约翰福音信息之二十八---主耶稣神性的见证
约5:31-47
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。如果你看见一个瘫痪三十八年的瘫子可以站起来行走,你会多么地激动和喜悦,这个病人终于脱离了疾病缠身的苦痛。同时你又会多么的惊奇和感恩,为这奇妙的神迹赞美主,因为祂是何等的怜悯,又是何等的大能!
然而,犹太人却将这明显的神迹置之不顾,反而逼迫主耶稣,因为祂在安息日做了这事。主耶稣说,“我父作事直到如今,我也作事。” (Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.")(约/John 5:17)
“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)
于是,约翰福音第五章从第十九节开始,主耶稣便证明自己如何与父神平等。
约5:19-23,主耶稣用五个证据表明自己与父神平等: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)。
约5:24-30,主耶稣用五个证据显示自己的神性权柄: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);使人死里复活(5:28-29)。
约5:31-47,主耶稣给出祂与父神平等的见证。为了堵住犹太人的口说主耶稣是为自己作见证,于是主耶稣就给出父神自己为主作的见证。
有圣经学者指出,这段圣经主耶稣共给出了以下五个方面的见证,但所有这些都是父神以五种不同形式为主耶稣作见证:
1. 施洗约翰 (约5:33-35; 1:6-8; 15; 26-28; 29-34; 36; 3:27-30)
2. 主的工作 (约5:36; 3:2;参:约3:2;9:30-33;赛35:5-6)
3. 父神见证 (约5:37-38; 约3:2;6:45;约一5:9-12;太3;17; 太17:5; 约12:28)
4. 圣经话语 (约5:39)
5. 摩西见证 (约5:45-47)
“我若为自己作见证,我的见证就不真。”(“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.”)(约/John 5:31)
主耶稣为自己的见证不真?
主耶稣在约翰福音第五章的讲论,相当于为自己作的见证。祂的见证当然是真实的。
“法利赛人对他说,‘你是为自己作见证。你的见证不真。’ 耶稣说,‘我虽然为自己作见证,我的见证还是真的。因我知道我从哪里来,往哪里去。你们却不知道我从哪里来,往哪里去。’”(约8:13-14)
“The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.’”(John 8:13-14)
因此,主耶稣即使为自己作见证,祂的见证永远都是真的,因为祂就是真理,(约14:6)祂永远不会说谎。如果耶稣的见证不真,那就与祂神性的本质相冲突、相矛盾。
那么,主耶稣为什么说“我若为自己作见证,我的见证就不真?”
“真,”英文“valid,”意思是“有效。”
旧约律法规定,必须是两三个人的见证才有效。
“人无论犯什么罪,作什么恶,不可凭一个人的口作见证,总要凭两三个人的口作见证才可定案。”(申19:15)
“One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deut 19:15)
因此,主耶稣是在说:如果只是我为自己作见证,我的见证就不算有效(虽然主耶稣自己的见证是绝对真实的),另外还有父为我作见证。
犹太人控告主耶稣将自己与神当作平等。然而,正是神自己为主耶稣作见证。
主耶稣说,“你们的律法上也记着说,两个人的见证是真的。我是为自己作见证,还有差我来的父,也是为我作见证。”(约8:17-18)
“In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for Myself; My other witness is the Father, who sent Me.”(John 8:17-18)
“另有一位给我作见证。我也知道他给我作的见证是真的。”(约5:32)
“There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.”(John 5:32)
约5:32提到“另有一位,”而且人称代词用的是第三人称单数的“他。” 无论从中文的翻译“他,” 还是英文的“he”都很难确定,这个“他”到底指谁?
原文“另有一位”(Another)这个词原文用的是“Allos,” 意思是“同为一类的另外一位,” ( “another” of the same kind),如果是“不同类别的另外一个”应该使另一个希腊字“Heteros.”
与主耶稣同一类别的另外一位不可能是下文提到的施洗约翰,而只能是神---圣父!
因此,主耶稣在约翰福音第五章提到的另外一位为祂作见证的正是父神。所以,下文提到的见证,都是父神使用不同方式为祂的儿子耶稣基督作的见证:父神差派施洗约翰,父神交于主耶稣所做的事,父神的话语即圣经,父神的仆人摩西以及他写的律法书等。为方便起见,我们还是将神不同方式的见证分开来记述。
一. 施洗约翰
“你们曾差人到约翰那里,他为真理作过见证。其实我所受的见证,不是从人来的。然而我说这些话,为要叫你们得救。约翰是点着的明灯。你们情愿暂时喜欢他的光。”(约5:33-35)
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.”(John 5:33-35)
施洗约翰是受父神差遣,做主耶稣的先锋和先知,特来为主耶稣作见证。“有一个人,是从神那里差来的,名叫约翰。”(“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.”)(约/John 1:6)
当施洗约翰出生时,他的父亲撒迦利亚预言说,“孩子阿,你要称为至高者的先知。因为你要行在主的前面,预备祂的道路。”(路1:76)
“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him.”(Luke 1:76)
施洗约翰为主耶稣做过哪些见证呢?
