QT 20/02/2024 Tuesday Mark 15. Obvious truth, obstinate hearts. 显而易见的真理，顽固不化的心灵。

QT 20/02/2024 Tuesday Mark 15
http://www.esvbible.org/mark15

Jesus IS the Son of God and Son of Man.

The question "Are you the King of the Jews?" is the only one that NEEDS to be answered with a "Yes" (Mark 15:2-5);

The phrase "King of the Jews" comes out of Pilate's mouth a second time (Mark 15:9) and a THIRD time (Mark 15:12);

Pilate himself knows that Jesus has been brought before him "out of envy" (Mark 15:10) rather than guilt;

Pilate even asks rhetorically, "Why, what evil has he done?" (Mark 15:14);

The soldiers "crowned" Jesus, the significance of which is beyond what the soldiers themselves understood (Mark 15:17). They even saluted Him (Mark 15:18) and put on Him the robe of ROYAL colour - purple (Mark 15:17), kneeling down even (Mark 15:19);

The phrase "King of the Jews" crops up for the 4th time again - now from the soldiers' mouths (Mark 15:18);

The phrase "The King of the Jews" appears for a RECORD 5th time - now on a charge on the sign at the crucifixion site (Mark 15:26);

In fact, Jesus IS the Messiah also, not just King (Mark 15:32);

Jesus' "kingship" theme appears for a 6TH TIME - He IS "King of Israel" (Mark 15:32);

Rome's representative (the Centurion) declares toward the end: - "Surely this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39).

S-Word, I don't think you can miss what Mark is trying to portray here.

REFLECTION (1): In what ways can others see that Jesus IS YOUR KING?

===FURTHER REFLECTIONS =============

A behaviour repeated over time becomes a habit: "The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did" (Mark 15:8).

This behaviour of releasing a guilty person at a Feast has become a custom (Mark 15:6). This custom has blinded the crowd to the merits of the matter before them. Barabbas is a murdering insurrectionists (Mark 15:7), a serious crime against Rome.

Pilate even suggests that Jesus be released, but the priests and the crowd  still actively choose Barabbas (Mark 15:9-13).

We do not fully understand why the crowd acted that way except "out of envy" (Mark 15:10). However, give some thoughts to how repeated behaviours can numb a person even when circumstances change.

REFLECTION (2): Does your routine in life lead you to sin or numbness as regards spiritual matters?

Break that cycle, one moment at a time. Perhaps, your mind can then be released and focus on the obvious and important things in front of you, e.g., that Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God, and ponder on the life implications of that declaration.

星期二 2024年2月20日 今日读经：马可福音15章. 显而易见的真理，顽固不化的心灵。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mak/15/

耶稣是神的儿子也是人子。

唯一需要以“是”作为答案的问题是“你是犹太人的王吗？”(可15:2-5);

“犹太人的王”这句话两次从彼拉多的口中而出(可15:9)，第三次出现在马可福音15:12;

彼拉多本身知道耶稣是因为人们的“嫉妒”(可15:10)而不是因为有罪才被带到他面前；

彼拉多甚至反问:“他作了什么恶事呢？”(可15:14);

那些士兵给耶稣“戴上冠冕”，这当中的含义是超乎士兵们自己所能理解的(可15:17)。他们甚至祝贺祂(可15:18)并给他披上代表着王室的颜色的外袍--紫色(可15:17)，还跪下来拜祂(可15:19)；

“犹太人的王”这句话第四次出现了--这次是出自兵士的口(可15:18);

“犹太人的王”出现了第五次--这次是在刑场上耶稣的罪状牌上(可15:26);

实际上，耶稣也是弥赛亚，不只是王(可15:32);

耶稣的“王权”这个主题出现了第6次---祂是“以色列的王”(可15:32)；

罗马的代表(百夫长)最后宣告:-"这人真是　神的儿子！”(可15:39)。

为道，你应该不会不知道马可所要表达的。

反思(1):别人能够从哪些方面看到耶稣是你的王？

====继续的思考============

某种行为若重复多次就会变成习惯:“群众上去，要求彼拉多援例给他们办理”(可15:8)。

每逢这节期就释放一个囚犯已成为一种案例(可15:6)。这案例已蒙蔽了众人的心，他们已分不清是非黑白了。巴拉巴是叛乱的杀人犯（可15:7），对罗马而言是个严重的罪行。

彼拉多甚至建议耶稣被释放，但祭司和众人仍选择释放巴拉巴(可15:9-13)。

我们无法完全理解众人为何那样做，除了出自于“嫉妒”(可15:10)。然而，仔细思考，惯性的行为如何能够让一个人变得麻木，即使环境已改变。

反思(2):你是否在每日的生活中形成惯性的行为以致造成你犯罪或对于属灵的事感到麻木？

跳出那个恶性循环，一步一步来。或许你的心就可以被释放并专注于你眼前更重要的事情，如：耶稣是人子和神的儿子，并思想那宣言对生命的意义何在。