心理学家和辅导人员都指出，来见他们的人通常会以他们选择的某部分故事来开始谈话，因为他们只想分享他们想要讲的。这是一种自我保护模式。人们需要情感机制将他们的伤口向其他可能破坏他们现状的人隐藏起来。
门徒似乎也选择保护自己，不想被耶稣伤害。他们是很兴奋地跟随耶稣的，却屏蔽了祂有关苦难和艰辛的话。他们希望祂只告诉他们，若把信心放在祂身上，他们将会获得什么。
当耶稣把地上的荣耀转谈到受难的荣耀时，他们就遮住自己的双眼，但耶稣希望他们能全面明白祂眼中的天国。耶稣说外邦人会抓住祂。门徒想，为什么祂会允许他们恨恶的人来伤害祂呢？但这正是耶稣至终使命的一部分。人子来，不是要通过战争征服世界，祂甘愿成为一个赎罪的祭，为那些恨祂的人，以及其他所有罪人，成就救恩。
耶稣曾经要祂的门徒来和祂同死。今天，当我们走在大斋期的路上，展望前面的受难日之际，是否愿意背起自己的十字架来跟随祂呢？
主啊，我知道今生难免痛苦和患难。求祢引领我忠心地跟随祢，并知道祢复活的大能必将永远得胜。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 18:31-34
31 耶稣带着十二个门徒，对他们说：“看哪，我们上耶路撒冷去，先知所写的一切事都要成就在人子身上。
32 他将要被交给外邦人，他们要戏弄他，凌辱他，吐唾沫在他脸上，
33 并要鞭打他，杀害他，第三日他要复活。”
34 这些事门徒一样也不懂得，意思乃是隐藏的，他们不晓得所说的是什么。
The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. - Luke 18:34
Psychologists and counselors point out that people who come to see them usually begin a conversation by telling selective parts of their stories, sharing only what they want to tell. This is a form of self-protection. People need emotional mechanisms to hide their wounds from others who might upset their status quo.
It seems the disciples chose to protect themselves from Jesus. They were excited about following Jesus, but they shielded themselves from his talk of suffering and hardship. They wished he would only tell them what they would gain from placing their faith in him.
They put blinders on when he detoured them away from earthly glory to the glory of suffering. But he wanted them to get the full brunt of his vision of the kingdom. Jesus said the Gentiles would grab him. But why would he allow the very people they hated to harm him? This was part of Jesus’ main purpose. The Son of Man did not come to conquer the world through war; he willingly became a sacrifice to make salvation possible for the very people who hated him—along with all other sinners.
Jesus asked his followers to come and die with him. As we walk the road of Lent, looking ahead to Good Friday, are we willing to take up our cross and follow him?
Lord, I know that pain and suffering cannot be avoided in this life. Guide me to follow you faithfully, knowing that your resurrection power will overcome for good. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
