来就是髑髅地），…钉他在十字架上是巳初的时候。…』(马可福音 15:21-27) 也提到了他钉十字架的时间。。马太福音 27:33-38 也较简短的记载了这件事情。       

    约翰福音记载了细节，『他们就在那里钉他在十字架上，还有两个人和他一同钉著，一边一个，耶稣在中间。彼拉多又用牌子写了一个名号，安在十字架上，写的是：「犹太人的王，拿撒勒人耶稣。」有许多犹太人念这名号，因为耶稣被钉十字架的地方，与城相近，并且是用希伯来、罗马、希腊三样文字写的。犹太人的祭司长就对彼拉多说：「不要写『犹太人的王』，要写『他自己说我是犹太人的王』。」彼拉多说：「我所写的，我已经写上了。」兵丁既然将耶稣钉在十字架上，就拿他的衣服分为四份，每兵一份；又拿他的里衣，这件里衣原来没有缝儿，是上下一片织成的。他们就彼此说：「我们不要撕开，只要拈阄，看谁得著。」 这要应验经上的话说：「他们分了我的外衣，为我的里衣拈阄。」 兵丁果然做了这事。』(约翰福音 19:18-24)     #####彼拉多显然要大家都看到他所写的，因为是用三种文字写的，而且他不肯改。我们也看到了兵丁怎样很合理的分配祂的衣服，这就成就了一个预言。      

    这时，『…耶稣知道各样的事已经成了，为要使经上的话应验，就说：「我渴了。」有一个器皿盛满了醋，放在那里，他们就拿海绒蘸满了醋，绑在牛膝草上，送到他口。耶稣尝了那醋，就说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵(魂)交付神了。』(约翰福音 19:28-30) 英文和原文都是用灵这个字，不是用灵魂。

5. 一个犯人没有受洗而升到乐园       

    『那同钉的两个犯人，有一个讥诮他，说：「你不是基督吗？可以救自己和我们吧！」那一个就应声责备他，说：「你既是一样受刑的，还不怕神吗？我们是应该的，因我们所受的与我们所做的相称，但这个人没有做过一件不好的事。」就说：「耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我！」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 23:39-43)       

    马太福音 27:38 和马可福音 15:27 都说明了这两个犯人是强盗。我们看到其中的一个强盗以前就听过耶稣，知道祂没有做过一件不好的事。我们以前讨论过这些经文，是在『2063   基督徒的信仰简介 』的『7. 临死前的真信绝对有效，但有机会时该受洗』中，知道那升到乐园的强盗有信心的行为，有兴趣的人请到那里看详细的讨论。这是在网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，按『对属灵生命的了解』。       

    我们再看另一个强盗，『从那里经过的人讥诮他，摇著头，说：「你这拆毁圣殿，三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！」祭司长和文士并长老也是这样戏弄他，说：「他救了别人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信他。他倚靠神，神若喜悦他，现在可以救他，因为他曾说：『我是神的儿子。』」那和他同钉的强盗也是这样地讥诮他。』(马太福音 27:39-44)       

    请注意，英文和原文在这里用的都是复数，所以是起初两个强盗都讥诮祂，然后一个强盗悔改了，而另外一个强盗是死不悔改。我们也看到了即使经过的人，祭司长和文士并长老，及另一个强盗都讥诮祂不能从十字架下来，祂的确没有从十字架下来，因为如果祂下来，祂怎么会在前述的约翰福音 19:30 说「成了！」呢？我们怎样能得到赦罪呢？救恩本就是要如此成就的。    

    祂的确是神的儿子，因祂生来本就如此，不能因为道成肉身就失去了神的身份，如同一个王子虽因特殊的原因，如有人叛乱而只好逃难，而因此过著乞丐的生活，但他仍有著与生俱来王子的身份，仍是王子。但当我们从圣经作为我们分辩的绝对的标准来看，从经文可看到，祂『反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 所以道成肉身时祂是完全的神，也是完全的人。是完全的人，怎么可能有能力从十字架上面下来呢？如果有意念告诉你说，祂有能力从十字架上面下来，这一定是出于撒但的差役装作光明的天使，因为圣经清楚的告诉我们，神是信实的，不会骗我们说耶稣是完全的人而有能力从十字架上面下来的。    

    我们再从另外一个角度来看，神已经垂听了耶稣在客西马尼园的祷告，『我父啊，…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(马太福音 26:39) 耶稣愿意和弟兄一样，以血肉之体来拯救血肉之体的亚伯拉罕的后裔，所以他是以完全的人来完成救恩，也就是腓立比书所说的：『反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比书 2:7-8) 神既然允许了祂的祷告，神是信实的，神怎么会让祂从十字架上下来呢？关于祂是完全的人这一点上，我们也可从祂需要求父才行的这经文看到：祂被捕时说，『你想，我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来吗？』(马太福音 26:53) 祂怎么可能自己有能力从十字架下来呢？

(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』。)     

       我們首先看耶穌被判釘十字架的過程，彼拉多很清楚的知道，按著羅馬的律法，耶穌並沒有犯該死的罪，他不能合法的釘耶穌十字架。最後是他非法的釘耶穌在十字架上，雖他嚐試，但他不能洗掉他的罪。第二，我們看到了耶穌開始的時候是自己背的十字架，後半段是古利奈人西門幫祂背的。第三，有些婦女為耶穌的釘十字架而痛哭，祂也再次預言了耶路撒冷的被毀。第四，我們看一下耶穌的釘十字架的最後過程。最後我們指出，是在何時討論過，和祂同釘十字架的一個強盜，因為有信心的行為，沒有受洗就升到了樂園。在這裏，我們看到了對比，另外一個強盜是死不悔改。我們也看到了耶穌沒有從十字架下來，因為救恩本就是要這樣成就的。我們也看到祂道成肉身時，是完全是神，也是完全的人。因為是完全的人，是沒有能力從十字架上面下來，如果有意念告訴你說祂有能力從十字架上面下來，這一定是出於撒但，因為聖經清楚的說，神是信實的。

1. 耶穌被判釘十字架

      因路加福音是按著事情，不是事件，的發生次序來講的，所以繼續看路加福音說到耶穌是怎樣的被判釘上了十字架！我們上次談到了『彼拉多說：「…但你們有個規矩，在逾越節要我給你們釋放一個人，你們要我給你們釋放猶太人的王嗎？」』(約翰福音 18:38-39) 於是『眾人卻一齊喊着說：「除掉這個人！釋放巴拉巴給我們！」這巴拉巴是因在城裏作亂殺人，下在監裏的。彼拉多願意釋放耶穌，就又勸解他們。無奈他們喊着說：「釘他十字架！釘他十字架！」彼拉多第三次對他們說：「為甚麼呢？這人做了甚麼惡事呢？我並沒有查出他甚麼該死的罪來。所以，我要責打他，把他釋放了。」他們大聲催逼彼拉多，求他把耶穌釘在十字架上。他們的聲音就得了勝。彼拉多這才照他們所求的定案，把他們所求的那作亂殺人、下在監裏的釋放了，把耶穌交給他們，任憑他們的意思行。』(路加福音 23:18-25)

    在這裏，我們看到彼拉多的初衷是要釋放耶穌，因為他找不出耶穌犯了甚麼該死的罪來。但因他們的聲音得了勝，而任憑他們的意思行。下面會更詳細的敘述所發生的事情。我們先看在耶穌被戲弄的事上，馬太福音記載更詳細，『巡撫的兵就把耶穌帶進衙門，叫全營的兵都聚集在他那裏。他們給他脫了衣服，穿上一件朱紅色袍子；用荊棘編作冠冕，戴在他頭上；拿一根葦子放在他右手裏，跪在他面前，戲弄他說：「恭喜，猶太人的王啊！」又吐唾沫在他臉上，拿葦子打他的頭。戲弄完了，就給他脫了袍子，仍穿上他自己的衣服，帶他出去，要釘十字架。』(馬太福音 27:27-31)

    這裏說到了雖然兵丁不相信祂，戲弄祂，但實質上的確是跪在了他面前。這使我想到了雅各書說的，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22) 我們實在該看的，是要看一個人怎麼做，不能只聽他怎麼講，要看那人有沒有以身作則。在這裏我們也看到了，『他誠然擔當我們的憂患，背負我們的痛苦；我們卻以為他受責罰，被神擊打苦待了。哪知他為我們的過犯受害，為我們的罪孽壓傷。因他受的刑罰，我們得平安；因他受的鞭傷，我們得醫治。』(以賽亞書 53:4-5) 其實祂不只是在十字架上這樣做了，也是平日的歲月中如此行，舉例來說，『耶穌說：「狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，人子卻沒有枕頭的地方。」』(馬太福音 8:20) 所以『神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裏面成為神的義。』(哥林多後書 5:21)

    我們談過，約翰親眼看見了發生的事情，所以約翰福音記載更詳盡。約翰福音是這樣說的，『但你們有個規矩，在逾越節要我給你們釋放一個人，你們要我給你們釋放猶太人的王嗎？」他們又喊着說：「不要這人，要巴拉巴！」這巴拉巴是個強盜。當下彼拉多將耶穌鞭打了。兵丁用荊棘編作冠冕戴在他頭上，給他穿上紫袍，又挨近他說：「恭喜猶太人的王啊！」他們就用手掌打他。彼拉多又出來對眾人說：「我帶他出來見你們，叫你們知道我查不出他有甚麼罪來。」耶穌出來，戴着荊棘冠冕，穿着紫袍。彼拉多對他們說：「你們看這個人！」祭司長和差役看見他，就喊着說：「釘他十字架！釘他十字架！」 彼拉多說：「你們自己把他釘十字架吧！我查不出他有甚麼罪來。」猶太人回答說：「我們有律法，按那律法，他是該死的！因他以自己為神的兒子。」』(約翰福音 18:39-19:7)

       我們看到彼拉多是相當配合猶大人的不在安息日進衙門習俗的，等下我們在經文中可看到，他進出衙門多次，就是坐堂也在衙門外。我們在這裏要再強調一次，按著羅馬的律法，耶穌並沒有犯該死的罪，所以彼拉多很清楚的知道，他不能合法的釘耶穌上十字架，最後是彼拉多非法的釘耶穌在十字架上。

      我們再看約翰福音接著說，『彼拉多聽見這話，越發害怕。又進衙門，對耶穌說：「你是哪裏來的？」耶穌卻不回答。彼拉多說：「你不對我說話嗎？你豈不知我有權柄釋放你，也有權柄把你釘十字架嗎？」耶穌回答說：「若不是從上頭賜給你的，你就毫無權柄辦我，所以把我交給你的那人，罪更重了。」從此彼拉多想要釋放耶穌，無奈猶太人喊着說：「你若釋放這個人，就不是凱撒的忠臣。凡以自己為王的，就是背叛凱撒了。」彼拉多聽見這話，就帶耶穌出來，到了一個地方，名叫鋪華石處，希伯來話叫厄巴大，就在那裏坐堂。那日是預備逾越節的日子。約有午正，彼拉多對猶太人說：「看哪，這是你們的王！」他們喊着說：「除掉他！除掉他！釘他在十字架上！」 彼拉多說：「我可以把你們的王釘十字架嗎？」 祭司長回答說：「除了凱撒，我們沒有王！」於是，彼拉多將耶穌交給他們去釘十字架。』(約翰福音 19:8-16)

     雖然以人的角度看，彼拉多是有權柄非法的釘耶穌上十字架，但最終的權柄在神，因耶穌說，『…若不是從上頭賜給你的，你就毫無權柄辦我，…』(約翰福音 19:11) 我們也看到了彼拉多因政治的原因妥協了。

       馬太福音 27:15-26 基本上是說同一件事，但說了『巡撫原知道，他們是因為嫉妒才把他解了來。』(馬太福音 27:18)  且清楚的說，『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)

      在這裏我們看到了，最後是彼拉多非法的釘耶穌在十字架上，你想他真能洗掉他的罪嗎？當然不能。耶穌雖然要照預定的去世，看猶太人以後的遭遇，真正是耶穌的血歸在他們的子孫身上了！我們也看到馬可福音 15:6-15 基本上是說同一件事，所以這重要的一件事情，四本福音書都有記載。我們談過約翰福音是在其他三本福音書之後寫的，相信約翰是說了那三本沒有說到的細節，從這件事的記錄上我們應可看到這一點。

2. 古利奈人西門背耶穌的十字架

       最初顯然是照羅馬人的規矩，耶穌開始的時候是自己背的十字架。這是約翰看到的事情，『他們就把耶穌帶了去。耶穌背着自己的十字架出來，到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，希伯來話叫各各他。』(約翰福音 19:17)

       我們知道，『耶穌說：「狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，人子卻沒有枕頭的地方。」』(馬太福音 8:20) 福音書也說祂常常徹夜禱告。從人的角度看，『猶太人說：「你還沒有五十歲，豈見過亞伯拉罕呢？」』(約翰福音 8:57) 那時耶穌才三十多歲，外表以人看起來的確是衰老不少。從這些經文看來，那時耶穌的體力應該不是很好的，祂背自己的十字架還沒到目的地的時候，就這樣記載著，『帶耶穌去的時候，有一個古利奈人西門，從鄉下來，他們就抓住他，把十字架擱在他身上，叫他背着跟隨耶穌。』(路加福音 23:26) 如果耶穌能的話，他們不會抓一個人幫祂背十字架的，所以後半段是西門幫祂背的。

       關於古利奈人西門的事，馬太福音 27:32 和馬可福音 15:21 也有記載，後者是這樣說，『有一個古利奈人西門，就是亞歷山大和魯孚的父親，從鄉下來，經過那地方。他們就勉強他同去，好背着耶穌的十字架。』(馬可福音 15:21)

3. 婦女為耶穌痛哭

       在耶穌釘十字架的路上，『有許多百姓跟隨耶穌，內中有好些婦女，婦女們為他號咷痛哭。耶穌轉身對她們說：「耶路撒冷的女子，不要為我哭，當為自己和自己的兒女哭。因為日子要到，人必說：『不生育的和未曾懷胎的，未曾乳養嬰孩的，有福了！』那時，人要向大山說：『倒在我們身上！』向小山說：『遮蓋我們！』這些事既行在有汁水的樹上，那枯乾的樹將來怎麼樣呢？」』(路加福音 23:27-31)

       如果不是全部、但絕對是有些婦女直到了十字架前，因經文說，『站在耶穌十字架旁邊的，有他母親與他母親的姊妹，並革羅罷的妻子馬利亞和抹大拉的馬利亞。』(約翰福音 19:25) 當然她們是為耶穌釘十字架而痛苦，但耶穌是在講她們該為耶路撒冷哭，我們也看到耶路撒冷那時尚有汁水的樹，但也有枯乾的樹，神的審判是全面的，但我們看到了不同，因經文說，『…那枯乾的樹將來怎麼樣呢？』(路加福音 23:31) 所以祂是再次預言了耶路撒冷的被毀。

4. 耶穌的釘十字架

      路加福音接著就，『又有兩個犯人，和耶穌一同帶來處死。到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，就在那裏把耶穌釘在十字架上，又釘了兩個犯人：一個在左邊，一個在右邊。當下耶穌說：「父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。」兵丁就拈鬮分他的衣服。百姓站在那裏觀看。官府也嗤笑他，說：「他救了別人，他若是基督，神所揀選的，可以救自己吧！」兵丁也戲弄他，上前拿醋送給他喝，說：「你若是猶太人的王，可以救自己吧！」在耶穌以上有一個牌子寫着：「這是猶太人的王。」』(路加福音 23:32-38)

    所以即使在這個時候，耶穌也為敵人禱告。司提反被正用石頭打的時候，不也是做類似的禱告嗎？他『…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 7:60)

        馬可福音 15:22-27 基本上是記載了同一件事情，『他們帶耶穌到了各各他地方（各各他翻出來就是髑髏地），…釘他在十字架上是巳初的時候。…』(馬可福音 15:21-27) 也提到了他釘十字架的時間。。馬太福音 27:33-38 也較簡短的記載了這件事情。

        約翰福音記載了細節，『他們就在那裏釘他在十字架上，還有兩個人和他一同釘着，一邊一個，耶穌在中間。彼拉多又用牌子寫了一個名號，安在十字架上，寫的是：「猶太人的王，拿撒勒人耶穌。」有許多猶太人念這名號，因為耶穌被釘十字架的地方，與城相近，並且是用希伯來、羅馬、希臘三樣文字寫的。猶太人的祭司長就對彼拉多說：「不要寫『猶太人的王』，要寫『他自己說我是猶太人的王』。」彼拉多說：「我所寫的，我已經寫上了。」兵丁既然將耶穌釘在十字架上，就拿他的衣服分為四份，每兵一份；又拿他的裏衣，這件裏衣原來沒有縫兒，是上下一片織成的。他們就彼此說：「我們不要撕開，只要拈鬮，看誰得着。」 這要應驗經上的話說：「他們分了我的外衣，為我的裏衣拈鬮。」 兵丁果然做了這事。』(約翰福音 19:18-24)

    彼拉多顯然要大家都看到他所寫的，因為是用三種文字寫的，而且他不肯改。我們也看到了兵丁怎樣很合理的分配祂的衣服，這就成就了一個預言。

      這時，『…耶穌知道各樣的事已經成了，為要使經上的話應驗，就說：「我渴了。」有一個器皿盛滿了醋，放在那裏，他們就拿海絨蘸滿了醋，綁在牛膝草上，送到他口。耶穌嘗了那醋，就說：「成了！」便低下頭，將靈(魂)交付神了。』(約翰福音 19:28-30) 英文和原文都是用靈這個字，不是用靈魂。