“约翰为祂作见证,喊着说,‘这就是我曾说,那在我以后来的,反成了在我以前的。因祂本来在我以前。’”(约1:15)
“John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'"”(John 1:15)
“次日,约翰看见耶稣来到他那里,就说,‘看哪,神的羔羊,除去(或:背负)世人罪孽的。”(约1:29)
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”(John 1:29)
“约翰又作见证说,我曾看见圣灵,仿佛鸽子从天降下,住在祂的身上。我先前不认识祂。只是那差我来用水施洗的,对我说,你看见圣灵降下来,住在谁的身上,谁就是用圣灵施洗的。我看见了,就证明这是神的儿子。”(约1:32-34)
“Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The Man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."”(John 1:32-34)
“祂必兴旺,我必衰微。”(“He must become greater; I must become less.”)(约/John 3:30)
施洗约翰并不是那真光,他只是为光作见证。主耶稣称赞他是“点着的明灯。”如果今天主的仆人能够被主称赞是“点着的明灯,”那实在是极大的荣耀。主耶稣本来不需要从人而来的见证,但主说,“我说这些话,为要叫你们得救。”因为约翰为主作过有力的见证。犹太人曾经暂时喜悦施洗约翰的灯光,然而他们拒绝接受约翰所见证的被称作是真光的那一位。
二. 主的工作
“但我有比约翰更大的见证。因为父交给我要我成就的事,就是我所作的事,这便见证我是父所差来的。”(约5:36)
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given Me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent Me.”(John 5:36)
主耶稣在祂传道过程中行了许多医病赶鬼的神迹。祂使长大麻风的得洁净,祂远距离医治百夫长的仆人,祂医治一个患了十二年血漏的女人,使睚鲁的女儿和拿因城寡妇的儿子死而复活,祂医治一个迦南妇人被鬼附的女儿和另外一个人被鬼附的儿子,医治一个耳聋舌结的人,使瞎子巴底买得看见,医治一个驼背十八年的女人等等。
约翰福音中记载的七个神迹,提到祂变水为酒,远程医治一个大臣将死的儿子,医治一个瘫痪三十八年的瘫子,用五饼二鱼喂饱五千人,在海面上行走,医治一个生来瞎眼的人,使拉撒路从死里复活。试想,需要多大的能量能使一个人从死里复活?
祂在医治一个瘫子时声称有赦罪的权柄,祂在安息日医病时声称祂是安息日的主。
虽然旧约先知与圣徒如摩西、约书亚、以利亚、以利沙以及新约使徒彼得、保罗等也行神迹,但主耶稣神迹的深度、广度、难度、数量等无人企及。圣徒的神迹是靠神的能力,而主耶稣的神迹是出于自己。
犹太的宗教领袖逼迫主耶稣,指责主耶稣违犯安息日,但他们从来不思想,主耶稣如何能如此大范围地广行神迹?难道祂真是祂自称的那一位救主、弥赛亚、神的儿子?
