拉撒路,你在哪裏? (冉茂圻傳道)
今天的經文記載了耶穌讓已經死去的拉撒路從死裡復活、走出墳墓的神蹟奇事,但是我們想問的是,拉撒路,你在哪裡? 這讓我想起一首在網路上有著非常高點擊量的歌 Faded,其中有幾句歌詞是 Was it all in my fantasy? Where are you now? Were you only imaginary? 正好回應了我們今天的問題,讓我們思想,「拉撒路,對於我們只是一個停留在聖經故事中的人物嗎?或者只是停留在我們的想象中嗎?」今天我們從約翰福音的經文,一起來尋找拉撒路。
我們都和拉撒路一樣,都是主所愛的,都經歷了主重生復活的大能,都承載為主見證,引人歸主的榮耀使命。所以,拉撒路並非只是停留在我們的想象中,他就在這裏,因為你我都是拉撒路!不要把我們有力的福音武器藏起來,讓我們大膽的為主分享見證。【约12:11】說:「因有好些猶太人為拉撒路的緣故,回去信了耶稣。」願我們都如同這句經文,有好些人為我們的緣故,回去信了耶穌。
約翰福音 12:1-11 (和合本)
- 逾越節前六日,耶穌來到伯大尼,就是他叫拉撒路從死裡復活之處。
- 有人在那裡給耶穌預備筵席,馬大伺候,拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。
- 馬利亞就拿著一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏,抹耶穌的腳,又用自己的頭髮去擦,屋裡就滿了膏的香氣。
- 有一個門徒,就是那將要賣耶穌的加略人猶大,
- 說:「這香膏為什麼不賣三十兩銀子賙濟窮人呢?」
- 他說這話,並不是掛念窮人,乃因他是個賊,又帶著錢囊,常取其中所存的。
- 耶穌說:「由她吧!她是為我安葬之日存留的。
- 因為常有窮人和你們同在,只是你們不常有我。」
- 有許多猶太人知道耶穌在那裡,就來了,不但是為耶穌的緣故,也是要看他從死裡所復活的拉撒路。
- 但祭司長商議連拉撒路也要殺了,
- 因有好些猶太人為拉撒路的緣故,回去信了耶穌。
John 12:1-11 (NIV)
- Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
- Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
- Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
- But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
- “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]”
- He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
- “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
- You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
- Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
- So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
- for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.