5. 一個犯人沒有受洗而升到樂園

       『那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他，說：「你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們吧！」那一個就應聲責備他，說：「你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。」就說：「耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我！」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 23:39-43)

       馬太福音 27:38 和馬可福音 15:27 都說明了這兩個犯人是強盜。我們看到其中的一個強盜以前就聽過耶穌，知道祂沒有做過一件不好的事。我們以前討論過這些經文，是在『2063   基督徒的信仰簡介 』的『7. 臨死前的真信絕對有效，但有機會時該受洗』中，知道那升到樂園的強盜有信心的行為，有興趣的人請到那裏看詳細的討論。這是在網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。

       我們再看另一個強盜，『從那裏經過的人譏誚他，搖着頭，說：「你這拆毀聖殿，三日又建造起來的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的兒子，就從十字架上下來吧！」祭司長和文士並長老也是這樣戲弄他，說：「他救了別人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，現在可以從十字架上下來，我們就信他。他倚靠神，神若喜悅他，現在可以救他，因為他曾說：『我是神的兒子。』」那和他同釘的強盜也是這樣地譏誚他。』(馬太福音 27:39-44) 

       請注意，英文和原文在這裏用的都是複數，所以是起初兩個強盜都譏誚祂，然後一個強盜悔改了，而另外一個強盜是死不悔改。我們也看到了即使經過的人，祭司長和文士並長老，及另一個強盜都譏誚祂不能從十字架下來，祂的確沒有從十字架下來，因為如果祂下來，祂怎麼會在前述的約翰福音 19:30 說「成了！」呢？我們怎樣能得到赦罪呢？救恩本就是要如此成就的。

    祂的確是神的兒子，因祂生來本就如此，不能因為道成肉身就失去了神的身份，如同一個王子雖因特殊的原因，如有人叛亂而只好逃難，而因此過著乞丐的生活，但他仍有著與生俱來王子的身份，仍是王子。但當我們從聖經作為我們分辨的絕對的標準來看，從經文可看到，祂『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 所以道成肉身時祂是完全的神，也是完全的人。是完全的人，怎麼可能有能力從十字架上面下來呢？如果有意念告訴你說，祂有能力從十字架上面下來，這一定是出於撒但的差役裝作光明的天使，因為聖經清楚的告訴我們，神是信實的，不會騙我們說耶穌是完全的人而有能力從十字架上面下來的。

    我們再從另外一個角度來看，神已經垂聽了耶穌在客西馬尼園的禱告，『我父啊，…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39) 耶穌願意和弟兄一樣，以血肉之體來拯救血肉之體的亞伯拉罕的後裔，所以他是以完全的人來完成救恩，也就是腓立比書所說的：『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:7-8) 神既然允許了祂的禱告，神是信實的，神怎麼會讓祂從十字架上下來呢？關於祂是完全的人這一點上，我們也可從祂需要求父才行的這經文看到：祂被捕時說，『你想，我不能求我父現在為我差遣十二營多天使來嗎？』(馬太福音 26:53) 祂怎麼可能自己有能力從十字架下來呢？

(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』。)

We first look at the process of Jesus being sentenced to crucifixion. Pilate knew very well that according to Roman law, Jesus did not commit anything worthy of death, and he could not legally crucify Jesus.  In the end, he illegally crucified Jesus. Although he tried, he could not wash away his sin.  Second, we see that Jesus carried the cross by Himself at the beginning, and in the second half, Simon of Cyrene helped Him carry it.  Third, some women wept over the crucifixion of Jesus, who again predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.  Fourth, we look at the final stages of Jesus’ crucifixion.  Finally, we pointed out when we discussed that a robber who was crucified with Him ascended to Paradise without being baptized because of an act of faith.  Here we see a contrast, the other robber is unrepentant.  We also see that Jesus did not come down from the cross, because this is how salvation is accomplished.  We also see that when He became flesh, He was fully God and fully human.  Because a full man does not have the power to come down from the cross, if there is a thought that tells you that He has the power to come down from the cross, it must be from Satan, because the Bible clearly says that God is faithful.

1. Jesus was sentenced to crucifixion

Since the Gospel of Luke is told in the order of occurrence, not events, so we continue reading the Gospel of Luke and talk about how Jesus was sentenced to be crucified!  We talked about last time, “Pilate said to Him, … “…But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?””(John 18:38-39) “But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.”(Luke 23:18-25)

Here, we see that Pilate’s original intention was to release Jesus because he could not find anything that Jesus had committed that deserved death.  But because their voice prevailed, their will was allowed to be done.  What happened is described in more detail below.  Let’s first look at the incident of Jesus being teased. The Gospel of Matthew records it in more detail, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”(Matthew 27:27-31)

Here it is mentioned that although the soldiers did not believe Him and made fun of Him, they actually knelt before Him.  This reminds me of what James says, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) What we really should look at is what a person does. We can’t just listen to what he says. We must see whether that person sets an example.  Here we also see, “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”(Isaiah 53:4-5) In fact, He did this not only on the cross, but also in daily life. For example, “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”” (Matthew 8:20) So “He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21)

We talked about it before that John saw what happened, so the Gospel of John records it in more detail.  The Gospel of John says this, “But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber. Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.””(John 18:39 – 19:7)

We see that Pilate was very consistent with the Jewish custom of not entering the Praetorium on the Sabbath. Later we will see in the scriptures that he went in and out of the Praetorium many times, and even sat outside the Praetorium.  We need to emphasize here again that according to Roman law, Jesus did not commit anything worthy of death, so Pilate knew very clearly that he could not legally crucify Jesus. In the end, Pilate illegally crucified Jesus on the cross.

Let’s look at the Gospel of John again and it goes on to say, “Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.”(John 19:8-16)

Although from a human perspective, Pilate had the authority to crucify Jesus illegally, the ultimate authority rests with God, because Jesus said clearly, “…You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; …”(John 19:11) We also see Pilate compromise due to political reasons.

Matthew 27:15-26 basically says the same thing, but says also, “For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.”(Matthew 27:18) And it is said clearly, “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 for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Matthew 27:24-26)

Here we see that in the end, Pilate illegally nailed Jesus to the cross. Do you think he could really wash away his sins by washing his hands?  Of course not.  Although Jesus will die as scheduled, looking at what will happen to the Jews in the future, it is really the blood of Jesus that has been imputed to their descendants!  We also see that Mark 15:6-15 basically talks about the same thing, so this important thing is recorded in all four gospels.  We have talked about the fact that the Gospel of John was written after the other three gospels. We believe that John told details that were not mentioned in those three gospels. We should be able to see this from the record of this incident.

2. Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Jesus

At first, it was obviously following the rules of the Romans. When Jesus began, the cross was His back since the Gospel of John says, “They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”(John 19:17)

We know, “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.””(Matthew 8:20) The Gospels also say that He often prayed all night long.  From a human point of view, “So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?””(John 8:57) Jesus was only in His thirties at that time, and His appearance was indeed aging in human terms quite a few.  From these scriptures, it seems that Jesus’ physical strength was not very good at that time. Before He had carried His cross and reached his destination, it was recorded as follows: “When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26) If Jesus could, they would not have forced anyone to help Him carry the cross, so Simon helped Him carry the cross in the second half.

Regarding Simon of Cyrene, it is also recorded in Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21. The latter says who he is, “They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.”(Mark 15:21) 

3. Women wept for Jesus

On the way to the cross, “And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?””(Luke 23:27-31)

Some, if not all, women certainly came to the cross, for the scripture says, “…But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”(John 19:25) Of course they were suffering because of Jesus’ crucifixion, but Jesus was saying that they should weep for Jerusalem. We also saw that there were still trees in Jerusalem that still had sap, but there were also dry trees. God’s judgment is comprehensive, but we see a difference because the scripture says, “For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(Luke 23:31) So He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem again.

4. The Crucifixion of Jesus

Luke’s Gospel continues, “Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.””(Luke 23:32-38)

So even at this time, Jesus prayed for his enemies.  Didn’t Stephen pray similarly when he was being stoned?  “Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. ” (Acts 7:60)

Mark 15:22-27 basically records the same thing with the time given, “It was the third hour when they crucified Him.”(Mark 15:25) Matthew 27:33-38 also records this event more briefly.

The Gospel of John records the details, “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.””(John 19:18-24)

Pilate obviously wanted everyone to see what he wrote, because it was written in three languages, and he refused to change it.  We also saw how the soldiers distributed His clothes very reasonably, which fulfilled a prophecy.

At this time, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:28-30)

5. A prisoner ascended to paradise without being baptized

“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:39-43)

Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27 both indicate that these two criminals were robbers.  We see that one of the thieves had heard of Jesus before and knew that He had never done a bad thing.  We have discussed these verses before, in “7. True faith before death is absolutely valid, but you should be baptized when you have the opportunity” of “1063 Introduction to the Christian Faith,” knowing that the robber who ascended to paradise had an act of faith. Those who are interested should go there to see the detailed discussion.  This is on the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, click “Understanding of Spiritual Life”.

Let’s look at another robber again. “And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.”(Matthew 27:39-44)

Here, we see that both robbers mocked Him at first. But one robber repented, and another robber in contrast is unrepentant.  We also see that even though the people passing by, the chief priests and scribes and elders, and the robbers mocked Him for not being able to come down from the cross, He indeed did not come down from the cross, because if He came down, how could He be in the aforementioned John 19: 30 about saying “It is finished!”?  How can we receive forgiveness of sins?  This is how salvation is meant to be accomplished.

He is indeed the Son of God because He was born that way. He cannot lose His identity as God just because He became flesh. It is just like a prince who had to flee for special reasons, such as someone’s rebellion, and therefore lived a life of beggar. He still has the status of a prince by birth, he is still a prince.  But when we look at the Bible as our absolute standard of discernment, we see from the scriptures that He “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Therefore, when He became flesh, He was fully God and fully human.  How can a full man have the ability to come down from the cross?  If there is a thought that tells you that He has the power to come down from the cross, it must be because of Satan’s messengers pretending to be angels of light, because the Bible clearly tells us that God is faithful and will not lie to us that Jesus is a full person but He has the power to come down from the cross.

We look at it from another perspective. God has heard Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…My Father, …yet not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39) Jesus is willing to use flesh and blood to save the descendants of Abraham like his brothers, so He completes salvation as a full man, which is what Philippians says : “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:7-8) Since God accepted His prayer and God is faithful, how could God let Him come down from the cross?  Regarding the fact that He was a full man, we can also see from this passage that He needed to ask the Father: When He was arrested, He said, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”(Matthew 26:53) How could He have the power to come down from the cross on His own?

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

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

    首先我们看一下耶稣在被捕前后发生事件的次序，祂到客西马尼园是相当的晚，祂被捕后的当晚，第一次被犹太人带到大祭司前受审，他们只能用耶稣的话定罪祂。接著是第二天早晨是在公会前受审，祂在第二次并没有改变祂说的话，所以应该是没用太多的时间就定罪祂了。因当时的犹太人的公会是不能判死刑的，所以他们将耶稣解到彼拉多前，希望能判祂死罪。然后彼拉多把祂送给希律受审，发觉祂没有犯该死的罪，最后是在彼拉多前受审，也没有发觉祂犯该死的罪，他的初衷本是要释放耶稣的，最终还是「非法」的让耶稣钉了十字架。

1. 耶稣被捕后第一次是在大祭司前受审       

    我们看一下耶稣在被捕前后发生事件的次序，祂到客西马尼园是相当的晚，因为门徒睡著了(参马太福音 26:36-45)。 祂被捕后的当晚，第一次被犹太人审判，马可福音将其情形记载得很清楚，『他们把耶稣带到大祭司那里，又有众祭司长和长老并文士都来和大祭司一同聚集。…祭司长和全公会寻找见证控告耶稣，要治死他，却寻不著。因为有好些人作假见证告他，只是他们的见证各不相合。又有几个人站起来作假见证告他，说：「我们听见他说：『我要拆毁这人手所造的殿，三日内就另造一座不是人手所造的。』」他们就是这么作见证，也是各不相合。大祭司起来站在中间，问耶稣说：「你甚么都不回答吗？这些人作见证告你的是甚么呢？」耶稣却不言语，一句也不回答。 大祭司又问他说：「你是那当称颂者的儿子基督不是？」耶稣说：「我是。你们必看见人子坐在那权能者的右边，驾著天上的云降临。」大祭司就撕开衣服，说：「我们何必再用见证人呢？你们已经听见他这僭妄的话了。你们的意见如何？」 他们都定他该死的罪。就有人吐唾沫在他脸上，又蒙著他的脸，用拳头打他，对他说：「你说预言吧！」差役接过他来，用手掌打他。』(马可福音 14:53-65)     

    既然见证是假的，当然会不合，没有用的。至于耶稣说三日建殿是这样记载的，『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。』(约翰福音 2:19-21) 这是指祂死了三日后复活，如经文所说，『他们还住在加利利的时候，耶稣对门徒说：「人子将要被交在人手里。他们要杀害他，第三日他要复活。」…』(马太福音 17:22-23)       #####我们看到耶稣是要人先问祂是不是神的儿子，然后再说了实话，明知这样说会被定罪，但仍然这样说。他们的确是用耶稣的话定罪了祂，就将耶稣关了起来，所以路加福音会这样说，『看守耶稣的人戏弄他，打他，又蒙著他的眼，问他说：「你是先知，告诉我们打你的是谁？」他们还用许多别的话辱骂他。』(路加福音 22:63-65) 这件事在马可福音 14:53-65 基本上是说的相同的。

2. 第二次是在公会前受审       

    『天一亮，民间的众长老连祭司长带文士都聚会，把耶稣带到他们的公会里，说：「你若是基督，就告诉我们。」 耶稣说：「我若告诉你们，你们也不信；我若问你们，你们也不回答。从今以后，人子要坐在神权能的右边。」他们都说：「这样，你是神的儿子吗？」 耶稣说：「你们所说的是。」他们说：「何必再用见证呢？他亲口所说的，我们都亲自听见了。」』(路加福音 22:66-71)       

    这应该是在送给彼拉多前的第二次在犹太人前受审，因马可福音说得很清楚，『一到早晨，祭司长和长老、文士、全公会的人大家商议，就把耶稣捆绑，解去交给彼拉多。』(马可福音 15:1) 就像耶稣在客西马尼园所祷告的，『…愿你的意旨成全。』(马太福音 26:42) 祂在这一次和第一次一样，没有改变祂说的话。第一次已因祂的话定罪，所以这第二次应该没用太多的时间就定罪祂了。因当时的犹太人的公会是不能判死刑的，所以他们将耶稣解到彼拉多前，希望能判祂死罪。

3. 在希律前受审       

    祂是首先的这样被解到彼拉多前的，约翰福音有详细的记载。『众人将耶稣从该亚法那里往衙门内解去，那时天还早，他们自己却不进衙门，恐怕染了污秽，不能吃逾越节的筵席。彼拉多就出来，到他们那里，说：「你们告这人是为甚么事呢？」他们回答说：「这人若不是作恶的，我们就不把他交给你。」彼拉多说：「你们自己带他去，按著你们的律法审问他吧！」 犹太人说：「我们没有杀人的权柄。」这要应验耶稣所说自己将要怎样死的话了。』(约翰福音 18:28-32)    

    我们看到彼拉多是相当尊重犹太人的规矩，即然犹太人不愿进衙门，他就自己出来。我们在这里也证实了他们为耶稣到彼拉多那里去。下面的经文记载了祂为什么会在希律前受审：『众人都起来，把耶稣解到彼拉多面前，就告他说：「我们见这人诱惑国民，禁止纳税给凯撒，并说自己是基督，是王。」彼拉多问耶稣说：「你是犹太人的王吗？」 耶稣回答说：「你说的是。」彼拉多对祭司长和众人说：「我查不出这人有甚么罪来。」但他们越发极力地说：「他煽惑百姓，在犹太遍地传道，从加利利起，直到这里了。」彼拉多一听见，就问：「这人是加利利人吗？」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。希律看见耶稣，就很欢喜，因为听见过他的事，久已想要见他，并且指望看他行一件神迹，于是问他许多的话，耶稣却一言不答。祭司长和文士都站著，极力地告他。希律和他的兵丁就藐视耶稣，戏弄他，给他穿上华丽衣服，把他送回彼拉多那里去。从前希律和彼拉多彼此有仇，在那一天就成了朋友。』(路加福音 23:1-12)       

    我们可看到耶稣并没有在希律前行神迹，要特别强调的一点，就是希律和彼拉多都找不出耶稣犯了任何该死的罪。因经文说，『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) 在这里，我们看到了彼拉多的初衷是想释放耶稣。     

    关于希律和彼拉多成为朋友的一事，有人说是由于耶稣的死，仍能在死前使希律和彼拉多释隙成为朋友，但圣经并没有这样说，但的确是记载了这一个事实，虽然可能可以用人性来解释，我们不知道确实是为什么？圣经没有讲或没有概念的事，不能从人的角度乱下结论，这样会导致公说公有理、婆说婆有理的结果，会强解圣经，引起争论。   

