主啊，让我看见！就能跟从你。

马可福音十46-52

耶稣医治瞎子巴底买

耶利哥位于耶路撒冷东北方26公里左右。耶稣离开耶利哥，正要进入耶路撒冷。这时候在路旁坐着一位瞎子乞丐，称为巴底买，就是底买的儿子的意思（46节）。他连自己的名字也没有，显然身份低微。他可能是天生瞎眼，从小在街道求乞。

巴底买听到耶稣路过时，知道机会来了，大声喊叫：『大卫之子耶稣啊，可怜我吧！』（47节）

以大卫之子的称号进入耶路撒冷，叫人联想到犹太人对君王弥赛亚降临，复兴以色列的期望。巴底买的疾呼是先知性的，揭露了耶稣作为拯救者的身份和使命。这是政治禁忌，巴底买却不顾一切呼喊耶稣。他显然对耶稣真的有信心。群众感却是到厌烦，阻止他叫嚷。

巴底买反而越发大声喊叫（48节）！巴底买对耶稣的信心是坚定的。

耶稣没有禁止巴底买如此呼叫。这是耶稣第一次没有禁止人宣称他是弥赛亚，大卫的子孙，因为他这时候已经豁出去，正要揭露自己的身份。耶稣现在出了耶利哥，就要走进耶路撒冷，走到人生最后的阶段了。

圣经记载，当耶稣进入耶路撒冷，群情汹涌。群众夹道欢呼：『和撒那，奉主名来的是应当称颂的！那将要来的我祖大卫之国是应当称颂的！高高在上和撒那！』（十一9-10）

耶稣进入耶路撒冷受拥立的情况印证了耶稣是大卫子孙，继承王位的身份。

耶稣听见巴底买的呼喊声就停下脚步，差派人去带巴底买过来。巴底买非常顺服耶稣的呼召。他喜出望外，立刻丢下衣服，跳起来，走到耶稣那里(50节)。这衣服是用来收纳和包裹路人施舍的金钱。巴底买连这找吃工具也毅然丢弃了，表示他很相信耶稣是大卫的子孙，能够医治他。

耶稣问巴底买：『你要我为你做什么？』

瞎子说，我要能看见（51节）！

耶稣对他说：『你去吧！你的信救了你。』

瞎子立刻看得见，就在路上跟随耶稣（52节）！

我要看见，因为我要跟从耶稣走在苦路上

巴底买向耶稣要求的，是超越金钱。他要得看见，他就立刻得看见了。耶稣医治了他。耶稣也赐给他超越他的要求，不单医治他的瞎眼，也让他蒙恩得救，因为耶稣对他说：『你的信救了你。』

我们看见一点更重要：巴底买得看见之后，就在路上跟随耶稣，朝向耶路撒冷前进（参下文十一章）。

巴底买相信耶稣，也顺服耶稣的呼召来到他的跟前。他向耶稣要求得看见，原来是要在路上跟随耶稣，做耶稣的门徒。巴底买从“坐在路边”的瞎子乞丐，转化成一个“走在路上”的耶稣的门徒！

所以说，这不单止是一个寻求耶稣医治的神迹故事，这也是一个蒙恩得救的故事。更重要的，这是一个舍己跟从耶稣，作主门徒的故事。

巴底买在路上跟随耶稣，而这条路乃是一条顺服神的旨意、舍己、受苦的路。何以见得？

上面三处经文（八31；九31；十33—34），耶稣曾经三次预言自己将进入耶路撒冷受难受死。所以说，这条进入耶路撒冷的道路，是苦路，是受难之路。

从经文脉络来看，我们发现耶稣治好巴底买的叙述，结束于马可福音八22至十52整个大段落。这个段落以两个瞎子开眼的神迹作为开首和结尾。

巴底买出现是属于后面得看见的瞎子，而前面也有一个看得见的无名瞎子出现在伯赛大（八22—26）。耶稣按手医治这第一个瞎子，他开了眼但是看不清楚。耶稣接着第二次为他按手，他才看清楚。

