从爱心到信心

 

马太福音15:21-28

迦南妇人恳求耶稣医治被鬼附的女儿

马太福音15:21-28记载一个迦南妇人，一个普通得连名字都没有被记下来的外邦妇人，然而，因着她是一个慈爱的母亲，一个为女儿哭求的母亲，她那伟大的母性光辉便跃然呈现在世人眼前。

这位迦南妇人好像所有母亲一样，女儿是她的骨肉，是她的传承，是她生命的延续，是她生命的本身。 她怀抱她，乳养她，教导她。 她把全部心血倾注在女儿身上，看着女儿一天天长大，聪明、漂亮、可爱，觉得自己是世界上最幸福的人。

就如所有的母亲一样，她一次次憧憬着女儿光明的未来，也一次次编织着她自己美好的梦想。 女儿是她的喜乐，女儿是她的满足，女儿是她的一切。

然而突然在某一天， 这一切都转瞬改变了。她突然发现自己的女儿得了一种怪病。女儿的病时刻揪着她的心，原来她是被污鬼附身了。时间一天天过去, 女儿的境况一天加重一天。当所有的尝试都到了尽头，这位母亲那痛苦的心被彻底的绝望扯碎了。

突然有一天，一个轰动的消息传开，拿撒勒的先知耶稣来了，一位大先知耶稣到我们这里来了。耶稣是那个犹太人的先知，那个医病赶鬼的耶稣。她听说太多关于耶稣的传说： 耶稣触摸一个长大麻风的病人， 那人立刻就洁净了；一个百夫长仆人病得医治的故事；耶稣曾吩咐一个瘫痪三十八年的瘫子站起来行走的故事；那个患了十二年血漏的女人，只是摸了耶稣身上的衣裳禭子就得痊愈的故事；她也听说过睚鲁的女儿从死里复活的故事。更让她激动的是加大拉的两个被鬼附的人，鬼被赶出后进入猪群，那群猪闯下山崖掉进海里的故事…

她还听人说过，耶稣是大先知，是大卫的子孙，是犹太人经书上所记载的那位救主弥赛亚! 耶稣竟然到这里来了，到她的村庄来了。这位迦南妇人心里说：我要起身出去迎接祂，恳求祂医治我的女儿，因为只有祂能医治我的女儿。于是她起身，安顿好女儿，便慌忙向村外跑去。

或许她心里有过犹豫：我一个女人，一个外邦女人， 一个迦南女人，耶稣会拒绝我吗？但这些问题都只一闪而过，她已顾不上这许多，因为她深知道，只有耶稣能医治她的女儿。

她不顾一切地拼命往村外跑，远远地看见耶稣和他的门徒一行人，就一边飞跑, 一边用尽全力呼喊: “主啊，大卫的子孙，可怜我，我女儿被鬼附得甚苦…”

“主啊，大卫的子孙，可怜我，我女儿被鬼附得甚苦…” 她 “不住地哭求。” 可怜这位迦南母亲，她的哭喊令人揪心。然而，“耶稣却一言不答。”（太15:23）

耶稣的反应是令人困惑的，听着一个凄苦女人的悲切呼喊，祂却是沉默，一言不答。祂的门徒却是明显地不耐烦了。犹太人讨厌外邦人，尤为痛恨迦南人，就跟耶稣吐槽：“这妇人在我们后头喊叫，请打发她走吧。” （太15:23）

“耶稣说，我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。” （太15:24）

耶稣终于开口了，但祂一旦开口说话，似乎将迦南妇人最后一道门也关闭了：“我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。”（太15:24）

迦南妇人没有放弃，她过来俯伏在耶稣脚前：“主啊，帮助我。”（太15:25）

妇人嘴里不住地说：主啊，可怜我；主啊，可怜我，救救我的女儿。

耶稣于是第二次开口说话：“不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。”（太15:26）

耶稣的回答再次重重击打在母亲的心房! 如果这个故事就停在这里，人们不禁要问：这是那位满有怜悯、恩典、慈爱的主耶稣吗？

然而，耶稣在这里说的，不是那些可怜兮兮、人见人厌、无家可归的丧家犬！或者觅食的流浪狗。耶稣在这里所说的，即希腊文中的“kunarion,” 是非常美丽的一个字，相当于英文的“puppy,” “pet”--- 即被主人娇养在膝盖上的可爱的宠物，它们有自己的房间，有充足的食物，有慈爱的主人与它们一起嬉戏、玩耍，它们被主人宠爱和宝贝。总之，它们有慈祥可亲的主人（master）。

