约翰福音信息之二十七---主耶稣的神性权柄
约5:16-30
约翰福音第五章,耶稣基督在安息日医治一个瘫痪三十八年的瘫子。这个明显的神迹令犹太宗教领袖非常懊恼,感到自己的权力和地位受到威胁。犹太人对这个充满怜悯和大能的神迹置之不顾,却抓住违犯安息日不放,抵挡、逼迫、甚至想要杀害耶稣。
1. 有关安息日的冲突(约5:16-18)
2. 主耶稣与父神平等(约5:19-23)
3. 主耶稣的神性权柄(约5:24-30)
一. 有关安息日的冲突(约5:16-18)
“所以犹太人逼迫耶稣,因为祂在安息日作了这事。” (约5:16)
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted Him.”(John 5:16)
创世记第二章记载,神用六天创造世界,第七天就歇了创造的工。“神赐福给第七日,定为圣日,因为在这日神歇了祂一切创造的工,就安息了。”(创2:3)
“And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”(Gen 2:3)
神不需要休息,神设立安息日的本意,是要人在六天工作后有一天的放松和休息,并思念神,朝拜神。安息日不仅自己休息,仆人婢女要休息、连牛羊牲畜都要休息。甚至土地也要有安息年的休养生息。
然而,法利赛人宗教领袖加添许多有关安息日繁荣缛节的条例,反而将安息日变成一个难以承受的重担。
其实神在安息日并没有休息,祂在不停地做事。“耶稣就对他们说,‘我父作事直到如今,我也作事。’”(约5:17)
“Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working."”(John 5:17)
神在安息日歇了祂创造的工,但神还在不停地做事。比如:神维护掌管万有,创造和赐人生命,抑制罪恶的泛滥,施行公义的审判,藉福音拯救罪人,藉圣灵更新生命,垂听信徒的祷告,给人启示和带领等。如果神在安息日停止祂一切的工作,宇宙将陷入一片混乱,罪恶将在地上泛滥。所以,神在不断地做工。主耶稣也做同样的事,“常用祂权能的命令托住万有。”(来1:3)
在福音书的记载中,主耶稣多次在安息日医病,似乎专一与法利赛人作对,旨在纠正犹太人有关安息日的错误教训。
主耶稣在安息日的医治:
1. 主耶稣在迦百农医治一个被鬼附的人(可1:21-28)
2. 主耶稣医治彼得的岳母(可1:29-31)
3. 主耶稣医治一个枯干一只手的人(可3:1-6)
4. 主耶稣医治一个驼背的女人(路13:10-17)
5. 主耶稣医治一个患水臌的人(路14:1-6)
6. 主耶稣医治一个瘫痪三十八年的病人(约5:1-15)
7. 主耶稣医治一个生来瞎眼的人(约9:1-16)
主耶稣选择在安息日医病赶鬼,旨在指出法利赛人有关安息日的教导是错谬的。
“(耶稣)又对他们说,安息日是为人设立的,人不是为安息日设立的。所以人子也是安息日的主。”(可2:27-28)
“Then He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."”(Mark 2:27-28)
“所以犹太人越发想要杀祂。因祂不但犯了安息日,并且称神为祂的父,将自己和神当作平等。”(约5:18)
“For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him; not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”(John 5:18)
犹太人控告主耶稣,“将自己和神当作平等。”
应当说,法利赛人的反应挺敏锐的,主耶稣的确“将自己和神当作平等,”并且证明自己与父神有同样的神性权柄。
二. 主耶稣与父神平等(约5:16-23)
在约5:16-23的讲论中,主耶稣给出五个具体的证据证明祂与神平等。
主耶稣与父平等的五个证据:称神为祂的父(5:18);做父同样的事 (5:19);如父赐人生命 (5:21);审判死人活人 (5:22);敬子如同敬父 (5:23)。
A. 耶稣称神为父
“耶稣就对他们说,‘我父作事直到如今,我也作事。’ 所以犹太人越发想要杀祂。因祂不但犯了安息日,并且称神为祂的父,将自己和神当作平等。”(约5:17-18)
主耶稣说,“我父。” 当主耶稣称神为父时,祂的确将自己与神当作平等。
当谈到神为圣父、主耶稣为圣子的时候,不要与人的父与子之关系相混淆。在人看来,父亲在先,儿子在后,先有父亲,然后父亲生了儿子。
但圣父与圣子是永恒的,在神的三位一体关系中,父、子、灵是永恒的存在。圣子作为太初的道,始终与神同在。
“太初有道,道与神同在,道就是神。这道太初与神同在。”(约1:1-2)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:1-2)