为何耶稣必须两次按手才彻底叫这位瞎子清楚看见？难道是耶稣的医治能力不够，因此需要两次按手在他身上？

原来这是叙述者写作的修辞策略。他透过第一个瞎子（在伯赛大）逐渐看见，预示（foreshadow）门徒也是渐进地，缓慢地认识耶稣的身份和作门徒的身份。

所以当耶稣医治好第一个瞎子（在伯赛大）之后（八22—26），就出现彼得认耶稣为基督（八27—30）。这表示门徒的『眼睛』也开了！然而，耶稣第一次预言受难时候，彼得又拉住耶稣，阻止耶稣上去（八31—33）。显然，门徒还是不明白，耶稣是一位受苦的基督。

耶稣接着第二次预言受难，然后门徒在路上争论谁最大（九34）。之后耶稣第三次预言受难，再出现雅各和约翰要求在耶稣荣耀来到时，他们二人可以坐在耶稣的左右（十37）。

上述的耶稣三次预言受难，而门徒却以满足本身利益来回应，突显门徒是不明白耶稣的道路是顺服父神，受苦至死的道路。

其次，耶稣也是这样问雅各和约翰：『你要我为你做什么？』而他们回答说：『在你的荣耀里，我们一个要坐在你的右边，一个要坐在你的左边。』（36—37节）

因此我们可以断言说，门徒当时眼睛是开了，认识耶稣是基督，但是他们还是看得模糊。他们不懂跟从耶稣，做门徒的真意。他们追求的是个人的地位、个人的荣誉和个人的享受。耶稣也当面斥责门徒不知道作门徒的代价（38节）。

很讽刺的，门徒们先前所想象要分享“耶稣的荣耀”，稍后发现那是羞辱的十字架。而有分处于耶稣两边的，是两位被钉十字架的强盗！

第二个瞎子，巴底买出现了（在耶利哥）。他一次过就完全得看见。在属灵上，他也看见耶稣是弥赛亚，受苦基督的身份和使命。他的看见，预示门徒的属灵眼睛，在耶稣受难复活后，最终也能够看得一清二楚，并且他们的信心也能刚强起来，正如耶稣对巴底买说：『你的信心治好你了！』（52节）

除此之外，我们还注意到巴底买的信心和跟随主的心志，乃是逆转上文那位财主的过失，因他不愿意丢弃所有来跟从耶稣，却是忧忧愁愁地走了，未成为耶稣的门徒（21—22 节）。

总而言之，财主和门徒们被财富、权力和身份蒙住了自己的眼睛。他们不明白耶稣是受苦弥赛亚的身份和使命。他们也没有付代价作主耶稣真正的门徒。但是巴底买凭着信心，回应耶稣呼召。

巴底买的属灵和属肉体的眼睛即时打开，看见耶稣的身份和使命。他又愿意跟随耶稣，走在苦路上。他愿意付代价作主的门徒。

结论、

巴底买的出现，扭转了财主和门徒们的过失和误解。在耶稣即将进入耶路撒冷受难时候，巴底买出现，向马可福音的读者招手，发出一个做主真门徒的邀请。他邀请我们完全的信靠主、回应主的呼召、丢下自己的外衣，来到主的跟前；然后眼目被主打开、蒙恩得救，看见前面的“苦路”，也愿意付出代价，走在路上跟随耶稣。

『信心、回应主的呼召、跟随主受苦』乃是作主门徒不可缺的要素。

应用、

今天我们还是以往那般信靠主耶稣，相信他的带领总是为了我们好处吗？可能我们因着忙碌的生活而开始疏远了神，或是在服事上退下，要走一条轻轻松松的自我中心的路？可能我们的信心也冷淡了，开始怀疑神的同在？可能我们的行事为人和服事态度，是依靠自己的力量和财富，以及身边的有力人士？

今天主耶稣同样问我们：『你要我为你做什么？』我们怎么回答呢？

我们向神求事业、学业的成功，以及求神给我们健康。这样的要求没有错的，但是关键在于我们追求这些为了什么？单单是个人的舒适、个人的好处和个人的享受吗？如果是这样，我们就好像门徒那样，眼目开启了，但是还是处于视觉迷蒙的阶段，还看不清楚！

