约翰福音信息之三十七---面对亲人的反对
约7:1-9
约翰福音从第七章开始,记述耶稣基督在地上最后几个月时间的生平事迹。使徒约翰描述耶稣基督是一个受苦的弥赛亚:以色列众人因祂议论纷纷,有人说祂是好人,有人说祂是迷惑人的;连耶稣自己的弟兄也不相信祂;犹太宗教领袖则处心积虑要杀祂。约翰福音十一章耶稣使拉撒路从死里复活之后,犹太领袖便下决心要除掉祂,直至耶稣基督被钉十字架。
耶稣基督从此似乎处处遭人反对,而且这种日益强烈的反对竟然包括自己的家人。
一. 犹太众人的图谋
“这事以后,耶稣在加利利游行,不愿在犹太游行。因为犹太人想要杀祂。当时犹太人的住棚节近了。”(约7:1)
“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.”(John 7:1-2,NKJV)
“这事以后。”
约翰福音第六章记载,耶稣基督五饼二鱼喂饱五千人的神迹,是发生在逾越节(公历三、四月)时期,而约7:2提到犹太人的住棚节(公历九、十月)近了,所以中间相距六七个月时间。
根据约翰记载约翰福音的目的,他不是要按照事件发生的时间顺序记录耶稣基督的生平,他乃是选择性地记述耶稣基督的言行,以实现他的写作目的:证明耶稣是基督、是神的儿子。所以约翰福音第七章所记载的,是主耶稣在地上最后几个月事迹的开始,但这并不表示约翰福音第六、七章之间半年多时间是主耶稣生平事迹的空白。
根据其他三本福音书的记载,耶稣基督在这半年多时间的事奉包括如下内容:
带门徒退到推罗、西顿境内在那里一直一个迦南妇人被鬼附的女儿;(太15:21-28;可7:24-30)
在加利利海边医治许多人、并几乎是重复五饼二鱼神迹喂饱四千人;(太15:29-39;可8:1-9)
主耶稣在伯赛大医治一个瞎眼的人;(可8:22-26)
在凯撒利亚腓立比彼得宣告耶稣是基督、是神的儿子;(太16:13-16;可8:27-30)
主耶稣带着彼得、雅各、约翰的登山变像;(太17:1-8;可9:2-8;路9:28-36)
主耶稣两次预言自己的死;(太16:21-28;17:22-23;可8:31;9:30-32;路9:22-27;44-45)
主耶稣教导门徒何为小、何为大。(太18:1-5;可9:33-37;路9:46-48)
综合三本福音书的记载可以清楚看出,主耶稣在约翰福音第六、七章中间的几个月,其事工主要是教导、训练、预备门徒,为祂自己的十架受死、祂的复活升天、以及将来门徒在全地传福音的大使命做准备。
而约翰福音第七章开始,使徒约翰记述耶稣基督遭受日渐激烈的反对,“犹太人想要杀祂,”直到耶稣基督的十字架。不幸的是,这种强烈的反对甚至包括耶稣基督自己的弟兄。
二. 耶稣弟兄的不信
“耶稣的弟兄就对祂说,‘你离开这里上犹太去吧,叫你的门徒也看见你所行的事。人要显扬名声,没有在暗处行事的。你如果行这些事,就当将自己显明给世人看。’ 因为连祂的弟兄说这话,是因为不信祂。”(约7:3-5)
“Jesus' brothers said to Him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.” (John 7:3-5)
犹太人的住棚节,是犹太人三大节期之一,包括逾越节(除酵节)、五旬节(七七节)、住棚节(收藏节)。住棚节用来纪念当以色列人在旷野漂流的时候,耶和华神对子民以色列天降吗哪、磐石出水的供应,以及神对他们的看顾、保守与同在。
“你一切的男丁要在除酵节,七七节,住棚节,一年三次,在耶和华你神所选择的地方朝见祂。”(申16:16)
“Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles.”(Deut 16:16)
因为住棚节是以色列的重要节期,又是欢庆丰收的大喜节日,有很多人在耶路撒冷圣殿聚集,正是宗教及政治领袖大显身手、吸引众人跟随的大好时机。