“不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。” 也许你读到这节经文让你心寒，感觉受伤，但还是让我们看看迦南妇人的反应。她可一点儿也没有受伤害、被羞辱，被拒绝的感觉，相反地，她从主的话语中听出了希望、听到了安慰，她那忐忑、愁苦的心反而安定下来，于是从她极度的哀痛、凄苦、悲切中迸发出一种无比的机智、聪明和灵巧：

“主啊，不错。但是狗也吃它主人桌子上掉下来的碎渣儿。” （太15:27）

何等聪明、灵巧、机智、美丽的应答！这位迦南母亲理解到，耶稣的话是在问：“妇人，你愿意我做你的主人吗？”

迦南妇人完全听懂了主的话：主啊，是的，孩子桌子上掉下来的碎渣就足以满足俯伏在你脚前凄苦的女人。主啊，我愿意你永远做我的主人，因为你是我的盼望、我的拯救。

这是一位谦卑的母亲。她附伏耶稣面前，恳求耶稣怜悯她和女儿。她是一位极其聪明、机智的妇人，一位细心、美丽的母亲。迦南妇人的回答，让主耶稣甚至惊讶不已， “妇人，你的信心是大的。”（太15:28）

这位迦南人母亲对女儿那股迫切，不惜付出任何代价的爱心，叫她愿意俯伏在耶稣面前，敬拜耶稣，接受耶稣作生命的主。迦南母亲爱孩子的心转化成信靠耶稣的心。母亲的爱是伟大的，是超越性的，叫她能够超越面子问题与种族界限，最后升华到相信耶稣，敬拜耶稣，得着神救赎的恩典！

耶稣情不自禁赞叹：“妇人，你的信心是大的。”

“从那时候，她女儿就好了。” （太15:28）

迦南妇人相信主耶稣的话，结果女儿的病好了。她飞奔回家，看见她的女儿完全好了，恢复了昔日的美丽和可爱！因着信，母亲与女儿，甚至一家人都不必吃桌子掉下的渣滓，因为他们成为了神的儿女，可以坐在天国的筵席吃饭！

结论

根据福音书的记载，耶稣时常责备门徒的不信和小信，甚至主复活后门徒仍然心里愚顽不信。但这里，耶稣却是情不自禁当面对迦南妇人说，“妇人，你的信心是大的。”（太15:28）

因着信，这位迦南母亲得回了一位健康的女儿；因着信，这位迦南妇人也得着了她和一家人的救主！这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她对女儿的爱如此深厚坚强奋不顾身；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她对救主的认信是如此准确笃定不移；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的谦卑仰望是如此的真诚纯洁无暇；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的祈求祷告如此恒切而又永不言弃；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的信心如此巨大坚定而又美丽无比！

圣经说，神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子耶稣，赐给他们。神的爱超越世界母亲的爱，他爱世人甚至到舍弃自己的性命来救赎世人。耶稣为罪人死在十字架上，担当罪人受惩罚；他流血洁净和赦免世人的罪。

今天耶稣出现在这里。他与每一位母亲和孩子相遇。他要帮助每一位绝望无助的母亲；帮助每一位自我降卑的母亲。耶稣要拯救每个母亲，每个孩子，每个家庭，叫你们在今生活出蒙福，丰盛的生命，并且在来生得到与神同座吃饭的荣耀！

问题是，我们对主耶稣是否坚定的信靠他，谦卑的俯伏在他跟前，仰望他，服侍他，让他做我们什么的主，我们一家人的主？

圣灵啊！来感动世上所有的母亲与父亲，附伏在耶稣跟前，接受耶稣作生命主，做家庭的主。有耶稣作家里的主，我们就是神家里的儿女，神一定照顾家里孩子健康成长，心智成熟，走在正确的道路上，长大成才，并且赐给我们永生！

一路上有你

 

路加福音24:13-35

耶稣复活后与门徒走向以马忤斯路上

路加叙述耶稣复活后，在以马忤斯路上与两位门徒相遇。这段门徒与主相遇的经历叫我们反省自己一路走来，是如何经历到主耶稣丰盛的恩典。

耶稣复活后，他的两位门徒离开耶路撒冷, 步行到11公里外的一个村庄，以马忤斯。『耶路撒冷』对于门徒是意义深远的地方。他们曾经与耶稣凯旋进入这个宗教和权力中心。他们以为可以大展宏图，協助耶穌造反，推翻罗马政权重建犹太国。

