第153篇 Paper 153
迦百农危机 The Crisis at Capernaum
153:0.1 (1707.1) 在周五,他们抵达伯赛大那天的晚上,以及安息日早上,使徒们留意到耶稣认真忙于某个重大问题;他们意识到主正在对某个重要事务进行不同寻常的思考。他没吃早餐,中午只吃了一点。安息日早上及之前夜晚,十二人和他们同伴以小组方式聚在房子周围、花园中以及海岸边。他们所有人身上都存在一种充满不定的紧张和充满忧患的悬疑。自从他们离开耶路撒冷以来,耶稣很少对他们说话。 153:0.1 (1707.1) ON FRIDAY evening, the day of their arrival at Bethsaida, and on Sabbath morning, the apostles noticed that Jesus was seriously occupied with some momentous problem; they were cognizant that the Master was giving unusual thought to some important matter. He ate no breakfast and but little at noontide. All of Sabbath morning and the evening before, the twelve and their associates were gathered together in small groups about the house, in the garden, and along the seashore. There was a tension of uncertainty and a suspense of apprehension resting upon all of them. Jesus had said little to them since they left Jerusalem.
153:0.2 (1707.2) 数月以来,他们未看到主如此心事重重和沉默寡言。甚至西蒙•彼得也是沮丧的,如果不是情绪低落的话。安德鲁茫然不知要为他沮丧的同伴们做什么。纳撒尼尔说他们处于“暴风雨前的宁静”当中。多马斯表达了“不同寻常之事就要发生”的观点。菲利普则建议大卫•西庇太“别再想喂养和寄宿群众的计划,直至我们知道主在想什么。”马太则再接再厉补充财库。詹姆斯和约翰则商谈犹太教会堂中即将到来的布道,并就它的可能本质和范围猜测颇多。奋锐党人西蒙则表达了这种信念,实际上是一种希望,即“天上的父为了呵护和支持他儿子,或是要以某种意想不到的方式介入,”而犹大•以斯加略竟敢于沉溺于以下想法中,即可能耶稣感到压抑,遗憾“他未有勇气敢于允许五千人称他为犹太人的王。” 153:0.2 (1707.2) Not in months had they seen the Master so preoccupied and uncommunicative. Even Simon Peter was depressed, if not downcast. Andrew was at a loss to know what to do for his dejected associates. Nathaniel said they were in the midst of the “lull before the storm.” Thomas expressed the opinion that “something out of the ordinary is about to happen.” Philip advised David Zebedee to “forget about plans for feeding and lodging the multitude until we know what the Master is thinking about.” Matthew was putting forth renewed efforts to replenish the treasury. James and John talked over the forthcoming sermon in the synagogue and speculated much as to its probable nature and scope. Simon Zelotes expressed the belief, in reality a hope, that “the Father in heaven may be about to intervene in some unexpected manner for the vindication and support of his Son,” while Judas Iscariot dared to indulge the thought that possibly Jesus was oppressed with regrets that “he did not have the courage and daring to permit the five thousand to proclaim him king of the Jews.”
153:0.3 (1707.3) 正是从这样一群沮丧惆怅的追随者们中间,耶稣在这个美好的安息日下午出去在迦百农犹太教会堂中宣讲他划时代性的布道。来自他直接追随者中一员的唯一充满愉悦问候或良好祝愿的话语,来自毫无怀疑的阿尔斐孪生兄弟中的一人,他在耶稣离家前往犹太教会堂时向他愉快致意,并说道:“我们祈祷父会帮助您,祈祷我们或许会有比以往更为庞大的群众。” 153:0.3 (1707.3) It was from among such a group of depressed and disconsolate followers that Jesus went forth on this beautiful Sabbath afternoon to preach his epoch-making sermon in the Capernaum synagogue. The only word of cheerful greeting or well-wishing from any of his immediate followers came from one of the unsuspecting Alpheus twins, who, as Jesus left the house on his way to the synagogue, saluted him cheerily and said: “We pray the Father will help you, and that we may have bigger multitudes than ever.”
1. 舞台的设定 ^top 1. The Setting of the Stage ^top
153:1.1 (1707.4) 在这个优美的安息日下午三点,一群尊贵的会众在新的迦百农犹太教会堂迎接了耶稣。雅鲁斯主持并将圣经递给耶稣来朗读。前一天,五十三个法利赛人和撒都该人从耶路撒冷抵达;三十多个临近犹太教会堂的领袖和掌管者也到场了。这些犹太教宗教领袖在来自耶路撒冷犹太教公会的命令下直接行事,他们构成了正统的先锋,前来开启对耶稣和他使徒们的公开战事。坐在这些犹太领袖旁边、位于犹太教会堂荣誉席位上的,是希律•安提帕斯的官方观察员,他们受指示来确认关于以下令人不安报告的真实性,即民众曾试图在他兄弟菲利普的领地内宣布耶稣为犹太人的王。 153:1.1 (1707.4) A distinguished congregation greeted Jesus at three o’clock on this exquisite Sabbath afternoon in the new Capernaum synagogue. Jairus presided and handed Jesus the Scriptures to read. The day before, fifty-three Pharisees and Sadducees had arrived from Jerusalem; more than thirty of the leaders and rulers of the neighboring synagogues were also present. These Jewish religious leaders were acting directly under orders from the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, and they constituted the orthodox vanguard which had come to inaugurate open warfare on Jesus and his disciples. Sitting by the side of these Jewish leaders, in the synagogue seats of honor, were the official observers of Herod Antipas, who had been directed to ascertain the truth concerning the disturbing reports that an attempt had been made by the populace to proclaim Jesus the king of the Jews, over in the domains of his brother Philip.
