QT 22/04/2024 Monday John 13 Renewed Holy Community 新的圣洁群体
QT 22/04/2024 Monday John 13 Renewed Holy Community 新的圣洁群体
http://www.esvbible.org/john13
The requirement of holiness when approaching the awesome "I AM", the LORD of the Old Testament era, was nothing new to the community of God's people.
In the New Testament, Jesus continued with the cleansing of the community that would constitute the new community of the "I AM" of the New Testament—Jesus Christ.
First, the disciples were ceremonially cleansed when Jesus washed their feet as demonstration of the work of the humble "Teacher and Lord" (John 13:13,14). This pointed to Jesus Christ washing away the disciples' sins by His death on the cross once and for all. It also pointed to the need for the continual maintenance of this status for "the one who has bathed" (John 13:10).
Second, this new community was "cleansed" with the removal and departure of the betrayer, Judas, from among them (John 13:30).
Third, God would demonstrate to the world His presence among His own disciples when in this new community the disciples love one another "just as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35).
Fourth, this new community would be made of people who have learned that self-confidence alone did not go far. Boasts like "I will lay down my life for you" (John 13:37) would be repolished to sound the other way:
For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:24-25).
星期一2024年4月22日 今日读经：约翰福音13章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jhn/13/
新的圣洁群体
在旧约时代，要来到伟大的“自有永有者”面前，圣洁是首要的条件，这对当时神的子民来说，一点也不稀奇。
在新约里，耶稣继续洁净那在新约之下的“自有永有者”的新群体，那“自有永有者”就是耶稣基督。
首先，门徒在耶稣为他们洗脚时已得洁净，这洗脚的动作显示了谦卑的“老师和主”的作为(约13:13,14)。这指向耶稣基督钉死在十字架上，从此洗净了门徒的罪。这个动作也让我们知道那些“洗过澡的”必须继续保持这样的状态(约13:10)。
第二，这新的群体在出卖者犹大在他们当中离开后已得"洁净"。(约13:30)
第三，神将向世人展示，祂将与祂自己的门徒同在，在这个新的群体中，门徒彼此相爱，就如“我怎样爱你们”一样(约13:34-35)。
第四，这新的群体将会是由那些明白光靠自信是无法成就作为的人所组成的。口口声声宣称“为了你，我舍命也愿意！”(约13:37)，结果却会是相反的:
因为“所有的人，尽都如草，他们的荣美，都像草上的花；草必枯干，花必凋谢，唯有主的道，永远长存。”所传给你们的福音就是这道。(彼前1:24-25)
