列王紀上19:1-8

 

19:1 亞哈將以利亞一切所行的和他用刀殺眾先知的事都告訴耶洗別。
19:2 耶洗別就差遣人去見以利亞，告訴他說：「明日約在這時候，我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一樣，願神明重重地降罰與我。」
19:3 以利亞見這光景就起來逃命，到了猶大的別是巴，將僕人留在那裡，
19:4 自己在曠野走了一日的路程，來到一棵羅騰樹下（小樹名，松類；下同），就坐在那裡求死，說：「耶和華啊，罷了！求你取我的性命，因為我不勝於我的列祖。」
19:5 他就躺在羅騰樹下，睡著了。有一個天使拍他，說：「起來吃吧！」
19:6 他觀看，見頭旁有一瓶水與炭火燒的餅，他就吃了喝了，仍然躺下。
19:7 耶和華的使者第二次來拍他，說：「起來吃吧！因為你當走的路甚遠。」
19:8 他就起來吃了喝了，仗著這飲食的力，走了四十晝夜，到了上帝的山，就是何烈山。

 

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

 

***********

 

    以利亞雖然為上帝大發熱心，不畏懼巴力先知的挑戰，卻為皇后耶洗別的話而懼怕，讓人覺得不可思議！但是，聖經卻不忌諱將先知的軟弱記載下來，讓我們知道服事上帝的人也會有軟弱！

 

    然而以利亞在軟弱的時候，走一天的路奔向曠野之中，找到一棵羅騰樹，就在那裏求死：「耶和華啊，罷了！求你取我的性命，因為我不勝於我的列祖。」

 

    以利亞這樣做的意思就是說：寧可死在上帝的手下，也不要死在耶洗別的手下！因為生命是出於耶和華，收取也應該是耶和華。他之所以求死，也是感受到自己的軟弱，只能處理那些被惡者所利用的人，卻無法處理真正的惡者！

 

    以利亞這樣的經歷，讓我們想到羅所說的：「因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰（原文是摔跤；下同），乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。」(以弗所書6章12節）

 

    因此，我們不可以用血氣來行事，保羅更進一步說：「因為我們雖然在血氣中行事，卻不憑著血氣爭戰。我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的，乃是在上帝面前有能力，可以攻破堅固的營壘，將各樣的計謀，各樣攔阻人認識上帝的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又將人所有的心意奪回，使他都順服基督。」（哥林多後書10:3-5）

 

    而以利亞之後也是得著上帝的能力，不再憑「血氣」，他吃了天使預備的餅，並且也喝了水，就起來行走，走了四十晝夜，到了上帝的山，就是何烈山。這不僅是身體的復甦，更是得著復活的大能，重新位上帝爭戰！

 

 

馬太福音14:22-36

 

14:22 耶穌隨即催門徒上船，先渡到那邊去，等他叫眾人散開。
14:23 散了眾人以後，他就獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，只有他一人在那裡。
14:24 那時船在海中，因風不順，被浪搖撼。
14:25 夜裡四更天，耶穌在海面上走，往門徒那裡去。
14:26 門徒看見他在海面上走，就驚慌了，說：「是個鬼怪！」便害怕，喊叫起來。
14:27 耶穌連忙對他們說：「你們放心，是我，不要怕！」
14:28 彼得說：「主，如果是你，請叫我從水面上走到你那裡去。」
14:29 耶穌說：「你來吧。」彼得就從船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去；
14:30 只因見風甚大，就害怕，將要沉下去，便喊著說：「主啊，救我！」
14:31 耶穌趕緊伸手拉住他，說：「你這小信的人哪，為甚麼疑惑呢？」
14:32 他們上了船，風就住了。
14:33 在船上的人都拜他，說：「你真是上帝的兒子了。」
14:34 他們過了海，來到革尼撒勒地方。
14:35 那裡的人一認出是耶穌，就打發人到周圍地方去，把所有的病人帶到他那裡，
14:36 只求耶穌准他們摸他的衣裳繸子；摸著的人就都好了。

 

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him ³⁶ and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

 

************

 

    主耶穌在此展現自己的權能讓門徒認識祂的身分，因為祂可以在水面上行走，是人所做不到的，唯有是上帝的權能的作為！而主耶穌為了讓門徒認識祂是有上帝的權能的，所以在門徒驚惶的時候，祂宣告：「你們放心，是我，不要怕！」

 

    只有上帝有絕對的主權說：「是我」或是「我是」！因為這是上帝的名，所以主耶穌在這裡展現祂不只是人，更是上帝！也唯有主耶穌可以這樣對人宣告，而這宣告的結果，門徒相信：「你真是上帝的兒子了。」

 

    弟兄姊妹，你是不是有這樣的確信呢？你是否確信：耶穌基督是完全的人，也是完全的上帝呢？你若有這樣的確信，自己就有永生的把握了！正如使徒約翰所說：「論到從起初原有的生命之道，就是我們所聽見、所看見、親眼看過、親手摸過的。（這生命已經顯現出來，我們也看見過，現在又作見證，將原與父同在、且顯現與我們那永遠的生命傳給你們。）我們將所看見、所聽見的傳給你們，使你們與我們相交。我們乃是與父並他兒子耶穌基督相交的。我們將這些話寫給你們，使你們（有古卷：我們）的喜樂充足。」(約翰一書1:1-4)