153:1.2 (1708.1) 耶稣领悟到他面对由他逐渐增多的敌人所即刻宣称的公然公开战事,他勇敢选择了采取攻势。在喂养五千人时,他挑战了他们关于物质性弥赛亚的观念;现在他再次公开选择来攻击他们关于犹太人拯救者的概念。这场危机始于对五千人的喂养,终于这个安息日下午的布道,是公众名声和称赞浪潮的外在转向。从这以后,王国的工作则是渐趋关注于为人类真正宗教兄弟情谊赢得持久灵性皈依者这一更为重要任务。这场布道标志着这场危机从讨论、争议和决定的时期过度到公开战事以及最终接受或最终拒绝的时期。 153:1.2 (1708.1) Jesus comprehended that he faced the immediate declaration of avowed and open warfare by his increasing enemies, and he elected boldly to assume the offensive. At the feeding of the five thousand he had challenged their ideas of the material Messiah; now he chose again openly to attack their concept of the Jewish deliverer. This crisis, which began with the feeding of the five thousand, and which terminated with this Sabbath afternoon sermon, was the outward turning of the tide of popular fame and acclaim. Henceforth, the work of the kingdom was to be increasingly concerned with the more important task of winning lasting spiritual converts for the truly religious brotherhood of mankind. This sermon marks the crisis in the transition from the period of discussion, controversy, and decision to that of open warfare and final acceptance or final rejection.
153:1.3 (1708.2) 主清楚知道,他的许多追随者们正在慢慢却又肯定地准备好他们的心智最终来拒绝他。他同样知道,他的许多门徒正在慢慢却又肯定地经历那场心智培训和灵魂历练,使他们克服怀疑,勇敢宣示他们在王国福音上的全然信仰。耶稣完全理解人们如何通过在反复出现的善恶情形中间缓慢重复选择的过程,令自身为一场危机的决定和突然有勇气选择行为的表现做好准备。他让他的选定使者们经受反复的失望演练,为他们提供了在满足灵性考验的对错方式之间选择的频繁而又棘手机会。他知道他可以在他们满足最终考验时依靠他的追随者,来依照先前习惯性的心智态度和属灵反应做出他们至关重要的决定。 153:1.3 (1708.2) The Master well knew that many of his followers were slowly but surely preparing their minds finally to reject him. He likewise knew that many of his disciples were slowly but certainly passing through that training of mind and that discipline of soul which would enable them to triumph over doubt and courageously to assert their full-fledged faith in the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus fully understood how men prepare themselves for the decisions of a crisis and the performance of sudden deeds of courageous choosing by the slow process of the reiterated choosing between the recurring situations of good and evil. He subjected his chosen messengers to repeated rehearsals in disappointment and provided them with frequent and testing opportunities for choosing between the right and the wrong way of meeting spiritual trials. He knew he could depend on his followers, when they met the final test, to make their vital decisions in accordance with prior and habitual mental attitudes and spirit reactions.
153:1.4 (1708.3) 这场在耶稣世上生活中的危机,始于对五千人的喂养,终于这场在犹太教会堂中的布道;使徒生活中的危机则始于这场在犹太教会堂中的布道,继续了一整年,仅在主的受审和受十字架刑时才结束。 153:1.4 (1708.3) This crisis in Jesus’ earth life began with the feeding of the five thousand and ended with this sermon in the synagogue; the crisis in the lives of the apostles began with this sermon in the synagogue and continued for a whole year, ending only with the Master’s trial and crucifixion.
153:1.5 (1708.4) 当他们那天下午在耶稣开始讲话之前坐在犹太教会堂里时,在所有人心中就只有一大谜团,就只有一大问题。他的朋友和他的敌人就只细思一个想法,那就是:“为何他自己如此有意而又有效地翻转了公众热情的浪潮?”正是在这场布道前后,他不满的拥护者们的怀疑和失望变成了无意识的反对,并最终转成了实际的仇恨。正是在犹太教会堂这场布道之后,犹大•以斯加略怀有了他第一个想要放弃的想法。不过他暂时有效地掌控了所有这类意向。 153:1.5 (1708.4) As they sat there in the synagogue that afternoon before Jesus began to speak, there was just one great mystery, just one supreme question, in the minds of all. Both his friends and his foes pondered just one thought, and that was: “Why did he himself so deliberately and effectively turn back the tide of popular enthusiasm?” And it was immediately before and immediately after this sermon that the doubts and disappointments of his disgruntled adherents grew into unconscious opposition and eventually turned into actual hatred. It was after this sermon in the synagogue that Judas Iscariot entertained his first conscious thought of deserting. But he did, for the time being, effectively master all such inclinations.