在中文与英文都存在“有其父必有其子”(Like father like son)的说法,这里“儿子”的意思是,与父亲具有相同的属性(Nature)和品格(Character)。
约翰福音十七章,“除了那灭亡之子,没有一个灭亡的。”(约17:12)
“None of them is lost except the son of perdition.”(John 17:12, KNJV)
这里的“灭亡之子”(son of perdition)指叛徒犹大,表明犹大具有地狱中毁灭和沉沦的本质。
使徒行传第四章,“有一个利未人,生在居比路,名叫约瑟,使徒称他为巴拿巴。(巴拿巴翻出来,就是劝慰子)。”(徒4:36)
“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement.”(Acts 4:36, NIV)
巴拿巴,被称为劝慰子,表明他常常给人安慰鼓励的品格,他的为人也真的是名副其实。
耶稣基督被称为“神的儿子”(Son of God),意思是耶稣基督具有完全的神的本质(Nature)和品性(Character),表明耶稣基督拥有完全的神性,即祂是完全的神。
犹太人显然听懂了主耶稣的话。“所以犹太人越发想要杀祂。因祂不但犯了安息日,并且称神为祂的父,将自己和神当作平等。”(约5:18)
主耶稣的祷告:“父阿,现在求你使我同你享荣耀,就是未有世界以先,我同你所有的荣耀。”(约17:5)
“And now, Father, glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”(John 17:5)
“论到子却说,‘神阿,你的宝座是永永远远的,你的国权是正直的。’”(来1:8)
“But about the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.”(Heb 1:8)
B. 做父同样的事
“耶稣对他们说,‘我实实在在地告诉你们,子凭着自己不能作什么,惟有看见父所作的,子才能作。父所作的事,子也照样作。’”(约5:19)
“Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”(John 5:19)
主耶稣说,祂不能凭着自己做什么,这并不是说主耶稣没有能力独立行事,乃是因为祂与父完全合一,祂所做的一切事都与父神完全一致。圣子凭自己不能做什么,并非表示圣子在地位和权能上的降低,乃是圣子对圣父爱的顺服。
这节经文显明主耶稣自己与神平等,首先祂看见父所做的一切事,其次祂也做神所做的一切事。有谁能须矣不离地看见神所做的一切?又有谁能做神所做的一切?
人是按照神的形象造的。因为神是创造的主,因此人也具备部分的能动性和创造力,制造一些东西,比如汽车、飞机、电脑、手机、高楼、艺术品等,然而有谁敢大胆地说,神所做的事,我也可以照样做呢?
约伯受到极度试炼时怨声连连,喋喋不休地质问神许多的问题。最后,神在旋风中向约伯显现问他说:
“我立大地根基的时候,你在哪里呢?你若有聪明,只管说吧。”(伯38:4)
“Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell Me, if you understand.” (Job 38:4)
相信没有人自不量力地尝试回答这个问题。但是主耶稣祂能,实际上在旋风中和约伯说话的那一位,正是耶稣基督自己。
“万物是借着祂(基督)造的。凡被造的,没有一样不是借着祂造的。”(约1:3)
“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”(John 1:3)
“因为万有都是靠祂(基督)造的,无论是天上的,地上的,能看见的,不能看见的,或是有位的,主治的,执政的,掌权的,一概都是借着祂造的,又是为祂造的。”(西1:16)
“For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.”(Col 1:16)
凡父神所做的事,主耶稣都照样做。因此,主耶稣说,“你们纵然不信我,也当信这些事。叫你们又知道,又明白,父在我里面,我也在父里面。”(约10:38)
“But if I do it, even though you do not believe Me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."(John 10:38)
C. 如父赐人生命
主耶稣说,父爱子,将一切事显给子看,而且主耶稣还要做更大的事,叫人稀奇。主耶稣还要做哪些事呢?
