【双语灵修】耶稣是真葡萄树 Jesus Is The True Vine

藉着圣灵和因着信靠基督,我们便能与耶稣合而为一了。

【双语灵修】耶稣是真葡萄树 Jesus Is The True Vine

“‘我是真葡萄树,我父是栽培的人。’” - 约 15:1

野葡萄树不会结很多果子,但在葡萄园中栽种的葡萄树却是另一番景象。在悉心照料之下,它们能结出一串接一串的果子、生产一桶又一桶的酒,是利润不错的投资。

旧约圣经以神的葡萄园来描述以色列民,然而这个投资却得不到成果。以色列民抗拒神的管理,他们只结出低劣的果子。为避免损失更大,神便放弃葡萄园,任由它荒废了(参看以赛亚书 5:1-7)。

然而,这并不是故事的终结。诗篇80篇以一根勉强支撑着的葡萄枝子来形容以色列。这篇诗篇实际上是在恳求:“神啊,这葡萄枝子本属于你,求你眷顾它!”跟着,诗人更尽力争取说:“神啊,这葡萄枝子是你的儿子,难道你不眷顾你自己的儿子吗?”(参看 14-15节)

这篇诗篇回顾昔日在埃及时,神告诉法老王:“以色列是我的儿子,我的长子。 … 容我的儿子去!”(出埃及记 4:22-23)。诗人恳求神再次拯救以色列民,就像从前衪拯救他们离开埃及那样。

接着,诗人向前瞻望,想到将来降世的耶稣,因为耶稣是真葡萄树,是神的长子(参看 17-19节)。现今,藉着圣灵和因着信靠基督,我们便能与耶稣合而为一了,我们已经成为真葡萄树的枝子,这棵真葡萄树像流出葡萄酒那样倾流出基督的生命,好叫我们能够得着真正的生命。

祷告

主耶稣,有时我感到枯干和没有生气,就好像没有什么好的事情能从我身上发出来那样。然而,你藉着我把你的生命倾流出来,叫我靠你有能力做更多的事情!阿们。

诗篇 80

1领约瑟如领羊群之以色列的牧者啊,求你留心听!坐在二基路伯上的啊,求你发出光来!
2在以法莲、便雅悯、玛拿西前面施展你的大能,来救我们!
3神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!
4耶和华万军之神啊,你向你百姓的祷告发怒,要到几时呢?
5你以眼泪当食物给他们吃,又多量出眼泪给他们喝。
6你使邻邦因我们纷争,我们的仇敌彼此戏笑。
7万军之神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!
8你从埃及挪出一棵葡萄树,赶出外邦人,把这树栽上。
9你在这树跟前预备了地方,他就深深扎根,爬满了地。
10它的影子遮满了山,枝子好像佳美的香柏树。
11它发出枝子长到大海,发出蔓子延到大河。
12你为何拆毁这树的篱笆,任凭一切过路的人摘取?
13林中出来的野猪把他糟蹋,野地的走兽拿他当食物。
14万军之神啊,求你回转,从天上垂看,眷顾这葡萄树,
15保护你右手所栽的和你为自己所坚固的枝子。
16这树已经被火焚烧,被刀砍伐,他们因你脸上的怒容就灭亡了。
17愿你的手扶持你右边的人,就是你为自己所坚固的人子。
18这样,我们便不退后离开你。求你救活我们,我们就要求告你的名。
19耶和华万军之神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!

Jesus Is The True Vine

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." - John 15:1

Wild grapevines don't produce much fruit. But the vines in a vineyard are a different story. With careful management, they produce clusters of fruit, casks of wine, and a decent return on investment.

The Old Testament pictures the people of Israel as God's vineyard. But the investment doesn't pay off. Israel resists God's management and produces lousy fruit. So God cuts his losses and lets the vineyard go wild (see Isaiah 5:1-7).

Yet the story doesn't end there. Psalm 80 pictures Israel as a single vine that's barely hanging on. The psalm pleads, in effect, "God, the vine belongs to you. Take care of it!" From there, the psalm pushes harder: "God, the vine is your son. Won't you take care of your own son?" (See vv. 14-15.)

The psalm is looking back to Egypt, where God told Pharaoh, "Israel is my firstborn son. . . . Let my son go!" (Exodus 4:22-23). Just as God rescued Israel from Egypt, the psalm pleads with God to rescue them again.

From there, the psalm looks ahead to Jesus, because he is the true vine, the firstborn Son of God (see vv. 17-19). And now, by the Holy Spirit and through faith, we are united with Jesus. We have become branches of the true vine, who pours out his life like wine so that we can truly live.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, sometimes I feel dry and lifeless, like nothing good can come from me. But with your life flowing through me, so much is possible! Thank you. Amen.

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