153:1.6 (1708.5) 每个人都处于一种困惑的状态中。耶稣令他们目瞪口呆,不知所措。他最近从事了超自然力量的最伟大展示来刻画他整个生涯的特征。对五千人的喂养是他世上生活中对犹太人所期待弥赛亚概念做出最伟大诉求的一件事。不过这一非凡利处立即莫名其妙地被他快速而又毫不含糊的拒绝为王所抵消了。 153:1.6 (1708.5) Everyone was in a state of perplexity. Jesus had left them dumfounded and confounded. He had recently engaged in the greatest demonstration of supernatural power to characterize his whole career. The feeding of the five thousand was the one event of his earth life which made the greatest appeal to the Jewish concept of the expected Messiah. But this extraordinary advantage was immediately and unexplainedly offset by his prompt and unequivocal refusal to be made king.
153:1.7 (1709.1) 在周五晚上以及在安息日早上,耶路撒冷领袖们与雅鲁斯进行了长时间认真地努力,来阻止耶稣在犹太教会堂的讲话,但却没有用。雅鲁斯对所有这一切恳求的唯一答复是:“我已经批准了这个请求,我不会违背我的话。” 153:1.7 (1709.1) On Friday evening, and again on Sabbath morning, the Jerusalem leaders had labored long and earnestly with Jairus to prevent Jesus’ speaking in the synagogue, but it was of no avail. Jairus’s only reply to all this pleading was: “I have granted this request, and I will not violate my word.”
2. 划时代的布道 ^top 2. The Epochal Sermon ^top
153:2.1 (1709.2) 耶稣通过朗读从《申命记》中所找到的律法引入了这场布道:“不过它必会到来,若这个民族不倾听神之音,那么过犯之诅咒必会追上他们。上主必使你被你的仇敌所击败;你必被移除到地上的万国当中。上主必将你和你所立的王带到一个陌生国家的手中。你必成为所有国家中间的一个令人惊讶之物、众所周知之事和一个笑柄。你的儿女必被掳去。你们中间的陌生人必在权威上高升,而你们则必被贬降。这些事必将临到你们和你们子孙身上,因为你们不愿倾听上主的话语。因此你们必服侍前来攻击你们的仇敌。你们必忍饥受渴,负上异族的铁轭。上主必带一个来自远方、来自地极的国家,一个你不懂其语言的国家,一个有着凶恶面目的国家,一个很少顾忌你们的国家。他们必将你们困在各城中,直到你们所倚靠的高大坚固城墙崩塌;所有土地必落入他们手中。它必会到来,你们将在这围困期间被迫吃自己本身之出、你们儿女的血肉,因为你们的仇敌必逼迫你们自己至极。” 153:2.1 (1709.2) Jesus introduced this sermon by reading from the law as found in Deuteronomy: “But it shall come to pass, if this people will not hearken to the voice of God, that the curses of transgression shall surely overtake them. The Lord shall cause you to be smitten by your enemies; you shall be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. And the Lord shall bring you and the king you have set up over you into the hands of a strange nation. You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations. Your sons and your daughters shall go into captivity. The strangers among you shall rise high in authority while you are brought very low. And these things shall be upon you and your seed forever because you would not hearken to the word of the Lord. Therefore shall you serve your enemies who shall come against you. You shall endure hunger and thirst and wear this alien yoke of iron. The Lord shall bring against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, a nation whose tongue you shall not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, a nation which will have little regard for you. And they shall besiege you in all your towns until the high fortified walls wherein you have trusted come down; and all the land shall fall into their hands. And it shall come to pass that you will be driven to eat the fruit of your own bodies, the flesh of your sons and daughters, during this time of siege, because of the straitness wherewith your enemies shall press you.”