神一路来保守我们，赐福我们各式各样的福气，为了使到我们能够更好地来跟随耶稣、效法耶稣、做耶稣真正的门徒。现在我们好像巴底买那样，从坐在路旁，进而丢下外衣、跳起来、然后在路上跟随耶稣！

纵然跟随耶稣进入耶路撒冷受苦，我们也跟随到底，愿意付出作主门徒的代价。我们会遇见困难、逆境、遭受损失、旁人的诋毁和逼迫，但也不后退。

我们低头祷告：

『主啊，我要能看见！我要能看见如何更好地来装备自己，预备自己，成为一位合主心意门徒。』

『我要能看见这个世界、看见我的国家，我的社会所面对的问题和挑战』

『我要能看见圣经的话语如何成为这个时代的信息，如何回应这个时代的弊端。』

『我要能看见如何能够为主耶稣基督做光做盐！』

『我要看见在哪方面可以施援手，帮助身边有需要的人，以及帮助教会茁壮成长……。』

Open My Eyes Lord So That I Can Follow You

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

Introduction

There is a blind man left his village and followed the winding path through the forest. He was on his way to see his friend in the neighbouring hamlet. After his arrival, the two friends spent many happy hours together. At last, it was time for the blind man to return to his village.

"I want to go home now," the blind man said, "it is already nightfall. Please give me a lantern to carry it along the way home."

"Lantern? What good is a lantern to a blind man?" his friend asked.

"It is to avoid accidents. It will help other travellers on the narrow path see me coming." The blind man answered.

With this thought in mind, the blind man took the lantern; thanked his friend, and went on his way. While plodding along the meandering path, he enjoyed the cool, fragrant mist which enveloped both him and the sound of chirping crickets. However, imagine his surprise when nearly home, he suddenly collided with a huge man.

"Fool! Why don’t you watch where you’re going?" the big man shouted.

"Why didn’t you see my lantern?" asked the blind man.

"Lantern? Oh, yes, . . . Well, the candle is out!"

So, a lantern is not much help to a blind man after all. This story reminds us that many of us think that we can see and we are carrying a lantern to light up the dark for others to see. But actually, we are blind and we don’t realise that the light of our lanterns has gone off.

Interpretation

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As they were leaving Jericho together with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard, it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out, "Son of David, Jesus! Have mercy on me!"

By using 'Son of David entering Jerusalem', he echoed the popular expectation of a Messiah who was to come to revive Israel. This phrase likens to a political taboo under Roman rule. Many people rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet, yet Bartimaeus shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

The fact that Bartimaeus is not dissuaded but shouts out all the more confirms the depth of his faith in Jesus!

Jesus stopped, and said to the people, "Call him."

So, the people called the blind man, "Cheer up, and get up! He’s calling you."

Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside, jumped up and came to Jesus. The cloak was used to store the charity money collected from begging. So Bartimaeus, without a care, abandoned his ‘rice bowl’ to respond to Jesus’ calling. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah, who would surely heal him.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see!"

Jesus said: "Go, your faith has healed you."

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way!

Bartimaeus wanted more than money. He wanted to see. More importantly, after he had received his sight, he followed Jesus on the way, the way leading to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus wanted to see because he wanted to follow Jesus. He wanted to be a disciple of Jesus! What kind of way are Jesus and Bartimaeus leading to?

It’s the way of obedience to God’s will, the way of self-denial and long-suffering. How do we know this?

In the preceding texts (8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34), three times, Jesus predicted that He would enter Jerusalem to suffer and die. So, the way to Jerusalem is definitely the suffering road.

From the context of the Scripture, the Bartimaeus' account was the ending of the section of 8:22-10:52. In this section, the two blind men receiving their sight formed the inclusio, i.e the 'frame' for this section of text. Bartimaeus was the last blind man who echoed the first blind man from Bethsaida (8:22-26).

At Bethsaida, Jesus had spit on the blind man’s eyes and put his hands on him. He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more, Jesus put His hands on the blind man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Why did Jesus need to lay His hands twice on the blind man to heal him?

This is a rhetorical strategy of the narrator; the first blind man in Bethsaida who gradually received his sight, indicated that the disciples shall also gradually come to understand Jesus as the suffering Messiah who would give His life to bring salvation to all. They would also come to understand the cost of discipleship.

