馬可福音8:1-13

 

8:1 那時，又有許多人聚集，並沒有甚麼吃的。耶穌叫門徒來，說：

8:2 「我憐憫這眾人；因為他們同我在這裡已經三天，也沒有吃的了。

8:3 我若打發他們餓著回家，就必在路上困乏，因為其中有從遠處來的。」

8:4 門徒回答說：「在這野地，從哪裡能得餅，叫這些人吃飽呢？」

8:5 耶穌問他們說：「你們有多少餅？」他們說：「七個。」

8:6 他吩咐眾人坐在地上，就拿著這七個餅祝謝了，擘開，遞給門徒，叫他們擺開，門徒就擺在眾人面前。

8:7 又有幾條小魚；耶穌祝了福，就吩咐也擺在眾人面前。

8:8 眾人都吃，並且吃飽了，收拾剩下的零碎，有七筐子。

8:9 人數約有四千。耶穌打發他們走了，

8:10 隨即同門徒上船，來到大瑪努他境內。

8:11 法利賽人出來盤問耶穌，求他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看，想要試探他。

8:12 耶穌心裡深深地歎息，說：「這世代為甚麼求神蹟呢？我實在告訴你們，沒有神蹟給這世代看。」

8:13 他就離開他們，又上船往海那邊去了。

 

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ² “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ⁹ About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, ¹⁰ he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. ¹² He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

 

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    主耶穌和法利賽人之間有一個鴻溝，不管主耶穌做了甚麼或行了甚麼事，他們好像沒有感覺，好像一無所知！主耶穌明明行了一個神蹟，用七個餅和幾條魚，餵飽了四千人。他們竟然還盤問住耶穌，求他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看，想要試探他。

 

    主耶穌看見他們不安好心，心裡深深地歎息，說：「這世代為甚麼求神蹟呢？我實在告訴你們，沒有神蹟給這世代看。」他就離開他們，又上船往海那邊去了。

 

    因此，不是與主耶穌相遇的人就可以認出祂是彌賽亞，也不是天天表現得很敬虔的人就會得主的喜悅，而是在聖靈的引導下真正認出主耶穌是基督、是上帝的獨生子的人，才能因著主耶穌進入父家中！

 

    其實有許多自稱基督徒的人，都以為靠著善行就能上天堂、得上帝的喜悅。正如宗教改革以前的基督徒認為：教會歷代聖徒的善行積存了一個很大的功德庫；而今日的基督徒認為自己好好努力服事，就有資格得獎賞蒙上帝賜福！

 

    這兩種想法都是建立在人的善行上；然而上帝喜悅接納人成為兒女，是以耶穌基督為我們的中保，是因著主耶穌在十字架上的救贖大功！正如《提摩太前書》2章5-6節說；「因為只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中間，只有一位中保，乃是降世為人的基督耶穌；他捨自己作萬人的贖價，到了時候，這事必證明出來。」

 

    讓我們靠主耶穌來到上帝面前，歸榮耀給愛我們的上帝，直到永遠，阿們！