153:2.2 (1709.3) 当耶稣结束这一朗读时,他转向《先知书》,从《耶利米书》读道:“‘如果你们不倾听我派给你们的众仆人先知的话语,那么我就会使这殿像示罗一样,我将使这个城市成为世上万国的一个诅咒。’祭司和导师们都听到了耶利米在上主殿中说的这些话。当耶利米说完上主吩咐他对众人所说的一切话,祭司和导师们抓住他说,‘你必定要死。’所有人都聚在上主殿中的耶利米周围。当犹大的首领们听了这些事,他们就审判耶利米。之后祭司和导师们对首领和所有民众讲话,说:‘这个人该死,因为他预言了攻我们的城,你们亲耳听他说了。’之后,耶利米对所有首领和所有民众说:‘上主派我来预言攻击这殿和攻击这城,你们所听到的这一切话。因此,现在就改正你们的所作所为,服从你们上主神的声音,如此你们可以避开对你们宣布的恶事。至于我,看哪,我在你们手中。按你们眼中所看待的良善和正确对待我吧。不过,你们肯定会知道,如果你们处死我,你们将会把无辜的鲜血带到你们自己和这个民族身上,因为上主真的派我来将所有这些话语传入你们耳中。’ 153:2.2 (1709.3) And when Jesus had finished this reading, he turned to the Prophets and read from Jeremiah: “‘If you will not hearken to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent you, then will I make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’ And the priests and the teachers heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and teachers laid hold of him, saying, ‘You shall surely die.’ And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. And when the princes of Judah heard these things, they sat in judgment on Jeremiah. Then spoke the priests and the teachers to the princes and to all the people, saying: ‘This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against our city, and you have heard him with your own ears.’ Then spoke Jeremiah to all the princes and to all the people: ‘The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words which you have heard. Now, therefore, amend your ways and reform your doings and obey the voice of the Lord your God that you may escape the evil which has been pronounced against you. As for me, behold I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right in your eyes. But know you for certain that, if you put me to death, you shall bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this people, for of a truth the Lord has sent me to speak all these words in your ears.’
153:2.3 (1710.1) “那个日子的祭司和导师们寻求要杀死耶利米,不过审判者们不愿同意,尽管如此,由于他的警告话语,他们的确用绳子将他下放到一个污秽的地牢中,直至他陷入齐腋深的淤泥中。那就是先知耶利米在服从上主吩咐、警告他兄弟们他们即将到来的政治垮台时,这个民族对他做的一切。今日我想要问你们:这个民族的大祭司和宗教领袖们,要对敢于警告他们其灵性判决日的人做些什么呢?你们难道也想寻求将敢于宣称上主话语、毫不畏惧指出你们拒绝在引领你们进入天国的光之道路上行走的导师处死吗? 153:2.3 (1710.1) “The priests and teachers of that day sought to kill Jeremiah, but the judges would not consent, albeit, for his words of warning, they did let him down by cords in a filthy dungeon until he sank in mire up to his armpits. That is what this people did to the Prophet Jeremiah when he obeyed the Lord’s command to warn his brethren of their impending political downfall. Today, I desire to ask you: What will the chief priests and religious leaders of this people do with the man who dares to warn them of the day of their spiritual doom? Will you also seek to put to death the teacher who dares to proclaim the word of the Lord, and who fears not to point out wherein you refuse to walk in the way of light which leads to the entrance to the kingdom of heaven?
153:2.4 (1710.2) “你们寻求什么作为我在世上使命的证据?我们让你们在你们充满影响和权能的位置上未受干扰,而我们则向穷人和无家可归者宣扬喜讯。我们并未向你们怀着敬畏所持有的一切采取任何敌对攻击,而是向人类受恐惧折磨的灵魂宣扬新的自由。我来到世上来启示我的父,在世上建立神之子民的灵性兄弟情谊,即天国。尽管我那么多次提醒你们,我的王国并不属于这个世界,但除了更多可做证据的灵性转化和重生以外,我的父还是授予了你们许多充满物质性奇观的显现。 153:2.4 (1710.2) “What is it you seek as evidence of my mission on earth? We have left you undisturbed in your positions of influence and power while we preached glad tidings to the poor and the outcast. We have made no hostile attack upon that which you hold in reverence but have rather proclaimed new liberty for man’s fear-ridden soul. I came into the world to reveal my Father and to establish on earth the spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God, the kingdom of heaven. And notwithstanding that I have so many times reminded you that my kingdom is not of this world, still has my Father granted you many manifestations of material wonders in addition to more evidential spiritual transformations and regenerations.
153:2.5 (1710.3) “你们想要在我手上寻求什么新的迹象?我宣称你们已拥有足够证据来使你们做出你们的决定。我实实在在要对今天坐在我面前的许多人说,你们要面临选择要走哪条路的必要;我要对你们说,正如约书亚对你们先辈所说一样,‘今天选择你想要服侍谁。’今天,你们有许多人站在岔路口。 153:2.5 (1710.3) “What new sign is it that you seek at my hands? I declare that you already have sufficient evidence to enable you to make your decision. Verily, verily, I say to many who sit before me this day, you are confronted with the necessity of choosing which way you will go; and I say to you, as Joshua said to your forefathers, ‘choose you this day whom you will serve.’ Today, many of you stand at the parting of the ways.