Immediately after Jesus had healed the first blind man at Bethsaida, Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah, so the disciples' 'eyes' were opened! However, when Jesus predicted His death for the first time, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But Jesus in turn rebuked Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (8:33)

Then the text moved on to the account where Jesus predicted his death a second time, the disciples had on the way argued about who was the greatest (9:34). Later when Jesus predicted His death a third time, James and John came to him. Jesus asked them the same question that He would later asked Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?" (10:36)

They replied, “Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.”

Even though the disciples had recognized Jesus as the Messiah, they did not see clearly. They did not know what true discipleship was. Instead, they pursued their own power, prestige, status, glory and comfort. For this, Jesus rebuked them.

Ironically, the disciples who had wanted to share 'the glory of Jesus', later found out that this “glory” was the humiliating cross, and on both sides of the cross, two criminals stood crucified.

However, for the second blind man, Bartimaeus from Jericho; he was completely healed at once and he received his sight. This healing act indicated that the disciples' spiritual eyes would finally see clearly and have faith in Jesus after His resurrection, just as Jesus had commended Bartimaeus, ‘Your faith healed you!’

In addition, we also noted that Bartimaeus' faithful act of following Jesus reversed the act of the rich man whose face fell and went away sad when he was challenged to follow Jesus, because he had great wealth. (10:22)

The rich man and the disciples were blinded by wealth, power, status, prestige and glory. They had not really understood who Jesus was. However, both Bartimaeus’ spiritual and physical eyes were opened and he became a true disciple of Christ.

Conclusion

Bartimaeus reversed the rich man's refusal to follow Jesus. He also reversed the disciples’ misunderstanding of discipleship. As Jesus was entering into His Passion, Bartimaeus was waving to us, the readers of Mark, to give us a model of true discipleship to imitate. The true disciple will walk on the way of Jesus—the way to suffering.

Application

Dear brothers and sisters! You are to trust the Lord firmly. Call out to Him and when He summons you, put everything aside and go to Him. And when He asked you what you want Him to do, go for it. Don’t look back at the small, selfish comforts of victimhood but ask for freedom, for salvation.

Don’t ask "What can the church do for me?" but rather "What can I do for the church?" And when you get it, be prepared to follow Jesus wherever He leads, even to a suffering road.

Today, do we trust in Jesus, and believe that following His steps is always good for us?

Maybe we have been too busy with ourselves and pushed God to the edge of our lives; our love for God fading, our service to Him also dwindling; we grow cold or even doubt God's presence; or we become dependent on our own wisdom and wealth or the powerful people around us, rather than clinging to God alone. Maybe we are already blind and we also don’t realize our lanterns are no more shining.

Today, our Lord Jesus is asking you the same question: "What do you want me to do for you?”

We pray to God for health and wealth, for success in our careers and studies. There is nothing wrong in asking for such blessings, but the crux is, “Why are we pursuing these?" If it is just for personal gain and comfort, we would be like the disciples, though our eyes are opened, yet they are still blurred in vision!

The Lord is good to us. He has indeed led us all the way, given us enough grace to move up the ladder among the successful, in order that we can be better equipped to follow Christ, to imitate Christ, to be disciples of Christ.

Let’s now act like Bartimaeus: spring up from our seats at the sideline, throw aside our cloak, and follow Jesus all the way, even if the way leads to suffering and servanthood. Along the way, we will encounter difficulties, setbacks, losses, slanders or persecutions, but do not retreat. We shall overcome as Christ has overcome on our behalf on the cross.

Let’s offer this prayer to the Lord:

O Lord Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me, I want to see!  I want to see how to be better equipped to be a disciple after your own heart. I want to see the problems that this world, my country and my society are facing. I want to see how I can contribute to overcome these problems and overcome the evils prevailing. I want to see how I can deliver the words of the Scripture as a relevant message to this world. I want to see how I can be the salt of the world and to shine for Jesus. I want to see in what way I can help my fellow brothers and sisters, also help the local church to grow from strength to strength…...