然而，耶稣被宗教领袖诬告造反，以及亵渎上帝。耶稣被捕，接着钉死在十字架上。耶稣的门徒受到很大的打击，顿时万分沮丧和恐惧，就就四散躲藏。当中有两位门徒脸带愁容，结伴离开耶路撒冷，赶路去以马午斯。

他们进入耶路撒冷时候是兴奋和充满期待，这时候他们离开耶路撒冷，生命脱轨，陷入疑惑和忧愁。他们边走边议论耶稣复活的传闻，对此感到困惑不解。这时候有一位陌生路人，主动走过来和他们结伴而行。这个旅程故事(Travel Narrative) 将呈现什么意想不到的结果？

今天我们的人生一路走来，难免也经历到各种困扰、伤痛和疑惑，谁是我们旅途的同伴，为我们疗伤和引导我们回到正轨呢？

两位门徒正在赶路前往以马忤斯，各自沉溺在伤感和迷惑。他们没意料到复活了耶稣会出现在路上，因此他们没有留意这位陌生的同路人的容貌举子。叙述者说门徒是眼睛模糊（受限制），无法认出那人就是耶稣（16节）！

这两位门徒被本身的议程、偏执和期待所限制，无法认出耶稣。他们无法突破生命的困境、迷惑和担忧。在这光景下，耶稣主动走进他们的生命，亲自靠近他们，与他们展开同样的步伐，作他们旅程的同伴。

耶稣主动跟他们说话，为了帮助他们走出生命的瓶颈和迷失。耶稣问两位门徒：『你们一边走一边谈，是谈论什么呢？』

其中一位门徒，革流巴回答：『你是来自耶路撒冷，为何你不知道发生了什么事呢？就是有关拿撒勒人耶稣的事……』

两位门徒向这位陌生人讲述耶稣本是大有能力的先知，要来要复兴以色列，怎料罗马人和犹太领袖合谋把他钉死在十字架上。现在犹太民族得复兴的盼望幻灭了。然而耶路撒冷有谣言说耶稣复活了。死人怎么会复活的呢？

显然这两位门徒对耶稣的认识是浅薄和错误。他们掌握了表面的事实，却不明了耶稣必须死，然后复活，借此救赎罪人，并且赐给他们永生。

当他们在寻找耶稣、谈论耶稣，对耶稣信心动摇的时候，那位活生生的耶稣出现在身边，他们却没察觉。这真是反讽！

耶稣责备他们说：『无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了……』（25节）

接着耶稣耐心地为他们讲解摩西律法和先知书，叫他们明白基督的受害、死亡和复活，并不是表示终结，乃是另一个开始。这一切发生的事乃是按照父神的救赎计划。这个解说不是新事，耶稣曾经多次向门徒预言过。那时候因着他们的不信和不留心听，这些话没有发挥转化生命的力量。这位陌生的同路人，为他们讲解圣经，成了他们的圣经老师。他们二人内心一股温暖升起，感到很鼓舞与安慰。

当他们抵达目的地后，耶稣装作要继续往前行。门徒表现得很好客，强力挽留耶稣进到室内住下（28—29节）。场景就从路上转换到室内，耶稣从陌生的同路人，变成圣经老师，现在更加变成家里的客人。耶稣越来越靠近门徒。

这时候门徒透过耶稣的讲解，知识提升了，心灵也有一些体会，但仍然没有认出耶稣来。他们需要进一步经历耶稣的作为！

耶稣与两位门徒在室内进餐。耶稣突然分客为主，拿起饼来，祝福了，掰开，递给他们。这时候他们的眼睛终于打开了，认出原来这人是主耶稣（31节）！

耶稣的举动仿似他当日喂饱数千人的情景（九10—17），也是数日之前在耶路撒冷吃逾越节晚餐的情形（二十二14—23）。耶稣的一个熟悉而亲昵的动作叫门徒们彻底醒悟过来！原来这位客人就是耶稣！

耶稣一路上为门徒讲解圣经，叫他们明白神的道，再加上他们经历到主的作为，就完全醒悟了,不再被迷惑和伤感所捆绑！至此，这位受到热情款待的客人成了他们的主！

原来耶稣一直都在门徒的身边，没有离开他们。最后门徒在狂喜之下，立刻起身回耶路撒冷，回到蒙召的原点（33节）。

结论：

这段『旅程叙事』强调主耶稣在我们毫不期待的地方（以马忤斯），以我们意料之外的方式（走路、吃饭）来靠近我们，为了帮助我们突破人生的困境与迷惑。原来他一直没有离开，舍弃我们。

