愛有多近?家有多遠? (卓爾君牧師)
提摩太前書1:15說「基督耶穌降世,為要拯救罪人,這話是可信的。」如果承認我們有罪讓你感覺很糟,那是因為你還活在罪當中,只要我們勇敢地去辨認我們生命當中的罪,我們必能得到上帝的邀請,走向一條脫離罪惡與重擔的回家之路。法利賽人或許會想,這些人為什麼要找耶穌,而不來找我們呢?他不過是個貧窮木匠的兒子,不過是個流浪的年輕傳道人,你們為什麼不來找我們這些大有名望的宗教領袖呢?其實理由很簡單,當人們去找法利賽人,他們得到的只是肉體上、情緒上、屬靈上的各種虐待,卻得不到任何屬靈的安慰,而耶穌給他們的則是他們所需要的,愛、寬恕、恩典跟真理。今天我們就從一個大家熟悉的故事來談談,在故事中我們到底扮演哪一個角色,又能從故事中學習到什麼。
神
路加福音 15:11-32 (和合本)
- 耶穌又說:一個人有兩個兒子。
- 小兒子對父親說:父親,請你把我應得的家業分給我。他父親就把產業分給他們。
- 過了不多幾日,小兒子就把他一切所有的都收拾起來,往遠方去了。在那裡任意放蕩,浪費貲財。
- 既耗盡了一切所有的,又遇著那地方大遭饑荒,就窮苦起來。
- 於是去投靠那地方的一個人;那人打發他到田裡去放豬。
- 他恨不得拿豬所吃的豆莢充飢,也沒有人給他。
- 他醒悟過來,就說:我父親有多少的雇工,口糧有餘,我倒在這裡餓死麼?
- 我要起來,到我父親那裡去,向他說:父親!我得罪了天,又得罪了你;
- 從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒子,把我當作一個雇工罷!
- 於是起來,往他父親那裡去。相離還遠,他父親看見,就動了慈心,跑去抱著他的頸項,連連與他親嘴。
- 兒子說:父親!我得罪了天,又得罪了你;從今以後,我不配稱為你的兒子。
- 父親卻吩咐僕人說:把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿;把戒指戴在他指頭上;把鞋穿在他腳上;
- 把那肥牛犢牽來宰了,我們可以吃喝快樂;
- 因為我這個兒子是死而復活,失而又得的。他們就快樂起來。
- 那時,大兒子正在田裡。他回來,離家不遠,聽見作樂跳舞的聲音,
- 便叫過一個僕人來,問是甚麼事。
- 僕人說:你兄弟來了;你父親因為得他無災無病的回來,把肥牛犢宰了。
- 大兒子卻生氣,不肯進去;他父親就出來勸他。
- 他對父親說:我服事你這多年,從來沒有違背過你的命,你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔,叫我和朋友一同快樂。
- 但你這個兒子和娼妓吞盡了你的產業,他一來了,你倒為他宰了肥牛犢。
- 父親對他說:兒阿!你常和我同在,我一切所有的都是你的;
- 只是你這個兄弟是死而復活、失而又得的,所以我們理當歡喜快樂。
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
- Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
- The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
- “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
- After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
- So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
- He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
- “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
- I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
- I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
- So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
- “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
- Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
- For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
- “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
- So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
- ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
- “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
- But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
- But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
- “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
- But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”