《耶穌所愛的雷子》Day 02

小心「雷點」

35 西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來,對耶穌說:「夫子,我們無論求祢甚麼,願祢給我們做。」36 耶穌說:「要我給你們做甚麼?」37 他們說:「賜我們的榮耀裏,一個坐在右邊,一個坐在左邊。」38 耶穌說:「你們不知道所求的是甚麼。我所喝的杯,你們能喝嗎?我所受的洗,你們能受嗎?」39 他們說:「我們能。」耶穌說:「我所喝的杯,你們也要喝;我所受的洗,你們也要受;40只是坐在我的左右,不是我可以賜的,乃是為誰預備的,就賜給誰。」41 那十個門徒聽見,就惱怒雅各、約翰。42 耶穌叫他們來,對他們說:「你們知道,外邦人有尊為君王的,治理他們,有大臣操權管束他們。43 只是在你們中間,不是這樣。你們中間,誰願為大,就必作你們的用人;44 在你們中間,誰願為首,就必作眾人的僕人。45 因為人子來,並不是要受人的服事,乃是要服事人,並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」(馬可福音十35-45)

46 門徒中間起了議論,誰將為大。47 耶穌看出他們心中的議論,就領一個小孩子來,叫他站在自己旁邊,48 對他們說:「凡為我名接待這小孩子的,就是接待我;凡接待我的,就是接待那差我來的。你們中間最小的,他便為大。」
49 約翰說:「夫子,我們看見一個人奉祢的名趕鬼,我們就禁止他,因為他不與我們一同跟從祢。」50 耶穌說:「不要禁止他;因為不敵擋你們的,就是幫助你們的。」(路加福音九46-50)


35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked.37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)


46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside Him. 48 Then He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” 49“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” 50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:46-50)

分享:除了突破個性上的弱點,所有的門徒也被耶穌多番教導要將他們的追求放在天國的價值上,而不是在地上的威望、權力和價值觀。其中衝動、張揚的兩位「雷子」更是最少兩次直接踏中「雷點」。

就在耶穌第二次預言自己的死後,雅各和約翰忽然提出在神的榮耀裡坐在左右的要求  (參馬可福音十35-45;另參馬太福音二十20-18:這要求由雅各和約翰的母親提出)。即使他們雄心壯志地認為自己能承受主的苦難 (主的杯和洗),但他們卻沒有理解清楚耶穌即將要面對的是甚麼。更甚的是,這番要求正正踏中了很多基督徒也中的「雷點」:總是以世俗的眼光去思想天國的價值。不單止是雅各和約翰,所有門徒也有此通病,只是兩位直腸直肚的「雷子」衝出來先向主請求而已;所以那十個門徒並不是義憤填膺,而是惱怒幾乎要錯過了顯赫的地位。


雅各和約翰另一次中雷,也是發生在門徒間爭論誰為大後,他們禁止其他人奉主的名趕鬼,這反映了他們沒有重視被鬼附的人得醫治,而只見到主的力量和權柄被他人挪用。(參路加福音九46-50)

面對所有門徒總是熱衷以權力、管束的方式思想主的榮耀和神的國,耶穌反覆地說明天國的價值是:作大的,反而要作僕人,服侍最小的;正如耶穌來也是要捨命,作多人的贖價。

事實上,保羅已告訴我們「祂又叫我們與基督耶穌一同復活,一同坐在天上。」(以弗所書二6) 我們要爭取的不是主身邊的座位,而是與主同犧牲和服侍,在主的國度裡與主坐在一起。約翰後來也提醒我們:「不要愛世界和世界上的事⋯⋯這世界和其上的情慾都要過去,惟獨遵行神旨意的,是永遠常存。」(約翰壹書二15、17) 

反思:我們今天有沒有踏中「雷點」:以世俗的眼光去思想天國的價值?

禱告:親愛的天父,感謝祢以雅各、約翰,以及門徒爭高位的事提醒我們天國的價值是在於服侍和犧牲,正如主耶穌為我們所行的一樣。求祢讓我們時刻保持警醒,也不要以世俗的事局限了我們理解祢的教導;又讓我們以服侍和犧牲仰望與你同坐在天上的盼望。奉主名主,阿們。