（若12:23-26）
「誰若事奉我，就當跟隨我；如此，我在那裏，我的僕人也要在那裏；誰若事奉我，我父必要尊重他。」（若12:26）
如果我們把中心的經文抹去，一個比較清晰的邏輯便會呈現在我們的眼前：「誰若事奉我，就當跟隨我…誰若事奉我，我父必要尊重他。」倘若我們想贏取天父的尊重，我們先要事奉耶穌基督，事奉耶穌基督就是跟隨祂。
跟隨耶穌基督是每個基督徒應做的事，否則，他們祗會是佛教徒，道教徒甚至拜金主義者或無神論者等等，算不上是基督徒。您這樣想可能是因為您覺得跟隨耶穌沒有甚麼難度。現在就看清楚經文的中心部份吧：「如此，我在那裏，我的僕人也要在那裏」。
在今天的社會，職業的流動性比較強，如果不是經濟呆滯，「東家唔打打西家」是家常便飯，老闆會想盡辦法挽留人才。但是耶穌說的「僕人」不是隨時可以轉工的那一種，而是指委身不事二主的那一種。如果您想追求心靈的覺悟，佛教會適合你；如果你想消災解難，道教更有效；如果你想生活舒適，拜金主義是不二之選……耶穌祗承諾祂在裡，您也要在那裡，而天父必要尊重您……您選擇了沒有？您有決心，忠心不二地跟隨耶穌嗎？
天父啊！我不奢望得到祢的尊重，我祗願能不離不棄地跟隨耶穌基督，在此世走一趟。亞孟。
這句經文蠻有意思，它最觸目的地方就在最後的部份。「我父必要尊重他。」天父尊重我們？怎可能呢？雖然我們是按天主的肖像所造，但我們不竟是受造物，造物主怎可能會尊重我們呢？這真是匪疑所思。
HEAVENLY FATHER'S HONOUR
(John 12:23-26)
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. (John 12:26)
If we remove the middle portion, a clearer logic will emerge. "If anyone serves me, he must follow me, … If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him." If we want to win the honour of the Father, we must first serve Jesus Christ. Serving Jesus Christ is to follow him.
Following Jesus is the duty of every Christian. Otherwise, they are only Buddhists, Taoists and even Mammonists or atheists etc. They can't count themselves Christians. You think in this way perhaps because you think that following Jesus is without difficulty. Now, let us read the middle portion carefully. "… and where I am, there shall my servant be also;"
In today's society, job mobility is high. If the economy is not stagnant, switching jobs is common. Bosses will try their best to keep talents. But the "servants" Jesus talks about cannot switch jobs at will. They are committed and do not serve two masters. If you are after spiritual awakening, Buddhism suits you. If you want to neutralize disasters, Taoism is more effective. If you want a comfortable life, Mammonism is no second choice … Jesus only promises that wherever he is, you shall be there and the Father will honour you. Have you made your choice? Are you determined and committed to follow Jesus?
Heavenly Father, I dare not to expect Your honour. I only wish not to abandon Jesus Christ, to follow him to transverse this life once. Amen.
This verse is truly meaningful. The most eye-catching part is found in the last parcel. "The Father will honour him." The Father honours us? How can it be possible? Although we were created in the image of God, we are mere creatures. How could the Creator honour us? This is truly mind-boggling.
No comments:
Post a Comment