【双语灵修】一位温柔的君王A GENTLE KING
马太福音 21:1-11
耶稣和门徒将近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其，在橄榄山那里， 耶稣就打发两个门徒，对他们说：“你们往对面村子里去，必看见一匹驴拴在那里，还有驴驹同在一处。你们解开，牵到我这里来。 若有人对你们说什么，你们就说：‘主要用它。’那人必立时让你们牵来。” 这事成就，是要应验先知的话说： “要对锡安的居民说：‘看哪，你的王来到你这里，是温柔的，又骑着驴，就是骑着驴驹子。’” 门徒就照耶稣所吩咐的去行， 牵了驴和驴驹来，把自己的衣服搭在上面，耶稣就骑上。 众人多半把衣服铺在路上，还有人砍下树枝来铺在路上。 前行后随的众人喊着说：“和散那归于大卫的子孙！奉主名来的是应当称颂的！高高在上和散那！” 耶稣既进了耶路撒冷，合城都惊动了，说：“这是谁？” 众人说：“这是加利利拿撒勒的先知耶稣。”
星期日
三月二十九日
一位温柔的君王
“这事成就，是要应验先知的话，说：‘… 看哪，你的王来到你这里，是温柔的，又骑着驴，就是骑着驴驹子。’” - 太 21:4-5
神的信实是随着时间逐步显现的。我们不会实时看见，因为主的道路非同我们的道路，而神乃是按着祂自己的时间表去作工的。远在耶稣骑驴进入耶路撒冷为王之前，神已给先知撒迦利亚一个有关这件事的异象，撒迦利亚便宣告这事，又把它记下来（参看《撒迦利亚书》9:9-11）。
在这个世界，君王和统治者通常是带着气势和力量而来，断不会是骑着驴，没有大军随行的。然而，从历史开始，神一直在预备祂的子民去明白，祂要与他们建立一种关系。虽然祂的子民一次又一次误入歧途，又沉沦在罪中，神仍继续追寻他们。
今天的经文是关于众所周知的棕枝节，就是耶稣公开表明自己是世界的救主和君王那个星期的开始。可是，耶稣看起来不像世人期望见到的君王，祂很快便被拒绝、钉十架、受死和被埋葬。但在接着的星期日早上，耶稣复活了，为了我们祂征服了死亡！那位信实的神，再一次成就超过任何人所能想像的到的。
就是最亲近耶稣的人也对这件事始料不及。解开这个谜的关键，就是耶稣完成祂拯救我们的使命，不会受到阻挠的。祂承担了死亡的咒诅，为所有相信的人带来生命。
祷告
神啊，感谢你多年来都在预备耶稣的来临。在这个星期，求你提醒我们，你永远不变的信实是何等奇妙。阿们。
Matthew 21:1-11
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
A GENTLE KING
This took place to fulfill what was spoken . . . “‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a . . . colt, the foal of a donkey.’” —Matthew 21:4-5
God reveals his faithfulness over time. We might not see it right away, for the Lord’s ways are not our ways, and God works according to his own time table. Years before Jesus came riding into Jerusalem as King, God gave Zechariah the prophet an impression of that scene, and Zechariah proclaimed it and wrote it down (see Zechariah 9:9-11).
In this world, kings and rulers come in splendor and power, not on a donkey and with no army. From the beginning of history, though, God worked to prepare his people to understand that he wanted a relationship with them. And although they strayed and wandered in sin—again and again— God kept pursuing his people.
Our text today focuses on what has become known as Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week in which Jesus made himself known as the world’s Savior and King. But he didn’t look like the king the people expected to see, and he was soon rejected, crucified, dead, and buried. But then he rose again the next Sunday morning, conquering death for our sake! Once again, the faithful one, God, did more than anyone could think or imagine.
Even the people closest to Jesus did not see what was unfolding. The key to this puzzle was that Jesus would not be deterred from his mission to save us. He took on the curse of death for all in order to bring life to all who believe.
God, thank you for preparing through the years for Jesus to come. Remind us this week of the wonder of your unchanging faithfulness. Amen.