8:34 於是叫眾人和門徒來,對他們說:「若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架來跟從我。
8:35 因為,凡要救自己生命(或譯:靈魂;下同)的,必喪掉生命;凡為我和福音喪掉生命的,必救了生命。
8:36 人就是賺得全世界,賠上自己的生命,有甚麼益處呢?
8:37 人還能拿甚麼換生命呢?
8:38 凡在這淫亂罪惡的世代,把我和我的道當作可恥的,人子在他父的榮耀裡,同聖天使降臨的時候,也要把那人當作可恥的。」
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
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主耶穌說:「若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架來跟從我。」
十字架是痛苦與羞辱的記號,然而為了主耶穌的愛,我們心被恩感,就勇敢來承受!因為主耶穌已經先為我們背負十字架,將自己完全獻上為祭物,那一位神、那位主肯為自己的子民如此?祂為了救一切屬祂的人,將自己完全獻上!承擔我們的罪債,為我們受刑罰!因為祂是無罪沒有瑕疵,所以祂能夠承擔,必定成就!
然而我們是那奴隸感受到主人的愛,雖然主人讓我們得完全自由,但是我們情願用這完全自由伏在這位愛我們得主的權下,是被感動而非勉強,是自願聽從不是被強逼,放下自己的主權,背起該負的十字架,不計榮辱,但求祂榮耀的明得著稱讚,為祂而活!
這才是保羅所說:「所以,弟兄們,我以上帝的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上,當作活祭,是聖潔的,是上帝所喜悅的;你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。」(羅馬書12:1)
死祭是一時的,活祭卻是永遠的,因為我們承受了主耶穌所賜的永生!
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