4. 在彼拉多前受审的前半段及其初衷       

    『耶稣站在巡抚面前，巡抚问他说：「你是犹太人的王吗？」 耶稣说：「你说的是。」他被祭司长和长老控告的时候，甚么都不回答。彼拉多就对他说：「他们作见证告你这么多的事，你没有听见吗？」耶稣仍不回答，连一句话也不说，以致巡抚甚觉希奇。巡抚有一个常例，每逢这节期，随众人所要的，释放一个囚犯给他们。当时，有一个出名的囚犯叫巴拉巴。众人聚集的时候，彼拉多就对他们说：「你们要我释放哪一个给你们？是巴拉巴呢？是称为基督的耶稣呢？」巡抚原知道，他们是因为嫉妒才把他解了来。正坐堂的时候，他的夫人打发人来说：「这义人的事你一点不可管，因为我今天在梦中为他受了许多的苦。」』(马太福音 27:11-19)    

    我们首先看到了耶稣是用同样的方式问答。在这里我们也看到彼拉多的初衷本是要释放耶稣的，他的夫人也要他不要管这义人的事，只是他没有听劝。虽然他找不到耶稣犯了任何该死的罪，最终还是「非法」的让耶稣钉了十字架。「非法」，不是今日的一些基督徒仍遭遇的情况吗？       

    关于祂站在巡抚前，约翰福音有这样的记载。『彼拉多又进了衙门，叫耶稣来，对他说：「你是犹太人的王吗？」耶稣回答说：「这话是你自己说的，还是别人论我对你说的呢？」彼拉多说：「我岂是犹太人呢？你本国的人和祭司长把你交给我，你做了甚么事呢？」耶稣回答说：「我的国不属这世界。我的国若属这世界，我的臣仆必要争战，使我不至于被交给犹太人，只是我的国不属这世界。」彼拉多就对他说：「这样，你是王吗？」 耶稣回答说：「你说我是王，我为此而生，也为此来到世间，特为给真理作见证。凡属真理的人就听我的话。」『彼拉多说：「真理是甚么呢？」…』(约翰福音 18:33-38)       

    耶稣的国的确不是属于这世界的，祂被捕时就说，『你想，我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来吗？若是这样，经上所说事情必须如此的话，怎么应验呢？』(马太福音 26:53-54) 请注意祂是说要求我父，这是因为他道成肉身后是一个完全的人，是完全的人就不能直接差遣天使，虽然祂仍保有那不变的、完全是神的身份。基督徒有内住的圣灵，他们的国也不属于这世界，在这世界中是过客。这就像亚伯拉罕一样，是『…等候那座有根基的城，就是神所经营、所建造的。』(希伯来书 11:10) 我们以后会看到，彼拉多就如他所说的一样，的确是不在乎真理是什么，对他来说，站在人世间的政治对的那一方，更为重要。    

    关于其初衷本是想释放耶稣，而众人不肯，宁可释放强盗，置祂于死地，经文是这样说的：『彼拉多说：「真理是甚么呢？」说了这话，又出来到犹太人那里，对他们说：「我查不出他有甚么罪来，但你们有个规矩，在逾越节要我给你们释放一个人，你们要我给你们释放犹太人的王吗？」他们又喊著说：「不要这人，要巴拉巴！」这巴拉巴是个强盗。』(约翰福音 18:38-40)     

    约翰是亲自在那里的，所以约翰福音的记载是非常的正确。虽然彼拉多给了他们一个看起来是很明显的选择，但他们宁可释放一个杀过人的强盗，而要把按罗马法没有罪的耶稣置于死地。 我们看到了这次的分享，只是详细的叙述了耶稣被捕后发生的前半段事情，在下次的分享中，我们会描述后半段发生的事情，耶稣是如何会被判钉在十字架上的。

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

       首先我們看一下耶穌在被捕前後發生事件的次序，祂到客西馬尼園是相當的晚，祂被捕後的當晚，第一次被猶太人帶到大祭司前受審，他們只能用耶穌的話定罪祂。接著是第二天早晨是在公會前受審，祂在第二次並沒有改變祂說的話，所以應該是沒用太多的時間就定罪祂了。因當時的猶太人的公會是不能判死刑的，所以他們將耶穌解到彼拉多前，希望能判祂死罪。然後彼拉多把祂送給希律受審，發覺祂沒有犯該死的罪，最後是在彼拉多前受審，也沒有發覺祂犯該死的罪，他的初衷本是要釋放耶穌的，最終還是「非法」的讓耶穌釘了十字架。

1. 耶穌被捕後第一次是在大祭司前受審

       我們看一下耶穌在被捕前後發生事件的次序，祂到客西馬尼園是相當的晚，因為門徒睡著了(參馬太福音 26:36-45)。 祂被捕後的當晚，第一次被猶太人審判，馬可福音將其情形記載得很清楚，『他們把耶穌帶到大祭司那裏，又有眾祭司長和長老並文士都來和大祭司一同聚集。…祭司長和全公會尋找見證控告耶穌，要治死他，卻尋不着。因為有好些人作假見證告他，只是他們的見證各不相合。又有幾個人站起來作假見證告他，說：「我們聽見他說：『我要拆毀這人手所造的殿，三日內就另造一座不是人手所造的。』」他們就是這麼作見證，也是各不相合。大祭司起來站在中間，問耶穌說：「你甚麼都不回答嗎？這些人作見證告你的是甚麼呢？」耶穌卻不言語，一句也不回答。 大祭司又問他說：「你是那當稱頌者的兒子基督不是？」耶穌說：「我是。你們必看見人子坐在那權能者的右邊，駕着天上的雲降臨。」大祭司就撕開衣服，說：「我們何必再用見證人呢？你們已經聽見他這僭妄的話了。你們的意見如何？」 他們都定他該死的罪。就有人吐唾沫在他臉上，又蒙着他的臉，用拳頭打他，對他說：「你說預言吧！」差役接過他來，用手掌打他。』(馬可福音 14:53-65)

     既然見証是假的，當然會不合，沒有用的。至於耶穌說三日建殿是這樣記載的，『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。』(約翰福音 2:19-21) 這是指祂死了三日後復活，如經文所說，『他們還住在加利利的時候，耶穌對門徒說：「人子將要被交在人手裏。他們要殺害他，第三日他要復活。」…』(馬太福音 17:22-23)

      我們看到耶穌是要人先問祂是不是神的兒子，然後再說了實話，明知這樣說會被定罪，但仍然這樣說。他們的確是用耶穌的話定罪了祂，就將耶穌關了起來，所以路加福音會這樣說，『看守耶穌的人戲弄他，打他，又蒙着他的眼，問他說：「你是先知，告訴我們打你的是誰？」他們還用許多別的話辱罵他。』(路加福音 22:63-65) 這件事在馬可福音 14:53-65 基本上是說的相同的。

2. 第二次是在公會前受審

       『天一亮，民間的眾長老連祭司長帶文士都聚會，把耶穌帶到他們的公會裏，說：「你若是基督，就告訴我們。」 耶穌說：「我若告訴你們，你們也不信；我若問你們，你們也不回答。從今以後，人子要坐在神權能的右邊。」他們都說：「這樣，你是神的兒子嗎？」 耶穌說：「你們所說的是。」他們說：「何必再用見證呢？他親口所說的，我們都親自聽見了。」』(路加福音 22:66-71) 

       這應該是在送給彼拉多前的第二次在猶太人前受審，因馬可福音說得很清楚，『一到早晨，祭司長和長老、文士、全公會的人大家商議，就把耶穌捆綁，解去交給彼拉多。』(馬可福音 15:1) 就像耶穌在客西馬尼園所禱告的，『…願你的意旨成全。』(馬太福音 26:42) 祂在這一次和第一次一樣，沒有改變祂說的話。第一次已因祂的話定罪，所以這第二次應該沒用太多的時間就定罪祂了。因當時的猶太人的公會是不能判死刑的，所以他們將耶穌解到彼拉多前，希望能判祂死罪。

3. 在希律前受審

       祂是首先的這樣被解到彼拉多前的，約翰福音有詳細的記載。『眾人將耶穌從該亞法那裏往衙門內解去，那時天還早，他們自己卻不進衙門，恐怕染了污穢，不能吃逾越節的筵席。彼拉多就出來，到他們那裏，說：「你們告這人是為甚麼事呢？」他們回答說：「這人若不是作惡的，我們就不把他交給你。」彼拉多說：「你們自己帶他去，按着你們的律法審問他吧！」 猶太人說：「我們沒有殺人的權柄。」這要應驗耶穌所說自己將要怎樣死的話了。』(約翰福音 18:28-32)

    我們看到彼拉多是相當尊重猶太人的規矩，即然猶太人不願進衙門，他就自己出來。我們在這裏也証實了他們為耶穌到彼拉多那裏去。下面的經文記載了祂為什麼會在希律前受審：『眾人都起來，把耶穌解到彼拉多面前，就告他說：「我們見這人誘惑國民，禁止納稅給凱撒，並說自己是基督，是王。」彼拉多問耶穌說：「你是猶太人的王嗎？」 耶穌回答說：「你說的是。」彼拉多對祭司長和眾人說：「我查不出這人有甚麼罪來。」但他們越發極力地說：「他煽惑百姓，在猶太遍地傳道，從加利利起，直到這裏了。」彼拉多一聽見，就問：「這人是加利利人嗎？」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。希律看見耶穌，就很歡喜，因為聽見過他的事，久已想要見他，並且指望看他行一件神蹟，於是問他許多的話，耶穌卻一言不答。祭司長和文士都站着，極力地告他。希律和他的兵丁就藐視耶穌，戲弄他，給他穿上華麗衣服，把他送回彼拉多那裏去。從前希律和彼拉多彼此有仇，在那一天就成了朋友。』(路加福音 23:1-12)

       我們可看到耶穌並沒有在希律前行神蹟，要特別強調的一點，就是希律和彼拉多都找不出耶穌犯了任何該死的罪。因經文說，『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) 在這裏，我們看到了彼拉多的初衷是想釋放耶穌。

     關於希律和彼拉多成為朋友的一事，有人說是由於耶穌的死，仍能在死前使希律和彼拉多釋隙成為朋友，但聖經並沒有這樣說，但的確是記載了這一個事實，雖然可能可以用人性來解釋，我們不知道確實是為什麼？聖經沒有講或沒有概念的事，不能從人的角度亂下結論，這樣會導致公說公有理、婆說婆有理的結果，會強解聖經，引起爭論。

4. 在彼拉多前受審的前半段及其初衷

       『耶穌站在巡撫面前，巡撫問他說：「你是猶太人的王嗎？」 耶穌說：「你說的是。」他被祭司長和長老控告的時候，甚麼都不回答。彼拉多就對他說：「他們作見證告你這麼多的事，你沒有聽見嗎？」耶穌仍不回答，連一句話也不說，以致巡撫甚覺希奇。巡撫有一個常例，每逢這節期，隨眾人所要的，釋放一個囚犯給他們。當時，有一個出名的囚犯叫巴拉巴。眾人聚集的時候，彼拉多就對他們說：「你們要我釋放哪一個給你們？是巴拉巴呢？是稱為基督的耶穌呢？」巡撫原知道，他們是因為嫉妒才把他解了來。正坐堂的時候，他的夫人打發人來說：「這義人的事你一點不可管，因為我今天在夢中為他受了許多的苦。」』(馬太福音 27:11-19)

    我們首先看到了耶穌是用同樣的方式問答。在這裏我們也看到彼拉多的初衷本是要釋放耶穌的，他的夫人也要他不要管這義人的事，只是他沒有聽勸。雖然他找不到耶穌犯了任何該死的罪，最終還是「非法」的讓耶穌釘了十字架。「非法」，不是今日的一些基督徒仍遭遇的情況嗎？

       關於祂站在巡撫前，約翰福音有這樣的記載。『彼拉多又進了衙門，叫耶穌來，對他說：「你是猶太人的王嗎？」耶穌回答說：「這話是你自己說的，還是別人論我對你說的呢？」彼拉多說：「我豈是猶太人呢？你本國的人和祭司長把你交給我，你做了甚麼事呢？」耶穌回答說：「我的國不屬這世界。我的國若屬這世界，我的臣僕必要爭戰，使我不至於被交給猶太人，只是我的國不屬這世界。」彼拉多就對他說：「這樣，你是王嗎？」 耶穌回答說：「你說我是王，我為此而生，也為此來到世間，特為給真理作見證。凡屬真理的人就聽我的話。」『彼拉多說：「真理是甚麼呢？」…』(約翰福音 18:33-38)

       耶穌的國的確不是屬於這世界的，祂被捕時就說，『你想，我不能求我父現在為我差遣十二營多天使來嗎？若是這樣，經上所說事情必須如此的話，怎麼應驗呢？』(馬太福音 26:53-54) 請注意祂是說要求我父，這是因為他道成肉身後是一個完全的人，是完全的人就不能直接差遣天使，雖然祂仍保有那不變的、完全是神的身份。基督徒有內住的聖靈，他們的國也不屬於這世界，在這世界中是過客。這就像亞伯拉罕一樣，是『…等候那座有根基的城，就是神所經營、所建造的。』(希伯來書 11:10) 我們以後會看到，彼拉多就如他所說的一樣，的確是不在乎真理是什麼，對他來說，站在人世間的政治對的那一方，更為重要。

    關於其初衷本是想釋放耶穌，而眾人不肯，寧可釋放強盜，置祂於死地，經文是這樣說的：『彼拉多說：「真理是甚麼呢？」說了這話，又出來到猶太人那裏，對他們說：「我查不出他有甚麼罪來，但你們有個規矩，在逾越節要我給你們釋放一個人，你們要我給你們釋放猶太人的王嗎？」他們又喊着說：「不要這人，要巴拉巴！」這巴拉巴是個強盜。』(約翰福音 18:38-40)

     約翰是親自在那裏的，所以約翰福音的記載是非常的正確。雖然彼拉多給了他們一個看起來是很明顯的選擇，但他們寧可釋放一個殺過人的強盜，而要把按羅馬法沒有罪的耶穌置於死地。 我們看到了這次的分享，只是詳細的敍述了耶穌被捕後發生的前半段事情，在下次的分享中，我們會描述後半段發生的事情，耶穌是如何會被判釘在十字架上的。

(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 take a look at the sequence of events before and after Jesus’ arrest. He arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane quite late. On the night after His arrest, He was brought to the high priest for the first time by the Jews for trial. They could only use Jesus’ words to condemn Him.  Then there was the trial before the Sanhedrin the next morning. He did not change what He said in the second time, so it probably did not take much time to condemn Him.  Because the Jewish Sanhedrin at that time could not impose the death penalty, they brought Jesus before Pilate, hoping to sentence Him to death.  Then Pilate sent Him to Herod for trial, and found that He was not guilty of a crime worthy of death. Finally, he was tried before Pilate, and was not found guilty of a crime worthy of death. The original intention of Pilate was to release Jesus, but in the end he sentenced Jesus to be crucified “illegally.”

 ​

1. Jesus’ first trial after His arrest was before the high priest

Let’s look at the sequence of events before and after Jesus’ arrest. He arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane quite late because the disciples were going to sleep (see Matthew 26:36-45).  On the night after His arrest, He was tried by the Jews for the first time. The Gospel of Mark records the situation very clearly, “They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. …Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.”(Mark 14:53-65)

Since the testimony is false, of course it will be inconsistent and useless.  As for Jesus’ saying that he built the temple in three days, it is recorded as follows, “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.”(John 2:19-21) This refers to His resurrection after three days of death. As the scripture says, “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” …”(Matthew 17:22-23)

We see that Jesus wanted people to ask Him first if He was the Son of God, and then told the truth. He knew that saying this would lead to condemnation, but He still said it.  They indeed used Jesus’ words to condemn Him and locked Him up. That’s why the Gospel of Luke says, “Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.”(Luke 22:63-65) There is basically the same thing said in Mark 14:53-65.

2. The second time was before the Sanhedrin

“When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.””(Luke 22:66-71)

This should have been the second trial before the Jews before being sent to Pilate, because the Gospel of Mark says very clearly, “Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.”(Mark 15:1) Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…My Father, …Your will be done.”(Matthew 26:42) He did not change His words this time the same as those He had the first time.  He was already condemned by His words the first time, so it shouldn’t take much time to condemn Him the second time.  Because the Jewish Sanhedrin at that time could not impose the death penalty, they brought Jesus before Pilate, hoping to sentence Him to death.

3. Tried before Herod

He was the first to be led to Pilate in this way, as is recorded in detail in the Gospel of John. “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.”(John 18:28-32)

We see that Pilate respected Jewish rules very much. The Jews did not want to enter the Praetorium, he actually came out to meet them. We also have confirmation here that they went to Pilate for potentially sentencing Jesus.  The following verses record why He was tried before Herod: “Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.”(Luke 23:1-12)

We can see that Jesus did not perform any miracles before Herod. One point that needs to be emphasized is that neither Herod nor Pilate could find Jesus guilty of any crime worthy of death.  Because the scripture says, “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) Here, we see that Pilate’s original intention was to release Jesus.

Regarding the fact that Herod and Pilate became friends, some people say that it was because of the death of Jesus. Yes, it is true that Herod and Pilate actually became friends before His death. However, the Bible does not say the reason, but it does record this fact. A fact that, although it may be explained in the aspect of human nature, we don’t know exactly the reason why?  Things that are not mentioned in the Bible or have no concept should not be drawn to random conclusions from a human perspective. This will lead to the result of forcefully interpreting the Bible and cause controversy.