“父怎样叫死人起来,使他们活着,子也照样随自己的意思使人活着。”(约5:21)
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.”(John 5:21)
唯有神掌管生死。“耶和华使人死,也使人活,使人下阴间,也使人往上升。”(撒上2:6)
“The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.”(2 Sam 2:6)
当亚兰王写信给以色列王,要以色列王医治他手下将军乃曼的大麻风时,以色列王几乎要抓狂:
“以色列王看了信就撕裂衣服,说,‘我岂是神,能使人死使人活呢?’”(王下5:7)
“As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life?’”(2 Kings 5:7)
然而,主耶稣却可以使在坟墓里四天的拉撒路复活:
“说了这话,就大声呼叫说,‘拉撒路出来。’ 那死人就出来了。”(约11:43-44)
“When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out.” (John 11:43-44)
D. 审判死人活人
“父不审判什么人,乃将审判的事全交与子。”(约5:22)
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”(John 5:22)
当亚伯拉罕站在耶和华神面前为所多玛城求情的时候,说了这样一句话:“审判全地的主,岂不行公义吗?”(“Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”)(创/Gen 18:25)
“神是公义的审判者,又是天天向恶人发怒的神。”(诗7:11)
“God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses His wrath every day.”(Ps 7:11)
但主耶稣宣称,父神将审判的事全交与圣子。
E. 敬子如同敬父
“叫人都尊敬子,如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的,就是不尊敬差子来的父。”(约5:23)
“That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who sent Him.”(John 5:23)
耶稣基督赐人生命,行使审判的权柄,使人如何敬拜圣父,也以同样的样式敬拜圣子耶稣基督;人如何尊荣神,也以同样的样式尊荣圣子耶稣基督。人敬拜耶稣基督,就是敬拜神;人不尊敬耶稣基督,就是亵慢差子来的父神;拒绝耶稣基督,就是拒绝父神。
“所以神将祂升为至高,又赐给祂那超乎万名之上的名,叫一切在天上的,地上的,和地底下的,因耶稣的名,无不屈膝,无不口称耶稣基督为主,使荣耀归与父神。”(腓2:9-11)
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Phil 2:9-11)
十戒的第一条就是除了独一真神以外,不可有别的神。但主耶稣说,人要尊敬子如同尊敬父一样,显然只有一种解释:祂就是神,祂与父神平等。
三. 主耶稣的神性权柄(约5:24-30)
在约5:24-30节,主耶稣又给出五个证据,显明祂的神性权柄:赐给信者永生(5:24);使人灵性复活(5:25);赐生命的主宰(5:26);行使审判权柄(5:27;30);使人死里复活(5:28-29)。
A. 赐给信者永生
“我实实在在地告诉你们,那听我话,又信差我来者的,就有永生,不至于定罪,是已经出死入生了。”(约5:24)
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”(John 5:24)
这是一节传福音的经文。
“我实实在在地告诉你们,”约翰福音中主耶稣多次重复,表明下面祂将要说的话的重要性。
“那听我话,”不仅是指听见主耶稣的话,而是包括相信、接受、顺从主的话,即圣经真理。
“又信差我来者的,”指相信差主耶稣的父神。信祂什么呢?相信祂差祂儿子耶稣基督来到世上做世人的救主,接受祂儿子耶稣基督在十字架上所成就的赦罪、救赎的大工。
“就有永生,”永生不是有人以为的基督徒死后上天堂,乃是现在就开始的一种新生命。永生不仅指时间层面的永恒,更是属灵层面的生命特质,即耶稣基督的生命本质。
“不至于定罪,” 相信接受耶稣基督的人不再被定罪,因为主耶稣在各各他的十字架上已经担当了我们的罪,“如今那些在基督耶稣里的,就不定罪了。”(罗8:1)
“是已经出生入死了。” 信徒在相信接受主耶稣的瞬间,在属灵层面已经脱离死亡进入永生。原来死在自己的罪恶过犯之中,如今已经与基督一同复活。
“信子的人有永生。不信子的人得不着永生,神的震怒常在他身上。”(约3:36)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.”(John 3:36)
B. 使人灵性复活
“我实实在在地告诉你们,时候将到,现在就是了,死人要听见神儿子的声音。听见的人就要活了。”(约5:25)
“I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”(John 5:25)
这句话指死在自己罪恶过犯中的罪人之灵魂苏醒。