耶稣教我忙而不盲

马可福音1:21-39

耶稣在忙碌中退到旷野祷告

引言、

现代社会的特色是每个人都很忙碌做事，以及一心追求经济成长。因此多数人都很难安静下来思想人生的意义和与上帝默契沟通。人们一回到家就习惯了扭开电视机，不是要看电视，只为了听到电视声响。

目前武汉肺炎的病毒肆虐，世界各地都有封城行动。人们无可奈何必须过一种自我隔离的安静生活。我们就趁这机会进行安静和独处的属灵操练。

我们来看看马可福音描绘耶稣一天的生活。基本上耶稣很忙碌服事人们各种需要，但他也刻意抽出时间，退到旷野去进行安静和独处的属灵操练—俗称“灵修”。

马可福音的叙事展示一股紧凑的氛围。全书只有16章，其他的福音书都有二十多章。在马可福音，我们发现一个希腊文副词，『立刻εὐθὺς』出现了42次。单单在第一章就已经出现11次，譬如：

他从水里一上来，立刻看见天裂开了（1:10）。

圣灵立刻把耶稣催促到旷野里去（1:12）。

他们立刻舍了网，跟从他（1:18）。

耶稣立刻呼召他们，他们就把父亲西庇太和雇工留在船上，跟从了耶稣（1:20）。

他们到了迦百农，耶稣立刻在安息日进了会堂教导人（1:21）。

当时，会堂里立刻有一个污灵附身的人（1:23）。

耶稣的名声立刻传遍全加利利周围地区（1:28）。

还有其他经文等……。

马可福音的叙事很紧凑，给人感到“匆匆忙忙”。马可好像要告诉读者，神的国度有许多事情要做，而时间不够，因此必须立刻行动。这种情况正正反映我们今天生活：每天都忙碌做事，一刻无法空闲下来。

我们来细看第一章所记载耶稣在一天内的工作流程：

耶稣在安息日进了会堂教导（21节）。正在教导之际，有污灵附身的人出现，耶稣为他赶鬼（23节）。赶鬼之后，耶稣离开会堂，去到西门和安德烈的家。西门的岳母刚好生病，有人立刻求耶稣医治她。耶稣医好了她（29-31节）。耶稣离开了西门的家，傍晚时分，又有人带了一切生病的和被鬼附身的，来到耶稣的跟前，而且全城的人都聚集的门前，耶稣都治好了他们（32-34节）。

我们注意到，耶稣是超时工作的。黄昏直到天色暗了，耶稣还在为病人祷告和赶鬼。耶稣和生活在都市里的你和我一样的忙碌，随时都做超时工作。

马可记述耶稣忙碌的生活，不仅是要告诉我们，耶稣和我们一样忙碌；也不仅是要告诉我们，一位认真事奉神的人是这样忙碌的。马可更加是提醒我们，要像耶稣那样的忙而不盲！耶稣如何做到忙而不盲呢？ 我们从两方面来思考耶稣如何『忙而不盲』：

第一、忙碌中退到旷野，独处和安静做灵修

35节说：『次日早晨，天未亮的时候，耶稣起身，到旷野地方去，在那里祷告。』

为何耶稣是神，有神性，还是需要祷告？因为耶稣也是完全的人，他必须向父神祷告，与父神保持密切的关系，从中获得圣灵充满的力量。这就是耶稣事奉生命成功的秘诀。

耶稣以一个完全的人的身份，透过锲而不舍的灵修生活，获得圣灵充满的力量，走过一趟人当走的路。耶稣作为末后的亚当，代表全人类胜过魔鬼试探，完全顺服神至死，来为人类成全救恩。耶稣还靠着圣灵的能力施行医治释放的神迹奇事。

耶稣的人性样式和行动为我们立下榜样，叫我们也和他一样，当天天追求与父神契合，饮于圣灵的力量泉源，去奔跑天路和事奉神。我们今天是没有借口无法效法基督，过得胜的生活。

耶稣没有因为生活忙碌，身体疲倦，就无力祷告。耶稣也没有因为生活忙碌，而迷失方向，就忘记祷告。耶稣更没有因为生活忙碌，时间不够用，就不要祷告。相反地，耶稣就是因为生活太忙碌，他必须一大清早就退到旷野去祷告。

