【双语灵修】在祂的敌人面前IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ENEMIES

马太福音 26:17-30

除酵节的第一天，门徒来问耶稣说：“你吃逾越节的筵席，要我们在哪里给你预备？” 耶稣说：“你们进城去，到某人那里，对他说：‘夫子说：我的时候快到了，我与门徒要在你家里守逾越节。’” 门徒遵着耶稣所吩咐的，就去预备了逾越节的筵席。

到了晚上，耶稣和十二个门徒坐席。正吃的时候，耶稣说：“我实在告诉你们：你们中间有一个人要卖我了。” 他们就甚忧愁，一个一个地问他说：“主，是我吗？” 耶稣回答说：“同我蘸手在盘子里的，就是他要卖我。人子必要去世，正如经上指着他所写的，但卖人子的人有祸了！那人不生在世上倒好。” 卖耶稣的犹大问他说：“拉比，是我吗？”耶稣说：“你说的是。”

他们吃的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝福，就掰开，递给门徒，说：“你们拿着吃，这是我的身体。” 又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们，说：“你们都喝这个，因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。但我告诉你们：从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直到我在我父的国里同你们喝新的那日子。”他们唱了诗，就出来往橄榄山去。

7月19日

在祂的敌人面前

“正吃的时候，耶稣说：’我实在告诉你们：你们中间有一个人要卖我了。’” -太 26:21

耶稣预备与门徒一起吃最后顿晚餐时，祂表现出的忍耐和慷慨，实在令人顿生敬畏之心。祂讲出将会发生的事情，没有半点愤怒或恨意，祂不单在敌人面前摆设筵席，祂更招待那个敌人，这真是奇妙的恩典。

好牧羊人以一顿晚餐（最后晚餐）来喂养羊儿的身体和灵命。在以后的年日中，祂的羊都会如此行，为了要记念祂的牺牲和慈爱。这样行能滋养他们的灵命，好让他们得到继续遵行使命所需要的。直到今天，”地下教会”纵使被敌人围绕着，主的羊群仍然一起守这主餐。

从人的角度来看，当耶稣预备上十字架，为所有跟随者献为赎罪祭时，仍要记念自己所看顾的羊，实在不容易呀。耶稣全然是人，但也全然是神的儿子，祂纵使要为祂的羊受死，仍然继续看顾它们。在这里我们看到祂多么爱祂的父和祂的羊，甚至爱任何反对祂的人。

我们蒙召去效法耶稣的生活和行事方式。祂爱忠心跟随祂的人，也爱祂的敌人，祂的榜样怎样告诉我们，应该如何与对我们不友善的人交往呢？

祷告

主耶稣，祢因着爱我们，而步向死亡，祢在许多事上向我们展示不朽的爱，我们赞美祢。阿们。

Matthew 26:17-30

SATURDAY, JULY 19

IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ENEMIES

While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” —Matthew 26:21

The patience and generosity Jesus shows as he prepares for his last supper with his disciples is really awe inspiring. Without anger or malice he tells the truth of what is about to happen. He not only sets a table in front of an enemy but also serves that enemy. This too is amazing grace.

The good shepherd feeds his sheep both physically and spiritually with a meal (the Lord’s Supper) that the flock will eat in remembrance of his sacrifice and love for years and years to come. It will nourish them spiritually so that they will have what they need to stay on mission. And even in underground churches to the present day his sheep have joined in this meal despite being surrounded by enemies.

Humanly speaking it would not have been easy to think about the sheep in his care as Jesus set his face toward the cross and he became the sacrifice for sin for the sake of all who would follow him. But while Jesus was fully human, he was also fully the Son of God who continued to care for his flock even as he faced death on their behalf. Here we see his overwhelming love for both the Father and the flock, including any who opposed him.

We are called to live and act like Jesus. How does his example of showing love to both his faithful followers and his enemies inform how we can engage with people who are unkind to us?

We praise you, Lord Jesus, for your undying love shown to us in so many ways as you walked toward your death for our sake. Amen.