4. The first half of the trial before Pilate and its original intention

“Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.””(Matthew 27:11-19)

We first saw Jesus asking questions in the same way.  Here we also see that Pilate’s original intention was to release Jesus, and his wife also asked him to leave the affairs of this righteous man alone, but he did not listen.  Although he could not find Jesus guilty of any crime worthy of death, he ultimately had Jesus crucified “illegally.”  Isn’t “illegal” a situation that some Christians still encounter today?​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Concerning Him standing before the governor, the Gospel of John has this record.  “Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” …”(John 18:33-38)

Jesus’ kingdom is indeed not of this world. When He was arrested, He said, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”(Matthew 26:53-54) Please note that He said asking My Father. This is because after He became flesh, He became a perfect man. As a perfect man, He could not directly send angels, although He still retained completely the same identity of a complete God.  Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and their kingdom does not belong to this world. They are passers-by in this world.  This is like Abraham, 

“for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”(Hebrews 11:10) We will see later that Pilate, just as he said, did not care what the truth was. For him, standing on the correct side of the world’s politics was even more important. 

Regarding the original intention to release Jesus, but the crowd refused, preferring to release the robbers and put Him to death, the scripture says this: “Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.”(John 18:38-40)

John was there personally, so the record in the Gospel of John is very accurate.  Although Pilate gave them what seemed an obvious choice, they would rather release a robber who had committed a murder than Jesus, who was not guilty according to Roman law.  We have seen this sharing, which only details the first half of what happened after Jesus was arrested. In the next sharing, we will describe what happened in the second half, and how Jesus was sentenced to be crucified.

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

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

    首先我们看到了耶稣预言了彼得三次不认主，虽然彼得和众门徒愿意与耶稣同死，但事到临头却软弱了，羊分散了，四处逃走。但主真的是已经为他祈求，叫他不至于失了信心，在他悔改回头以后，能够坚固弟兄。第二，我们从彼得的反应中看到了彼得当时的个性，是不顾后果的想要马上解决问题。第三，我们看看彼得三次不认主是如何成就的，以及他的悔改。最后，我们来看圣经如何说一个相关的经文，就是耶稣为什么三次问彼得说你爱我吗，在这里我们看到了圣经如何的说这些经文，并简短的讨论了两个具有争议性的想法。

1. 预言彼得三次不认主     

    『主又说：「西门！西门！撒但想要得著你们，好筛你们像筛麦子一样；但我已经为你祈求，叫你不至于失了信心。你回头以后，要坚固你的弟兄。」彼得说：「主啊，我就是同你下监，同你受死，也是甘心！」耶稣说：「彼得，我告诉你，今日鸡还没有叫，你要三次说不认得我。」』(路加福音 22:31-34)       

    我们先看彼得真的有这意愿和主同死，这我们可从下列经文看到。『当时，耶稣对众人说：「你们带著刀棒出来拿我，如同拿强盗吗？我天天坐在殿里教训人，你们并没有拿我。但这一切的事成就了，为要应验先知书上的话。」当下，门徒都离开他逃走了。拿耶稣的人把他带到大祭司该亚法那里去，文士和长老已经在那里聚会。彼得远远地跟著耶稣，直到大祭司的院子，进到里面，就和差役同坐，要看这事到底怎样。』(马太福音 26:55-58)       

    耶稣被捕的时候，门徒都离开他逃走了，只除了彼得和约翰，彼得在院子等结果，详情在约翰福音说得很清楚，『西门彼得跟著耶稣，还有一个门徒(约翰)跟著。那门徒是大祭司所认识的，他就同耶稣进了大祭司的院子，彼得却站在门外。大祭司所认识的那个门徒出来，和看门的使女说了一声，就领彼得进去。那看门的使女对彼得说：「你不也是这人的门徒吗？」 他说：「我不是。」仆人和差役因为天冷，就生了炭火，站在那里烤火，彼得也同他们站著烤火。』(约翰福音 18:15-18)     

    大祭司是在房间里审判主，所以我们也能从这些经文看到约翰应该是进去了，看见了审判的过程。彼得没有进去，留在院子烤火，等下我们谈到这预言彼得三次不认主是如何成就的，就可以知道为什么最后只有约翰在十字架前。我们知道那门徒是约翰，因最后只有约翰在十字架前，因为经文说到了耶稣托付马利亚给约翰。『耶稣见母亲和他所爱的那门徒(约翰)站在(十字架)旁边，就对他母亲说：「母亲，看，你的儿子！」又对那门徒说：「看，你的母亲！」从此那门徒就接她到自己家里去了。』(约翰福音 19:26-27)       

    在马可福音记载同样的事情并说复活以后要先往加利利与他们相会。『耶稣对他们说：「你们都要跌倒了，因为经上记著说：『我要击打牧人，羊就分散了。』但我复活以后，要在你们以先往加利利去。」彼得说：「众人虽然跌倒，我总不能。」耶稣对他说：「我实在告诉你：就在今天夜里，鸡叫两遍以先，你要三次不认我。」彼得却极力地说：「我就是必须和你同死，也总不能不认你！」众门徒都是这样说。』(马可福音 14:27-31)        

    虽然众门徒也愿与耶稣同死，但事到临头却因要付上死的代价，软弱了，羊分散了，四处逃走，甚至于『有一个少年人，赤身披著一块麻布，跟随耶稣，众人就捉拿他。他却丢了麻布，赤身逃走了。』(马可福音 14:51-52) 圣经上没有说这少年人是谁，有人会去猜测，只是这样最多只是猜测而已，在逻辑上不会有真正结论的，不如不猜。另外一点，主预先就知道自已会受死，而祂是完全的人，有著如门徒般的自由意志，我们从门徒的四散，也可看到从人看来，祂这样做是多么的不容易啊！但祂甘心乐意的选择顺服神，为了我们而钉上十字架。     

    在马太福音 26:31-35 记载了同一件事情。在约翰福音也这样提到，『西门彼得问耶稣说：「主往哪里去？」 耶稣回答说：「我所去的地方，你现在不能跟我去，后来却要跟我去。」彼得说：「主啊，我为甚么现在不能跟你去？我愿意为你舍命。」耶稣说：「你愿意为我舍命吗？我实实在在地告诉你：鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」』(约翰福音 13:36-38) 四福音书都提到这一件事，可见这事的重要性。除此之外，约翰福音保证了基督徒虽有一死，但死后会复活升天，因主为我们死而复活升天，我们后来都会跟著去。我们看到了四福音书中的约翰福音是最后写的，常常补充了前三本福音中没有写的事情。       

    最后我们看到这是一个「撒但想要得著你们，好筛你们像筛麦子一样」的一个例子。是的，彼得真跌倒了，以致于他三次不认主，但主真的是已经为他祈求，叫他不至于失了信心，在他悔改回头以后，能够坚固弟兄，这显然是彼得恢改以后做的事情。

2. 彼得的反应       

    『耶稣又对他们说：「我差你们出去的时候，没有钱囊，没有口袋，没有鞋，你们缺少甚么没有？」 他们说：「没有。」耶稣说：「但如今有钱囊的可以带著，有口袋的也可以带著，没有刀的要卖衣服买刀。我告诉你们，经上写著说：『他被列在罪犯之中。』这话必应验在我身上，因为那关系我的事必然成就。」他们说：「主啊，请看！这里有两把刀。」 耶稣说：「够了。」』(路加福音 22:35-38)    

    前段是指以前，『耶稣差这十二个人去，吩咐他们说：「外邦人的路，你们不要走；撒马利亚人的城，你们不要进；…行路不要带口袋，不要带两件褂子，也不要带鞋和拐杖，因为工人得饮食是应当的。』(马太福音 10:5-10) 现在情况不同了。在这里，因耶稣预言了祂会被列在罪犯之中，且隐藏的预言了祂在人世间会遭遇的事情，因祂说关系我的事必然成就。在这些经文中，耶稣显然不是说物质的刀，两把物质的刀怎么会够呢？刀是指属灵的刀，就是圣灵的宝剑，因经文说，『要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。…拿著圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道。』(以弗所书 6:11-17) 我们以前分享过，那全副军装只有圣灵的宝剑是攻击的武器，其余的都是防卫性的。       

    我们可以从另外一件事情看到了彼得当时的个性，是不顾后果的想要马上解决问题。当耶稣被卖而被捕时，『左右的人见光景不好，就说：「主啊！我们拿刀砍可以不可以？」内中有一个人把大祭司的仆人砍了一刀，削掉了他的右耳。耶稣说：「到了这个地步，由他们吧！」就摸那人的耳朵，把他治好了。』(路加福音 22:49-51) 虽然路加福音只说有一个人，但我们知道那一个人就是彼得，因后来有经文补充说，『有大祭司的一个仆人，是彼得削掉耳朵那人的亲属，…』(约翰福音 18:26) 可见彼得是不顾后果的，倒是看见了耶稣仁慈的行了一个神迹，也让彼得能不面临他冲动行为的后果。

3. 彼得三次不认主是如何成就的       

    『他们拿住耶稣，把他带到大祭司的宅里。彼得远远地跟著。他们在院子里生了火，一同坐著；彼得也坐在他们中间。有一个使女看见彼得坐在火光里，就定睛看他，说：「这个人素来也是同那人一伙的。」彼得却不承认，说：「女子，我不认得他。」过了不多的时候，又有一个人看见他，说：「你也是他们一党的。」彼得说：「你这个人！我不是。」约过了一小时，又有一个人极力地说：「他实在是同那人一伙的，因为他也是加利利人。」彼得说：「你这个人！我不晓得你说的是甚么！」正说话之间，鸡就叫了。主转过身来看彼得，彼得便想起主对他所说的话：「今日鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」他就出去痛哭。』(路加福音 22:54-62)       

    彼得三次不认主的情况在路加福音说得很清楚。在马可福音 14:66-72 和马太福音 26:69-75 中记录了同一件事情，后者并说前二次是不同的使女问他的，且说『…旁边站著的人前来对彼得说：「你真是他们一党的，你的口音把你露出来了。」』(马太福音 26:73) 难怪路加福音会说他是加利利人。彼得三次不认主后看到主转过身来看他，立时想起了主的预言，他后悔他做的事情，就出去痛哭。『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) 看彼得以后仍然是使徒之首，这句话不就是他最好的写照吗？他一切的罪因他那时的悔改被洗净了！在这里，我们看到彼得因悔改而出去了，最后只有约翰在十字架前。

4. 耶稣为什么三次问彼得你爱我吗？       

    我们再看一些相关的经文，就是耶稣问了彼得三次你爱我吗？我们以前分享过这一点，现在放在这里希望能更清楚些。经文说，『耶稣从死里复活以后向门徒显现，这是第三次。他们吃完了早饭，耶稣对西门彼得说：「约翰的儿子西门，你爱(agapao, G25，动词)我比这些更深吗？」 彼得说：「主啊，是的，你知道我爱你。」 耶稣对他说：「你喂养我的小羊。」耶稣第二次又对他说：「约翰的儿子西门，你爱(G25)我吗？」 彼得说：「主啊，是的，你知道我爱你。」 耶稣说：「你牧养我的羊。」第三次对他说：「约翰的儿子西门，你爱(G5368, phileo)我吗？」 彼得因为耶稣第三次对他说「你爱我吗」，就忧愁，对耶稣说：「主啊，你是无所不知的，你知道我爱你。」 耶稣说：「你喂养我的羊。」』(约翰福音 21:14-17)       

    有人说彼得曾三次不认主，所以主在复活后就三次问他你爱我吗，去建立彼得，虽然我以前也是这样想，但发觉问题是圣经从来没有这么说过！那么圣经到底怎么说呢？我们就看耶稣怎么说，在第一次和第二次耶稣都是用神的爱(G25)。当耶稣用神的爱时，祂告诉彼得说，「你喂养我的小羊」和「你牧养我的羊」，因此必须用神的爱去喂养和牧养。第三次耶稣就不一样了，是用人间的爱(G5368, phileo)，这时祂说：「你喂养我的羊。」 所以用人间的爱只能喂养，不能牧养。如果一个人自己都没有神的爱，怎么可能去牧养呢？顺便一提的是，爱在原文中有很多种，但中文和英文的翻译都是用爱这同样的一个字，不能区别是那种爱，这时非得看希腊原文才能够区别出来。对于我这种不懂原文的人，只能用工具书如汇编等。       

    因彼得三次回答的爱字都是用人间的爱 G5368 (phileo)，而耶稣第三次用的也是同样的爱(G5368)，所以有人说是耶稣降低标准去配合彼得。这是不对的，因耶稣是三位一体的神中的一位，是信实的，祂从来没有降低过标准。有人可能会说大卫对亚吉撒谎，因经文说得很清楚，『大卫在非利士地住了一年零四个月。…亚吉说：「你们今日侵夺了甚么地方呢？」大卫说：「侵夺了犹大的南方，耶拉篾的南方，基尼的南方。」无论男女，大卫没有留下一个带到迦特来。…』(撒母耳记上 27:7-12) 神并没有追究他撒谎的这一件事，律法中不是说：『你们…不可彼此说谎』吗？(利未记 19:11) 神虽没有叫他撒谎，这不是神降低了标准吗？不是，他是为保命而不得不在世俗的事情上向外邦人撒谎。难道我们就可以说我们可以撒谎吗？不是，这只是特例，因神是看内心的，而不要人死守律法，祂更看重的是大卫的生命，所以在拔示巴的事上，神除掉了大卫的死罪(参撒母耳记下 12:13)，我们不会在属世的事上和他情况相同的。况且神有绝对的主权，就像『窰匠难道没有权柄从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿，又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗？』(罗马书 9:21) 在属灵的事上，启示录清楚的说，『…你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。』(启示录 2:10)    

    因『…圣灵将神的爱(G26, 名词)浇灌在我们心里。』(罗马书 5:5)  那时的彼得尚没有被圣灵充满，因圣灵的充满要等到五旬节(参使徒行传 2:1-4)  所以他那时只知道有人间的爱，难怪他三次都用人间的爱回答。我们以前在油管(YouTube) 中的「200920 再谈读经要从神的角度看」，详细的讨论了这问题，有兴趣的人可以在那里找到一些讨论。现在是圣灵内住在基督徒中，我们都可以按著大使命所要求的去传道 (参马太福音 28:18-20)，因三位一体的神有绝对的主权，所以恩赐『…都是这位圣灵所运行、随己意分给各人的。』(哥林多前书 12:11) 我们应该照我们所得的恩赐去喂养和牧养。

(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』。)      

       首先我們看到了耶穌預言了彼得三次不認主，雖然彼得和眾門徒願意與耶穌同死，但事到臨頭卻軟弱了，羊分散了，四處逃走。但主真的是已經為他祈求，叫他不至於失了信心，在他悔改回頭以後，能夠堅固弟兄。第二，我們從彼得的反應中看到了彼得當時的個性，是不顧後果的想要馬上解決問題。第三，我們看看彼得三次不認主是如何成就的，以及他的悔改。最後，我們來看聖經如何說一個相關的經文，就是耶穌為什麼三次問彼得說你愛我嗎，在這裏我們看到了聖經如何的說這些經文，並簡短的討論了兩個具有爭議性的想法。

1. 預言彼得三次不認主

       『主又說：「西門！西門！撒但想要得着你們，好篩你們像篩麥子一樣；但我已經為你祈求，叫你不至於失了信心。你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄。」彼得說：「主啊，我就是同你下監，同你受死，也是甘心！」耶穌說：「彼得，我告訴你，今日雞還沒有叫，你要三次說不認得我。」』(路加福音 22:31-34)

       我們先看彼得真的有這意願和主同死，這我們可從下列經文看到。『當時，耶穌對眾人說：「你們帶着刀棒出來拿我，如同拿強盜嗎？我天天坐在殿裏教訓人，你們並沒有拿我。但這一切的事成就了，為要應驗先知書上的話。」當下，門徒都離開他逃走了。拿耶穌的人把他帶到大祭司該亞法那裏去，文士和長老已經在那裏聚會。彼得遠遠地跟着耶穌，直到大祭司的院子，進到裏面，就和差役同坐，要看這事到底怎樣。』(馬太福音 26:55-58) 

       耶穌被捕的時候，門徒都離開他逃走了，只除了彼得和約翰，彼得在院子等結果，詳情在約翰福音說得很清楚，『西門彼得跟着耶穌，還有一個門徒(約翰)跟着。那門徒是大祭司所認識的，他就同耶穌進了大祭司的院子，彼得卻站在門外。大祭司所認識的那個門徒出來，和看門的使女說了一聲，就領彼得進去。那看門的使女對彼得說：「你不也是這人的門徒嗎？」 他說：「我不是。」僕人和差役因為天冷，就生了炭火，站在那裏烤火，彼得也同他們站着烤火。』(約翰福音 18:15-18) 

     大祭司是在房間裏審判主，所以我們也能從這些經文看到約翰應該是進去了，看見了審判的過程。彼得沒有進去，留在院子烤火，等下我們談到這預言彼得三次不認主是如何成就的，就可以知道為什麼最後只有約翰在十字架前。我們知道那門徒是約翰，因最後只有約翰在十字架前，因為經文說到了耶穌託付馬利亞給約翰。『耶穌見母親和他所愛的那門徒(約翰)站在(十字架)旁邊，就對他母親說：「母親，看，你的兒子！」又對那門徒說：「看，你的母親！」從此那門徒就接她到自己家裏去了。』(約翰福音 19:26-27)