耶稣是工作到天黑才收工，过后在天色还是黑的时候，就出门祷告去，要开工了！对于生活在城市中，每天忙碌工作的我们，也当在忙碌中保持清醒，而不是在忙碌中迷失了，盲目了。

我们忙碌服事神的家，也可能会使到我们忽略了独处，安静的灵修生活。我们当警惕，当重新安排工作流程，以便腾出时间来做灵修，就算每天十五分钟也好。

我们来温习很重要的几点：

不要让忙碌工作吞没我们亲近神的时刻；要从忙碌中推到旷野去亲近神，向神祷告；跟随主耶稣的脚踪，每天与神默契沟通；提醒自己生命的优先次序首要是亲近神；谨守连续固定的灵修生活，不是危机来到才亲近神，向神祷告。

我们在独处，安静做灵修时，开始可以唱诗，然后做读经，默想经文。我们也可以阅读『灵命日粮』。接着我们向神祷告，把心中的意念和需求向神倾诉，然后安静聆听神微小的声音向我们说话。

我们现在就决志，从今天起，会抽出时间来单独与神默契沟通，这样我们就必然灵命充沛，事奉有力量。

第二、专注完成使命

37节说，西门和同伴出去寻找耶稣，并且追上了耶稣。他们不是跟从耶稣，其实是妨碍耶稣安静的祷告。他们的行为比得上魔鬼在旷野试探耶稣，要击垮耶稣。他们希望把耶稣带回到迦百农。他们和耶稣曾经在那个地方拥有成功耀眼的服事。彼得对耶稣说：『众人都在找你！』（28节）

然而，耶稣服事的原则是『持续寻求和遵从神的旨意，好完成神颁下的使命』。

耶稣在祷告后，更加清楚自己的使命；他也摆脱了人们的需求和服事成功的虚荣带来的牵绊；他也重新得力，就立刻整装待发，宣告说：『我们可以往别处去，到邻近的乡村，我也好在那里传道，因为我是为这事出来的。』

于是他走遍全加利利，在他们的会堂传道，并且赶鬼（38-39节）。

我们看见耶稣很专注在完成天父托付他的使命。耶稣一生人都在寻求神的旨意和完成神交付的使命。他没有被短暂的成功和人们盛情难却所蒙蔽。他也没有因为持续前进会遇到苦难而放弃使命。纵然耶稣真的很忙碌，有太多的事情等着去做，他定意专注完成父神给予他的使命。耶稣的眼目永远定睛在未来，为神作新事。

在耶稣死在十字架前的晚上，他扬言说：『父啊，我已经在地上荣耀你了，因我完成了你托付我的工作。』（约翰福音十七4）但是门徒却不然；他们要追回耶稣来，阻碍耶稣完成天父给他的使命。他们也多次阻止耶稣上十字架。

总结来说，我们看见：

耶稣没有因为生活忙碌，喘不过气，就放弃使命；耶稣也没有因为生活忙碌，要付代价，就减少服事；耶稣更没有因为生活忙碌，获得一定的成就和众人的称赞，就停留在那里而忘记持续前进的使命。

结语、

我们的生活也充斥许多立刻要做的事情。我们立刻要出席会议、立刻要上课、立刻要交功课、立刻要做家务、立刻要赴约、立刻要去谈生意、立刻要吃大餐、立刻……、立刻……。

其实每位老板和国家政府都很高兴看到人们很忙碌，只懂得work hard and play hard，因为这样生活的人就会忙与盲，把神的使命、美善、理想和社会公义都置诸脑后，不会对现状提出诸多批判和谋求改变。

