《Lent》Day 17
小心羊群心理
14 我是好牧人；我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我，15 正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣；並且我為羊捨命。16 我另外有羊，不屬這圈裏的，我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一群，歸一個牧人。17 為此，我父愛我，因為我把命捨去，好再取回來。18 沒有人奪去我的命，是我自己捨的；我有權捨棄，也有權再取回。這是我從我父所受的命令。」19 猶太人為這些話又起了分裂。20 其中有好些人說：「祂是被鬼附了，而且瘋了，為甚麼聽祂的呢？」21 另有的說：「這不是被鬼附的人所說的話。鬼豈能開盲人的眼睛呢？」22 那時正是冬天，在耶路撒冷有獻殿節。23 耶穌在聖殿裏的所羅門廊下行走。24 猶太人圍著祂，對祂說：「祢讓我們猶豫不定到幾時呢？祢若是基督，就明白地告訴我們。」25 耶穌回答他們：「我已經告訴你們，你們卻不信。我奉我父的名所行的事可以為我作見證。26 但是你們不信，因為你們不是我的羊。27 我的羊聽我的聲音，我認識牠們，他們也跟從我。28 並且，我賜給他們永生；他們永不滅亡，誰也不能從我手裏把他們奪去。29 我父所賜給我的比萬有都大，誰也不能從我父手裏把他們奪去。30 我與父原為一。」(約翰福音十14-30．和修)
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to Him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:14-30. NIV)
分享：在土耳其一個村落附近，當牧羊人在吃早餐時，羊群中其中一隻羊從高處峭壁跳下而死。接著，這些牧羊人只能眼睜睜地看著其他的羊也跟著往下跳。最後，總共有1,500隻羊像發瘋一樣跳下山崖。唯一值得慶幸的是，後來跳下的 1,000隻羊落在前頭墜下的羊群身上而免於一死。據報導統計，該次事件總共死了450隻羊。
聖經常常把人比作羊(參詩篇一百3；以賽亞書五十三6；馬太福音九36)。我們像羊一樣容易分心，也容易受群體影響，寧願追隨眾人也不願聽從大牧人的智慧。值得高興的是，聖經對羊也有正面的描述。耶穌說：「我是好牧人⋯⋯我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟著我。」(參約翰福音十14、27) 所以作為羊，我們的首要問題是：我們跟從的是誰？是跟從大眾、潮流？是跟從那些世上自稱的「智慧」？還是聽從好牧人耶穌的聲音和引導？羊會盲目地一個跟著一個掉下懸崖，我們的挑戰也是一樣，就是要避免這樣的錯誤。我們每天都必須捫心自問：我有沒有聽這位好牧人的聲音？我有沒有跟隨祂？
反思：你認為自己是否一個隨波逐流、很容易被羊群心理影響的人？
行動：在今個星期作出每一個決定之先，操練先聆聽耶穌的聲音，跟隨耶穌的帶領！
Posted in CGSP Lent2024