       在馬可福音記載同樣的事情並說復活以後要先往加利利與他們相會。『耶穌對他們說：「你們都要跌倒了，因為經上記着說：『我要擊打牧人，羊就分散了。』但我復活以後，要在你們以先往加利利去。」彼得說：「眾人雖然跌倒，我總不能。」耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：就在今天夜裏，雞叫兩遍以先，你要三次不認我。」彼得卻極力地說：「我就是必須和你同死，也總不能不認你！」眾門徒都是這樣說。』(馬可福音 14:27-31)

        雖然眾門徒也願與耶穌同死，但事到臨頭卻因要付上死的代價，軟弱了，羊分散了，四處逃走，甚至於『有一個少年人，赤身披着一塊麻布，跟隨耶穌，眾人就捉拿他。他卻丟了麻布，赤身逃走了。』(馬可福音 14:51-52) 聖經上沒有說這少年人是誰，有人會去猜測，只是這樣最多只是猜測而已，在邏輯上不會有真正結論的，不如不猜。另外一點，主預先就知道自已會受死，而祂是完全的人，有著如門徒般的自由意志，我們從門徒的四散，也可看到從人看來，祂這樣做是多麼的不容易啊！但祂甘心樂意的選擇順服神，為了我們而釘上十字架。

       在馬太福音 26:31-35 記載了同一件事情。在約翰福音也這樣提到，『西門彼得問耶穌說：「主往哪裏去？」 耶穌回答說：「我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。」彼得說：「主啊，我為甚麼現在不能跟你去？我願意為你捨命。」耶穌說：「你願意為我捨命嗎？我實實在在地告訴你：雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」』(約翰福音 13:36-38) 四福音書都提到這一件事，可見這事的重要性。除此之外，約翰福音保証了基督徒雖有一死，但死後會復活升天，因主為我們死而復活升天，我們後來都會跟著去。我們看到了四福音書中的約翰福音是最後寫的，常常補充了前三本福音中沒有寫的事情。

       最後我們看到這是一個「撒但想要得着你們，好篩你們像篩麥子一樣」的一個例子。是的，彼得真跌倒了，以致於他三次不認主，但主真的是已經為他祈求，叫他不至於失了信心，在他悔改回頭以後，能夠堅固弟兄，這顯然是彼得恢改以後做的事情。

2. 彼得的反應

       『耶穌又對他們說：「我差你們出去的時候，沒有錢囊，沒有口袋，沒有鞋，你們缺少甚麼沒有？」 他們說：「沒有。」耶穌說：「但如今有錢囊的可以帶着，有口袋的也可以帶着，沒有刀的要賣衣服買刀。我告訴你們，經上寫着說：『他被列在罪犯之中。』這話必應驗在我身上，因為那關係我的事必然成就。」他們說：「主啊，請看！這裏有兩把刀。」 耶穌說：「夠了。」』(路加福音 22:35-38)

    前段是指以前，『耶穌差這十二個人去，吩咐他們說：「外邦人的路，你們不要走；撒馬利亞人的城，你們不要進；…行路不要帶口袋，不要帶兩件褂子，也不要帶鞋和枴杖，因為工人得飲食是應當的。』(馬太福音 10:5-10) 現在情況不同了。在這裏，因耶穌預言了祂會被列在罪犯之中，且隱藏的預言了祂在人世間會遭遇的事情，因祂說關係我的事必然成就。在這些經文中，耶穌顯然不是說物質的刀，兩把物質的刀怎麼會夠呢？刀是指屬靈的刀，就是聖靈的寶劍，因經文說，『要穿戴神所賜的全副軍裝，就能抵擋魔鬼的詭計。…拿着聖靈的寶劍，就是神的道。』(以弗所書 6:11-17) 我們以前分享過，那全副軍裝只有聖靈的寶劍是攻擊的武器，其餘的都是防衛性的。

       我們可以從另外一件事情看到了彼得當時的個性，是不顧後果的想要馬上解決問題。當耶穌被賣而被捕時，『左右的人見光景不好，就說：「主啊！我們拿刀砍可以不可以？」內中有一個人把大祭司的僕人砍了一刀，削掉了他的右耳。耶穌說：「到了這個地步，由他們吧！」就摸那人的耳朵，把他治好了。』(路加福音 22:49-51) 雖然路加福音只說有一個人，但我們知道那一個人就是彼得，因後來有經文補充說，『有大祭司的一個僕人，是彼得削掉耳朵那人的親屬，…』(約翰福音 18:26) 可見彼得是不顧後果的，倒是看見了耶穌仁慈的行了一個神蹟，也讓彼得能不面臨他衝動行為的後果。

3. 彼得三次不認主是如何成就的

       『他們拿住耶穌，把他帶到大祭司的宅裏。彼得遠遠地跟着。他們在院子裏生了火，一同坐着；彼得也坐在他們中間。有一個使女看見彼得坐在火光裏，就定睛看他，說：「這個人素來也是同那人一夥的。」彼得卻不承認，說：「女子，我不認得他。」過了不多的時候，又有一個人看見他，說：「你也是他們一黨的。」彼得說：「你這個人！我不是。」約過了一小時，又有一個人極力地說：「他實在是同那人一夥的，因為他也是加利利人。」彼得說：「你這個人！我不曉得你說的是甚麼！」正說話之間，雞就叫了。主轉過身來看彼得，彼得便想起主對他所說的話：「今日雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」他就出去痛哭。』(路加福音 22:54-62)

       彼得三次不認主的情況在路加福音說得很清楚。在馬可福音 14:66-72 和馬太福音 26:69-75 中記錄了同一件事情，後者並說前二次是不同的使女問他的，且說『…旁邊站着的人前來對彼得說：「你真是他們一黨的，你的口音把你露出來了。」』(馬太福音 26:73) 難怪路加福音會說他是加利利人。彼得三次不認主後看到主轉過身來看他，立時想起了主的預言，他後悔他做的事情，就出去痛哭。『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) 看彼得以後仍然是使徒之首，這句話不就是他最好的寫照嗎？他一切的罪因他那時的悔改被洗淨了！在這裏，我們看到彼得因悔改而出去了，最後只有約翰在十字架前。

4. 耶穌為什麼三次問彼得你愛我嗎？

       我們再看一些相關的經文，就是耶穌問了彼得三次你愛我嗎？我們以前分享過這一點，現在放在這裏希望能更清楚些。經文說，『耶穌從死裏復活以後向門徒顯現，這是第三次。他們吃完了早飯，耶穌對西門彼得說：「約翰的兒子西門，你愛(agapao, G25，動詞)我比這些更深嗎？」 彼得說：「主啊，是的，你知道我愛你。」 耶穌對他說：「你餵養我的小羊。」耶穌第二次又對他說：「約翰的兒子西門，你愛(G25)我嗎？」 彼得說：「主啊，是的，你知道我愛你。」 耶穌說：「你牧養我的羊。」第三次對他說：「約翰的兒子西門，你愛(G5368, phileo)我嗎？」 彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說「你愛我嗎」，就憂愁，對耶穌說：「主啊，你是無所不知的，你知道我愛你。」 耶穌說：「你餵養我的羊。」』(約翰福音 21:14-17)

       有人說彼得曾三次不認主，所以主在復活後就三次問他你愛我嗎，去建立彼得，雖然我以前也是這樣想，但發覺問題是聖經從來沒有這麼說過！那麼聖經到底怎麼說呢？我們就看耶穌怎麼說，在第一次和第二次耶穌都是用神的愛(G25)。當耶穌用神的愛時，祂告訴彼得說，「你餵養我的小羊」和「你牧養我的羊」，因此必須用神的愛去餵養和牧養。第三次耶穌就不一樣了，是用人間的愛(G5368, phileo)，這時祂說：「你餵養我的羊。」 所以用人間的愛只能餵養，不能牧養。如果一個人自己都沒有神的愛，怎麼可能去牧養呢？順便一提的是，愛在原文中有很多種，但中文和英文的翻譯都是用愛這同樣的一個字，不能區別是那種愛，這時非得看希臘原文才能夠區別出來。對於我這種不懂原文的人，只能用工具書如彙編等。

       因彼得三次回答的愛字都是用人間的愛 G5368 (phileo)，而耶穌第三次用的也是同樣的愛(G5368)，所以有人說是耶穌降低標準去配合彼得。這是不對的，因耶穌是三位一體的神中的一位，是信實的，祂從來沒有降低過標準。有人可能會說大衞對亞吉撒謊，因經文說得很清楚，『大衞在非利士地住了一年零四個月。…亞吉說：「你們今日侵奪了甚麼地方呢？」大衞說：「侵奪了猶大的南方，耶拉篾的南方，基尼的南方。」無論男女，大衞沒有留下一個帶到迦特來。…』(撒母耳記上 27:7-12) 神並沒有追究他撒謊的這一件事，律法中不是說：『你們…不可彼此說謊』嗎？(利未記 19:11) 神雖沒有叫他撒謊，這不是神降低了標準嗎？不是，他是為保命而不得不在世俗的事情上向外邦人撒謊。難道我們就可以說我們可以撒謊嗎？不是，這只是特例，因神是看內心的，而不要人死守律法，祂更看重的是大衞的生命，所以在拔示巴的事上，神除掉了大衞的死罪(參撒母耳記下 12:13)，我們不會在屬世的事上和他情況相同的。況且神有絕對的主權，就像『窰匠難道沒有權柄從一團泥裏拿一塊做成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿嗎？』(羅馬書 9:21) 在屬靈的事上，啓示錄清楚的說，『…你務要至死忠心，我就賜給你那生命的冠冕。』(啓示錄 2:10)

    因『…聖靈將神的愛(G26, 名詞)澆灌在我們心裏。』(羅馬書 5:5)  那時的彼得尚沒有被聖靈充滿，因聖靈的充滿要等到五旬節(參使徒行傳 2:1-4)  所以他那時只知道有人間的愛，難怪他三次都用人間的愛回答。我們以前在油管(YouTube) 中的「200920 再談讀經要從神的角度看」，詳細的討論了這問題，有興趣的人可以在那裏找到一些討論。現在是聖靈內住在基督徒中，我們都可以按著大使命所要求的去傳道 (參馬太福音 28:18-20)，因三位一體的神有絕對的主權，所以恩賜『…都是這位聖靈所運行、隨己意分給各人的。』(哥林多前書 12:11) 我們應該照我們所得的恩賜去餵養和牧養。

 (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 saw that Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times. Although Peter and the disciples were willing to die with Jesus, they became weak when things came to pass, and the sheep were scattered and fled in all directions.  But the Lord has really prayed for Peter so that he would not lose faith and that he would be able to strengthen his brothers after he repented and turned around.  Second, from Peter’s reaction, we saw Peter’s personality at that time, which was that he wanted to solve the problem immediately regardless of the consequences.  Third, we look at how Peter denied the Lord three times and repented.  Finally, we look at what the Bible says about a related verse, which states that Jesus asked Peter three times ‘do you love me?’ Here we see what the Bible says about these verses and briefly discuss two controversial explanations.

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1. Prophecy that Peter would deny the Lord three times

““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.””(Luke 22:31-34)

We first see that Peter really has this desire to die with the Lord. We can see this from the following verses. “At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.”(Matthew 26:55-58)

When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples left him and fled, except for Peter and John. Peter was waiting in the courtyard for the outcome. The details are very clear in the Gospel of John, “Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.”(John 18:15-18)

The high priest judged the Lord inside, so we can also see from these verses that John should have entered inside and saw the process of judgment.  Peter did not go in and stayed in the courtyard to warm himself by the fire. Later we will talk about how this prophecy of Peter denying the Lord three times was fulfilled, and we will know why only John was in front of the cross in the end.  We know that the disciple was John because the scripture says that Jesus entrusted Mary to John.  “When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”(John 19:26-27)

The Gospel of Mark records the same thing and says that after resurrection, He will first go to Galilee to meet them. “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.”(Mark 14:27-31)

Although all the disciples were willing to die with Jesus, they became weak because they had to pay the price of death. The sheep were scattered and fled in all directions. Even to the extent that “A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.”(Mark 14:51-52) The Bible does not say who this young man is. Some people guess it, but this is just a guess at most. There will be no real conclusion logically, so it is better not to guess.  Another point is that the Lord knew in advance that He would die, and He was a perfect human being with free will like the disciples. From the scattering of the disciples, we can also see how difficult it was for Him to do so from a human perspective. Ah!  But He willingly chose to obey God and was crucified for us.

The same thing is recorded in Matthew 26:31-35.  It is also mentioned in the Gospel of John, “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”(John 13:36-38) All four gospels mention this matter, which shows the importance of this matter.  In addition, the Gospel of John guarantees that even though Christians will die once, they will be resurrected and ascended to heaven after death. Because the Lord died for us, was resurrected and ascended to heaven, we will all follow him later.  We have seen that John’s Gospel was written last of the four Gospels and often adds things not written in the first three Gospels.

Finally, we see that this is an example of “…Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.”(Luke 22:31) Yes, Peter indeed fell so much to the extent that he denied the Lord three times, but the Lord really prayed for him so that he would not lose his faith. After he repented and turned around, he strengthened his brothers. This is obvious since it indeed is what Peter did after his repentance and thus recovery.

2. Peter’s reaction

“And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.””(Luke 22:35-38)

The first paragraph refers to the past event, “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; …Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.”(Matthew 10:5-10) The situation is now different. Here in the paragraph, Jesus predicted that He would be numbered with the criminals. Because He also said that things related to me will definitely come true, He implicitly predicted what He would encounter in the human world. In these verses, Jesus obviously did not mean a material sword. How could two material swords be enough? The sword refers to a spiritual sword. The sword is the sword of the Spirit, because the scripture says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. …And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”(Ephesians 6:11 -17) We have shared before that only the sword of the Holy Spirit is the offensive weapon in the full armor, and the rest are defensive.

We can see from another incident Peter’s personality at that time, which was that he wanted to solve the problem immediately regardless of the consequences.  When Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the situation was like this. “When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.”(Luke 22:49-51) Although the Gospel of Luke only says that there was one man, we know that that man was Peter, because later scriptures added, “One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, …”(John 18:26) It can be seen that Peter was reckless, but he saw Jesus mercifully performed a miracle, which allowed Peter not to face the consequences of his impulsive behavior. 

3. How did Peter deny the Lord three times?

“Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”(Luke 22:54-62)​

The circumstances of Peter’s three denials of the Lord are clearly stated in the Gospel of Luke.  The same thing is recorded in Mark 14:66-72 and Matthew 26:69-75. The latter also said that different servant-girls asked him in the first two times, and “…the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.”(Matthew 26:73) No wonder the Gospel of Luke says that he was a

Galilean.  After Peter denied the Lord three times, he saw the Lord turning around to look at him. He immediately remembered the Lord’s prophecy. He regretted what he had done and went out to weep bitterly. In the era of the New Testament, it is “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) Seeing that Peter is still the head of the apostles, isn’t this sentence the best portrayal of him?  Even he still was in the era of the Old Testament since Jesus wasn’t dead and resurrected yet, all his sins were washed away by his repentance at that time!  Here we see Peter really going out in repentance and finally only John was at the cross.

 ​

4. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times ‘do you love me?’

Let’s look at some related scriptures, that is, Jesus asked Peter three times do you love me?  We’ve shared this before, but here it is hopefully a little clearer.  The scripture says, “This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao, G25, verb) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (G25) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (G5368, phileo) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”(John 21:14-17)

Some people say that Peter denied the Lord three times, so after the resurrection, the Lord asked him three times ‘do you love me’ to build Peter up. Although I thought this way before, I found the problem is that the Bible never said that!  So, what does the Bible say?  Let’s see what Jesus said. In both the first and second times, Jesus used God’s love (G25).  When Jesus used the love of God, He told Peter, “Tend My lambs” and “Shepherd My sheep,” so it must be tended and shepherded with the love of God.  The third time Jesus was different, He used human love (G5368, phileo). At this time He said: “Tend My sheep.” Therefore, using human love can only be tended, not shepherd.  How can a person pastor if he or she does not have the love of God?  By the way, there are many kinds of love in the original text, but the Chinese and English translations both use the same word ‘love.’ It is impossible to distinguish which kind of love it is. In this case, you have to read the original Greek text to distinguish it.  For people like me who don’t understand the original text, they can only use reference books such as the Strong’s Concordance.

Because Peter used the word love G5368 (phileo) in his three answers, and Jesus used the same love (G3268) the third time, some people say that Jesus lowered His standards to match Peter’s.  This is not true because Jesus is one of the Trinity and is faithful. He never lowers His standards.  Someone may say that David lied to Achish, because the scripture clearly states, “The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. …Now Achish said, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David said, “Against the Negev of Judah and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the Negev of the Kenites.” David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, …”(1 Samuel 27:7-12) God did not hold him accountable for lying. Doesn’t the law say: “You shall not …lie to one another?”(Leviticus 19:11) Although God did not tell him to lie, didn’t this mean that God had lowered His standards?  No, David had to lie to the Gentiles about worldly things to save his own life. 

