QT 30/04/2024 Tuesday John 19. Voice of faith. 信心的声音。
QT 30/04/2024 Tuesday John 19. Voice of faith.
http://www.esvbible.org/john19.
Take sides, choose a perspective, the right one, hopefully.
The voice of doom would see physical suffering (John 19:1), ridicule (John 19:2) and injustice against the innocent (John 19:4,6). It also sees threats from supposedly comrades (John 19:6,15), separation from loved ones (John 19:26:27) and death (John 19:30,33).
The voice of faith, however, sees the other perspectives:
The visible mocking was actually true. Jesus was the "King of the Jews!" (John 19:3), worthy of a crown and the purple robe (John 19:5).
The trial judge even tried "to release him" (John 19:12), legally declaring Jesus sinless (John 19:4,6). This evidenced Jesus as a worthy "Lamb of God" (John 1:29).
Evidence that what God had spoken (Psalms 22:18, Zech 12:10) came true (John 19:23-24; 19:37).
Even the non breaking of Jesus' bones (breaking bones would technically accelerate His death, John 19:36) fulfilled Exodus 12:46 and points to the new exodus and freedom from sin that Jesus was accomplishing for us. Indeed, "It is finished" (John 19:30), it is accomplished, it is done.
APPLICATION: It is difficult to accept that those who profess to be godly might do horrendous things, e.g., crucifying the LORD who loved them. But the voice of faith encourages us to look beyond the pain and discomfort to see the tremendous spiritual blessings bestowed upon humanity, even when it is accomplished via the viciousness of others. Choose the voice of faith today!
REFLECTION: The phrase "It is finished" can be interpreted in at least two ways. It could be the voice of doom or the voice of faith. What does your heart say?
星期二2024年4月30日 今日读经：约翰福音19章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jhn/19/
信心的声音
选边站，选择立场，希望是对的立场。
死亡的呼声只看到肉体的伤痛(约19:1)、嘲笑(约19:2)和对无罪的人的不义(约19:4,6)。它也只看到来自原本是同志的威胁(约19:6,15)、亲人的分离(约19:26,27)和死亡(约19:30,33)。
然而，信心的声音，却带来了另一个视角:
那看得见的嘲笑是千真万确的。耶稣的确是“犹太人的王!”(约19:3)，祂配戴冠冕、配穿紫色的袍(约19:5)。
那审判的法官甚至想“释放他”(约19:12)，在法律上宣告耶稣是无罪的(约19:4,6)。这证明耶稣就是那合格“神的羔羊”(约1:29)。
这一切(约19:23-24;19:37)都应证了神所说的(诗22:18,撒迦利亚12:10)。
就连耶稣的骨没有被打断(打断会促使祂的死亡加速，约19:36)也应征了出埃及记12:46所说的并指向耶稣所为我们成就的新出埃及记和脱离罪的自由。确实，这事已“成了”(约19:30)。
应用：我们很难接受那些自称敬虔的人会作出这么可怕的事，就是把爱他们的主钉死在十架上。但信心的声音激励我们不要只看痛苦和不适，而是要看到赐给人们的属灵的恩惠，即使那是因藉着人的恶毒所成就的。今天就选择信心的声音吧！
反思:“成了”这句话与死亡的呼声和信心的声音听起来大不相同。你的心是倾向于哪一边呢？