现在两位门徒带着真知识、满有信心和雀跃喜乐的心情，回转到正轨，回到信仰的原点——耶路撒冷。他们先前的黯淡光景逆转为信心十足与喜乐满怀。

门徒们之前带着私心拥护耶稣进入耶路撒冷。在耶稣受难的时候，他们离弃耶稣，经历惊恐、沮丧，四散。然而，耶稣没有离弃他们。耶稣爱他们爱到底，陪伴他们离开耶路撒冷一路走到以马忤斯。

这段旅程至终是扭转了门徒的软弱和迟钝。他们决志回到耶路撒冷，等候领受圣灵降临，从耶路撒冷开始到地级，延续耶稣在世上的工作。

主耶稣的带领真是奇妙！他也是这样带领我们一路走过。

应用：

这些年我们的人生路程走得顺畅吗？是否意兴阑珊、面对许多拦阻、受到许多引诱而失去方向、或者快活不知时日过，忘记了主耶稣？或者心灰意冷，舍弃了对神起初的爱？

人生旅程会经历崎岖山径、荆棘满途和试探重重，促使人偏离正道。这不是问题，真正问题是我们因着一些个人的议程、偏执和期待局限了本身的发展潜能。更严重是我们自以为失败了，沉溺在伤痛和失落中，进而怀疑主耶稣的同在，使到自己的眼目迷糊，看不见出路。

所以我们应当：

第一、放下偏执和不切实际的期待。学习等候神、容许神以我们意想不到的方式、时间表，来应允我们的祈求。无论如何都深信耶稣一直来都在我们身边，保护和祝福我们。

我们或许失去了一些心爱的，宝贵的东西，但是我们仍然耶稣啊！有基督便足够。主基督稣出现在团契里，在许许多多的同路人当中。弟兄姐妹探访我们，给我们的关怀和援手、一句安慰和鼓励的话，就显示耶稣在我们的身边。

我们要相信主耶稣一路上与我们同行。他在我们的生活点点滴滴，在最平凡的片段中，给予启迪和恩典，成为我们及时的帮助。在我们开车、购物、旅行度假、病床上、听道时候；耶稣在那里，在那里给我们讲论，给我们指引。

我们应当谦卑聆听，减少批评与仇视。这样圣灵会开启我们的眼睛，叫我们看见主耶稣就在身边，叫我们好像那两位门徒一样心中发热。

第二，邀请耶稣和我们一路同行，抓住耶稣，恳求他成为我们生命的主。这意味着我们必须放下个人的包袱、意思、偏执或“偶像”，单单渴慕主的同在。凡事交托给神，顺服神的旨意和主权。

要知道我们不是主，耶稣才是主，他知道什么是对我们最好的，他也会给我们力量胜过软弱和不足。无论是崎岖路途，高山峻岭，主与我们同行，主的恩典是够我们用的！

第三、向神的话语敞开，聆听主的话，受主的话所塑造，勇于回应神的话语的感动。这样我们的心就会火热起来，开始对神的引导敏锐起来，看见神的同在与作为。结果我们的灵命和事业都会得到复兴，回归到神给我们的命定，蒙神赐福直到福杯满溢！ 

Following the Lord and Achieving Our Divine Purposes

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Calls Peter

According to the account in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ ministry can be divided into three parts: healing and casting out demons, preaching and teaching, and calling disciples. Luke 5:1-11 records Jesus calling Peter to be among His first disciple.

Let us reflect on Peter’s calling and see what precious lessons it offers.

Let Jesus Get Into Your Boat

Jesus was preaching around the Sea of Galilee, and the crowds pressed in on Him to hear His message. The crowd was so large and space was limited — how could Jesus respond to this constraint?

He saw two boats by the lakeshore; fishermen were washing their nets. Jesus got into Simon Peter’s boat and told him to put out a little from shore. Jesus sat down in the boat and preached to the crowds on the shore.

Jesus demonstrated great creativity. By sitting on boat, Jesus showed the posture of a fisherman catching fish — but truly was catching people’s hearts!

Today, crowds of people with various needs press toward us. Jesus wants to get into your boat — into your life and resources (time, money, and talent) — so He can help meet the needs of others through you. Are you willing to let Jesus get into your boat and use you?

If we’ve passed the midpoint of life, we should wake up and not remain trapped in self-centeredness — always focused on personal enjoyment or endlessly complaining, “I’m hurt!” That only drains and depletes our lives.

Let us welcome Jesus onto the boat now. He will lead us into a wondrous new world and teach us to live for others, and to experience aa abundant, breakthrough life.

