耶稣出生的时候，到处都回荡着歌声。天使们高声欢唱，伯利恒野地的牧羊人也加入进来。救主已经来到，要救赎这个世界脱离罪和苦难！
在今天的经文中，我们看到耶稣和祂的门徒们吃完逾越节的晚餐后，一起唱了一首诗歌（参马太福音 26:17）。接着，在他们去往客西马尼园的路上，祂告诉门徒他们都会跌倒，祂自己也被击倒。祂预言自己很快就会被捉拿及被判死刑。但祂接着又说：“但我复活以后，要在你们以先往加利利去。”
耶稣怎会对结局如此有把握呢？秘诀很可能就在他们刚刚所唱的诗歌里。那首诗歌很可能就是传统上逾越节晚餐后所唱的诗篇136篇，也就是伟大的赞美诗篇（The Great Hallel）。这诗篇宣称神是万物的创造主以及祂百姓的救赎者，它讲述了旧约中神的救赎作为，并回想神一直都供应我们的需要。
我很喜欢尤金．毕德生在《信息本圣经》中对诗篇136:23-26节的解释：
“我们潦倒低落的时候，祂顾念我们，祂的慈爱永不离开。救我们免遭践踏，祂的慈爱永不离开。在难处中照顾每个人的需要，祂的慈爱永不离开。要感谢成就一切的神！祂的慈爱永不离开！”
主耶稣，感谢祢为了我们的缘故受死、复活，及进入新的生命。愿我们今天充满信心地活，因为知道祢的慈爱永不止息。奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
马太福音 26:27-32
27又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们，说：“你们都喝这个；
28因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。
29但我告诉你们，从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直到我在我父的国里同你们喝新的那日子。”
30他们唱了诗，就出来往橄榄山去。
31那时，耶稣对他们说：“今夜，你们为我的缘故都要跌倒。因为经上记着说： 我要击打牧人， 羊就分散了。
32但我复活以后，要在你们以先往加利利去。”
"When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." — Matthew 26:30
When Jesus was born, singing was everywhere. Angels burst into song, and shepherds near Bethlehem joined in. The Savior had come to redeem the world from sin and suffering!
In our reading today we find that Jesus sang a hymn with his disciples as they were finishing the Passover meal (see Matthew 26:17). Then, as they walked to Gethsemane, he told his followers they would all fall away and he would be struck down. He was predicting that he would soon be arrested and sentenced to die. But then he said, "After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
How could Jesus be so confident of the outcome? The key is probably in the hymn they had sung. It was likely the song that was traditionally sung after the Passover meal: Psalm 136, known as the Great Hallel. This psalm acknowledges God as Creator of all and as his people's Redeemer. It rehearses God's saving acts in the Old Testament and recalls that the Lord provides for us always.
I like Eugene Peterson's rendition of Psalm 136:23-26 in The Message:
"God remembered us when we were down, His love never quits. Rescued us from the trampling boot, His love never quits. Takes care of everyone in time of need, His love never quits. Thank God, who did it all! His love never quits!"
Thank you, Jesus, for dying and rising to new life for our sake. May we live confidently today, knowing that your love never fails. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