于是,“耶稣的弟兄对祂说,‘你离开这里上犹太去吧,叫你的门徒也看见你所行的事。人要显扬名声,没有在暗处行事的。你如果行这些事,就当将自己显明给世人看。’”(约7:3-4)
耶稣的弟兄意思是说,你不是自称基督弥赛亚吗?你为什么总是在穷乡僻壤的加利利呆着呢?你老呆在家里有什么用呢?你应该到犹太耶路撒冷去,那里是宗教中心。你要真是基督、想做大事,你医病赶鬼、喂饱很多人这样的神迹就应该行在那里,让众人看见你所做的事,这样你就可以一呼百应。
其实,耶稣弟兄的提议,魔鬼早就向耶稣建议过。
“你若是神的儿子,可以跳下去。因为经上记着说,主要为你吩咐祂的使者,用手托着你,免得你的脚碰在石头上。”(太4:6)
“"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw Yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'"”(Matt 4:6)
使徒约翰特别指出:“因为连祂的弟兄说这话,是因为不信祂。” “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.”(约/John 7:5)
“耶稣对他们说,‘大凡先知,除了本地亲属本家之外,没有不被人尊敬的。’”(可6:4)
“Jesus said to them, "Only in His hometown, among His relatives and in His own house is a prophet without honor."”(Mark 6:4)
根据马太、马可福音的记载,耶稣一共有四个兄弟。
“耶稣说完了这些比喻,就离开那里,来到自己的家乡,在会堂里教训人,甚至他们都希奇说,‘这人从哪里有这等智慧,和异能呢?这不是木匠的儿子吗?祂母亲不是叫马利亚吗?祂弟兄们不是叫雅各,约西,西门,犹大吗?祂妹妹们不是都在我们这里吗?这人从哪里有这一切的事呢?’他们就厌弃祂。”(太13:53-57)
“Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" So they were offended at Him.”(Matt 13:53-57)
“这不是木匠的儿子吗?” 主耶稣家乡民众的话语,明显带着嘲讽和蔑视。
“人要显扬名声,没有在暗处行事的。” 而主耶稣兄弟的话,也同样带着挖苦和讽刺。这正应验了诗篇上的话:
“我的弟兄看我为外路人。我的同胞看我为外邦人。”(诗69:8)
“I am a stranger to My brothers, an alien to My own mother's sons.”(Ps 69:8)
主耶稣说,“你们不要想我来,是叫地上太平。我来并不是叫地上太平,乃是叫地上动刀兵。因为我来,是叫人与父亲生疏,女儿与母亲生疏,媳妇与婆婆生疏。人的仇敌,就是自己家里的人。”(太10:34-36)
“"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'”(Matt 10:34-36)
耶稣的弟兄们敦促主耶稣用神迹奇事来证明祂自己的声称,彰显祂自己 的能力和荣耀。然而,因着不信他们像世人一样误解弥赛亚的真正使命,是“要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来,”(He will save His people from their sins."”)(太/Matt 1:21)祂真正的荣耀和大能是籍着祂十字架的受死和死而复活而彰显出来。
有意思的是,耶稣的弟兄们和主耶稣在同一屋檐下至少生活了二十年,有谁比他们常常看到更完美的见证呢?母亲马利亚确信耶稣的身份,而圣经特别记载,“马利亚却把这一切的事存在心里,反复思想。”(But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.)(路/Luke 2:19)马利亚难道会不向他们分享吗?
