QT 12/02/2024 Monday Mark 8. Who do you say I am? 你们说我是谁？
QT 12/02/2024 Monday Mark 8
http://www.esvbible.org/mark8
Jesus fed 4000 with just 7 loaves (Mark 8:1-13). He fed 5000 with 5 loves (Mark 8:19). He opened the eyes of the blind so that the man could see "everything clearly" (Mark 8:22-26). Can you see who Jesus really is?
REFLECTION (1): WHY did Mark portray the journey of 41 km north to CAESAREA PHILIPPI (Mark 8:27) when they were boating around Galilee (Mark 8:13), only to ask 2 simple questions - "Who do PEOPLE say I am?", "Who do YOU say that I am" (Mark 8:27,29)?
A signboard at Caesarea Philippi today sets out the long history of the Temple of Pan, the various gods worshiped there, and the political powers that utilised the scenic site for political purposes, including Herod.
The signboard concludes, "... The integration of sacred architecture in the scenery of springs, mountain, forest and natural cave found here is SINGULAR in the Near-East and perhaps in the ENTIRE Greco-Roman world."
At this place of PLURALITY of gods and powers, Jesus asked the disciples "Who do YOU say I am?" (Mark 8:29) Peter answered, "You are the Christ." (Mark 8:29; Matt 16:16). The TRUE shepherd was asking them these questions at the Temple of Pan, "god of the shepherds".
But this True Shepherd, "the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31). This was something even his own disciples could not understand nor accept (Mark 8:32).
This True Shepherd also said that "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
Furthermore, "For whoever would SAVE his life will LOSE it, but whoever LOSES his life for my sake and the gospel's will SAVE it (Mark 8:35).
REFLECTION (2): WHO is your God? What captivates your minds and emotions day and night?
REFLECTION (3): What are you BURNING up the candle of your life for? Are you using ("losing") your life for Jesus and the gospel's sake?
星期一 2024年2月12日 今日读经：马可福音8章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mak/8/
耶稣用了7个饼喂饱了4000人(可8：1-13)。他用了5个饼喂饱了5000人(可8:19)。他打开瞎眼的人的眼睛，让他能够“样样看得清楚”(可8:22-26)。你能看出耶稣到底是谁了吗？
反思(1):为什么马可在去41公里朝北，该撒利亚．腓立比附近的村庄的路上(可8:27)，在加利利的海上航行时(可8:13)，只问了两个简单的问题--“人说我是谁？”，“你们说我是谁？”(可8:27,29)?
今天，一个在撒利亚．腓立比的告示板述说着潘尼亚斯庙宇的悠长历史，各种神冥集在那敬拜，及政治权力为了政治因素占据这风景怡然之地，包括希律。
这告示板的结论是，“...神圣的建筑融入在山泉中、高山中、树林中和自然洞穴中，在近东是独一无二的，这或许是整个希腊-罗马世界独有的。”
在这个有着许多神和权势的地方，耶稣问门徒：”你们说我是谁？”(可8:29)彼得回答:"你就是基督。”(可8:29;太16:16)。那真正的牧人--“牧人的神”,在潘尼亚斯庙宇问了他们这些问题。
但这真牧人，“人子必须受许多苦，被长老、祭司长和经学家弃绝、杀害，三天后复活。”(可8:31)。这是连他自己的门徒都无法理解或接受的(可8:32)。
这真牧人也说：“如果有人愿意跟从我，就应当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。”(可8:34)
再说，“凡是想救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；但为我和福音牺牲生命的，必救了生命。”(可8:35)
反思(2):谁是你的神？是什么东西日日夜夜地让你的心思着迷？
反思(3):你的生命为了什么而燃烧？你是否为了耶稣和福音用掉(“牺牲")你的生命？