我们来跟从耶稣的脚踪，在忙碌的生活中忙而不盲。我们就必须确定：

在忙碌的生活中，不忘记来到神的面前有灵修的时刻，向神祷告，认罪悔改，与神契合沟通，借此支取圣灵充满的力量来应付每一天生活的挑战。

在忙碌的生活中，我们要持之以恒，完成手头上的任务。在忙碌的生活中，我们回应圣灵在我们内心的感动，跨出安全区，跨出旧框框，发展和加深我们的服事。

在忙碌的生活中，我们不忘记曾经向神许下的诺言，那是神曾经给予我们的呼召和使命。我们要重新加把劲，一定要完成神托付我们的工作。

我们来求告神，寻求神的帮助。圣灵啊，充满我们，给我们力量，叫我们：不要因为生活忙碌，喘不过气，就放弃使命；不要因为生活忙碌，要付代价，就不理会使命；不因为有太多的事情可以做，而本末倒置，忽略了神的工作，以及忽略了经营我们和神的关系。我们若不与神契合，连结，我们的服事和与其他人的关系一定受损害。

我们现在就回到神的身边，亲近他。求圣灵现在就来充满我们，加添力量给我们。

The Easter Fishers of Men

John 21:1-14

Jesus Appeared to Seven Disciples

During the forty days between His resurrection and ascension, our risen Lord appeared and disappeared at will, visiting with the disciples and preparing them for the coming of the Spirit and their future ministries (Acts 1:1-9).

They never knew when He would appear, as they had to stay alert. It was an important time for the disciples because they were about to take His place in the world and begin to carry the message to others.

One of His appearances was recorded in John 21:1-14. Peter took the lead to go for fishing, and the other six disciples followed after him. They were laboring throughout the whole night, but they caught nothing. By this time, the disciples must be feeling very down, tired and hungry.

When it came to the early morning, Jesus was standing on the shore but they couldn’t recognize Him. Jesus called out to them, “Friends, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they answered. Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

So, they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because they were so many fish in it. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

Peter had stripped off his cloths while working, when he heard this, he immediately put on his tunic and jumped into the water and swam over to meet Jesus.

The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore. When they got on the shore, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

The Lord who directed the disciples to a big catch also fed their hunger. We also see Peter’s restoration underway. He had earlier joined those who had arrested Jesus with lanterns and torches, sitting in the courtyard by a charcoal fire but he was now invited to join Jesus at a meal prepared on another charcoal fire.

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” So, Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. They were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

A great miracle had been worked by the risen Jesus, and the result of that miracle was a large number of fish that should have torn the net. Many were drawn into the net, but the net was not damaged.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. There was a complete transformation of the disciples from the initial state of not recognizing Jesus.

This incident would have reminded the disciples of the earlier miraculous catch of fish after which Jesus called them to be fishers of men. In Luke 5:1-11, it was written that Jesus went on the fishing boat of Peter in the Sea of Galilee and preached.

After His preaching, He instructed Peter to put out the boat into the deep water and to further cast down his net. Peter did exactly what he was told, and he caught a large number of fish.

That miracle enabled Peter to recognize Jesus as the Lord and he responded to Jesus’ calling. He let go of everything and he started following Jesus.

For the incident in John 21, we are somewhat puzzled: hadn’t Peter, James and John abandoned their fishing boat and left everything behind to follow Jesus? How then would they pick up their fishing net again? Was it because they had given up their determination to follow the Lord? Was it because they forgot that the Lord had called them to not be fishermen but fisher of men and to follow Him?

After Jesus’s resurrection, the angel did tell the disciples in Jerusalem that Jesus would meet them in Galilee (Mt 28:7). So, they somehow followed the angel’s instruction to return to Galilee to meet Jesus there, for the place the seven disciples did their fishing was Galilee.

These seven disciples might have reached Galilee before the rest did. If that was the case, they were yet to receive further instructions from the Lord. They wouldn’t know what they were supposed to do. Hence, they went back to their normal life as fishermen and worked hard to earn for their own living.

Peter might have gone to fish in order to meet the needs of the other disciples, although he was not successful in getting a big catch.

Previously the disciples lived with Jesus and listened to His teaching daily and carried out Jesus ‘instructions. But now, with the risen Lord who might appear and disappear randomly at different places, it was impossible to have a clear direction and assurance to start off ministry.

The disciples’ fishing expedition and the dialogue that ensued also revealed that they did not embark on a Spirit-empowered mission. They were ineffective in their undertakings.

However, the seven disciples had not given up their determination to follow their Lord when they returned to their fishing life. Rather, it was a reflection of their helplessness, lost, ineffectual and confused state of continuing their lives as disciples of Christ.