人们常说一句话:“耶稣会怎么做?”(What would Jesus do? WWJD)马利亚会不会常常对耶稣的弟兄们说,“像耶稣那样做。”(Do as Jesus Do. DAJD)但他们还是不信。
当我们信主尤其是开始在教会服事之后,多么盼望得到家人的理解、赞同、支持。但实际情形常常事与愿违,往往最先最强烈反对和轻视的就是家人。遇到类似的情形时,我们当效法主耶稣:只寻求神的赞同和称许,而不依赖身边亲近人的期待和要求。
“人到我这里来,若不爱我胜过爱自己的父母,妻子,儿女,弟兄,姐妹,和自己的性命,就不能作我的门徒。”(路14:26)
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.”(Luke 14:26)
遭遇身边亲近人的反对,也包括在服事神的过程中,最亲近同工之间可能造成的伤害。一位老牧师曾说过一句话:“在教会中最让我高兴的是人,最让我伤心的也是人;给我安慰的是人,给我伤害的也是人。”
遇到这样的情形,同样当效法主耶稣。起码我们要尽力避免伤害我们的弟兄;当我们自己受伤害时,学习主耶稣的忍耐和宽容。
主耶稣经历过最强烈、最深刻的反对、抵挡、嘲讽、咒骂、羞辱、离弃、背叛,直至被钉死在十字架。其中包括最亲近门徒的离弃、否认和出卖。然而,主耶稣始终以祂深厚的慈爱、怜悯、忍耐、宽恕善待每一个人,最终祂成就了十字架的救恩,赢得了祂的门徒、弟兄和世人。
“因我们的大祭司,并非不能体恤我们的软弱。祂也曾凡事受过试探,与我们一样。只是祂没有犯罪。”(来4:15)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.”(Heb 4:15)
三. 耶稣基督的面对
“耶稣就对他们说,我的时候还没有到。你们的时候常是方便的。”(约7:6)
“Therefore Jesus told them, ‘The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right.’”(John 7:6)
约翰福音中多次提到,主耶稣说,“我的时候还没有到。”(My time has not yet come.)
“耶稣说,母亲,我与你有什么相干?我的时候还没有到。”(约2:4)
“"Dear woman, why do you involve Me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."”(John 2:4)
“耶稣就对他们说,我的时候还没有到。你们的时候常是方便的。…你们上去过节吧,我现在不上去过这节。因为我的时候还没有满。”(约7:6;8)
“Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.”… “You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”(John 7:6;8)
“这些话是耶稣在殿里的库房,教训人时所说的。也没有人拿祂。因为祂的时候还没有到。”(约8:20)
“He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized Him, because His time had not yet come.”(John 8:20)
同样,约翰福音也多次记载,主耶稣说,“时候到了。”
“耶稣说,人子得荣耀的时候到了。”(约12:23)
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’”(John 12:23)
“我现在心里忧愁,我说什么才好呢?父阿,救我脱离这时候,但我原是为这时候来的。”(约12:27)
“"Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.”(John 12:27)
“耶稣说了这话,就举目望天说,‘父阿,时候到了。愿你荣耀你的儿子,使儿子也荣耀你。’”(约17:1)
“After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”(John 17:1)
主耶稣所说的“时候”是指祂的十字架。
对于耶稣弟兄们来说,他们是随着自己的意思行事,所以主说,“你们的时候常是方便的。”今天世人也是按着环境的机会、条件的许可、内心的意念、得失的判断等做决定,似乎也是常常按着自己的意思行。
但主耶稣来是按着父神的意思行,所以祂的一切行程、每一个步骤都遵守一个属天的时刻表。
“因为我不求自己的意思,只求那差我来者的意思。”(约5:30)
“For I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent me.”(John 5:30)
神是一个有计划、有秩序的神,耶稣基督的降生与受死,都有严格的时间和定时。
“及至时候满足,神就差遣祂的儿子,为女子所生,且生在律法以下。”(加4:4)
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law.”(Gal 4:4)
“圭必不离犹大,杖必不离他两脚之间,直等细罗(赐平安者)来到,万民都必归顺。”(创49:10)
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is His.”(Gen 49:10)
创49:10正是“时候满足”、弥赛亚降生(细罗---赐平安者---来到)的准确预言。
“你当知道,当明白,从出令重新建造耶路撒冷,直到有受膏君的时候,必有七个七和六十二个七。…过了六十二个七,那受膏者必被剪除,一无所有。”(但9:25-26)
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' …After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.”(Dan 9:25-26)
从出令重新建造耶路撒冷:亚达薛西下令,March 5, 444 B.C (尼2:1-8);
共有七个七和六十二个七(69个7),共69*7=483年,483*360=173880 天
173880/365.24219879=476年零25天(现代公历年)
从Mar 5, 444 B. C 开始,476年零25天之后是: Mar 30, A. D. 33,正好是主耶稣荣耀进耶路撒冷的日子(星期一),April 3, A. D. 33(星期五)逾越节主被钉十字架!