153:2.6 (1710.4) “你们有些人,当在另一边群众的盛宴之后无法找到我时,雇佣了一周前在暴风雨期间附近躲避的提比里亚渔船队来追我,为了什么?不是为了真理和正义,或是你们可以更好知道如何服务和侍奉你们的同伴!不是,反而是你们可有更多你们不劳而获的食粮。不是用生命之言填充你们的灵魂,而是你们可用易得之粮填饱肚子。你们长久以来被教导,当弥赛亚到来时,他将会运作那些令所有受选之民生活愉悦容易的奇迹。那么,以此方式被教导的你们应渴望饼和鱼也就不奇怪了。不过我要向你们宣布,这并不是人子的使命。我前来宣扬灵性自由,教导永恒真理,培育鲜活信仰。 153:2.6 (1710.4) “Some of you, when you could not find me after the feasting of the multitude on the other side, hired the Tiberias fishing fleet, which a week before had taken shelter near by during a storm, to go in pursuit of me, and what for? Not for truth and righteousness or that you might the better know how to serve and minister to your fellow men! No, but rather that you might have more bread for which you had not labored. It was not to fill your souls with the word of life, but only that you might fill the belly with the bread of ease. And long have you been taught that the Messiah, when he should come, would work those wonders which would make life pleasant and easy for all the chosen people. It is not strange, then, that you who have been thus taught should long for the loaves and the fishes. But I declare to you that such is not the mission of the Son of Man. I have come to proclaim spiritual liberty, teach eternal truth, and foster living faith.
153:2.7 (1710.5) “我的兄弟们,不要贪图必坏的食物,而是要寻求那甚至滋养永恒生命的灵性食粮;这就是子给所有接受并吃下之人的生命之粮,因为父给了子这无法估量的生命。当你们问我,‘我们要做什么来履行神的工作?’我明白地告诉过你们:‘你们要相信他所派来的人,这便是对神的工作。’” 153:2.7 (1710.5) “My brethren, hanker not after the meat which perishes but rather seek for the spiritual food that nourishes even to eternal life; and this is the bread of life which the Son gives to all who will take it and eat, for the Father has given the Son this life without measure. And when you asked me, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ I plainly told you: ‘This is the work of God, that you believe him whom he has sent.’”
153:2.8 (1710.6) 之后,耶稣朝上指向装饰这个新犹太教会堂过梁的一个被葡萄串点缀的吗哪罐图案,说道:“你们原以为你们在旷野中的先辈们吃了吗哪 -- 天上之粮,不过我要对你们说,这是地上之粮。尽管摩西并未给你们先辈来自天上的食粮,我的父此时却准备好了赐给你们真正的生命之粮。天上之粮就是从神那里降下、并赐给世上人们永恒生命的食粮。当你们对我说,赐给我们这一生命之粮吧,我会回答:我就是这生命之粮。前来我这儿的人必定不会饿,相信我的人必定不会渴。你们已看到我,与我一起生活过,看见了我的工作,然而你们却不相信我从父那里来。不过对于那些的确相信的人 -- 不要害怕。所有那些受父引领之人必来到我这儿,来到我这儿的人必不会被赶走。 153:2.8 (1710.6) And then said Jesus, pointing up to the device of a pot of manna which decorated the lintel of this new synagogue, and which was embellished with grape clusters: “You have thought that your forefathers in the wilderness ate manna—the bread of heaven—but I say to you that this was the bread of earth. While Moses did not give your fathers bread from heaven, my Father now stands ready to give you the true bread of life. The bread of heaven is that which comes down from God and gives eternal life to the men of the world. And when you say to me, Give us this living bread, I will answer: I am this bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, while he who believes me shall never thirst. You have seen me, lived with me, and beheld my works, yet you believe not that I came forth from the Father. But to those who do believe—fear not. All those led of the Father shall come to me, and he who comes to me shall in nowise be cast out.
153:2.9 (1711.1) “那么让我向你们一劳永逸地宣布吧,我降临到世上,不是履行我自己的意志,而是履行派我来的他的意志。这是他派我来的最终意志,那就是对于他赐给我的所有那些人,我不会丢下一个。这就是父的意志:即每个见到子便相信他的人,必拥有永恒的生命。仅在昨日,我的确以你们的身体之食粮喂养了你们;今日我为你们饥饿的灵魂提供生命之粮。你们现在想要像你们那时如此乐意吃这个世界之粮一样吃属灵之粮吗?” 153:2.9 (1711.1) “And now let me declare to you, once and for all time, that I have come down upon the earth, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the final will of Him who sent me, that of all those he has given me I should not lose one. And this is the will of the Father: That every one who beholds the Son and who believes him shall have eternal life. Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls. Will you now take the bread of the spirit as you then so willingly ate the bread of this world?”