Peter was a fisherman washing his nets, not fishing. The night before, he had fished all night and caught nothing — representing life faced with many frustrations. Washing nets symbolizes repetitive, tedious, meaningless life. Is this what your life feels like now? Are you facing helplessness, boredom, meaninglessness, or loss of direction?

Jesus wants to get into your boat, guide you, work with you, help you find direction, and experience breakthroughs. He wants to help you overcome the helplessness and frustration of “washing nets,” and solve the dilemma of unfruitful efforts. Quickly let Jesus onboard!

Those Who Follow the Lord Must First Acknowledge Their Inability

After teaching, Jesus told Peter to put the boat into deep water and, together with his partners, let down their nets. A mere carpenter leading a group of fishermen to cast their nets is ironic!

Peter had already worked all night and caught nothing. If you were Peter, would you obey Jesus and go out again?

Reluctantly, Peter obeyed and put the boat into deep waters. And what happened? Wow — Peter’s net caught such a huge amount of fish that the nets were about to break! The harvest was so abundant it brought trouble.

Peter called his partners in the other boat to help. They came and filled both boats with fish, and the boats nearly sank (v. 7). God’s grace and blessing poured out so much He filled their boats and brought blessings that caused “trouble”!

When Peter saw this miraculous abundance of fish, he knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, depart from me — for I am a sinful man!” (v. 8).

Peter experienced Jesus’ display of power and holiness and felt conviction of sin. He bowed down, admitting his weakness and sinfulness. Peter knew Jesus had performed healing and deliverance miracles, but now he personally experienced that Jesus cared even for his everyday livelihood. This touched him deeply, so he naturally knelt before Jesus.

This kind of response is the first requirement for those called to serve: only such a person will truly humble themselves before God, rely on Him, and serve Him. Peter understood that people need God, not the other way around. People need God to intervene to reverse their lives.

Jesus not only redeems us from sin and heals our wounds — He also cares for our everyday needs. His caring actions make us impossible not to submit to Him.

Jesus remarkably entered Peter’s life and helped him experience change, surpass obstacles, and catch many fish. Jesus also promised Peter that in the future he would be fishers of men. In fact, Jesus sitting in the boat and speaking to the crowds on the shore had already demonstrated this — catching people like catching fish.

We might forget that we are extremely incapable and need God to intervene to transform our lives. Today, Jesus enters each of our lives unexpectedly too. Let us bow before the Lord, confess we are humble sinners, and accept Him as Lord of our lives. We must obey His commands and follow His footsteps.

Those Who Follow the Lord Experience Reversal and Transcendence

Jesus was originally a carpenter but came out to preach, even leading the way in fishing! Jesus first transcended Himself, and then helped the disciples experience change and transcendence. Jesus protected Peter’s casting of nets and brought abundant harvest, foreshadowing the future fulfillment of Peter’s being “fishers of men.”

Earlier, Peter said, “Lord, depart from me — I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). Now he and his companions left everything to follow Jesus (v. 11).

From then on, Peter’s tools were no longer fishing boats and nets, but the Word of God and the power of the Spirit. Fishing was to kill and consume fish; catching people is to lead them into life. From catching fish to catching people — from killing to giving life — from boat and net to God’s Word and power — this highlights profound transcendence.

Peter’s decision reversed him from being weak and sinful to someone no longer useless. From then on, he could work with God and accomplish entirely new work. Peter and his companions were no longer ordinary fishermen.

Do you long for your life to be reversed like Peter’s? Do you want to experience change, reversal, and transcendence?

If we rely on our own strength and boast in our own abilities, we will only end up self-pitying, abandoning our original purpose, or achieving small results. But let us respond to Christ’s call, walk with Him, and faithfully do His work — we will break through limits and achieve unexpected results!

Conclusion

Jesus said, “Do not fear; from now on you will catch men.” (v. 10).

The Lord Jesus invites believers to partake in His identity and ministry. This is more than merely encountering God or experiencing His goodness.

We are to share in the work and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of life — not just a servant who specializes in answering prayers or meeting needs. He is the one who sends us!

Today Jesus wants to reorder your time, money, and talents — shifting from self-centered satisfaction to kingdom-centered living. Then we can become true disciples of the Lord. Our lives will never be the same — they will be turned over, break through the old, and enter into greater abundance.

Jesus said to Peter and his companions, “Do not be afraid!” Indeed, we have nothing to fear. Let us not remain crowds on the shore. Come — let us get into the boat with Jesus, be His disciples, head into deep waters, and cast our nets as fishers of men…

Come, Taste the Messianic Wine

 

John 2:1-11

The Wedding at Cana: Water Turned to Wine

On the third day, a wedding was to be held at Cana, a rural area near Nazareth.

