Feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14)…

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)…

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)…

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)…

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)…