Can we just say we can lie at unbelievers then?  No, this is just a special case, because God looks at the heart and does not want people to stick to the Law to commit suicide. He values ​​David’s life more, so in the case of Bathsheba, God took away David’s death penalty (see Samuel (2 Chronicles 12:13), we will not be in the same condition as him in earthly things.  Moreover, God has absolute sovereignty, just like “…does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?”(Romans 9:21) In spiritual matters, the book of Revelation clearly says, “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”(Revelation 2:10)

In the book of Romans, it says, “…the love of God (G26, noun) has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”(Romans 5:5) At that time, Peter had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit, because the filling of the Holy Spirit had to wait until Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-4). So at that time, he only knew human love. No wonder all three times he answered with human love.  We previously discussed this issue in detail in “200920 Let’s talk again about reading the Bible from God’s perspective” on YouTube in Chinese. Those who are interested can find some discussions there.  Now that the Holy Spirit is indwelling Christians, we can all preach according to the requirements of the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:18-20). Because the Triune God has absolute sovereignty, the “…one and the same Spirit works all these things (gifts), distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”(1 Corinthians 12:11) We should tend and shepherd according to the gifts we have been given.

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

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

    首先我们看到加略人犹大只是为了三十块钱卖主，而且是用亲蜜的动作亲嘴而卖主，世人眼中看长子的名份实在不值钱。主已知道犹大将会卖祂，仍然祷告说愿神的旨意成全，我们也看到了犹大的结局及一个预言的成就。第二，我们指出以前讨论过预备逾越节筵席的预言及成就，也借著它们讨论了为什么需要回顾，才能了解神当时是怎么作工。第三，我们讨论了主在逾越节的筵席中亲自设立了饼杯之礼，我们看其意义和规矩。在经文中，我们也看到了真要能要有先不受审的分辩，这不只是在饼杯之礼时如此，在平时也该这样。要知道，我们遭遇苦难有时是被主惩治，绝不要去自讨苦吃。最后在第四中，我们指出在何处已讨论过门徒争论谁为大，请到那里去看详细的这话题和相关经文的讨论。

1. 加略人犹大卖主的时间，过程，及结局      

    犹大起意卖主的时间在这经文中写得很清楚: 『除酵节又名逾越节近了。祭司长和文士想法子怎么才能杀害耶稣，是因他们惧怕百姓。这时，撒但入了那称为加略人犹大的心，他本是十二门徒里的一个。他去和祭司长并守殿官商量，怎么可以把耶稣交给他们。他们欢喜，就约定给他银子。他应允了，就找机会，要趁众人不在跟前的时候把耶稣交给他们。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 所以经文会说，『他(犹大)本来列在我们数中，并且在使徒的职任上得了一分。』(使徒行传 1:17) 他自己放弃了这职任，所以『…诗篇上写著说：…『愿别人得他的职分。』』(使徒行传 1:20)       

    祂在犹大的眼中到底值多少钱呢？『当下，十二门徒里有一个称为加略人犹大的，去见祭司长，说：「我把他交给你们，你们愿意给我多少钱？」他们就给了他三十块钱。从那时候，他就找机会要把耶稣交给他们。』(马太福音 26:14-16)     

    耶稣是长子，就像这经文所说，『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样(形像, image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 而世人眼中的长子名份实在很便宜，就像旧约中一个情况所说的，『有一天，雅各熬汤，以扫从田野回来累昏了。以扫对雅各说：「我累昏了，求你把这红汤给我喝。」因此以扫又叫以东。雅各说：「你今日把长子的名分卖给我吧！」以扫说：「我将要死，这长子的名分于我有甚么益处呢？」雅各说：「你今日对我起誓吧！」以扫就对他起了誓，把长子的名分卖给雅各。于是雅各将饼和红豆汤给了以扫，以扫吃了喝了，便起来走了。 这就是以扫轻看了他长子的名分。』(创世记 25:29-34) 在这个情况中长子的名份只值一碗红豆汤和饼，因此希伯来书会说，『…有贪恋世俗如以扫的，他因一点食物把自己长子的名分卖了。』后来想要承受父所祝的福，竟被弃绝，虽然号哭切求，却得不著门路使他父亲的心意回转。这是你们知道的。』(希伯来书 12:16-17)    

    这祝福是指天父的祝福经过人间的父亲降下来的，以撒知道这点很清楚，因为『以撒就大大地战兢说：「你未来之先，是谁得了野味拿来给我呢？我已经吃了，为他祝福，他将来也必蒙福。」以扫听了他父亲的话，就放声痛哭说：「我父啊，求你也为我祝福！」以撒说：「你兄弟已经用诡计来将你的福分夺去了。」』(创世记 27:33-35) 如果不是神要这样做，难道凭人的一些话就可以改变神的旨意吗？神原先的旨意本是如此，借著人的行为成就了，『耶和华对她(利百加)说：「两国在你腹内，两族要从你身上出来；这族必强于那族，将来大的要服事小的。」』(创世记 25:23) 这件事显示了神的预知和预定，这本是一体的两面，所以罗马书会说，『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成)他儿子的模样(形像)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29)    

    关于耶稣预知犹大会卖祂这点，我们以前在『2030 最后的晚餐 (3) – 逻辑，洗脚，预知，及争论』中的『3. 预知犹大卖主』谈过，就不多说了，有兴趣知道详情的人，可以到那边去看看。在这里我们只提一节经文，『卖耶稣的犹大问他说：「拉比，是我吗？」 耶稣说：「你说的是。」』(马太福音 26:25) 即使耶稣已知道这点，在客西马尼园仍这样祷告: 『他说：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去；然而，不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。」』(马可福音 14:36) 做为一个完全的人，这是多么不容易啊！但祂知道要完成救恩，祂必须流血付上钉十字架死的代价，所以祂说『只要从你的意思』。我们再看看犹大是如何卖主的:  『犹大随即到耶稣跟前说：「请拉比安。」就与他亲嘴。』(马太福音 26:49) 亲嘴本是和他人亲密的动作，犹大却用它来卖主！     

    我们看看加略人犹大的结局，『这时候，卖耶稣的犹大看见耶稣已经定了罪，就后悔，把那三十块钱拿回来给祭司长和长老，说：「我卖了无辜之人的血是有罪了。」 他们说：「那与我们有甚么相干？你自己承当吧！」犹大就把那银钱丢在殿里，出去吊死了。』(马太福音 27:3-5) 自杀本不是一个基督徒应该做的事情，虽然犹大跟随了耶稣多年，他不是一个真正的基督徒，他最后卖主，虽后悔，但和彼得完全不同，他选择了不该做的事。      #####在这里我们看到了一个预言的应验，就是 『祭司长拾起银钱来说：「这是血价，不可放在库里。」他们商议，就用那银钱买了窰户的一块田，为要埋葬外乡人。所以那块田直到今日还叫作「血田」。这就应了先知耶利米的话，说：「他们用那三十块钱，就是被估定之人的价钱，是以色列人中所估定的，买了窰户的一块田；这是照著主所吩咐我的。」』(马太福音 27:6-10)    

    从上面的经文我们知道是祭司长他们帮他买的一块田，我们不知道为什么他在吊死后会落得肚腹崩裂，下面的经文是如此的记载著。『他本来列在我们数中，并且在使徒的职任上得了一分。「这人用他作恶的工价买了一块田，以后身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，肠子都流出来。住在耶路撒冷的众人都知道这事，所以按著他们那里的话给那块田起名叫亚革大马，就是血田的意思。』(使徒行传 1:17-19)  难怪耶稣会说，『人子必要去世，正如经上指著他所写的，但卖人子的人有祸了，那人不生在世上倒好！』(马太福音 26:24)  最后我们知道他吊死而肚腹崩裂是因为圣经如此说，从人的角度看，这也是绝对可能的！譬如说，他选择吊死的地点是在野外，而吊死的绳子最后不能承受重量而断了，所以身子仆倒，以后有野兽经过，使他肚腹崩裂，肠子都流出来。

2. 预备逾越节筵席的预言及成就       

    『除酵节，须宰逾越羊羔的那一天到了。耶稣打发彼得、约翰，说：「你们去为我们预备逾越节的筵席，好叫我们吃。」他们问他说：「要我们在哪里预备？」耶稣说：「你们进了城，必有人拿著一瓶水迎面而来，你们就跟著他，到他所进的房子里去，对那家的主人说：『夫子说：客房在哪里？我与门徒好在那里吃逾越节的筵席。』他必指给你们摆设整齐的一间大楼，你们就在那里预备。」他们去了，所遇见的正如耶稣所说的。他们就预备了逾越节的筵席。』(路加福音 22:7-13)     

    我们看到这预言当天就成就了，通常预言在圣经没有说到预言成就的时间，只有少数的例外。成就的时间有如这样很短的，也有长时间才应验的。我们以前在『2075 耶稣骑驴驹进耶路撒冷，和洁净圣殿 –耶稣(28)』，讨论过这点，并借著相关的经文，讨论了为什么我们常常需要回顾，才能了解神当时是怎么作工的。譬如说，圣经说，『神能照著运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』(以弗所书 3:20) 有人想解释这经节，就用现在的例子说明是超过我们所求所想的事，这是不合逻辑的。既然可举出一个现在的例子，那例子不是可想的吗？所以我们以前在『2048 耶稣的权柄和超过所求所想的事  – 耶稣的形像(3)』中讨论什么叫做超过所想的事情，都是用过去发生过的例子，在当时是超过那时的人所想的事情。我们非回顾不可，在这里就不多说了。

3. 逾越节的筵席中设立饼杯之礼    

    『时候到了，耶稣坐席，使徒也和他同坐。耶稣对他们说：「我很愿意在受害以先和你们吃这逾越节的筵席。我告诉你们：我不再吃这筵席，直到成就在神的国里。」耶稣接过杯来，祝谢了，说：「你们拿这个，大家分著喝。我告诉你们，从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直等神的国来到。」又拿起饼来，祝谢了，就擘开，递给他们，说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的，你们也应当如此行，为的是记念我。」饭后也照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我血所立的新约，是为你们流出来的。看哪，那卖我之人的手与我一同在桌子上。人子固然要照所预定的去世，但卖人子的人有祸了！」他们就彼此对问，是哪一个要做这事。』(路加福音 22:14-23)     

    当然现在我们确实的知道是犹大卖主，在先前已讨论过这点。在这里，经文是说开饭前先分杯，并告诉他们祂不再喝这葡葡汁，直等神的国来到。神的国来到应该是在祂复活升天后，所以会有后来五旬节圣灵的充满。然后有擘饼，饭后有立约的杯。     

    类似的经文在马太福音 26:26-29 和马可福音 14:22-25 也有。所以饼杯之礼是主亲自设立的，我们也可从下面经文看到这点，并其意义和规矩。『我当日传给你们的，原是从主领受的，就是主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来，祝谢了，就擘开，说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。」饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。」你们每逢吃这饼，喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。所以，无论何人不按理吃主的饼、喝主的杯，就是干犯主的身、主的血了。人应当自己省察，然后吃这饼、喝这杯。因此，在你们中间有好些软弱的与患病的，死的也不少。我们若是先分辩自己，就不至于受审。我们受审的时候，乃是被主惩治，免得我们和世人一同定罪。所以我弟兄们，你们聚会吃的时候，要彼此等待。若有人饥饿，可以在家里先吃，免得你们聚会，自己取罪。… 』(哥林多前书 11:23-34)     

    耶稣说，『我就是生命的粮。…吃我肉喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他复活。我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。』(约翰福音 6:48-55) 我们再看看希伯来书怎么说？『看你们学习的工夫，本该作师傅，谁知还得有人将神圣言小学的开端另教导你们，并且成了那必须吃奶、不能吃干粮的人！』(希伯来书 5:12) 我们看到了这粮是指神的圣言。    

    『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。照著天上样式做的物件，必须用这些祭物去洁净；但那天上的本物自然当用更美的祭物去洁净。』(希伯来书 9:22-23) 『神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭著耶稣的血，借著人的信，要显明神的义。…』(罗马书 3:25) 从信开始，能够这样做有效是凭著耶稣的血。在物质的世界，我们看到了，『耶稣大声喊叫，气就断了。殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半。』(马可福音 15:37-38)  在灵界也是如此，『弟兄们，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) 我们都要走那一条又有新又活的路，是我们所不知道的。这和旧约时相似，『(约书亚)吩咐百姓说：「你们看见耶和华你们神的约柜，又见祭司利未人抬著，就要离开所住的地方，跟著约柜去。只是你们和约柜相离，要量二千肘，不可与约柜相近，使你们知道所当走的路，因为这条路你们向来没有走过。」』(约书亚记 3:3-4)  新旧约都是同一位神，是一样的原则显明了神的义。     

    所以在聚会吃的时候，我们要彼此等待，一起开动，而且我们真要能有不受审的分辩，这不只是在饼杯之礼时如此，在平时也该这样。要知道就像经文所说，我们遭遇苦难有时是被主惩治，旧约也是这样说。举个例子，大卫在赫人乌利亚和他的的妻子拔示巴的事件中，『大卫对拿单说：「我得罪耶和华了！」拿单说：「耶和华已经除掉你的罪，你必不至于死。只是你行这事，叫耶和华的仇敌大得亵渎的机会，故此，你所得的孩子必定要死。」』(撒母耳记下 12:13-14) 当然，还有其他的惩罚，『耶和华如此说：『我必从你家中兴起祸患攻击你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嫔赐给别人，他在日光之下就与她们同寝。你在暗中行这事，我却要在以色列众人面前、日光之下报应你。』』(撒母耳记下 12:11-12)     

    我们绝对不要去自讨苦吃，我们会遭遇因试探而来的苦难已经是够多了。有些苦难是神允许的，为要祝福人，如约伯记中的约伯般。以前我试过要分办苦难是由撒但来的，或是神允许的，或是因为神直接的惩治。现在发觉，对苦难中的人，这其实没有多大的用处，因对苦难中的人还是要亲自经过苦难的。我们只要知道，神不允许，没有事情会发生的。我们能够做的是，『你们要将一切的忧虑卸给神，因为他顾念你们。务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。你们要用坚固的信心抵挡他，因为知道你们在世上的众弟兄也是经历这样的苦难。那赐诸般恩典的神曾在基督里召你们，得享他永远的荣耀，等你们暂受苦难之后，必要亲自成全你们，坚固你们，赐力量给你们。』(彼得前书 5:7-10) 我们看到撒但从没有停止工作过，但『你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。』(哥林多前书 10:13) 所以我们受苦难是暂时的，主会借著别人，或亲自会成全我们的。后者就如约伯记中所记的，『那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯…』(约伯记 38:1)

4. 门徒争论谁为大   

    『门徒起了争论，他们中间哪一个可算为大。耶稣说：「外邦人有君王为主治理他们，那掌权管他们的称为恩主。但你们不可这样。你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服事人的。是谁为大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大吗？然而，我在你们中间如同服事人的。我在磨炼之中，常和我同在的就是你们。我将国赐给你们，正如我父赐给我一样，叫你们在我国里，坐在我的席上吃喝，并且坐在宝座上，审判以色列十二个支派。」』(路加福音 22:24-30)    

    所以属世和属灵原则是完全不同的，属世的领袖是高高在上，而属灵则是会去服事人。那时加略人犹大仍在那十二中人坐席，只是他选择了卖主，放弃了自己的职分，其他十一人是主亲自选的。所以神虽然有恩典和有仁慈拣选了我们，我能是不要如犹大般放弃的。在使徒行传说的马提亚是摇籖出来的 (参使徒行传 1:23-26)，不是主亲自选的。主在复活后亲自在大光中拣选的是保罗 (参使徒行传 22:6-11)，所以主亲自拣选的使徒还是十二位。我们在『2031 最后的晚餐 (4) – 争论，新命令，预知彼得的事，及买刀』的「争论」中详细的讨论了、路加福音的这话题和相关的经文，这里就不多说了。

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

       首先我們看到加略人猶大只是為了三十塊錢賣主，而且是用親蜜的動作親嘴而賣主，世人眼中看長子的名份實在不值錢。主已知道猶大將會賣祂，仍然禱告說願神的旨意成全，我們也看到了猶大的結局及一個預言的成就。第二，我們指出以前討論過預備逾越節筵席的預言及成就，也藉著它們討論了為什麼需要回顧，才能瞭解神當時是怎麼作工。第三，我們討論了主在逾越節的筵席中親自設立了餅杯之禮，我們看其意義和規矩。在經文中，我們也看到了真要能要有先不受審的分辨，這不只是在餅杯之禮時如此，在平時也該這樣。要知道，我們遭遇苦難有時是被主懲治，絕不要去自討苦吃。最後在第四中，我們指出在何處已討論過門徒爭論誰為大，請到那裏去看詳細的這話題和相關經文的討論。

1. 加略人猶大賣主的時間，過程，及結局

      猶大起意賣主的時間在這經文中寫得很清楚: 『除酵節又名逾越節近了。祭司長和文士想法子怎麼才能殺害耶穌，是因他們懼怕百姓。這時，撒但入了那稱為加略人猶大的心，他本是十二門徒裏的一個。他去和祭司長並守殿官商量，怎麼可以把耶穌交給他們。他們歡喜，就約定給他銀子。他應允了，就找機會，要趁眾人不在跟前的時候把耶穌交給他們。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 所以經文會說，『他(猶大)本來列在我們數中，並且在使徒的職任上得了一分。』(使徒行傳 1:17) 他自己放棄了這職任，所以『…詩篇上寫着說：…『願別人得他的職分。』』(使徒行傳 1:20)

