耶稣的升天，让我们可以坦然无惧来到神面前。
有时，我们会用尊贵的言辞来描述耶稣：祂是主、是神的儿子；就如一首圣诞诗歌所说的，祂是“天降和平王… 辉煌公义光。”这些描述都是真实的，而我们也理所当然地敬奉祂为三位一体神的第二位。
然而，圣经也宣告，神的儿子成为我们当中一个人－一个有血有肉的人。耶稣取了人的样式，所以祂能够“体恤我们的软弱。”想想这是何等奇妙！既有人的样式，耶稣知道被试探犯罪时的感受－“只是他没有犯罪。”祂明白因别人的过错而受苦是怎么一回事；祂理解肉体精疲力倦和受苦时的软弱。现在，祂带着这一切人的经历，在天上神的右边作王了！
希伯来书的作者提醒我们，我们不是向一位冷漠无情的神祷告的。耶稣被称为“祭司”，祂在神面前为人的好处代求；祂曾经历过你所经历的，祂以一个已经偿还罪债者的身份，经历了这一切。
今天你是否正在受到试探？你正在受苦或感到软弱无力吗？耶稣明白你的感受；当抓紧祂和接受祂的怜悯，这样，无论你有什么软弱，你都仍然能够坦然无惧地去事奉神。
耶稣啊，“我们弱点，你都知道。”感谢你，我们可以坦然无惧向你祈求，因为我们知道你会聆听和明白我们。求你赐我们今日所需的力量。阿们。
希伯来书 4:14-16
14我们既然有一位已经升入高天尊荣的大祭司，就是神的儿子耶稣，便当持定所承认的道。
15因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。
16所以我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，做随时的帮助。
“Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven... let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” - Hebrews 4:14
Jesus’ ascension to heaven gives us confidence before God.
Sometimes we use exalted language to describe Jesus: he is Lord, and he is the Son of God. He is “the heaven-born Prince of Peace... the Sun of Righteousness,” as a Christmas hymn puts it. This is all true, and we rightly worship Jesus as the second person of the Trinity.
But the Bible also proclaims that the Son of God became one of us—a human being. Because he took on our human nature, Jesus is able to “empathize with our weaknesses.” Think of that! Jesus knows what it feels like, as a human, to be tempted by sin—“and yet he did not sin.” He understands what it is to suffer wrong from others. He grasps the weakness of physical exhaustion and pain. And now, all of that human experience rules at God’s right hand in heaven!
The author of Hebrews reminds us that we do not pray to a distant, unfeeling God. Jesus is called a “priest,” someone who represents human interests before God. He has been where you are, and he represents that experience as the one who has paid the price for sin.
Are you experiencing temptation today? Are you suffering or feeling weak? Jesus knows what that is. Hold firmly to him and receive his mercy so that you can serve God confidently, no matter what your weakness is.
Jesus, you are the one who “knows our every weakness.” Thank you that we can pray confidently, knowing that you hear and understand us. Give us the strength we need today. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