此乃旧约圣经有关基督降临令人难以置信的奇妙预言!
“这是耶和华所定的日子,我们在其中要高兴欢喜。…奉耶和华名来的,是应当称颂的。”(诗118:24-26)
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it…. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.”(Ps 118:24-26)
“耶和华所定的日子”指耶稣基督荣耀进入耶路撒冷的日子。
“世人不能恨你们,却是恨我。因为我指证他们所作的事是恶的。”(约7:7)
“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil.”(John 7:7)
“世人…恨我。”
主耶稣自己说,“你们中间谁能指证我有罪呢?”(Can any of you prove me guilty of sin??)(约/John 8:46)
主耶稣受审时,罗马巡抚彼拉多三次宣告说,“我查不出祂有什么罪来。”(“I find no basis for a charge against Him.”)(约/John 18:38;19:4;6)
就这样世界上唯一一位完美无瑕的人,却招致世人的恨恶,岂不是很奇怪吗?其实一点也不奇怪,主耶稣自己解释说,“世人…恨我,因为我指证他们所作的事是恶的。”(约7:7)
约7:6的“世界”(The World)是指这个世俗社会由宗教、习俗、文化、三观等组成的一整套价值体系,总体说来是不信神、抵挡神、拒绝善、偏向恶的世俗系统。
世人包括耶稣的弟兄都是或曾经也是这个世界的一部分,所以世人不能恨恶他们。但主耶稣完全不同,即便祂不责备罪恶,单单是祂完美生命本身,就足以衬托出世人的污秽。因此,世界就痛恨祂,要处心积虑地除之而后快。
“光来到世间,世人因自己的行为是恶的,不爱光倒爱黑暗,定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的便恨光,并不来就光,恐怕他的行为受责备。但行真理的必来就光,要显明他所行的是靠神而行。”(约3:19-21)
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”(John 3:19-21)
不仅是耶稣基督,凡愿意跟随耶稣、坚持圣经真理的基督徒,也同样遭受世界的反对,真正的基督徒被认为是偏执、狭隘、古板,守旧。
主耶稣早已告诫过门徒:“世人若恨你们,你们知道恨你们以先,已经恨我了。你们若属世界,世界必爱属自己的。只因你们不属世界。乃是我从世界中拣选了你们,所以世界就恨你们。你们要记念我从前对你们所说的话,仆人不能大于主人。他们若逼迫了我,也要逼迫你们。”(约15:18-20)
“"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”(John 15:18-20)
关于对抗世人犯罪、抑制社会堕落,约翰.麦克阿瑟(John MacArthur)牧师曾经总结神所设立的四重机制:良心、家庭、政府、教会。
第一重机制是神所放置于每个人心中的良心,人的是非之心作见证,帮助判断是非对错。
“这是显出律法的功用刻在他们心里,他们是非之心同作见证,并且他们的思念互相较量,或以为是,或以为非。”(罗2:15)
“Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.”(Rom 2:15)
但在一个充斥罪恶的社会,人的良心会渐渐失去效用。
第二重机制是神所设立的家庭,人类的第一对儿一男一女、一夫一妻的婚姻是神配搭的,并赋予父母教养孩子的责任,为要养育敬虔的儿女。
“虽然神有灵的余力能造多人,他不是单造一人吗?为何只造一人呢?乃是祂愿人得虔诚的后裔。”(玛2:15)
“Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring.”(Mal 2:15)
“教养孩童,使他走当行的道,就是到老他也不偏离。”(箴22:6)
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”(Prov 22:6)
但现在的社会,将教导儿女的责任从父母手中夺去,交给学校。而学校教导的是什么呢?取消性别、同性婚姻、手术变性。而且根据现行法律,未成年孩子的变性手术,父母无权过问干涉,否则将因违法被惩处。这个社会已经败坏堕落到什么程度?
