18:1 耶穌說了這話,就同門徒出去,過了汲淪溪。在那裡有一個園子,他和門徒進去了。
18:2 賣耶穌的猶大也知道那地方,因為耶穌和門徒屢次上那裡去聚集。
18:3 猶大領了一隊兵,和祭司長並法利賽人的差役,拿著燈籠、火把、兵器,就來到園裡。
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
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主耶穌早就知道自己要受害的事情,《馬太福音》告訴我們:「從那時起,耶穌就明明白白地告訴門徒,他必須上耶路撒冷去,並且要在長老、祭司長和教師的手中,受許多可怕的苦。」(16:21)
然而主耶穌是勇敢的面對,在與門徒談話與禱告之後,就到平常去的園子,在那裏等候猶大帶領要捉拿祂的人,沒有逃避這樣的事情,因為祂要完成天父的旨意,使我們這些屬於祂的人可以得著救贖。祂清楚自己沒有受死,萬民的罪無法得赦免的﹗為了使上帝的愛顯明,從容面對上帝給的苦杯。
這也再一次提醒我們:基督為我們受苦,我們也要為基督受苦的心志。正如《彼得前書》所說:「基督既在肉身受苦,你們也當將這樣的心志作為兵器,因為在肉身受過苦的,就已經與罪斷絕了。」(4:1)「那賜諸般恩典的上帝曾在基督裡召你們,得享他永遠的榮耀,等你們暫受苦難之後,必要親自成全你們,堅固你們,賜力量給你們。」(5:10)
在來臨的「受難週」,我們當記念主的受苦之外,當以感謝的心來面對信仰造成的逼迫或人生各樣的苦難,做耶穌基督受苦的見證﹗