【双语灵修】十一人THE ELEVEN

马太福音 28:16-20

十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。他们见了耶稣就拜他，然而还有人疑惑。耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”

4月28日

十一人

“十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。” -太 28:16

当我们的孩子长大到可以在家里自我照顾，让爸爸妈妈外出时，我们总是对他们有很多叮嘱。喂狗、给植物浇水、用吸尘器打扫客厅、放碗碟入洗碗机、晚上10点前上床睡觉......在我们不在家的时候，我们希望家里井然有序，也希望孩子们知道他们需要把事情做好。

从某个角度来看，耶稣在即将离开祂的门徒时也有一个类似的计划。祂与门徒们相处多年，训练他们，都是在为这一时刻做准备。祂即将回到天父身边，把在地上建立国度的任务留给他们。所以在离开之前，耶稣给了他们一些使命：“使万民作我的门徒”，“给他们施洗，（归入我的家）”，“凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守”，祂还应许说：“我就常与你们同在”。

这些对门徒来说都至关重要，对今天的我们也是如此。作为耶稣的追随者，我们现在仍在继续这项重要的工作。耶稣给门徒的信息就是祂给我们的信息。

我们有工作任务，也有耶稣与我们永远同在的应许。这些都是我们可以确信的。

祷告

耶稣，感谢你应许永远与我们同在，并赋予我们使命。请帮助我们每天在地上成就你的旨意，建造你的国度。奉你的名祷告，阿们。

THE ELEVEN

"The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go." - Matthew 28:16

When our kids were old enough to look after themselves at home while Mom and Dad went out, we always had lots of instructions for them. Feed the dog, water the plants, vacuum the living room, load the dishwasher, and be in bed by 10 p.m. In our absence we wanted things to get done, and we needed our kids to know they had to get them done.

In some ways, it seems, Jesus had a similar plan when he was about to leave his disciples. He had spent years with them, training them and preparing them for this exact moment. He was about to return to the Father in heaven and leave them with the task of furthering his kingdom on the earth. So before he left, Jesus gave them these tasks: “Make disciples of all nations.” “Baptize people into my family.” “Teach them everything I have commanded you.” And he promised, “I will always be with you.”

These were essential for the disciples, and they are essential for us today. We continue in this important work as Jesus’ followers even now. Jesus’ message to his disciples is his message to us.

We have our job description, and we have Jesus’ promise of his eternal presence with us. And these are things we can be sure of.

Jesus, thank you for your promise to be with us always and for the tasks you have given us. Help us to fulfill your kingdom purposes on the earth every day. In your name, Amen.