第三重机制是神所设立的政府,用以制定规则,罚恶赏善,伸张正义,公平治理。
“在上有权柄的,人人当顺服他。因为没有权柄不是出于神的。…作官的原不是叫行善的惧怕,乃是叫作恶的惧怕。”(罗13:1-3)
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.”(Rom 13:1-3)
然而,当一个社会的各级官僚机构,行政、立法、司法系统,外加媒体都被抵挡神的人把持,可想会出现怎样的情形?
美国国会众议院在讨论《平等法案》时,有共和党议员提到神当初造人只造了男女两种性别,一名民主党议员站起来大声抗议:“God’s will is no concern in this house.”(神的旨意在这国会大厦中无关紧要。)
第四重机制是是神设立的教会,这是最后一重把关的机制。耶稣基督的教会是社会的良心,是世上的盐、世界的光,阻止至少是减缓社会的腐败与堕落。但教会一旦失去做盐做光的功能,与社会同流合污,那么这个社会可能就真的无可救药了。
“你们是世上的盐。盐若失了味,怎能叫他再咸呢?以后无用,不过丢在外面,被人践踏了。你们是世上的光。城造在山上,是不能隐藏的。人点灯,不放在斗底下,是放在灯台上,就照亮一家的人。你们的光也当这样照在人前,叫他们看见你们的好行为,便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。”(太5:13-16)
“"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”(Matt 5:13-16)
所以,真正悔改、重生得救、忠心事主的基督徒,遭遇世人的嘲讽、社会的反对、世界的逼迫是正常不过的事。相反,如果一个基督徒在这个世界活的风生水起、如鱼得水,那很可能是一个可疑的标志,你基督徒生命中哪些地方不对劲了。
“你若利己,人必夸奖你。”(“Men praise you when you prosper.”)(诗/Ps 49:18)
“我到底做了什么错事,这等人要如此讨好我?”(Meyer)
“我们知道我们是属神的,全世界都卧在那恶者手下。”(约一5:19)
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”(1 John 5:19)
“凡立志在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的,也都要受逼迫。”(提后3:12)
“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”(2 Tim 3:12)
基督徒的逼迫既然无可避免,那就靠主坦然面对。基督徒面对逼迫的应对方式以及平安喜乐的态度,有时会成为见证,为主赢得灵魂。
主耶稣的弟兄们后来怎样呢?
“这些人和几个妇女,耶稣的母亲马利亚,还有祂的兄弟们,都在一起,同心地恒切祷告。”(徒1:14,新译本)
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”(Acts 1:14)
当主耶稣复活升天之后,门徒在耶路撒冷有一个不平凡的祷告,参加的人有主耶稣的母亲马利亚和主耶稣的弟兄们。可见,他们都成了主耶稣的信徒。
不仅如此,耶稣的弟弟雅各书写了新约的《雅各书》,犹大书写了新约的《犹大书》。而且,雅各成为耶路撒冷教会的领袖。根据传统,雅各由于经常地、持久地跪地祷告,他的双膝磨出了厚茧,最后雅各为主殉道。因此,耶稣弟兄们生命的奇妙转变,成为耶稣基督死而复活极具说服力的护教性证据和见证。
“我将这些事告诉你们,是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难。但你们可以放心,我已经胜了世界。”(约16:33)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)
主后二零二一年三月十一日
Comentários