It was at this depressed state that they encountered the risen Christ who granted them a big catch of fish. Not only did they have a miraculous and fruitful catch but they enjoyed to the fullest the warm breakfast that the Lord Jesus had prepared for them!

They could recall how the Lord Jesus had passed them some bread and fish when he fed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, and another four thousand with seven loaves and few fishes.

This miraculous catch and breakfast ready, served as a thoughtful instruction of the resurrected Lord to His disciples, to help them ascertain that His call for them to be fisher of men remained intact. So too, the Lord will provide all their needs generously.

The confusion, uncertainties and depression that overshadow the disciples were all removed. Now the disciples came to understand that they wouldn’t remain in Galilee to continue their fishing business, instead, they would embark on the Lord’s mission to be fishers of men.

And by abiding with the Lord, relying and trusting the Lord, they would certainly bear much fruits!

The Lord Jesus later on, officially commissioned them to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:16-20). The Lord Jesus also told the disciples to return to Jerusalem to wait upon the Holy Spirit.

Not long after that, the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and the disciples were empowered with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and they started their new phase of life being the disciples of Jesus.

They would understand the truth, and be ready to preach the gospel and to build churches.

Application

Firstly, due to changes in the external environment, we may come to a stage, where like Peter and his friends, be overshadowed with confusion and bewilderment about future undertakings. In fact, now many of us are anxious about the current situation and over uncertainty of future, given the disruption of routine life due to the pandemic of Covid-19.

And, after a long period of serving the Lord or embarking on certain job, we may not aware that we actually have grown faithless. We succumb to human weaknesses to operate with impulsiveness and self-confidence, not with God’s given direction and approval. We may sincerely believe that we are doing God’s will, but our labors are in vain.

Jesus told the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat; they obeyed, and they caught 153 large fish! The difference between success and failure was the width of the ship! We are never far from success when we permit Jesus to give the orders, and we are usually closer to success than we realize.

By ourselves, we are inadequate. But empowered by the Spirit of Christ, we will do great things. This narrative highlight that service in dependence on the risen Savior is always fruitful and will always have His presence and providence.

Secondly, this story was a manifestation of the risen Lord with a purpose: to call the disciples (and us) back to the purpose for which He saved us. He wants His followers to be fishers of men.

This is surely God’s unchanging mission for us all. A fisherman catches living fish, but when he gets them, they die. But we are to catch “dead fish” (dead in their sins), and when we catch them, they are made alive in Christ.

Why did Jesus had so many fishermen in the disciple band? Fishermen know how to work. They have courage and faith to go out “into the deep.” They have much patience and persistence, and they will not quit. They know how to cooperate with one another, and they are skilled in using the equipment and the boat. What great examples for us to follow as we seek to “catch fish “for Christ!

We are indeed “fishers of men,” and there are “fish” all around us. If we obey His directions, and perform faithfully as fishermen, we will have big catches.

So, it is time for Jesus to take over the situation. The risen Lord is here now to clear all the uncertainties of the mission that He has entrusted to us along the journey as we follow Him. And He surely provides us timely and enough resources to fulfill our needs.

Today, let us recall our many experiences with the Lord—his words and wonderful deeds, so that our hearts which were once lost and confused, will now be renewed and instructed.

Christ is risen, and his presence is here. Whether our lives are easy, hard, or somewhere in between, he is with us. Whether our faith feels strong, shaken, or somewhere in between, he never fails or forsakes us. Jesus is not present in the flesh as he was for the disciples. But as he rules from Heaven and empowers by his Spirit, he is no less present with us than he was with them.

Let us seek his face and cry out to him so that he will fill us with the Holy Spirit. Let us abide in the risen Lord, and once again rise up to do his mission given to us. He will provide everything that we need and we will certainly bear much fruits.

Prayer

O risen Lord, forgive us for our many wrongdoings and relying on our own understanding. Grant us the direction in life; lead us to the right path. We will rise up once again to do the mission that you have given us. We will tell the world that Jesus who was once dead in order to redeem sinners, is now gloriously risen to give life to his people. Give us a big catch now as we cast our nets according to your instruction. Thank you, Lord, for your bountiful providence. Amen!