       祂在猶大的眼中到底值多少錢呢？『當下，十二門徒裏有一個稱為加略人猶大的，去見祭司長，說：「我把他交給你們，你們願意給我多少錢？」他們就給了他三十塊錢。從那時候，他就找機會要把耶穌交給他們。』(馬太福音 26:14-16)

     耶穌是長子，就像這經文所說，『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) 而世人眼中的長子名份實在很便宜，就像舊約中一個情況所說的，『有一天，雅各熬湯，以掃從田野回來累昏了。以掃對雅各說：「我累昏了，求你把這紅湯給我喝。」因此以掃又叫以東。雅各說：「你今日把長子的名分賣給我吧！」以掃說：「我將要死，這長子的名分於我有甚麼益處呢？」雅各說：「你今日對我起誓吧！」以掃就對他起了誓，把長子的名分賣給雅各。於是雅各將餅和紅豆湯給了以掃，以掃吃了喝了，便起來走了。 這就是以掃輕看了他長子的名分。』(創世記 25:29-34) 在這個情況中長子的名份只值一碗紅豆湯和餅，因此希伯來書會說，『…有貪戀世俗如以掃的，他因一點食物把自己長子的名分賣了。』後來想要承受父所祝的福，竟被棄絕，雖然號哭切求，卻得不着門路使他父親的心意回轉。這是你們知道的。』(希伯來書 12:16-17)

    這祝福是指天父的祝福經過人間的父親降下來的，以撒知道這點很清楚，因為『以撒就大大地戰兢說：「你未來之先，是誰得了野味拿來給我呢？我已經吃了，為他祝福，他將來也必蒙福。」以掃聽了他父親的話，就放聲痛哭說：「我父啊，求你也為我祝福！」以撒說：「你兄弟已經用詭計來將你的福分奪去了。」』(創世記 27:33-35) 如果不是神要這樣做，難道憑人的一些話就可以改變神的旨意嗎？神原先的旨意本是如此，藉著人的行為成就了，『耶和華對她(利百加)說：「兩國在你腹內，兩族要從你身上出來；這族必強於那族，將來大的要服事小的。」』(創世記 25:23) 這件事顯示了神的預知和預定，這本是一體的兩面，所以羅馬書會說，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成)他兒子的模樣(形像)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29)

    關於耶穌預知猶大會賣祂這點，我們以前在『2030 最後的晚餐 (3) – 邏輯，洗腳，預知，及爭論』中的『3. 預知猶大賣主』談過，就不多說了，有興趣知道詳情的人，可以到那邊去看看。在這裏我們只提一節經文，『賣耶穌的猶大問他說：「拉比，是我嗎？」 耶穌說：「你說的是。」』(馬太福音 26:25) 即使耶穌已知道這點，在客西馬尼園仍這樣禱告: 『他說：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你將這杯撤去；然而，不要從我的意思，只要從你的意思。」』(馬可福音 14:36) 做為一個完全的人，這是多麼不容易啊！但祂知道要完成救恩，祂必須流血付上釘十字架死的代價，所以祂說『只要從你的意思』。我們再看看猶大是如何賣主的:  『猶大隨即到耶穌跟前說：「請拉比安。」就與他親嘴。』(馬太福音 26:49) 親嘴本是和他人親密的動作，猶大卻用它來賣主！

     我們看看加略人猶大的結局，『這時候，賣耶穌的猶大看見耶穌已經定了罪，就後悔，把那三十塊錢拿回來給祭司長和長老，說：「我賣了無辜之人的血是有罪了。」 他們說：「那與我們有甚麼相干？你自己承當吧！」猶大就把那銀錢丟在殿裏，出去吊死了。』(馬太福音 27:3-5) 自殺本不是一個基督徒應該做的事情，雖然猶大跟隨了耶穌多年，他不是一個真正的基督徒，他最後賣主，雖後悔，但和彼得完全不同，他選擇了不該做的事。

     在這裏我們看到了一個預言的應驗，就是 『祭司長拾起銀錢來說：「這是血價，不可放在庫裏。」他們商議，就用那銀錢買了窰戶的一塊田，為要埋葬外鄉人。所以那塊田直到今日還叫作「血田」。這就應了先知耶利米的話，說：「他們用那三十塊錢，就是被估定之人的價錢，是以色列人中所估定的，買了窰戶的一塊田；這是照着主所吩咐我的。」』(馬太福音 27:6-10) 

    從上面的經文我們知道是祭司長他們幫他買的一塊田，我們不知道為什麼他在吊死後會落得肚腹崩裂，下面的經文是如此的記載著。『他本來列在我們數中，並且在使徒的職任上得了一分。「這人用他作惡的工價買了一塊田，以後身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，腸子都流出來。住在耶路撒冷的眾人都知道這事，所以按着他們那裏的話給那塊田起名叫亞革大馬，就是血田的意思。』(使徒行傳 1:17-19)  難怪耶穌會說，『人子必要去世，正如經上指着他所寫的，但賣人子的人有禍了，那人不生在世上倒好！』(馬太福音 26:24)  最後我們知道他吊死而肚腹崩裂是因為聖經如此說，從人的角度看，這也是絕對可能的！譬如說，他選擇吊死的地點是在野外，而吊死的繩子最後不能承受重量而斷了，所以身子仆倒，以後有野獸經過，使他肚腹崩裂，腸子都流出來。

2. 預備逾越節筵席的預言及成就

       『除酵節，須宰逾越羊羔的那一天到了。耶穌打發彼得、約翰，說：「你們去為我們預備逾越節的筵席，好叫我們吃。」他們問他說：「要我們在哪裏預備？」耶穌說：「你們進了城，必有人拿着一瓶水迎面而來，你們就跟着他，到他所進的房子裏去，對那家的主人說：『夫子說：客房在哪裏？我與門徒好在那裏吃逾越節的筵席。』他必指給你們擺設整齊的一間大樓，你們就在那裏預備。」他們去了，所遇見的正如耶穌所說的。他們就預備了逾越節的筵席。』(路加福音 22:7-13)

      我們看到這預言當天就成就了，通常預言在聖經沒有說到預言成就的時間，只有少數的例外。成就的時間有如這樣很短的，也有長時間才應驗的。我們以前在『2075 耶穌騎驢駒進耶路撒冷，和潔淨聖殿 -耶穌(28)』，討論過這點，並藉著相關的經文，討論了為什麼我們常常需要回顧，才能瞭解神當時是怎麼作工的。譬如說，聖經說，『神能照着運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。』(以弗所書 3:20) 有人想解釋這經節，就用現在的例子說明是超過我們所求所想的事，這是不合邏輯的。既然可舉出一個現在的例子，那例子不是可想的嗎？所以我們以前在『2048 耶穌的權柄和超過所求所想的事  – 耶穌的形像(3)』中討論什麼叫做超過所想的事情，都是用過去發生過的例子，在當時是超過那時的人所想的事情。我們非回顧不可，在這裏就不多說了。

3. 逾越節的筵席中設立餅杯之禮

    『時候到了，耶穌坐席，使徒也和他同坐。耶穌對他們說：「我很願意在受害以先和你們吃這逾越節的筵席。我告訴你們：我不再吃這筵席，直到成就在神的國裏。」耶穌接過杯來，祝謝了，說：「你們拿這個，大家分着喝。我告訴你們，從今以後，我不再喝這葡萄汁，直等神的國來到。」又拿起餅來，祝謝了，就擘開，遞給他們，說：「這是我的身體，為你們捨的，你們也應當如此行，為的是記念我。」飯後也照樣拿起杯來，說：「這杯是用我血所立的新約，是為你們流出來的。看哪，那賣我之人的手與我一同在桌子上。人子固然要照所預定的去世，但賣人子的人有禍了！」他們就彼此對問，是哪一個要做這事。』(路加福音 22:14-23)

     當然現在我們確實的知道是猶大賣主，在先前已討論過這點。在這裏，經文是說開飯前先分杯，並告訴他們祂不再喝這葡葡汁，直等神的國來到。神的國來到應該是在祂復活升天後，所以會有後來五旬節聖靈的充滿。然後有擘餅，飯後有立約的杯。

     類似的經文在馬太福音 26:26-29 和馬可福音 14:22-25 也有。所以餅杯之禮是主親自設立的，我們也可從下面經文看到這點，並其意義和規矩。『我當日傳給你們的，原是從主領受的，就是主耶穌被賣的那一夜，拿起餅來，祝謝了，就擘開，說：「這是我的身體，為你們捨的。你們應當如此行，為的是記念我。」飯後，也照樣拿起杯來，說：「這杯是用我的血所立的新約。你們每逢喝的時候，要如此行，為的是記念我。」你們每逢吃這餅，喝這杯，是表明主的死，直等到他來。所以，無論何人不按理吃主的餅、喝主的杯，就是干犯主的身、主的血了。人應當自己省察，然後吃這餅、喝這杯。因此，在你們中間有好些軟弱的與患病的，死的也不少。我們若是先分辨自己，就不至於受審。我們受審的時候，乃是被主懲治，免得我們和世人一同定罪。所以我弟兄們，你們聚會吃的時候，要彼此等待。若有人飢餓，可以在家裏先吃，免得你們聚會，自己取罪。… 』(哥林多前書 11:23-34)

     耶穌說，『我就是生命的糧。…吃我肉喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他復活。我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。』(約翰福音 6:48-55) 我們再看看希伯來書怎麼說？『看你們學習的工夫，本該作師傅，誰知還得有人將神聖言小學的開端另教導你們，並且成了那必須吃奶、不能吃乾糧的人！』(希伯來書 5:12) 我們看到了這糧是指神的聖言。

    『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。照着天上樣式做的物件，必須用這些祭物去潔淨；但那天上的本物自然當用更美的祭物去潔淨。』(希伯來書 9:22-23) 『神設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑着耶穌的血，藉着人的信，要顯明神的義。…』(羅馬書 3:25) 從信開始，能夠這樣做有效是憑著耶穌的血。在物質的世界，我們看到了，『耶穌大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。殿裏的幔子從上到下裂為兩半。』(馬可福音 15:37-38)  在靈界也是如此，『弟兄們，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) 我們都要走那一條又有新又活的路，是我們所不知道的。這和舊約時相似，『(約書亞)吩咐百姓說：「你們看見耶和華你們神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬着，就要離開所住的地方，跟着約櫃去。只是你們和約櫃相離，要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」』(約書亞記 3:3-4)  新舊約都是同一位神，是一樣的原則顯明了神的義。

      所以在聚會吃的時候，我們要彼此等待，一起開動，而且我們真要能有不受審的分辨，這不只是在餅杯之禮時如此，在平時也該這樣。要知道就像經文所說，我們遭遇苦難有時是被主懲治，舊約也是這樣說。舉個例子，大衞在赫人烏利亞和他的的妻子拔示巴的事件中，『大衞對拿單說：「我得罪耶和華了！」拿單說：「耶和華已經除掉你的罪，你必不至於死。只是你行這事，叫耶和華的仇敵大得褻瀆的機會，故此，你所得的孩子必定要死。」』(撒母耳記下 12:13-14) 當然，還有其他的懲罰，『耶和華如此說：『我必從你家中興起禍患攻擊你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嬪賜給別人，他在日光之下就與她們同寢。你在暗中行這事，我卻要在以色列眾人面前、日光之下報應你。』』(撒母耳記下 12:11-12)

     我們絕對不要去自討苦吃，我們會遭遇因試探而來的苦難已經是夠多了。有些苦難是神允許的，為要祝福人，如約伯記中的約伯般。以前我試過要分辦苦難是由撒但來的，或是神允許的，或是因為神直接的懲治。現在發覺，對苦難中的人，這其實沒有多大的用處，因對苦難中的人還是要親自經過苦難的。我們只要知道，神不允許，沒有事情會發生的。我們能夠做的是，『你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們。務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。你們要用堅固的信心抵擋他，因為知道你們在世上的眾弟兄也是經歷這樣的苦難。那賜諸般恩典的神曾在基督裏召你們，得享他永遠的榮耀，等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。』(彼得前書 5:7-10) 我們看到撒但從沒有停止工作過，但『你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的。在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。』(哥林多前書 10:13) 所以我們受苦難是暫時的，主會藉著別人，或親自會成全我們的。後者就如約伯記中所記的，『那時，耶和華從旋風中回答約伯…』(約伯記 38:1)

4. 門徒爭論誰為大

       『門徒起了爭論，他們中間哪一個可算為大。耶穌說：「外邦人有君王為主治理他們，那掌權管他們的稱為恩主。但你們不可這樣。你們裏頭為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。是誰為大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中間如同服事人的。我在磨煉之中，常和我同在的就是你們。我將國賜給你們，正如我父賜給我一樣，叫你們在我國裏，坐在我的席上吃喝，並且坐在寶座上，審判以色列十二個支派。」』(路加福音 22:24-30)

    所以屬世和屬靈原則是完全不同的，屬世的領袖是高高在上，而屬靈則是會去服事人。那時加略人猶大仍在那十二中人坐席，只是他選擇了賣主，放棄了自己的職分，其他十一人是主親自選的。所以神雖然有恩典和有仁慈揀選了我們，我能是不要如猶大般放棄的。在使徒行傳說的馬提亞是搖籖出來的 (參使徒行傳 1:23-26)，不是主親自選的。主在復活後親自在大光中揀選的是保羅 (參使徒行傳 22:6-11)，所以主親自揀選的使徒還是十二位。我們在『2031 最後的晚餐 (4) – 爭論，新命令，預知彼得的事，及買刀』的「爭論」中詳細的討論了、路加福音的這話題和相關的經文，這裏就不多說了。

(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 of all, we see that Judas the Iscariot betrayed the Lord only for thirty dollars, and he sold Him with an intimate action. We also see that the birthright of the eldest sonship in the eyes of the world is not worth much.  The Lord already knew that Judas would betray Him, but still prayed that God’s will would be accomplished. We also see Judas’ ending and the fulfillment of a prophecy.  Second, we point out that we had previously discussed the prophecies and achievements in preparing for the Passover feast, and also used them to discuss why we need to look back in order to understand how and why God was working that way at that time.  Third, we discuss that the Lord Himself instituted the ceremony of bread and cups during the Passover feast, and we look at its meaning and rules.  In the scriptures, we also see that we need to truly be able to discern with right judgment. This is not only true during the ceremony of bread and cups, but also in ordinary times.  We must know that when we encounter suffering, we are sometimes punished by the Lord, and we should never ask for it.  Finally, we point out where we have discussed the disciples’ dispute over who is greater. Please go there for a detailed discussion of this topic and related scriptures.

1. The time, process, and ending of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal

The time when Judas decided to betray the Lord is clearly stated in these verses: “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.”(Luke 22:1-6) So the scripture would say, “For he (Judas) was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”(Acts 1:17) He himself gave up this office, so ““For it is written in the book of Psalms, …‘Let another man take his office.’”(Acts 1:20)

How much was He worth in the eyes of Judas? “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.”(Matthew 26:14-16)

Jesus is the firstborn Son, as this 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) In the eyes of the world, the birthright is really very cheap. Just like a situation in the Old Testament said, “When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”(Genesis 25:29-34) In this situation, the firstborn sonship is only worth bread and lentil stew. Therefore, the Book of Hebrews will say, “…there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”(Hebrews 12:16-17)

This blessing refers to the blessing of the Heavenly Father coming down through the human father. Isaac knew this very clearly, because “Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” And he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.””(Genesis 27:33-35) If God didn’t want to do this, nothing could be accomplished by this way. God’s will cannot be changed by some human words. We can see that this was God’s original purpose, which was fulfilled through human actions since His original will can be seen in this verse, “The LORD said to her her (Rebekah), “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.””(Genesis 25:23) This incident shows God’s foreknowledge and predestination, which are two sides of the same coin, so the book of Romans 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)

Regarding the fact that Jesus foresaw that Judas would betray Him, we have talked about it before in “(3) Foreknowledge regarding Judas’ betrayal” of “1030 Last supper (3) – Logic, washing feet, and foreknowledge”, so we won’t say more. Those who are interested in knowing the details can go there and have a look.  Here we only mention one verse, “And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.””(Matthew 26:25) Even though Jesus had already known this, He still prayed like the following in the Garden of Gethsemane: “And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.””(Mark 14:36) He is a one hundred percent human, how difficult this is for a man! But He knew that in order to complete salvation, He had to shed His blood and pay the price of crucifixion, so He said, “yet not what I will, but what You will.” Let’s now look at how Judas betrayed his Lord: “Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.”(Matthew 26:49) Kissing is an act of intimacy with others, but Judas used it to betray the Lord!

Let’s now look at the ending of Judas Iscariot, “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”(Matthew 27:3-5) Suicide is not what a Christian should do. Although Judas had followed Jesus for many years, he was not a true Christian. In the end, he betrayed the Lord. Although he regretted it, but he was completely different from Peter’s repentance. He chose something that he shouldn’t have done.

Here we see the fulfillment of a prophecy, that is, “The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, as the Lord directed me.””(Matthew 27:6-10)

From the above scriptures, we know that it was a field bought by the chief priests and others for him. We don’t know why his belly collapsed after hanging. The following scriptures record this. “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)”(Acts 1:17-19) No wonder Jesus said, “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”(Matthew 26:24) Finally, we want to emphasie that he hanged himself and his belly burst because the Bible says so. From a human point of view, this is absolutely possible! For example, the place he chose to hang himself might be in the wilderness, and the rope finally broke because it could not bear the weight, so he fell down. Later, a wild animal passed by, causing his belly to burst and his intestines to flow out.