153:2.10 (1711.2) 当耶稣暂停片刻环顾会众时,来自耶路撒冷的一个导师(犹太教公会的一个成员)站起来问道:“我理解你要说你是从天上降下的食粮,摩西给予我们旷野中先辈的吗哪并非从天上降下吗?”耶稣回答这个法利赛人,“你理解正确。”之后这个法利赛人说道:“不过你难道不是拿撒勒的耶稣,约瑟夫的儿子,这个木匠吗?你的父母,还有你的弟弟妹妹们,难道不是我们许多人都熟知的吗?那么何以你出现在神的殿这儿,并宣称你从天上降临?” 153:2.10 (1711.2) As Jesus paused for a moment to look over the congregation, one of the teachers from Jerusalem (a member of the Sanhedrin) rose up and asked: “Do I understand you to say that you are the bread which comes down from heaven, and that the manna which Moses gave to our fathers in the wilderness did not?” And Jesus answered the Pharisee, “You understood aright.” Then said the Pharisee: “But are you not Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, the carpenter? Are not your father and mother, as well as your brothers and sisters, well known to many of us? How then is it that you appear here in God’s house and declare that you have come down from heaven?”
153:2.11 (1711.3) 到此时为止,这个犹太教会堂中有许多窃窃私语,一场骚动就要来临,以致耶稣站起来说:“让我们保持耐心;真理从不怕遭受诚实检验。我是你们所说一切,但又不止如此。父和我是一体的;子只会做父教导他的一切,而所有那些经由父赐给子的人,子将会接受。你们已读过先知书中所写,‘你们都是蒙神的教导,’以及‘父所教导之人也会听他子的。’凡是顺从父内驻之灵教导的,最终会来到我这里。并非所有人都见过父,不过父的灵的确活在人的身中。从天上降下来的子,他必定见过父。真正相信这个子的那些人,已经拥有永恒生命了。 153:2.11 (1711.3) By this time there was much murmuring in the synagogue, and such a tumult was threatened that Jesus stood up and said: “Let us be patient; the truth never suffers from honest examination. I am all that you say but more. The Father and I are one; the Son does only that which the Father teaches him, while all those who are given to the Son by the Father, the Son will receive to himself. You have read where it is written in the Prophets, ‘You shall all be taught by God,’ and that ‘Those whom the Father teaches will hear also his Son.’ Every one who yields to the teaching of the Father’s indwelling spirit will eventually come to me. Not that any man has seen the Father, but the Father’s spirit does live within man. And the Son who came down from heaven, he has surely seen the Father. And those who truly believe this Son already have eternal life.
153:2.12 (1711.4) “我就是这生命之粮,你们先辈在旷野吃了吗哪,现在已死。不过这个从神那儿降下之粮,如果一个人吃下它,他在属灵上将永不会死。我再说一次,我是这生命之粮,每个获得对这种神人联合本质认知的灵魂将会永生。我给所有想要接受之人的这一生命之粮,是我自己鲜活而又综合之本质。父在子里面,子与父是一体的 -- 那就是我对这个世界的赐予生命性启示,以及我对所有民族的拯救性赐予。” 153:2.12 (1711.4) “I am this bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. But this bread which comes down from God, if a man eats thereof, he shall never die in spirit. I repeat, I am this living bread, and every soul who attains the realization of this united nature of God and man shall live forever. And this bread of life which I give to all who will receive is my own living and combined nature. The Father in the Son and the Son one with the Father—that is my life-giving revelation to the world and my saving gift to all nations.”
153:2.13 (1711.5) 当耶稣结束讲话时,这个犹太教会堂的掌管者解散了会众,但他们不愿离开。他们围在耶稣周围来问更多问题,而其他人则窃窃私语,彼此辩论。这种事务状态持续了三个多小时。过了七点以后,听众才散去。 153:2.13 (1711.5) When Jesus had finished speaking, the ruler of the synagogue dismissed the congregation, but they would not depart. They crowded up around Jesus to ask more questions while others murmured and disputed among themselves. And this state of affairs continued for more than three hours. It was well past seven o’clock before the audience finally dispersed.
3. 会后 ^top 3. The After Meeting ^top
153:3.1 (1712.1) 在这次会后期间,耶稣被问了许多问题。有些是由他困惑的门徒所问,但更多则是由那些只寻求来令他陷入困窘和圈套的吹毛求疵的不信者所问。 153:3.1 (1712.1) Many were the questions asked Jesus during this after meeting. Some were asked by his perplexed disciples, but more were asked by caviling unbelievers who sought only to embarrass and entrap him.
