圣经告诉我们，耶稣代我们向父神说话。罗马书 8:34说，耶稣“现今在神的右边，也替我们祈求。”在约翰一书 2:1，我们看到“在父那里我们有一位中保”， 就是耶稣，而在希伯来书 7:25，我们知道耶稣“长远活着，”替我们“祈求。”
今天的经文，描述了耶稣为我们代求的一个实际例子。起初，这段经文或许会令我们感到疑惑，耶稣为什么要差衪的门徒到湖中与狂风大浪搏斗呢？此外，衪整夜让门徒孤军作战，但衪为什么又会在黎明之前出去在水面上行走呢？
当我们正在某些困境中挣扎时，有时可能只不过是面对一场恼人的风暴，我们总会问神：“为什么？”
我们为什么会面对困境这个问题，是没有简单的答案的，然而，当门徒挣扎时耶稣为他们祷告这幅图画，就成为我们的激励了。它向我们保证，纵然我们可能感到孤单一人，神其实没有丢弃我们。耶稣来到这个世界，祂分担我们的烦恼和打败那些我们无法胜过的强敌，祂仍然在我们怕得要死的翻腾海浪上面行走呢！祂带着能力和慈爱来到我们身边。今天在天上统管万有的耶稣，仍然看顾我们；祂藉着祂的灵与我们同在，并且为我们祷告。
主啊，当我感到自己正在孤军作战时，求祢帮助我记得祢常与我同在，并且为我祷告。又求祢使用我，与人分享这个令人安慰的信息。奉祢的名祈求，阿们。
马太福音 14:22-33
22 耶稣随即催门徒上船，先渡到那边去，等他叫众人散开。
23 散了众人以后，他就独自上山去祷告。到了晚上，只有他一人在那里。
24 那时船在海中，因风不顺，被浪摇撼。
25 夜里四更天，耶稣在海面上走，往门徒那里去。
26 门徒看见他在海面上走，就惊慌了，说：“是个鬼怪！”便害怕，喊叫起来。
27 耶稣连忙对他们说：“你们放心！是我，不要怕！”
28 彼得说：“主，如果是你，请叫我从水面上走到你那里去。”
29 耶稣说：“你来吧！”彼得就从船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶稣那里去。
30 只因见风甚大，就害怕，将要沉下去，便喊着说：“主啊，救我！”
31 耶稣赶紧伸手拉住他，说：“你这小信的人哪，为什么疑惑呢？”
32 他们上了船，风就住了。
33 在船上的人都拜他，说：“你真是神的儿子了！”
"After he had dismissed them, [Jesus] went up on a mountainside by himself to pray." — Matthew 14:23
The Bible shows us that Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. Romans 8:34 says that Jesus "is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our "advocate with the Father," and from Hebrews 7:25 we learn that Jesus "always lives to intercede" for us.
What this intercession looks like is depicted in our reading for today. At first, this passage may raise some questions in our minds. Why would Jesus send his disciples out on the lake to struggle against a prevailing wind? And why, after leaving them alone for the night, would he go out to walk on the water just before dawn?
When we are in a struggle of some kind, even if it's just an annoying wind, we tend to ask God, "Why?"
There are no easy answers to our questions about struggles, but the image of Jesus praying while his disciples are struggling should encourage us. It assures us that even though we may feel alone, God has not abandoned us. Jesus came to this world to share our trouble and to defeat the powers that are too strong for us to conquer. He still walks on the churning waters of life that can frighten us so! He has come to be with us in power and with love. In heaven, ruling over all things today, Jesus sees us. Through his Spirit he is with us, and he is praying for us.
Lord, when I feel I am struggling alone, help me to know that you are with me and that you are praying for me. Use me also to share this comfort with others. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
