【双语灵修】新的样式 New Humanity
“将我们这卑贱的身体改变形状,和他自己荣耀的身体相似。” - 腓 3:21
这个月我们一直在关注耶稣平凡的人性这个侧面。重点是要认真对待《圣经》所说的:耶稣过去是(如今也是)完全的人,祂凡事都与我们一样,只是没有犯罪。
和我们一样,耶稣也有过肌肉酸痛和头痛脑热;和我们一样,耶稣也需要食物和睡眠,也有可能会跌倒受伤;和我们一样,当祂所爱之人死去时,耶稣也会伤心难过;和我们一样,耶稣也会死亡。故此,耶稣在人性的各个方面都和我们一样,这是个奥秘。
但是,还有一件真正奇妙的事。当耶稣再来的时候,我们复活的新样式也将与祂相似。
《圣经》没有给我们提供太多的线索。但至少有这些:做人就是要有神的形像,但这个形像在我们里面亏缺了它的荣耀,直到耶稣的到来。耶稣是 “不能看见之神的像”(西 1:15),“他是神荣耀所发的光辉,是神本体的真像”(来 1:3)。现在,耶稣作为人,是一个新的创造。祂是完美的亚当(人)。
最终,我们将要像祂一样。我们虽然不是神,但我们会成为人类受造应有的属神的样子。圣经说,这是非常荣耀的事。
祷告
耶稣,我们想爱你所爱的,做你希望我们去做的。因为我们最想要的,就是更加像你。
约翰一书 3:1-3
1你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱,使我们得称为神的儿女,我们也真是他的儿女!世人所以不认识我们,是因未曾认识他。2亲爱的弟兄啊,我们现在是神的儿女,将来如何,还未显明。但我们知道,主若显现,我们必要像他,因为必得见他的真体。3凡向他有这指望的,就洁净自己,像他洁净一样。
New Humanity
"Our lowly bodies . . . will be like his glorious body." - Philippians 3:21
Throughout this month we have focused on the ordinary humanity of Jesus. The point is to take seriously what the Bible says: that Jesus was (and is) fully human, that he became like us in every way, except for sin.
Like us, Jesus had muscle aches and headaches. Like us, Jesus needed food and sleep, and he could be hurt and wounded. Like us, Jesus suffered when loved ones died. And like us, Jesus had an appointment with death. So yes, Jesus was like us in every way in his humanity, which is a wonder.
But here's something else that is truly wonderful. When Jesus comes again, we will be like him in every way in our new humanity!
The Bible doesn't give us much to go on. But there is this much at least. To be human is to be in the image of God. But with us the image lost its shine. Until Jesus. Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God's being" (Hebrews 1:3). Now, in his humanity, Jesus is a new creation. He is humanity perfected.
And in the end, we will be like him. We won't be divine. But we will be everything human beings are supposed to be. According to the Bible, that's a pretty glorious thing.
Prayer
Jesus, we want to love what you love and do what you would have us do. Because, more than anything, we want to be like you. Amen.