153:3.2 (1712.2) 一个造访的法利赛人爬上一个灯台,大喊出这个问题:“你告诉我们你是生命之粮。你如何能给我们你的肉体来吃、或你的鲜血来喝呢?若你的教导无法被实施,那它有什么效用?”耶稣回答这个问题,说道:“我并未教导你我的肉体是生命之粮,也未教导我的鲜血是可饮之水。不过我的确说过,我肉体中的生命是天上之粮的赠与。神的话语(或神之道)赠与到肉体中的事实和人子服从于神之意志的现象,构成了一种经验性实相,它相当于神性食粮。你无法吃我的肉,你也无法喝我的血,不过,你能在属灵上与我成为一体,正如我在属灵上与父是一体的。你能被神的永恒话语(或永恒之道)所滋养,它的确是生命之粮,它以凡人肉身之形被赠与;你能在灵魂上被神性之灵所浇灌,它真的是生命之水。父派我到世间来展示他何以想要内驻并指导所有人;我也如此在肉身中过这种生活,为的是鼓舞所有人同样来寻求知晓并履行内驻的天上之父的意志。” 153:3.2 (1712.2) One of the visiting Pharisees, mounting a lampstand, shouted out this question: “You tell us that you are the bread of life. How can you give us your flesh to eat or your blood to drink? What avail is your teaching if it cannot be carried out?” And Jesus answered this question, saying: “I did not teach you that my flesh is the bread of life nor that my blood is the water thereof. But I did say that my life in the flesh is a bestowal of the bread of heaven. The fact of the Word of God bestowed in the flesh and the phenomenon of the Son of Man subject to the will of God, constitute a reality of experience which is equivalent to the divine sustenance. You cannot eat my flesh nor can you drink my blood, but you can become one in spirit with me even as I am one in spirit with the Father. You can be nourished by the eternal word of God, which is indeed the bread of life, and which has been bestowed in the likeness of mortal flesh; and you can be watered in soul by the divine spirit, which is truly the water of life. The Father has sent me into the world to show how he desires to indwell and direct all men; and I have so lived this life in the flesh as to inspire all men likewise ever to seek to know and do the will of the indwelling heavenly Father.”
153:3.3 (1712.3) 之后,一个一直观察耶稣和他使徒的耶路撒冷密探说道:“我们留意到你和你的使徒们在你们吃饼之前都未适当洗手。你们必定清楚知道,像用肮脏未洗的双手吃饭这种做法是对长老们律法的违犯。你们也未适当洗刷你们喝水的杯子和吃饭的器皿,你们为何对先辈的传统和我们长老的律法表现出如此不敬?”当耶稣听他说完,他回答:“”你们为何用你们传统的律法来违犯神的诫命?诫命说,‘孝敬你的父亲和你的母亲,’并指示你们若有必要,与他们分享你们的资产;不过你们却制定了一套传统律法,允许未尽职的子女说供养父母的钱财已经被‘给了神。’长老的律法由此解除了这些狡猾子女的责任,尽管子女随后用所有这些钱谋求自身的舒适。你们为何以此方式用你们自己的传统令诫命无效?以赛亚的确清楚地预言了你们这些伪善者,说:‘这些人用嘴唇尊敬我,但他们的心却远离我。他们将人的训条作为教义来教导,拜我也是徒劳。’ 153:3.3 (1712.3) Then one of the Jerusalem spies who had been observing Jesus and his apostles, said: “We notice that neither you nor your apostles wash your hands properly before you eat bread. You must well know that such a practice as eating with defiled and unwashed hands is a transgression of the law of the elders. Neither do you properly wash your drinking cups and eating vessels. Why is it that you show such disrespect for the traditions of the fathers and the laws of our elders?” And when Jesus heard him speak, he answered: “Why is it that you transgress the commandments of God by the laws of your tradition? The commandment says, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and directs that you share with them your substance if necessary; but you enact a law of tradition which permits undutiful children to say that the money wherewith the parents might have been assisted has been ‘given to God.’ The law of the elders thus relieves such crafty children of their responsibility, notwithstanding that the children subsequently use all such monies for their own comfort. Why is it that you in this way make void the commandment by your own tradition? Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, saying: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.’
153:3.4 (1712.4) “你们可以看到,你们何以离开了诫命却紧紧抓住人的传统。总而言之,你们宁愿拒绝神之话语,而却保持你们自己的传统。你们的确也以许多其他方式胆敢设立自己的高于律法和先知的教导。” 153:3.4 (1712.4) “You can see how it is that you desert the commandment while you hold fast to the tradition of men. Altogether willing are you to reject the word of God while you maintain your own traditions. And in many other ways do you dare to set up your own teachings above the law and the prophets.”
