QT 18/04/2024 Thursday John 11. The correct response to Jesus' signs. 对耶稣神迹的正确回应

QT 18/04/2024 Thursday John 11 The correct response to Jesus' signs
http://www.esvbible.org/john11

In between the two narratives about death and weeping (John 11:1-16,28-36), Jesus declared another "I AM", the one who is able to give life (John 11:17-27).

"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

To prove that His claim was true, Jesus performed the ultimate sign of the Messiah by raising Lazarus (John 11:38-44). The implications of this sign were revolutionary:-

To the first group of people like the chief priests, Pharisees and the council (John 11:47), the implication of Jesus' sign would result in them LOSING their prestige and posts ("The Romans will come and take away both our place and our nations", John 11:48). They planned to kill Jesus  "from that day on" (John 11:53).

To the second group like Martha, Mary and "many of the Jews" (John 11:45), they would have FOUND the Christ to put their personal trust in. They would "see the glory of God" (John 11:40;also see 11:4).

REFLECTION: What are you going to do with the Jesus Christ portrayed by the Gospel of John so far? Are you willing to risk loss of prestige and posts (or even life) so that you can demonstrate your belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the divine "I AM"?

星期四2024年4月18日 今日读经：约翰福音11章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jhn/11/
对耶稣神迹的正确回应

在死亡和哀哭这两段描述中(约11:1-16,28-36)，耶稣又再次宣告“我是”，那能够赐生命的那位(约11:17-27)。

“我就是复活和生命；信我的人，虽然死了，也要活着”(约11:25)。

为了证明祂的宣告是真实的，耶稣行了弥赛亚最终极的神迹，让拉撒路复活(约11:38-44)。这个神迹背后的意义是具革命性的:-

对于第一组人如祭司长、法利赛人和公议会的人(约11:47)来说，耶稣的神迹会导致他们失去威信和他们的职位(“罗马人就会来，夺取我们的圣地，除灭我们的民族”，约11:48)。“从那天起，他们就想杀害耶稣”(约11:53)。

对于第二组人如马大、马利亚和“许多犹太人”(约11:45)来说，他们找到了能够信靠仰望的基督。他们必定”看见神的荣耀“(约11:40;也见11:4)。

反思：到目前为止，对于约翰福音所刻画的耶稣基督，你会如何行动？你是否愿意冒着险失去威信和职位(或甚至是性命)，以致你能够表明你相信耶稣就是复活和生命，那神圣的“自有永有者”?