 

    而主耶穌既是那永生之道，也就是上帝本身，祂就有權柄使我們成為上帝的兒女，享受上帝所賜永生的福樂！這樣的恩典在人的角度是開放的，好像是人可以決志得著這樣的身分，其實這是上帝在創世以先早為我們預備好的，這是何等的恩典啊！

 

 

馬太福音14:13-21

 

14:13 耶穌聽見了，就上船從那裡獨自退到野地裡去。眾人聽見，就從各城裡步行跟隨他。
14:14 耶穌出來，見有許多的人，就憐憫他們，治好了他們的病人。
14:15 天將晚的時候，門徒進前來，說：「這是野地，時候已經過了，請叫眾人散開，他們好往村子裡去，自己買吃的。」
14:16 耶穌說：「不用他們去，你們給他們吃吧！」
14:17 門徒說：「我們這裡只有五個餅，兩條魚。」
14:18 耶穌說：「拿過來給我。」
14:19 於是吩咐眾人坐在草地上，就拿著這五個餅，兩條魚，望著天祝福，擘開餅，遞給門徒，門徒又遞給眾人。
14:20 他們都吃，並且吃飽了；把剩下的零碎收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。
14:21 吃的人，除了婦女孩子，約有五千。

 

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

************

 

    「五餅二魚」的神蹟讓我們看見主耶穌牧者的心腸，因為這一群人跟隨主耶穌在曠野，天將要晚的時候，門徒提醒主耶穌：「這是野地，時候已經過了，請叫眾人散開，他們好往村子裡去，自己買吃的。」

 

    但是，主耶穌不願意這一群人在尋找食物的時候發生危險，就對門徒說：「不用他們去，你們給他們吃吧！」

 

    然而門徒無奈的說：「我們這裡只有五個餅，兩條魚。」

 

    可是這「五餅二魚」卻在主耶穌的手中，經過主祝謝之後，竟然讓這一群人吃飽，把剩下的零碎收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。吃的人，除了婦女孩子，約有五千。

 

    這真的太不可思議，但是主卻本著愛讓這樣的是成全了！祂知道我們的需要，不會因為環境的困難，物質的缺乏，而放棄我們，祂必充充足足的供應我們，因為祂是我們的好牧者，祂必使祂的羊得草吃！

 

    讓我們堅定的相信：「耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。」（詩篇23:1）

 

 

馬太福音14章

       馬太福音14:1-13  ,

       馬太福音14:1-12 , 

       馬太福音14:13-21  ,

       馬太福音14:22-36  ,

馬太福音14:1-12

 

14:1 那時，分封的王希律聽見耶穌的名聲，
14:2 就對臣僕說：「這是施洗的約翰從死裡復活，所以這些異能從他裡面發出來。」
14:3 起先，希律為他兄弟腓力的妻子希羅底的緣故，把約翰拿住，鎖在監裡。
14:4 因為約翰曾對他說：「你娶這婦人是不合理的。」
14:5 希律就想要殺他，只是怕百姓，因為他們以約翰為先知。
14:6 到了希律的生日，希羅底的女兒在眾人面前跳舞，使希律歡喜。
14:7 希律就起誓，應許隨她所求的給她。
14:8 女兒被母親所使，就說：「請把施洗約翰的頭放在盤子裡，拿來給我。」
14:9 王便憂愁，但因他所起的誓，又因同席的人，就吩咐給她；
14:10 於是打發人去，在監裡斬了約翰，
14:11 把頭放在盤子裡，拿來給了女子；女子拿去給她母親。
14:12 約翰的門徒來，把屍首領去埋葬了，就去告訴耶穌。

 

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

 

************

 

    在今日的人來看施洗約翰的死亡實在很可惜，他是上帝的先知，說了君王不喜歡的話，被下在監牢裡。更荒唐的是因為到了希律的生日，希羅底的女兒在眾人面前跳舞，使希律歡喜。希律就起誓，應許隨她所求的給她。這無知的小女孩竟然被母親所慫恿，就說：「請把施洗約翰的頭放在盤子裡，拿來給我。」

 

    是小女孩無知就算了，希律王的賓客也是一群邪惡的人，也在一旁搧風點火，促成了希律王作錯誤的決斷，答應了她的要求，也因為這樣於是打發人去，在監裡斬了約翰，把頭放在盤子裡，拿來給了女子；女子拿去給她母親。

 

    這樣一位改變歷史的人物，竟然被這樣惡待，對今日的我們真的為施洗約翰感到惋惜！想到人的生命在那樣的時代，真的如草、如花一般，既不受重視，又是充滿危機！

 

    看到施洗約翰的離世，也讓我們十分感慨，也提醒我們不要畏懼死亡，因為我們不知將來我們會如何，但是重要的是我們要隨時準備好為主捨命的決心，因為主耶穌也說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為，凡要救自己生命（生命：或譯靈魂；下同）的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得著生命。」（馬太福音16:24-25）

 

    我們相信：「施洗約翰雖為希律王所殺，似乎很悲慘，可是他現在正在安息上帝的懷中，將來要與我們一同在天國中享受永生的福樂，得上帝而來的榮耀！」