Jesus had ministered to the multitudes at a deserted place for the entire day, and when evening came, His disciples came to Him. Below was the exchange that Jesus had with His disciples. ~~~~~~~~~~ Jesus: “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Disciples: “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is … Continue reading Feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14)…
Category: Bible explorations
The woman with the flow of blood (Matthew 9)…
The Gospels record the story of a woman with a flow of blood for twelve years. Hers wasn’t a fatal condition, but it was a debilitating affliction nonetheless. I would imagine that with incessant, excessive blood loss over the years, the woman would likely be suffering from anaemia, which would give rise to all … Continue reading The woman with the flow of blood (Matthew 9)…
因为他比你强 (Matthew 8)…
话说有一回有一个患有麻风病的人前去寻找耶稣,求他治病。见着耶稣时,他就跪拜在地说,“主啊,你若肯,你能使我洁净。” 耶稣见着他,便伸出手触摸他说,“我肯,你洁净了吧!” 然后那人的麻风病便立刻离开了他。 麻风病是一种会通过与人触碰而传染他人的病。在那个时代,麻风病没得医,所以患有麻风病的人是要被隔离,不得与他人近距离共处的。众人对患有麻风病的人皆是闻之丧胆,惧而远之,所以患有麻风病的人是被人们排斥,生活在社会边缘、处境凄凉的可怜人。 如此不堪的一位麻风病人前来求救于耶稣,是因为他知道自己实则已走投无路,别无他法,只能依赖神迹出现。而他来到耶稣跟前时,想必也无另奢望,只求耶稣愿意如医治其他人一样,发句话便能成就奇迹。 没想到耶稣不止愿意医治他,而且竟还伸手触碰他,一个不可被触碰的人!要知道以色列的律法严苛,视麻风病者为不洁净的人,也把那些触碰过麻风病者的人,甚至那些单单触碰麻风病者触碰过的东西的人,也将之视之为不洁净的人。可是耶稣非但不回避,反而还主动伸手触摸了他。 其实耶稣这一举止实为多此一举,以为已有很多前例在先,证实他只需发句话,甚至只需隔空发句话,便能把疾病邪灵驱走。那为何对这位麻风病人,他却伸手触摸他呢?有些人说这是因为耶稣慈悲,深知这一类被隔绝的人内心的痛苦。人类都是群居生物,都渴望被爱,渴望被接纳,渴望拥有人与人之间心灵与肢体的交流。可怜的麻风病人不但要承受身体残疾的痛苦,还要承受因为被隔绝而产生的无尽寂寞,被拒感等诸般的心理折磨,所以耶稣这不假思索、毫不迟疑的一碰,可算是碰到内心里头,让这位麻风病人不仅仅在身体上得到医治,在心理上也得到医治。 这是主耶稣大爱、慈悲怜悯的展示没错,但也并非仅仅如此。爱一个患有感染病的人,未必便真要去触碰他,因为这不是睿智之举。怜悯此类人,也未必便真要去触碰他们,因为这不是睿智之举。耶稣之所以会去触摸那位麻风病人,愿意去触摸他,肯去触摸他,敢去触摸它,不仅仅是因为耶稣有爱有慈悲有怜悯,根本原因是因为耶稣是强者,而这便是强者的表现。耶稣比那麻风病强,所以他敢,他无所惧、他无所忌惮,因为那麻风病在耶稣一碰一发话之下,只有滚蛋的下场。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 在耶稣跟前,再肆虐无忌的病魔细菌病毒,也休得肆意妄为,因为他比你强。 腓利比书2:9-11 9 所以 神把他升为至高,又赐给他超乎万名之上的名, 10 使一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的, 因耶稣的名,众膝都要跪下, 11 众口都要宣认:耶稣基督是主, 归荣耀给父神。
Light and shadows (Acts 26)…
(image from https://billygraham.org/devotion/light-and-shadow/) I was revising lower primary science with the young one yesterday, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at how even basic, simple science facts reveal and shed light on the truth contained in the Bible. It is like what Paul said in Romans 1:20, “20 For since the creation of the world … Continue reading Light and shadows (Acts 26)…
Genesis 3 (ii)…
Bible Exploration I was talking to someone over breakfast yesterday, as per usual, and we were talking about Genesis 3. I was wondering about Eve’s receptivity toward the serpent’s temptation in the Garden of Eden, and he asked me an interesting question: “What makes you think that was Eve’s first encounter with the serpent?” Which … Continue reading Genesis 3 (ii)…
Genesis 3 (i)…
Bible Exploration When God created Adam, He gave one warning commandment to him, which was “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). … Continue reading Genesis 3 (i)…
The Teacher (Matthew 23)…
“8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren... 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” (Matthew 23:8-10) The Christian walk is a walk by faith and not by sight. It is a walk focused on the spiritual realm, … Continue reading The Teacher (Matthew 23)…
A prophet in need • A widow in need (1 Kings 17)…
In 1 Kings 17, after Elijah the prophet spoke a drought over the land of Israel, God directed him to go to Brook Cherith, where He had commanded the ravens to feed him. And so, it says in verse 6 that “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat … Continue reading A prophet in need • A widow in need (1 Kings 17)…
Favor of the Lord (Luke 1)…
When the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, he greeted her with: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Mary was the highly favored and blessed one because she was the one who was to bring forth the Messiah. In the natural, though, it might be … Continue reading Favor of the Lord (Luke 1)…
Obsessed with David (1 Samuel 13)…
I always stand amazed, time and time again, when I read God’s regard for David in the Scriptures. During his lifetime, God gave him an amazing, everlasting promise (see 2 Samuel 7:8-16). Even after he had died, God still made mention of him at every opportunity. He was always on God’s mind, and even … Continue reading Obsessed with David (1 Samuel 13)…