这世界总是不乏黑暗的时刻。我们可以数算历史上那些邪恶和黑暗看似掌权的时期；我们也可以回顾自己的生命，想起那些悲伤、痛苦、孤独或绝望的时期；又或者这样的时期正是现在，生命看似空虚，没有意义或目的。或许整个人生就像一个黑暗的空洞。
耶稣深深明白这种在黑暗中的痛苦，甚至更多。祂在十字架上忍受了与神分离的极大痛苦（祂降在阴间），好使我们免受刑罚；祂的身体被放在坟墓里，直到第三天从死里复活。耶稣若不在十字架上忍受那“无法言表的惨痛、苦楚和惊恐”，为我们所有人的罪付上代价，祂的救赎工作就不算完成（参海德堡要理问答，第四十四问）。祂在第三天复活胜过死亡，好使我们分享祂复活的大能，享受与神同在的新生命（参路加福音23:42-46）。
我们在基督里的新生命旅程，或许会经历黑暗时期。然而，尽管那些时期可能会很艰难，我们仍能确信：死亡、孤独和绝望绝不会得到最后的胜利，因为耶稣已经战胜了这些。当你走过生命的死荫幽谷时，要倚靠耶稣这位救主——祂认识你，并会一路与你同行，走进新生命。
赐新生命的神，求祢使我们确信祢的同在，特别在周围尽是黑暗和绝望之时。奉基督的名祷告。阿们。
哥林多前书 15:50-58
50 弟兄们，我告诉你们说，血肉之体不能承受神的国，必朽坏的不能承受不朽坏的。
51 我如今把一件奥秘的事告诉你们：我们不是都要睡觉，乃是都要改变，
52 就在一霎时，眨眼之间，号筒末次吹响的时候。因号筒要响，死人要复活成为不朽坏的，我们也要改变。
53 这必朽坏的总要变成不朽坏的，这必死的总要变成不死的。
54 这必朽坏的既变成不朽坏的，这必死的既变成不死的，那时经上所记“死被得胜吞灭”的话就应验了。
55 “死啊，你得胜的权势在哪里？死啊，你的毒钩在哪里？”
56 死的毒钩就是罪，罪的权势就是律法。
57 感谢神，使我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得胜！
58 所以，我亲爱的弟兄们，你们务要坚固，不可摇动，常常竭力多做主工，因为知道，你们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的。
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55
Life on this earth is not without dark times. We can identify periods in history when evil and darkness seemed to be in control. We can look back on our own lives and recall times of grief, hurt, loneliness, or despair. Or maybe those times are happening right now, and life seems empty of meaning or purpose. Maybe all of life seems like a dark, empty space.
Jesus knows what that’s like—and even more. On the cross he suffered the agony of complete separation from God (descending into hell) so that we wouldn’t have to—and his body was placed in a tomb till he rose to life again on the third day. Jesus’ work of salvation for us would not have been complete if he did not suffer the full punishment of “unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul” on the cross to pay the price for all our sins (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 44). And on Easter he rose in victory over death so that we might share in the power of his resurrection and enjoy new life with God. (See also Luke 23:42-46.)
Our journey into new life in Christ may take us through times of darkness. Yet, as hard as those times may be, we can be assured that death, loneliness, and despair do not have the final victory; Jesus conquered them. As you walk through valleys of shadow in your life, lean on Jesus, the Savior—who knows you and is walking with you into new life.
God of new life, assure us of your presence, especially when darkness and despair seem all around. In Christ we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
