闭口不说

“‘若是他们闭口不说，这些石头必要呼叫起来。’” – 路 19:40

　　这个月，我们一直在思想作门徒——跟从基督的人——的意思，然而，谈到耶稣怎样建造跟从祂的人的信心，我们只不过有皮毛的认识而已。祂邀请他们同走天路，每一步祂都与他们同行；祂教导、鼓励、和督责他们，并且接纳每一个人的真面目。祂不会把他们丢在路旁自生自灭，纵使他们弄得一团糟，祂也不会放弃他们。

　　耶稣也同样呼召我们每一个人，在生活的每一个层面上都跟从祂，不计较祂领我们往那里去。在我们除去旧我和我们自己的野心时，祂激励我们要真诚和忠心地为祂而活。

　　在今天的经文中，耶稣的门徒跟随祂进入耶路撒冷，并宣告祂是王（虽然祂很快便会为世人的罪牺牲自己的性命，然后在荣耀里战胜死亡）。他们全心全意赞美祂，又尊祂为他们的救主。当宗教领袖们告诉耶稣，要祂吩咐门徒安静下来时，祂说，若是他们闭口不说，那么，石头也会开口赞美祂的。石头是不可能开声呼叫的，同样，跟从耶稣的人也不可能不开口赞美祂。

　　耶稣的门徒的任务就是跟从祂——将荣耀、尊贵和赞美归与祂，他们不断以祂为榜样，在任何境况之下，他们都全心全意赞美祂。作为跟从耶稣的人，我们也有同样的任务。

父啊，求祢帮助我们去跟从耶稣，又在我们活着的每一天赞美祂。奉衪的名祈求，阿们。

28 耶稣说完了这话，就在前面走，上耶路撒冷去。
29 将近伯法其和伯大尼，在一座山名叫橄榄山那里，就打发两个门徒，说：
30 “你们往对面村子里去，进去的时候，必看见一匹驴驹拴在那里，是从来没有人骑过的，可以解开牵来。
31 若有人问为什么解它，你们就说：‘主要用它。’”
32 打发的人去了，所遇见的正如耶稣所说的。
33 他们解驴驹的时候，主人问他们说：“解驴驹做什么？”
34 他们说：“主要用它。”
35 他们牵到耶稣那里，把自己的衣服搭在上面，扶着耶稣骑上。
36 走的时候，众人把衣服铺在路上。
37 将近耶路撒冷，正下橄榄山的时候，众门徒因所见过的一切异能都欢乐起来，大声赞美神，
38 说：“奉主名来的王是应当称颂的！在天上有和平，在至高之处有荣光！”
39 众人中有几个法利赛人对耶稣说：“夫子，责备你的门徒吧！”
40 耶稣说：“我告诉你们，若是他们闭口不说，这些石头必要呼叫起来！”

Quiet

“If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” — Luke 19:40

英语音频 English Audio

This month we have reflected on what it means to be a disciple, a follower, of Christ. Yet we have barely scratched the surface of how Jesus formed the faith of the people who followed him. He invited them on the journey and walked with them every step of the way. He challenged them to grow and learn. He taught, encouraged, and admonished them, accepting each one for who they were. He didn’t leave them by the roadside to fend for themselves, and he didn’t abandon them when they messed up.

Jesus calls each of us also to follow him in all areas of life, wherever that may lead. He encourages devotion and loyalty as we die to ourselves and our own ambitions and live for him.

In our passage for today, Jesus’ disciples follow him into Jerusalem, proclaiming him as king (though soon he will lay down his life for human sin, and then rise in victory over death). They praise him with every part of their being, honoring him as their Savior. When the religious leaders tell Jesus to keep his disciples quiet, he says that if they remain silent, even the rocks will praise him. As impossible as it sounds for rocks to cry out, it’s impossible for Jesus’ followers not to praise him.

The task of Jesus’ disciples is to follow—to give him glory, honor, and praise. They continually point to him as their example. And they praise him in every situation with all of their being. That is our task too as followers of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, help us to follow Jesus and to praise him every day of our lives. In his name we pray. Amen.