Weddings were usually held at the bridegroom’s house for about a week. People would dance, drink, and enjoy sumptuous meals. Mary, the mother of Jesus, attended the wedding and so did Jesus and his disciples.

During the banquet, the wine for the guests had finished. This disappointment was very embarrassing for the host. Well, in life, sometimes we do miscalculate. What should we do?

Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” She was gesturing to Jesus to solve the problem.

Jesus replied, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Jesus may sound somewhat disrespectful in his reply, but his mother was not displeased. She nevertheless, instructed the servants, “Do whatever he tells you!”

Although Mary did not really understand the situation, she still trusted Jesus and submitted to him. This confirms the sovereignty and transcendence of the Messiah.

Now we understand why Jesus answered in such a way, from a theological point of view.

The Gospel according to John opens in this way, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

Before anything existed, the Word, Christ Jesus was. From a human perspective, He was the son of Mary but, actually, He was the Son of God who became flesh to dwell among humanity.

The eternal Word, God the Son, has an intimate relationship with God the Father. The Father is the one who decides the hour for Jesus His Son. The hour is the timing of His ministry on earth, especially with regards to His death and glorious resurrection. This hour was to be determined by the Father.

Compared to the intimate relationship between God the Son with God the Father, Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary was an outsider who had no right to intervene. Jesus was about to enter into public ministry. Thus, his status as the Son of Mary must fade because His true identity was the Son of God, the Lord of all humanity.

In Israel’s tradition, the “third day” refers to the manifestation of the glory of God when the Law was promulgated at Mount Sinai (Exod 19:16). Jesus was glorified in resurrection on the “third day” after His death. Will Jesus display His glory on the “third day” of this wedding at Cana? The answer is “Yes”!

Jesus then commanded the servants to fill up six stone jars to the brim with water. These jars were used for the Jewish rites of purification. It is not ordinary water but concerns the Jewish religious tradition.

So, the servants filled up the jars with water. Then, Jesus commanded the servants to serve the water in the jars to the guests. And the servants did so. The servants were likewise in complete obedience to Jesus. If you were the servants, would you listen to Jesus?

When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from. He called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

Master of the feast was essentially a master of ceremonies. It was his job to call people to celebrate and to make sure the conditions for that celebration were all in place. Bottom line: It was his job to make the party great.

And when Jesus turns water into wine and saves the day; he is saying, as it were, I am the true master of the feast. I am Lord of the Feast. Jesus came to bring festival joy, to rescue lives.

The miracle of turning water into wine at Cana was Jesus’ first miracle which displayed His glory. His disciples came to believe in Him (v. 11).

The Christology of Water Turned to Wine

The miracle of turning water into wine at Cana was not Jesus’ inaugural speech but his inaugural act.

As Jesus’ ministry unfolds, we see that the hour that Jesus referred to was subsequently His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection.

In Judaism, marriage symbolizes God’s close relationship with Israel. In the New Testament, marriage symbolizes the relationship between Jesus and the Church. Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is His bride.

Besides, the Old Testament frequently uses a sumptuous feast to point to the coming of the Messianic era where God rules.

Isaiah 25:6-8 say, ““On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of this people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.”

To John, the miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana was a sign. This sign is to point to Jesus’ identity and ministry. He is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Jesus not only turned water into inexhaustible wine, it was also the best wine which was kept to the end.

This shows us that Jesus was not merely a prophet or a king like those in the Old Testament. He was not merely the kind of Messiah that people generally expected. He was indeed the Son of God who came from heaven – the Savior of the world! He is the “latter wine”, the inexhaustible best wine to satisfy the whole world.

Jesus died on the cross to bear the penalty for our sin for us, in our place. Whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. This salvation of Jesus is a feast. He is calling us to “taste and see” that the Lord is good.

Feast is a very real thing and wine is all the more a real thing! When we believe in and rest in Jesus’ salvation for us, it becomes real to our hearts. Jesus’ love is like honey, or like wine. Rather than only believing that he loves us, we can and we ought to sense the reality, the beauty, and the power of his love.

If you are filled with shame and guilt, you can come to Jesus and sense, on the palate of the heart, the sweetness of his mercy. Then you will know you are accepted. If you are filled with worry and anxiety, you can come to Jesus and you will see, with eyes of the heart, his dazzling majesty. You will be united with Jesus Christ here on the earth just like the intimacy of marriage.

