一个人会在什么时候感到最沮丧呢?有很多人说,就是当他们被父母、配偶、或朋友完全离弃的时候。
因为我们的罪,耶稣被神离弃,在地狱受苦难折磨;如果衪没有为我们偿还罪债,我们便永远不能来到神面前,因为任何邪恶或污秽都在神面前站立不住(玛拉基书3:1-2;启示录 15-17章)。于是,耶稣亲身背负了我们的罪,代替我们被神离弃。
被钉在十字架上濒临死亡时,耶稣引用诗篇22篇所说的:“我的神!我的神!为什么离弃我?”为了我们,耶稣在十字架上受苦,完成了救赎世人的大功。
有些人感到疑惑,他们说:“一个人的牺牲,怎能拯救那么多人呢?”不过,我们必须记着,耶稣本是神,所以耶稣之死的价值是不能以数量来评估的,它的价值乃是在于它的本质。耶稣是万主之主和万王之王,衪比所有人类都尊贵,所以,衪的死偿还所有罪债,轻而易举;衪的牺性拯救世人,绰绰有余。耶稣的宝血能永远洗净我们所有的罪。
耶稣被神离弃时,衪遭受的痛苦必定是极度难以忍受的!让我们来回想衪的呼喊和默念衪所受的苦 - 同时也来感谢神奇妙的恩典吧!
亲爱的神,你赐下你的独生子为我们死,藉此偿还了我们所有的罪债,我们感谢你。求你带领我们过感恩的生活,为你的慈爱和恩典感谢你。奉耶稣名祈求,阿们。
马太福音 27:45-50
45从午正到申初,遍地都黑暗了。
46约在申初,耶稣大声喊着说:“以利!以利!拉马撒巴各大尼?”就是说:“我的神!我的神!为什么离弃我?”
47站在那里的人,有的听见就说:“这个人呼叫以利亚呢!”
48内中有一个人赶紧跑去,拿海绒蘸满了醋,绑在苇子上,送给他喝。
49其余的人说:“且等着,看以利亚来救他不来。”
50耶稣又大声喊叫,气就断了。
"About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')." - Matthew 27:46
When would a person be most disheartened? Many people say that would happen if a parent, spouse, or friend totally forsakes them.
Jesus was forsaken by God and suffered the torments of hell because of our sins. If he didn't pay the price for our sins for us, we could never be in God's presence. Nothing sinful or impure can stand in the presence of God (Malachi 3:1-2; Revelation 6:15-17). So Jesus took our sins upon himself and was forsaken in our place.
Jesus spoke the words of Psalm 22 as he hung dying on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus completed our salvation as he suffered for us on the cross.
Some have doubts, saying, "How could so many people be saved through one man's death?" Well, we must remember that Jesus himself is God. So the value of Jesus' death cannot be measured by quantity, but by its quality. Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, is more precious than all humankind, so his death could easily pay the price of all human sin. His sacrifice is more than enough to save us. Jesus' precious blood washes away our sins forever.
How excruciating that pain must have been for Jesus when he was forsaken by God! Think upon Jesus' cry and meditate on his sufferings—and give thanks for God's amazing grace!
Dear God, we thank you for giving your one and only Son to die for us, paying the price for all our sins. Guide us to live in gratitude for your amazing love and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