尼哥底母对主耶稣说,“拉比,你所行的神迹,若没有神同在,无人能行。”(约3:2)
“No one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”(John 3:2)
犹太宗教领袖至少应该像尼哥底母一样思想,如果没有神的同在,没有人能行这样的神迹。然而,犹太宗教领袖无法否认主耶稣的神迹,他们的虚伪、嫉妒、自私使得他们不仅拒绝主耶稣,他们甚至连被主耶稣复活的拉撒路也要杀了,因为拉撒路是活见证。
“祭司长和法利赛人聚集公会,说,‘这人行好些神迹,我们怎么办呢?若这样由着祂,人人都要信祂。罗马人也要来夺我们的地土,和我们的百姓。’”(约11:47-48)
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."”(John 11:47-48)
犹太百姓中却有许多信祂的。如果有人愿意认真寻求,就必然会相信接受主耶稣。
“但众人中间有好些信他的,说,‘基督来的时候,祂所行的神迹,岂能比这人所行的更多吗?’”(约7:31)
“Still, many in the crowd put their faith in Him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more miraculous signs than this Man?"”(John 7:31)
“有许多人来到祂那里,他们说,‘约翰一件神迹没有行过,但约翰指着这人所说的一切话都是真的。在那里信耶稣的人就多了。’”(约10:41-42)
“And many people came to Him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this Man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.”(John 10:41-42)
主耶稣自己说,“我若不行我父的事,你们就不必信我。我若行了,你们纵然不信我,也当信这些事。叫你们又知道,又明白,父在我里面,我也在父里面。”(约10:37-38)
“Do not believe Me unless I do what my Father does. 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 10:37-38)
三. 圣经话语
“你们查考圣经,因你们以为内中有永生。给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。”(约5:39-40)
“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” (John5:39-40)
犹太人查考圣经,法利赛人自认为是众人的师傅,然而,当圣经所记述的那一位---永恒之道、神的儿子、耶稣基督---此时此刻道成肉身站在他们面前的时候,他们竟认不出来,并且百般抵挡。
如果他们真的用心研读圣经,就自然该知道,旧约圣经有许许多多的预言和预表都指向那一位救主!祂被称作是女人的后裔,亚伯拉罕的后裔,大卫的子孙,像摩西一样的大先知,祂要籍童女降生,诞生在伯利恒之地,祂将广行神迹,被朋友出卖,被挂在木头上,被葬于财主的坟墓,然后祂要复活战胜死亡权势。旧约圣经有三百多处预言都指向祂。
除了直接的预言,旧约圣经还有大量的预表也指向这一位救主:挪亚方舟,逾越节羊羔,亚伯拉罕献以撒,雅各的梦中天梯,摩西的旷野举蛇,磐石,吗哪,逃城,大祭司,献祭体系的礼仪,以色列的七大节期,以及麦基洗德、以撒、约瑟、摩西、大卫…,都预表如今站在以色列众人面前的这一位---耶稣基督。
复活后的基督对门徒说,“这就是我从前与你们同在之时,所告诉你们的话,说,‘摩西的律法,先知的书,和诗篇上所记的,凡指着我的话,都必须应验。’”(路24:44)
“He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."” (Luke 24:44)
实际上,圣经每一卷书都以耶稣基督为核心,从而贯穿整本圣经的轴线。祂是---
创世记中女人的后裔
出埃及记中逾越节的羊羔
利未记中赎罪的羔羊
民数记中雅各的星、以色列的杖
申命记中那像摩西的大先知
约书亚记中耶和华军队的元帅
士师记中耶和华的刀
路得记中的至亲救赎者(Kinsman Redeemer)
撒母耳记中大卫的后裔
列王记中的以色列真正的王
历代志中先祖的神
以斯拉记中那天地的主
尼希米记中那断墙的重建者
以斯帖记中那位奇妙的拯救者
约伯记中那永活的救赎主
诗篇中耶和华我的牧者
箴言书中那卓越的智慧
传道书中那在日光之上赐人满足者
雅歌中新妇的俊美良人
以赛亚书中的以马内利及受苦仆人
耶利米书中耶和华我们的义
耶利米哀歌中流泪的先知
以西结书中神的荣耀
但以理书中那从天而降的巨石
何西阿书中那慈绳爱索的牵引者
约珥书中圣灵的浇灌者
阿摩司书中那量度的准绳
俄巴底亚书中公义的报应者
约拿书中给人二次机会的主
弥迦书中雅各的神
那鸿书中报仇的神
哈巴谷书中赐人盼望者
西番雅书中以色列的王
哈该书中万民的向往者
撒迦利亚书中被扎的那一位
玛拉基书中的忽然进入圣殿立约的主
马太福音中天国的君王
马可福音中服事的仆人
路加福音中完美的人子
约翰福音中永恒的神子
使徒行传中宣教的主
罗马书中神我们的义
哥林多书中复活的主
加拉太书中使人从律法下释放的救主
以弗所书中教会的头(元首)
腓立比书中丰富的供应者
歌罗西书中神的丰盛
帖撒罗尼迦书中再来的主
提摩太书中神与人之间的中保
提多书中伟大的神和救主
希伯来书中慈悲忠信的大祭司
雅各书中天国的大医生
彼得书信中无暇疵的羔羊
约翰书信中的挽回祭
犹大书中那带着千万圣徒的降临者
启示录中犹大支派的狮子,大卫的根,明亮的晨星,诚信真实、神之道,万王之王、万主之主,阿拉法俄梅嘎,首先的末后的,始与终!