Trust and Obey the Lord Leads to Transformed and Blessed Lives

In Jewish thought, the number seven signifies perfection. Six stone water jars signify imperfection. Moreover, the stone water jars were the most ordinary of objects – for the cleansing of hands and feet. This symbolizes that the Jewish law-keeping faith was impotent to patch up defects or bring about the transformation of life.

When Jesus’ mother and the servants obey the command of Christ, who is the Eternal Word, the water in the jars was transformed into the best of wine.

The wine supplied by Jesus is an allusion to the cup of the Lord’s Table, which symbolizes His sacrifice of His own life, His redemption of sinners through His precious blood, so that human life may be made complete and abundant.

Jesus came to surpass and transform the impotency of Jewish rituals. He came to accomplish in reality what the ceremonial and sacrificial laws of the Old Testament pointed to. Those who believe in Him and obey His commandment may have new life.

Human beings are limited and unable to fully grasp the potential of life. But we have Jesus. He is truly the master of feast of our lives, who is able to transform imperfections, shortcomings, miscalculation, and crises into perfection abundance and joy.

We are unable to ensure that our lives are lived wonderfully and to the full. We often experience difficulties due to our own miscalculations. We also often hurt others due to our own weak human nature.

Besides, our overcoming of obstacles in life to move on to the next level does not come from our ability to make perfect calculations or deep resources. Yes, we do our part. But we only overcome and succeed in many things by learning how to grasp the grace of God through trusting and obeying Him.

Just like Mary and the servants, let us obey the words of Jesus even though we may not comprehend what is going on. Jesus is our timely help and, today, He is still performing miracles of transformation. Jesus wants to turn the useless “water” in our lives into good use.

Come, taste the wine of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! How to do it?

We must draw near to the Lord every day, pray to the Lord, listen to His word, obey His leading, and live according to His will.

We should pray now, “Lord Jesus, please come into our lives! We pray that you perform the miracle of transformation in our lives so that negativity may be transformed into positivity and so that deficiencies and weaknesses may be transformed into abundance and strength. Please turn the useless aspects of our lives into blessing.”

Let’s desire after Him and pursue to know Him more, and serve Him diligently. Let’s offer our lives as living sacrifices to God. Only by then we may, by His grace, grow in faith, move from strength to strength.

No matter what the situation or challenges, whether we understand His work or not, we ought to humble ourselves and fear God. We must trust in God’s wisdom and action by giving thanks in everything and constantly pursue spiritual growth. This is the way of becoming Christ’s disciples, the way to grow in faith, so as to be blessed to the fullest in the Messianic feast.

The Light Has Come

 

Luke 1: 67-79

Introduction

When we welcome a guest to our midst, we smile and say out loudly “Welcome!” But in Chinese saying, it is “欢迎光临welcome the arrival of the light”.

Why do we say “welcome the arrival of the light 欢迎光临?” Probably because, since ancient times, people have yearned for light and rejected darkness. So unconsciously they use the term “arrival of the light 光临” to express their joy at someone’s presence.

In ancient times, people were indeed terrified by darkness because there was no electricity yet, so no electric produced lights to chase away the darkness after sun set. Nights were long and agonizing.

Interpretation

What does the Bible say about how things began when God created heaven and earth?

Genesis 1:1–2 says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.”

Written thousands of years ago in the Middle East, people of that time deeply feared darkness and the great waters above the abyss — these brought immense destructive power, causing people to lose direction and even their lives.

But God’s Spirit hovered over the waters, calming the waters, subduing them — meaning subduing the power of evil in that cultural background. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and separated light from darkness.

By the way, darkness was not completely eliminated but separated from light. So metaphorically speaking, evil or disasters still persist till today in the whole human history.

At that time of creation, God had not yet made the sun, the moon, or any of the light-bodies — where did the light come from? It was because God’s presence brought light. God Himself is light; and Jesus is the light of the world!

Today as we celebrate Christmas, we speak of Jesus’ birth as “God’s light arrives” — He came into the world to illuminate its darkness, bringing hope and salvation to us!

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah once wrote:

“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. In the past, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali were humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. ” (Isaiah 9:1–3)

旧约圣经《以赛亚书》记载：『从前上帝使西布伦地和拿弗他利地被藐视，末后却使这沿海的路，约旦河东，外邦人居住的加利利地得荣耀。在黑暗中行走的百姓，看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人，有光照耀他们。神会使这国民众多，使他们喜乐大增；他们喜乐起来，好像收割时候的欢喜，又像人分战利品那样的快乐。』（赛9:1-3）

More than seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah spoke this prophecy — at that time the people of Israel were oppressed and defeated by the Assyrian army, and the nation was on the verge of destruction.