2. Preparation for the Passover Feast Prophecy and Fulfillment

“Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.”(Luke 22:7-13)

We see that this prophecy was fulfilled that day. Usually prophecies in the Bible do not mention the time when the prophecy will be fulfilled, with only a few exceptions.  The time of achievement may be very short, and it may take a long time to be fulfilled.  We have discussed this before in “1075 Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt and cleanses the temple – Jesus (28)”, and through relevant scriptures, we discussed why we often need to look back in order to understand how and why God did what He did at that time. For example, the Bible says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”(Ephesians 3:20) Some people want to explain this verse and use the current example to show that it is more than what we ask or think. This is illogical.  Since a current example can be given, isn’t that example conceivable?  So in the past, we discussed in “1048 Power of Jesus and things beyond all that we ask or think – The image of Jesus (3)” regarding things that are more than what you think. We used examples that happened in the past. At that time, they were more than what people could think at their time.  We have discussed it, so we won’t go into details here.

3. The ceremony of setting up bread and cups at the Passover feast

“When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.”(Luke 22:14-23)

Of course, we now know for sure that it was Judas who betrayed Him, as we have discussed previously.  Here, the text says that the cups were divided before the meal was started, and that He told them that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the Kingdom of God came.  The kingdom of God should come after His resurrection and ascension to heaven, so there will be the subsequent filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Then there was the breaking of bread, and after the meal there was the covenant cup.

Similar verses are found in Matthew 26:26-29 and Mark 14:22-25.  Therefore, the ceremony of bread and cups was established by the Lord Himself. We can also see this from the following scriptures, as well as its meaning and rules. “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. …”(1 Corinthians 11:23-34)

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. …He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.”(John 6:48-55) Let’s look at what the book of Hebrews says?  “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12) We see that this bread refers to the Word of God since the oracles of God are in the Bible and the Bible is inspired by God.

“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”(Hebrews 9:22-23) “(Jesus Christ) whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, …”(Romans 3:25) Starting from faith, which can be effective is due to the blood of Jesus.  In the material world, we can see that “And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”(Mark 15:37-38) The veil is also torn in the spiritual world as said in Hebrews 10:19-20, “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.” We all walk in a new and living way, which we did not know before.  This is similar to the time in the Old Testament, “At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.””(Joshua 3:2-4) Both the Old and New Testaments are the same God, and the same principles are used to reveal God’s righteousness.

So when we eat at a gathering, we need to wait for each other and start together. “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”(1 Corinthians 11:28-29) This is not only true during the ceremony of bread and cups, but also in ordinary times.  You must know that as the scriptures say, when we encounter suffering, we are sometimes punished by the Lord. The Old Testament also says the same.  For example, in the incident involving Uriah the Hittite and his wife Bathsheba, “…David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.””(2 Samuel 12:13-14) Of course, there are other punishments. 

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’””(2 Samuel 12:11-12)

We must not ask for trouble. We have encountered enough suffering due to temptation.  Some sufferings are allowed by God in order to bless people, like Job in the book of Job.  In the past I have tried to find out whether suffering is caused by Satan, permitted by God, or directly punished by God.  Now I realize that this is not of much use to people who are suffering, because they still have to go through suffering personally.  As long as we know that nothing will happen if God does not allow it, it is sufficient. What we can do is, “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”(1 Peter 5:7-10) We see that Satan never stops working, but “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13) Therefore, our suffering is only temporary, and the Lord will reveal us through others or by Himself.  The latter is like what was recorded in the Book of Job as the following verse says, “…the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind …”(Job 38:1)

4. The disciples argued about who was greater

“And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”(Luke 22:24-30)

So the worldly and spiritual principles are completely different. Worldly leaders are rulers, while spiritual leaders serve people.  At that time, Judas Iscariot was still sitting at the table with the twelve, but he chose to betray the Lord and gave up his position. The other eleven were chosen by the Lord Himself.  Therefore, although God has chosen us with grace and mercy, we cannot give up like Judas. Matthias in the book of Acts was chosen by drawing lots (see Acts 1:23-26), not chosen by the Lord Himself.  After the resurrection, the Lord Himself chose Paul in the great light (see Acts 22:6-11), so there were still twelve apostles chosen by the Lord Himself.  We have discussed this topic in Luke’s Gospel and related scriptures in detail in the “(1) Dispute” of “1031 Dispute, new command, foreknowledge about Peter – Last supper (4),” so we will not discuss it here. 

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

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

    首先我们在经文中看到了末期的预兆和基督徒的对策，就是不要预先思想怎样分诉，完全的依靠圣灵，而在过程中，就是要忍耐到底。第二，我们以前分享过耶路撒路的预言和结局，就不多讲，但指出那里可找到以前分享的详情。第三，我们看到末期人子荣耀的驾云降临，提到基督徒和非基督徒的反应完全不同。又一次看到神借圣经告诉我们是一致的，在末时，祂会驾云降临。最后在第四时，我们讨论了用无花果树和各样的树的发芽作比喻，看见发芽的时候，自然是顺理成章的看见神的国近了，也讨论了在旧约中以色列会复国的预言。末期会有很多预兆的，不只是以色列的复国造成了国要攻打国的局面而已，福音要传遍天下末期才会来到。我们实在是『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8)

1.  末期的预兆及对策       

     『他们问他说：「夫子，甚么时候有这事呢？这事将到的时候有甚么预兆呢？」耶稣说：「你们要谨慎，不要受迷惑，因为将来有好些人冒我的名来，说：『我是基督』，又说：『时候近了』，你们不要跟从他们！你们听见打仗和扰乱的事，不要惊惶，因为这些事必须先有，只是末期(G5056)不能立时就到。」当时，耶稣对他们说：「民要攻打民，国要攻打国，地要大大震动，多处必有饥荒、瘟疫，又有可怕的异象和大神迹从天上显现。「但这一切的事以先，人要下手拿住你们，逼迫你们，把你们交给会堂，并且收在监里，又为我的名拉你们到君王诸侯面前。但这些事终必为你们的见证。」「所以，你们当立定心意，不要预先思想怎样分诉，因为我必赐你们口才、智慧，是你们一切敌人所敌不住、驳不倒的。连你们的父母、弟兄、亲族、朋友也要把你们交官，你们也有被他们害死的。你们要为我的名被众人恨恶，然而，你们连一根头发也必不损坏。』(路加福音 21:7-18)    

    他们在问末期的事，末期的来临是有预兆的，现在的俄乌战争，和扩大的以哈战争等等，显然是民要攻打民，国要攻打国。战争是会引起饥荒的，现在又有新冠病毒的瘟疫，地震也不断，但没有可怕的异象和大神迹从天上显现，并没有发生所有的预兆。在启示录也很清楚的说到会有各式各样的灾难，并说『我向一切听见这书上预言的作见证，若有人在这预言上加添甚么，神必将写在这书上的灾祸加在他身上；这书上的预言，若有人删去甚么，神必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城删去他的分。』(启示录 22:18-19) 有人对我说，属灵的人才能看见七雷，如九一一事件是七雷之一，但圣经明讲，『七雷发声之后，我正要写出来，就听见从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:4) 这实在是在启示录的预言中加添了一些。神的旨意本是要、在从七雷发生之后的灾难才知道七雷已发生过，要不然其他的都写出来，为什么唯独要封了七雷？当然我们从这里也看到约翰的顺服，他的确没有写出来。我们知道最后有新天新地 (参启示录 21:1)，以前所分享的以西结书预言的圣殿尚未建造，一定会先建造才会有新天新地的，因神的预言从不落空。我们在『2079  预言圣殿的被毁和以西结预言的圣殿 –耶稣(31)』中已详述这一点，有兴趣的人请去那儿看详情。       

    末期的预兆很清楚的记在这里，只是在这之先我们会受到逼迫，就像经文所说，『当时，那按著血气生的，逼迫了那按著圣灵生的，现在也是这样。』(加拉太书 4:29)   这其实和这节经文类似的还有，『…你们要为我的名被众人恨恶，惟有忍耐到底的(G5056)，必然得救。』(马可福音 13:13) 的确现在是如此，中国发生的事情就是很好的例子。我们特别把忍耐到底的汇编原文数字标注出来，因和末期是同一个字，中文和合本的翻译不是很容易看到这点。    

    教导我们的对策也很简单，就是不要预先思想怎样分诉，完全的依靠圣灵，而在过程中，就是要忍耐到底。这也是我们在诗歌的敬拜中为什么选择了「后是膏油先是血」，如约伯记中的约伯，在他得到祝福前神允许他受二次严厉的试探，最后神自己介入让约伯看清了自己而悔改，这也说明了为什么耶稣会说，『不背著他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。』(马太福音 10:38) 大卫数民也是一样，让他看清了自己而悔改 (参撒母耳记下 24:1-14) 圣经中还记录了其他的例子，就不多说了。我们也看到了『你们连一根头发也必不损坏』的应许，在那时，当家人和我们理念不同的时候，是会发生『人的仇敌就是自己家里的人。』(马太福音 10:36) 那时，我们真会要为耶稣的名被众人恨恶。    

    我们现在要过的是一个信望爱而分别为圣的生活，从信开始，『因为神的义…是本于信，以至于信。如经上所记：「义人必因信得生。」』(罗马书 1:17) 有了信，我们就有盼望，因为『我们又借著他(耶稣)，因信得进入现在所站的这恩典中，并且欢欢喜喜盼望神的荣耀。』(罗马书 5:2) 『所以要约束你们的心，谨慎自守，专心盼望耶稣基督显现的时候所带来给你们的恩。』(彼得前书 1:13) 『盼望不至于羞耻。因为所赐给我们的圣灵将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。』(罗马书 5:5)

2. 预言耶路撒冷的灾难       

    『你们看见耶路撒冷被兵围困，就可知道它成荒场的日子近了。那时，在犹太的应当逃到山上，在城里的应当出来，在乡是我们在诗歌的敬拜中下的不要进城，因为这是报应的日子，使经上所写的都得应验。当那些日子，怀孕的和奶孩子的有祸了！因为将有大灾难降在这地方，也有震怒临到这百姓。他们要倒在刀下，又被掳到各国去。耶路撒冷要被外邦人践踏，直到外邦人的日期满了。』(路加福音 21:20-24)       

    我们看到了这是报应的日子，也说到了时间，虽然在新约时代的我们已因耶稣在十字架的受死而得赦免，但我们不要忘记，『公义和公平，是你(耶和华)宝座的根基…』(诗篇 89:14) 虽然新约中只记载了亚拿尼亚一件因欺哄圣灵而立刻倒弊的例子 (参使徒行传 5:1-10)， 但要记得，『弟兄们，你们蒙召是要得自由，只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要用爱心互相服事。』(加拉太书 5:13) 『主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。』(彼得后书 3:9) 凡事都有定时，所以会说要到外邦人的日期满了。我们以前讨论过这些经文就不多说了，更多的讨论请看『2067 窄门，耶路撒冷，医治水臌的人，和自高的 –耶稣(20)』。

3. 末期人子荣耀的驾云降临        

    『日、月、星辰要显出异兆，地上的邦国也有困苦，因海中波浪的响声，就慌慌不定。天势都要震动，人想起那将要临到世界的事，就都吓得魂不附体。那时，他们要看见人子有能力，有大荣耀驾云降临。一有这些事，你们就当挺身昂首，因为你们得赎的日子近了。』(路加福音 21:25-28)       

    从这经文，我们看见了虽然基督徒和非基督徒都会同样的遭遇苦难，但两者的反应会大不相同。对非基督徒而言，想到启示中提到的那将要临到世界的灾难，会吓得魂不附体。而基督徒知道得赎的日子近了，反而会挺身昂首。我们再看看这经文，『说了这话，他们正看的时候，他就被取上升，有一朵云彩把他接去，便看不见他了。当他往上去，他们定睛望天的时候，忽然有两个人身穿白衣，站在旁边，说：「加利利人哪，你们为甚么站著望天呢？这离开你们被接升天的耶稣，你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。」』(使徒行传 1:9-11) 又一次看到神借圣经告诉我们是一致的，在末时，祂会驾云降临。    

    就如我们以前所说，我们可看见神借圣经告诉我们是一致的许多例子，但是不论如何，这些例子总会是有限的，我们必须扩展这事实成为逻辑的公理，作为我们逻辑推导的开始的一部份。我们也看到，『看哪！我来像贼一样。…』(启示录 16:15) 贼不会告诉你偷东西的时间让你有所防备的，所以我们不知道祂来的确实时间，但祂的来临是有如前所述的预兆的。在启示录也可看到在祂来临之后发生的事情，祂不像道成肉身时是谦卑的来临，诞生在马槽里，那时祂来是大有荣耀的，我们谈到启示录时再详细分享这点。

4. 用无花果树和各样的树的发芽比喻神的国近了     

    有人说无花果树的发芽就是指以色列的复国，不是这样的，我们要看经文怎么说！ 『耶稣又设比喻对他们说：「你们看无花果树和各样的树：它发芽的时候，你们一看见，自然晓得夏天近了。这样，你们看见这些事渐渐地成就，也该晓得神的国近了。「我实在告诉你们：这世代还没有过去，这些事都要成就。天地要废去，我的话却不能废去。「你们要谨慎，恐怕因贪食、醉酒，并今生的思虑累住你们的心，那日子就如同网罗忽然临到你们，因为那日子要这样临到全地上一切居住的人。你们要时时警醒，常常祈求，使你们能逃避这一切要来的事，得以站立在人子面前。」耶稣每日在殿里教训人，每夜出城在一座山，名叫橄榄山住宿。众百姓清早上圣殿，到耶稣那里，要听他讲道。』(路加福音 21:29-38)       

    这里说到了在橄榄山的住宿，这是明说了以前所分享的，祂在祂的时间没有到的时候作事的模式，白天进耶路撒冷讲道，晚上出城，一直到祂的时间到了，被钉在十字架上。至于我们，是『…要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。』(以弗所书 6:13) 我们以前提到过，那全副的军装中只有神的道的圣灵的宝剑是攻击的武器 (参以弗所书 6:14-17)，我们知道我们自己不能做什么 (参约翰福音 15:5)，实在是『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 当圣灵要我们去攻击时，绝对不会失败。    

    耶稣『又说：「神的国，如同人把种撒在地上。黑夜睡觉，白日起来，这种就发芽渐长，那人却不晓得如何这样。地生五谷是出于自然的：先发苗，后长穗，再后穗上结成饱满的子粒。谷既熟了，就用镰刀去割，因为收成的时候到了。」』(马可福音 4:26-29) 所以这里是说，当我们看见发芽的时候，自然是顺理成章的看见神的国近了。有人说无花果树发芽就是指以色列复国，因此神的国近了！但是圣经没这样说，说的是当无花果树和各样的树发芽的时候，不只是说到无花果树。就像之前所分享的，照目前的局势看来，应是指「民要攻打民，国要攻打国」的预兆，而渐渐成就的预兆有很多种，不能只有一种就说是末期了。   

    我们要注意到，即使天地废去，耶稣的话却不能废去。那日子就如同网罗忽然临到你们，就如我们之前所分享的，『看哪！我来像贼一样。…』(启示录 16:15) 『惟有忍耐到底的(G5056)必然得救。这天国的福音要传遍天下，对万民作见证，然后末期(G5056)才来到。』(马太福音 24:13-14) 什么时候福音才算是传遍天下呢？我们不知道，至少现在有卫星的网路，一些以前福音传不到的地方，现在可以传到了。我们实在是『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8)       

    关于以色列 1948 年的复国，圣经的确有预言，我们来看看如后的两个地方的经文。『万军之耶和华如此说：「我要从东方、从西方救回我的民。我要领他们来，使他们住在耶路撒冷中。他们要作我的子民，我要作他们的神，都凭诚实和公义。」』(撒迦利亚书 8:7-8) 『不要害怕，因我与你同在！我必领你的后裔从东方来，又从西方招聚你。我要对北方说：『交出来！』对南方说：『不要拘留！』将我的众子从远方带来，将我的众女从地极领回。』(以赛亚书 43:5-6)  我们看到了这些经文不是在指归回重建圣殿的时候，那时归回的人只有从东方来，因为这些经文是说有人从各方而来，所以这是指现今时代以色列的复国。虽然以色列已亡国二千多年，他们现在复国了，世上没有一个国家灭亡了二千多年仍能复国的，但神的应许从不落空。

    顺便一提的是，因为『耶和华命定律法中的一条律例乃是这样说：你要吩咐以色列人，把一只没有残疾、未曾负轭、纯红的母牛牵到你这里来，…人要在他眼前把这母牛焚烧，牛的皮、肉、血、粪都要焚烧。祭司要把香柏木、牛膝草、朱红色线都丢在烧牛的火中。』(民数记 19:2-6) 目的是要，『…收起母牛的灰，存在营外洁净的地方，为以色列会众调做除污秽的水。…』(民数记 19:9) 所以正在寻找这样的纯红母牛。网路上有一个不能完全证实的消息说，以色列人已准备好重建圣殿的材料，一但找到红母牛，就会重建圣殿。很显然的，这和圣经所说的不合，没有预言说到圣殿的重建，只有预言说会建造以西结的圣殿，而重建圣殿的材料，显然是不够建造以西结的圣殿的。

(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』。)