约翰福音第十二章特别提到,祂就是先知以赛亚在异象中看到的那位“圣哉,圣哉,圣哉,祂的荣光充满全地”的“万军之耶和华!”(赛6:3)
“以赛亚因为看见祂的荣耀,就指着祂说这话。”(“Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about Him.”)(约/John 12:41)
犹太的宗教领袖是何等的眼瞎啊!“然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。”(约5:40)他们查考圣经,却不肯到耶稣基督这里来得生命,而且变本加厉地逼迫、甚至杀害主耶稣。
四. 摩西见证
“不要想我在父面前要告你们。有一位告你们的,就是你们所仰赖的摩西。你们如果信摩西,也必信我。因为他书上有指着我写的话。你们若不信他的书,怎能信我的话呢?”(约5:45-47)
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(John 5:45-47)
“他书上有指着我写的话。” 上文提到的摩西律法中有关基督的直接预言,有关基督的大部分预表出自于摩西五经。
摩西是以色列当然的领袖,在犹太人心目中具有无可替代的地位。
约翰福音第九章,当主耶稣医治一个生来瞎眼的人,犹太人反复盘问他。
“他们就问他说,‘他向你作什么?是怎么开了你的眼睛呢?’ 他回答说,‘我方才告诉你们,你们不听。为什么又要听呢?莫非你们也要作他的门徒吗?’ 他们就骂他说,‘你是他的门徒。我们是摩西的门徒。’”(约9:26-28)
“Then they asked him, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?" Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses!”(John 9:26-28)
法利赛人真是瞎眼,他们以做耶稣的门徒为极大的羞辱,却以做摩西的门徒为无上的荣耀。
然而,摩西之于耶稣,如同奴仆之于儿子。
“祂比摩西算是更配多得荣耀,好像建造房屋的比房屋更尊荣。因为房屋都必有人建造。但建造万物的就是神。摩西为仆人,在神的全家诚然尽忠,…但基督为儿子,治理神的家。”(来3:3-6)
“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, … But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.” (Heb 3:3-6)
摩西曾经预言,神要为以色列百姓兴起一位像他的先知,凡不听从祂的都要从民众剪除。(参神18:15-18)那位像摩西的先知,正是预言中的基督。因此,摩西所写的律法,到时候要见证控告犹太人的罪。
五. 父神见证
“差我来的父,也为我作过见证。你们从来没有听见祂的声音,也没有看见祂的形像。你们并没有祂的道存在心里。因为祂所差来的,你们不信。”(约5:37-38)
“And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent.” (John 5:37-38)
严格说来,旧约最后一位先知施洗约翰,主耶稣神迹奇事的工作,整本圣经神的话语,神人摩西律法书中有关基督的记载,都是父神自己以不同方式为祂的独生子耶稣基督所做的见证。
更明显的,在几个不同场合父神更是直接说话为主耶稣作见证。
主耶稣受洗时:“耶稣受了洗,…从天上有声音说,‘这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。’”(太3:16-17)
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, … a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."”(Matt 3:16-17)
主登山变像时:“说话之间,忽然有一朵光明的云彩遮盖他们。且有声音从云彩里出来说,‘这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。你们要听祂。’”(太17:5)
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"”(Matt 17:5)
主荣耀进京时:“‘父阿,愿你荣耀你的名。’当时就有声音从天上来说,‘我已经荣耀了我的名,还要再荣耀。’”(约12:28)
““Father, glorify Your Name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."”(John 12:28)
直到今天,父神持续不断地吸引人来到主耶稣面前,接受祂做救主。因为主耶稣说,“若不是差我来的父吸引人,就没有能到我这里来的。”("No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him.”)(约/John 6:44)所以,父神今天仍然在不断地位祂的独生儿子作见证。
“我不受从人来的荣耀。但我知道你们心里,没有神的爱。…你们互相受荣耀,却不求从独一之神来的荣耀,怎能信我呢?”(约5:41-44)
“"I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts…How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”(John 5:41-44)
今天,为什么有许多人不愿意来到主耶稣面前相信祂、接受祂?
不是因为主耶稣是基督神的儿子以及祂道成肉身死而复活的证据不足,乃是人自身的问题:自高自大又愚昧无知,想当然地认为基督信仰与自己无关,不愿意在主面前谦卑,害怕背十字架付代价,不愿意做道德或行为方式的改变,或者忙碌于世俗世界无暇顾及属灵之事等。
主耶稣说,“我知道你们心里,没有神的爱。…你们互相受荣耀,却不求从独一之神来的荣耀,怎能信我呢?”(约5:42;44)
但愿今天的人们能够灵眼打开,认识这位荣耀的救主,并来到祂面前得生命!
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