Why were God’s people being attacked?

Because they did not follow God’s path. They sinned and turned away from God. Their society was filled with injustice — the rich exploited the poor, violence and tyranny prevailed, the weak and vulnerable were oppressed, orphans and widows suffered. Rulers and judges were corrupted. They had violated the covenant with God in Sinai.

In the end, God judged Israel, allowing foreign enemies to invade, their homes destroyed, lives and possessions lost.

From ancient times until today, whenever people abandon the true God and reject the true Light, they live in the darkness of sin and death — filled with suffering and despair, life gradually wasted away.

Look at our world today: how are our lives and how are our societies faring? Are we living in light and happiness, or in dark misery?

We’ve seen some countries in just thirty years go from prosperity into decline; though they still have laws and security, corruption runs rampant; ordinary people face insecurity and oppression; human trafficking and organ harvesting appear repeatedly; terrorists violently attack innocent people; unjust systems widen the rich-poor gap, and powerful oppress the weak.

Society may seem much more “advanced,” but stress and pressure on life have increased — inflation, intense competition and feeling unsecured over future. As a result, young people resist marrying or having children; many pursue an idle “lying flat” lifestyle as a silent protest. Besides, some foresee looming great-power conflicts and fear that a third world war is close at hand.

The Bible emphasizes that the root of all problems is sin — the evil that binds humanity tightly: jealousy, arrogance, pride, greed, selfishness, ruthless competition. Every person — whether a commoner, a multi-millionaire, or a nation’s rulers — can be deeply trapped by these.

We are not able to save ourselves; all we can do is sink deeper into hurt and self-destruction. What more to say, everyone of us is living towards death, and succumb to the fear of what would follow after death?

Despite all these horrible scenarios of being, Bible tells us that God is full of love and mercy — He wants to bring salvation. God raised up salvation in ancient times for the Israelites, and He still brings salvation to us today, because He is the God of redemption.

The prophet Isaiah made a promise: this land of Galilee will one day receive honor and glory. That promise was fulfilled in history after Israel was destroyed and later revived. But Isaiah’s prophecy had multiple fulfilments — ultimately it was fulfilled in Jesus.

Seven hundred years later, New Testament author Luke cites this prophecy — but included the emphasis of God’s mercy:

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78–79)

Luke points out: God, in His compassion for sinners, sent Jesus to save those living in darkness. The ancient prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus’ arrival.

After Jesus was born, He began His gospel ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:12–25). Jesus traveled around, preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, forgave sins, helped people escape the power of sin; He taught truth and led people to live in light.

Jesus not only healed and saved people in this life — He willingly was nailed to the cross by sinners to bear the punishment for sinners. He bore the sins of the world, and died the sinners’ deaths. He also rose from the dead so that those who trust in Him may have sins forgiven, obtain eternal life, and dwell in paradise with God.

Application

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) And to His disciples He said: “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

Jesus promises that those who follow Him will first receive the “light of life”; secondly, they will become “light of the world.”

Jesus has been born into the world, and come into our lives to meet us. His light shines upon our lives — how should we respond?

We should recognize that we have thus far lived in darkness, with many ugly sins and weaknesses in our hearts. Now we want to accept Jesus as our Savior, receive His light. Then Jesus will save us from darkness and sin, bring us to God; as a result, we are able to turn away from sin, break free from sin’s bondage.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as the Savior of your life — accept this light now! Even if you live surrounded by darkness, fearfully lonely in the sea of people — Jesus can give you a meaningful, abundant life.

Secondly — for those who have already accepted Jesus’ salvation and decided to follow Him — Jesus will make us reflect His true light before people. When others see that our life has changed after following Jesus, they will know that Jesus is the true and living God; and they will desire to accept His salvation and bring glory to the Father God.

For Christians, children of God, as we journey with Jesus each day, we may still fall into temptation sometimes. However, Jesus is faithful to save us to the end. He has sent the Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit will shine light on us, empower us give the strength to repent and turn away from sin. Therefore, children of God, come to the presence of God, seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation and live a glorious life.

Conclusion

The Lord Jesus came into the world, to save humanity from sin — from darkness into light; from despair into true peace. Jesus is the light of the world. Today let’s welcome Jesus, welcome the Light 欢迎光临！

The true light of Jesus Christ is here to illuminate our lives, allowing us to live in brightness. And through us, the world may see that light — so that those still living in darkness may see dawn and come into the light.