基督的死,就是我们的生
约翰福音三章1至16节
1有一个法利赛人,名叫尼哥底母,是犹太人的官。
2这人夜里来见耶稣,说「拉比,我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的;因为你所行的神迹,若没有神同在,无人能行。」
3耶稣回答说:「我实实在在地告诉你,人若不重生,就不能见神的国。」
4尼哥底母说:「人已经老了,如何能重生呢?岂能再进母腹生出来吗?」
5耶稣说:「我实实在在的告诉你,人若不是从水和圣灵生的,就不能进神的国。
6从肉身生的就是肉身;从灵生的就是灵。
7我说:『你们必须重生』,你不要以为希奇。
8风随着意思吹,你听见风的响声,却不晓得从那里来,往那里去;凡从圣灵生的,也是如此。」
9尼哥底母问他说:「怎能有这事呢?」
10耶稣回答说:「你是以色列人的先生,还不明白这事吗?
11我实实在在的告诉你,我们所说的是我们知道的;我们所见证的是我们见过的;你们却不领受我们的见证。
12我对你们说地上的事,你们尚且不信,若说天上的事,如何能信呢?
13除了从天降下、仍旧在天的人子,没有人升过天。
14摩西在旷野怎样举蛇,人子也必照样被举起来,
15叫一切信他的都得永生(或作:叫一切信的人在他里面得永生)。
16「神爱世人,甚至将他的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信他的,不至灭亡,反得永生。
信息分享
但基督却对他说:「尼哥底母,它不是如你所想的。你如果想与神建立亲密和救赎的关系,你就要重生,让神赐你新心和新生。」
尼哥底母听完这番话,只觉百思不得其解;至终,只能够归纳为一个问题:「到底如何呢?」
基督为他提供了一个精彩的解释:那是出于圣灵的工作,而且,只有因着父神的爱和借着子(祂自己)的死,人才可能得着重生。
基督叫尼哥底母回想旧约发生的一件事。昔日,摩西和以色列民在旷野,极之需要神的医治。神吩咐摩西造了一条铜蛇挂在柱上,人只要看它一眼就得着医治。同样地,在不久之后,挂在十架上的耶稣基督也要被举起来,人只要仰望祂是自己的救主,就必得着拯救。
时至今天,这个真理依然没有改变。亲爱的朋友,你是否已仰望耶稣,以致得着拯救?是的,祂现在已经不在十架上,不过,只要你回望十架,相信耶稣确实为你受死,你就可以得救,你可以即时在基督里获得新生。你已经决志相信了吗?若然还没有,你此刻是否愿意决志呢?
祷告:
主耶稣,我如今仰望你,接受你做我的救主。求你帮助我,使我懂得每天仰望你供应我的一切所需。
Christ's Death Means Our Life
John 3:1-16
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Message
But Christ said, 'It isn't what you know Nichodemus. If you want to be in a close, saving relationship with God, you will have to begin again. Let God give you a new heart and life.'
Nichodemus was puzzled. All he said can be summed up in one word - 'HOW?'.
Christ gave him a wonderful explanation. It happens by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is made possible by the death of the Son (himself) and because of the love of the Father.
Christ reminded Nichodemus of an Old Testament story. Moses and the children of Israel were in the wilderness and desperately needed healing. God told Moses to put a serpent of brass on a pole. All who looked to it would be healed. In the same way Jesus Christ would be lifted up on the cross. Those who look to him there as their Saviour will be saved.
It is still true today. Friend, have you looked to Jesus to be saved? He is not on the cross now. But by looking back to that cross and accepting what Jesus Christ did for you, you can be saved. You can have a new life in Christ right now. Have you done it? Will you do it now?
A Prayer For Today:
Lord Jesus I look to you now as my Saviour. Help me to keep looking to you every day for all I need.

