【双语灵修】自有永有（I AM）I AM

约翰福音 8:48-59

犹太人回答说：“我们说你是撒马利亚人，并且是鬼附着的，这话岂不正对吗？”耶稣说：“我不是鬼附着的。我尊敬我的父，你们倒轻慢我。我不求自己的荣耀，有一位为我求荣耀、定是非的。我实实在在地告诉你们：人若遵守我的道，就永远不见死。”犹太人对他说：“现在我们知道你是鬼附着的。亚伯拉罕死了，众先知也死了，你还说‘人若遵守我的道，就永远不尝死味’。难道你比我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕还大吗？他死了，众先知也死了。你将自己当做什么人呢？”耶稣回答说：“我若荣耀自己，我的荣耀就算不得什么。荣耀我的乃是我的父，就是你们所说是你们的神。你们未曾认识他，我却认识他。我若说不认识他，我就是说谎的，像你们一样。但我认识他，也遵守他的道。“你们的祖宗亚伯拉罕欢欢喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看见了，就快乐。”犹太人说：“你还没有五十岁，岂见过亚伯拉罕呢？”耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：还没有亚伯拉罕就有了我。”于是他们拿石头要打他，耶稣却躲藏，从殿里出去了。

10月22日

自有永有（I AM）

“耶稣说：‘我实实在在地告诉你们：还没有亚伯拉罕就有了我！’” - 约翰福音 8:58

听众的反应往往能折射出一句话的份量：有些话惹人发笑，有些话惹人蹙眉，有些话无聊到让人频频看表。但究竟是什么样的话，竟会让人捡起石头砸过去呢？

在今天所读的经文中，当耶稣说“我是”的时候，祂的听众震惊了。随即他们想要杀祂。为什么？因为祂用神的名字来表明自己的身份。

神在呼召摩西带领他的子民脱离奴役时，曾启示过这个名字：“我是自有永有的……你要对以色列人这样说：‘那自有的（I AM）打发我到你们这里来。'……这是我的名，直到永远”（《出埃及记》3:14-15）。

“那自有的”这个名字蕴含着深意，意味着神本身是完全的、永恒的，配受一切敬拜。当耶稣称自己为“自有永有的”时，是在表明祂就是那位对摩西说话的神。祂的听众听明白了—这正是他们要拿石头打祂的原因。当我们听见耶稣自称是神时，我们作何反应呢？C. S.路易斯指出，耶稣要么是在撒谎并且自己知道—那他就是邪恶的；要么是他自以为神但搞错了—那他就是癫狂的；又或者耶稣说的是真话—那祂确实是宇宙中永恒的神。

如果耶稣是个骗子或疯子，我们理当拒绝祂。但如果祂是神，我们就应当完全信靠祂、敬拜祂。你的回应是什么呢？

祷告

主耶稣，你是神。求你赦免我们的罪，因我们未曾尊你为神。求你帮助我们忠心为你而活，承认你是我们生命的主，更是万有的主。阿们。

John 8:48-59

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

I AM

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” —John 8:58

We can often see how weighty a statement is by how listeners react. Some words prompt a smile; others a scowl; others a glance at the watch. But what about words that make people reach for stones to throw?

When Jesus said, “I am,” in our passage for today, his listeners were shocked. Then they tried to kill him. Why? Because he was taking on the name of God to identify himself.

God had revealed this name when he called Moses to lead his people out of slavery: “I AM WHO I AM. . . . Say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” . . . This is my name forever” (Exodus 3:14-15).

The name “I AM” is heavy with meaning. It means God is complete in himself, eternal, and worthy of all worship. When Jesus called himself “I am,” he was saying he is the God who spoke to Moses. His audience understood, and that’s why they were ready to stone him.

When we hear Jesus’ claim that he is God, what is our response? C. S. Lewis noted that either Jesus is lying and knows it, which would make him evil. Or Jesus just thinks he is God but is mistaken, which would make him delusional. Or Jesus is telling the truth, meaning he really is the eternal God of the universe.

If Jesus is a liar or deluded, we should reject him. But if he is God, we should trust him completely and worship him. What is your response?

Lord Jesus, you are God. Forgive us for treating you as anything less. Help us to live faithfully for you as the Lord of our lives and, indeed, the Lord over all. Amen.