害怕死去的麥子
最後的說話是生命
經文
約翰福音十7-18
7所以，耶穌又對他們說：我實實在在的告訴你們，我就是羊的門。
8凡在我以先來的都是賊，是強盜；羊卻不聽他們。
9我就是門；凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。
10盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛。
11我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。
12若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看見狼來，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，趕散了羊群。
13雇工逃走，因他是雇工，並不顧念羊。
14我是好牧人；我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我，
15正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣；並且我為羊捨命。
16我另外有羊，不是這圈裡的；我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一群，歸一個牧人了。
17我父愛我；因我將命捨去，好再取回來。
18沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了，也有權柄取回來。這是我從我父所受的命令。
信息分享
今天，我們將結束這兩個月來討論的題目──「害怕死去的麥子」。在結束以前，讓我們再來看看希臘人前來求見耶穌時，耶穌所作出的重大決定的結果。
我們的主看到將有三件事情會發生──首先是這個世界要受審判（約十二31）。這與選擇十字架有甚麼關係？十字架是世界的審判席，我承認在十字架上的耶穌審判我、定我罪、並挑戰我。祂的靈面對世界的罪和苦難，以致我的靈好像風暴中的磁針那樣顫抖。在十字架上，祂的愛審判我的恨、我的自私、我渴望只為自己而活的心。祂的捨己激發了我的捨己。
我們的主看到將會發生的第二件事是撒但被戰勝：「這世界的王要被趕出去」（約十二31）。祂會推翻撒但，不是藉著打碎它的頭，而是藉著容許撒但來打碎祂的心。第三，祂會令十字架變成磁石，藉以吸引萬人歸向祂：「我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我」（約十二32）。祂已經作出了選擇──盼望我們也能作出選擇。我們不再躺在生命的犁溝的邊緣，作一顆「害怕死去的麥子」，而是樂意落到死亡的黑暗隧道中，因為我們知道這樣做的時候，我們的死會帶出討神喜悅的生命，是多結果子、有益和豐盛的生命。你害怕死亡嗎？不，你應該害怕活著才對。因為生命如果沒有經歷死亡，是沒有價值的生命。
「我們的死會帶出討神喜悅的生命」
進深研究
加二16-21；腓一21；約五24；約壹三14
1. 保羅偉大的宣告是甚麼？
2. 你可以作出同樣的宣告嗎？
祈禱
天父，求您把今天的信息銘刻在我心中──我若想救自己的生命，我就只會失去它。求您幫助我永遠不要忘記，最後的說話不是死亡，而是生命。天父，感謝您，阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
The last word is life
Bible reading:
John 10:7-18
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Message
It the close of our meditations we look at the results of the momentous choice Jesus made when the Greeks said: "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
Our Lord saw that three things would happen: first, the judgment of this world (John 12:31). What did choosing the cross have to do with that? This - the cross is the judgment seat of the world. I confess that the Man on the cross judges me, convicts me, challenges me. His Spirit of facing the world's sin and suffering makes my spirit tremble like a magnetic needle in a storm. At the cross, His love judges my hate, my selfishness, my desire to live only for myself. His self-sacrifice inspires my self-sacrifice.
The second thing our Lord saw would happen was the overpowering of Satan: "Now shall the ruler of this world be cast out" (John 12:31, RSV). He would overthrow Satan, not by breaking his head, but by letting him break His heart. Third, He would make the cross the magnet by which He would draw all people to Himself: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32). His choice was made - and hopefully, ours is also. No longer will we lie on the edge of life's furrow - "a corn of wheat afraid to die" - but willingly roll over into the dark channel of death, knowing, as we do, that from our death will come a life that is well-pleasing to God - fruitful, profitable and productive. Afraid to die? No - afraid to live. For life that is not preceded by death is a life not worth living.
"From our death will come a life pleasing to God"
Prayer
O Father, burn the message into my heart that when I try to save my life, I succeed only in losing it. And help me never to forget that the last word is not death, but life. Thank You, Father. Amen.
Further study
Galatians 2:16-21
Philippians 1:21
John 5:24
1 John 3:14
1.What was Paul's great declaration?
2. Can you make that same declaration?
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