“时候将到,现在就是了,”这一过程在耶稣基督在世上的时候已经开始,而且一直持续到现在。当灵性处于死亡状态的“死人,” 听见耶稣基督的话就是福音真道,他们就要活过来出死入生。
“当我们死在过犯中的时候,便叫我们与基督一同活过来。”(弗2:5)
“(God)made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.”(Eph 2:5)
“你们从前在过犯,和未受割礼的肉体中死了,神赦免了你们一切过犯,便叫你们与基督一同活过来。”(西2:13)
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”(Col 2:13,NKJV)
C. 赐生命的主宰
“因为父怎样在自己有生命,就赐给祂儿子也照样在自己有生命。”(约5:26)
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”(John 5:26)
所有人的生命都是被赋予的,但主耶稣在自己有生命,因为神赐给祂在自己有生命。
“生命在祂(基督)里头。这生命就是人的光。”(约1:4)
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”(John 1:4)
“耶稣说,‘我就是道路,真理,生命。若不借着我。没有人能到父那里去。’”(约14:6)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.””(John 14:6)
这里,主耶稣重复前面祂所说的,“子也照样随自己的意思使人活着。”(“Even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.”)(约/John 5:21)
D. 行使审判权柄
“并且因为祂是人子,就赐给祂行审判的权柄。”(约5:27)
“And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.”(John 5:27)
主耶稣再次重复前面所说的,“父不审判什么人,乃将审判的事全交与子。”(Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”)(约/John 5:22)
“因为祂是人子,” 主耶稣不是以“神子”的身份而是以“人子”的身份审判世人。
“我在夜间的异象中观看,见有一位像人子的,驾着天云而来,被领到亘古常在者面前,得了权柄,荣耀,国度,使各方,各国,各族的人都事奉他。祂的权柄是永远的,不能废去。祂的国必不败坏。”(但7:13-14)
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Dan 7:13-14)
“神差祂的儿子降世,不是要定世人的罪(审判世人),乃是要叫世人因祂得救。”(约3:17)
“God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”(John 3:17)
耶稣基督降世,不是为要审判世人,然而世人因祂的降临,必须做出相应决定。那些拒绝接受耶稣基督、抵挡祂的人,有一天都要面对耶稣基督,那时候必然被审判定罪。
E. 使人死里复活
“你们不要把这事看作希奇。时候要到,凡在坟墓里的,都要听见祂的声音,就出来。行善的复活得生,作恶的复活定罪。”(约5:28-29)
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”(John 5:28-29)
约5:28-29是显然有关末世论的经文---末日复活(The coming resurrection),所有死人最后都要复活,要么复活得生,要么复活定罪。
旧约圣经也早已预言了死人复活:“睡在尘埃中的,必有多人复醒。其中有得永生的,有受羞辱永远被憎恶的。”(但12:2)
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”(Dan 12:2)
乍看起来,约5:28-29似乎是说,救恩与人的善恶行为有关,但纵观约翰福音整本书的教导,救恩单单与是否接受耶稣基督有关。一个人得救的唯一途径就是接受耶稣基督,反之,一个人的沉沦,唯一的原因是他拒绝接受耶稣基督。善行不是得救的原因,而是得救的结果。同样,恶行也不是失丧的原因,乃是沉沦的外在表征。
综上所述,主耶稣基督与父神平等,祂具有完全的神性权柄。
门徒腓力曾请求主耶稣将父显给他们看,“耶稣对他说,‘腓力,我与你们同在这样长久,你还不认识我吗?人看见了我,就是看见了父。你怎么说,将父显给我们看呢?’”(约14:9)
“Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”(John 14:9)
如果耶稣基督不是神,人就无从真正认识神,因为“只有在父怀里的独生子将祂表明出来。”(约1:18)如果耶稣基督不是神,耶稣的十字架就是一桩残忍不公、令人痛心的悲剧,当然也没有救恩的果效。如果耶稣基督不是神,祂赐人永生的应许就失去了根本的保证,信徒也就失去了得救的确据。
然而,耶稣基督的确是神的儿子,“凡接待他的,就是信祂名的人,祂就赐他们权柄,作神的儿女。” (“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”)(约/John 1:12)
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