【双语灵修】民众THE CROWD

约翰福音 12:12-19

第二天，有许多上来过节的人听见耶稣将到耶路撒冷，就拿着棕树枝出去迎接他，喊着说：“和散那！奉主名来的以色列王是应当称颂的！”耶稣得了一个驴驹，就骑上，如经上所记的说：“锡安的民哪，不要惧怕！你的王骑着驴驹来了。”这些事门徒起先不明白，等到耶稣得了荣耀以后，才想起这话是指着他写的，并且众人果然向他这样行了。 当耶稣呼唤拉撒路，叫他从死复活出坟墓的时候，同耶稣在那里的众人就作见证。众人因听见耶稣行了这神迹，就去迎接他。法利赛人彼此说：“看哪，你们是徒劳无益，世人都随从他去了！”

4月13日

民众

“就拿着棕树枝出去迎接他，喊着说：‘和散那！’” -约 12:13

今天是棕枝主日。

我记得有人说过，棕枝主日发生的事在她看来很矛盾。有些庆祝耶稣进入耶路撒冷的人，几天后却高喊着“钉他十字架！”（马可福音 15:13-14）。

如果我们留心，棕枝主日这一天发生的事确实蹊跷。例如，哪有君王骑驴进城的？一匹威严的骏马更合适，难道不是吗？什么样的人会在前一天高喊“和散那！”和“奉主名来的以色列王是应当称颂的！”，然后不到一周后又高喊“钉他十字架！”这根本说不通。但矛盾的事不止这些。矛盾的事一直延续到你我身上。

从客观上讲，耶稣是被士兵、官长、祭司和民众推上十字架的。但祂之所以被挂在十字架上，又是因为全人类的罪——包括你我的罪——把祂推上了十字架。我们所有人都像挥舞着树枝欢迎耶稣进城的民众一样。我们庆祝并敬拜祂是主，是君王，但我们犯了罪，这就需要耶稣代替我们死来拯救我们。我们与多年前耶路撒冷的民众没有什么不同。

今天，当称颂耶稣这位君王，愿我们牢记，祂来不是“要受人的服侍，乃是要服侍人，并且要舍命作多人的赎价”（马可福音 10:45）。祂的死是为了让我们得蒙宽恕，并在祂里面重获新生！

祷告

主耶稣，请帮助我们称颂你，感谢你为拯救我们所做的一切。阿们。

THE CROWD

"They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' . . ." - John 12:13

Today is Palm Sunday.

I remember someone telling me that the events of Palm Sunday always seemed contradictory to her. Some of the people who celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem were the same ones who shouted “Crucify him!” a few days later (Mark 15:13-14).

The contradictions of Palm Sunday have something to say, if we are ready to listen. For example, what kind of king enters a city on a donkey? A majestic horse would be more fitting, right? And what kind of people shout, “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the king of Israel!” one day, and then cry “Crucify him!” later in the week? It doesn’t make sense. But the contradictions don’t stop there. They carry on all the way to you and me.

Physically Jesus was put on the cross by soldiers, officials, priests, and regular people. But he hung on that cross because the sin of all humanity—including my sin and your sin—put him there. All of us are like the crowd waving branches as Jesus entered Jerusalem. We celebrate and worship him as Lord and King—and yet we sin, which required that Jesus die in our place to save us. We are no different from the crowds in Jerusalem all those years ago.

So today, as we celebrate Jesus arriving as King, let’s remember that he came not “to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He died so that we can be forgiven and have new life in him!

Lord Jesus, help us to celebrate you and to give thanks for all you have done to save us. Amen.