153:3.5 (1712.5) 耶稣之后将他的讲话转向所有在场者。他说:“不过你们所有人都听我说。并非进入口中之物从灵性上玷污了人,反而是从嘴里出来的和从心里出来的东西玷污了人。”不过即便使徒们也未能完全把握住他话语的意涵,因为西蒙•彼得也问他:“免得您听众中有些人受到不必要的冒犯,您能向我们解释一下这些话语的意涵吗?”耶稣之后对彼得说:“你也难于理解吗?你难道不知道,不是我天上之父栽下的每颗庄稼都会被连根拔起吗?将你的注意力此时转向那些想要知晓真理之人,你无法强迫人热爱真理。这些导师中有许多人是瞎眼的向导。你知道,若瞎子领着瞎子,两个都必掉进坑里。不过,当我告诉你关于那些道德上污损人、灵性上污染人的东西的真相时,要仔细听。我宣布,并不是所有经由嘴进入身体或是经由眼耳进入心智的东西会污损人。人只会被邪恶所污损,它或许源自内心,它在这些不神圣之人的话语和行为中。你难道不知道,正是从心里出来的这些邪恶想法、即谋杀、盗窃和通奸,外加嫉妒、骄傲、愤怒、报复、责骂和伪证这些邪恶计划吗?就是这些东西污损人,而不是他们用仪式上所说的不洁双手吃饼污损人。” 153:3.5 (1712.5) Jesus then directed his remarks to all present. He said: “But hearken to me, all of you. It is not that which enters into the mouth that spiritually defiles the man, but rather that which proceeds out of the mouth and from the heart.” But even the apostles failed fully to grasp the meaning of his words, for Simon Peter also asked him: “Lest some of your hearers be unnecessarily offended, would you explain to us the meaning of these words?” And then said Jesus to Peter: “Are you also hard of understanding? Know you not that every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up? Turn now your attention to those who would know the truth. You cannot compel men to love the truth. Many of these teachers are blind guides. And you know that, if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit. But hearken while I tell you the truth concerning those things which morally defile and spiritually contaminate men. I declare it is not that which enters the body by the mouth or gains access to the mind through the eyes and ears, that defiles the man. Man is only defiled by that evil which may originate within the heart, and which finds expression in the words and deeds of such unholy persons. Do you not know it is from the heart that there come forth evil thoughts, wicked projects of murder, theft, and adulteries, together with jealousy, pride, anger, revenge, railings, and false witness? And it is just such things that defile men, and not that they eat bread with ceremonially unclean hands.”
153:3.6 (1713.1) 耶路撒冷犹太教公会的法利赛人专员们,此时几近确信耶稣必定要以亵渎神灵的控告或是藐视犹太人神圣律法的控告而被逮捕;因此他们努力要将他涉入对某些长老(古人)传统或是所谓民族口头立法的讨论和可能攻击。无论水有多么缺乏,这些受传统奴役的犹太人在每餐之前总要经历所需的仪式性洗手。他们的信念是,“宁可死也无不违背长老(古人)的诫命。”密探们之所以问这个问题,是因为有人报告耶稣曾说过“拯救是有关洁净心灵而非洁净双手的事务。”不过这类信念一旦成为一个人宗教的一部分时便很难摆脱了。即便在这天之后的许多年,使徒彼得仍被困于对这些关于洁净和不洁净之物传统的恐惧束缚中,只因经历了一场非凡而又生动的梦境才最终得以解脱出来。当人们回想起这些犹太人看待用未洗过的双手吃饭如同与妓女做生意一样,这二者都可用逐出教会加以惩罚时,所有这一切就会被更好理解了。 153:3.6 (1713.1) The Pharisaic commissioners of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin were now almost convinced that Jesus must be apprehended on a charge of blasphemy or on one of flouting the sacred law of the Jews; wherefore their efforts to involve him in the discussion of, and possible attack upon, some of the traditions of the elders, or so-called oral laws of the nation. No matter how scarce water might be, these traditionally enslaved Jews would never fail to go through with the required ceremonial washing of the hands before every meal. It was their belief that “it is better to die than to transgress the commandments of the elders.” The spies asked this question because it had been reported that Jesus had said, “Salvation is a matter of clean hearts rather than of clean hands.” But such beliefs, when they once become a part of one’s religion, are hard to get away from. Even many years after this day the Apostle Peter was still held in the bondage of fear to many of these traditions about things clean and unclean, only being finally delivered by experiencing an extraordinary and vivid dream. All of this can the better be understood when it is recalled that these Jews looked upon eating with unwashed hands in the same light as commerce with a harlot, and both were equally punishable by excommunication.
153:3.7 (1713.2) 主的确由此选择了讨论并揭露充满规则条例的整个拉比系统的愚蠢,它以口传律法为代表,即长老(古人)传统,所有这些被视为甚至比圣经教导更为神圣,更对犹太人有约束力。耶稣直言不讳地说出来,是因为他知道,他无法做更多来防止与这些宗教领袖关系之公开决裂的时刻已经到来了。 153:3.7 (1713.2) Thus did the Master elect to discuss and expose the folly of the whole rabbinic system of rules and regulations which was represented by the oral law—the traditions of the elders, all of which were regarded as more sacred and more binding upon the Jews than even the teachings of the Scriptures. And Jesus spoke out with less reserve because he knew the hour had come when he could do nothing more to prevent an open rupture of relations with these religious leaders.
4. 犹太教会堂中的最后话语 ^top 4. Last Words in the Synagogue ^top
153:4.1 (1713.3) 在这场会后的讨论中间,一个来自耶路撒冷的法利赛人将一个被不受掌管的反叛之灵附身的发狂少年带到耶稣这儿。他将这个发狂的孩子领到耶稣面前,说:“你能为像这人这样的折磨做什么?你能驱鬼吗?”当主看向这个少年,他因同情心而被打动,招呼那孩子到他这儿,用手拉住他说:“你知道我是谁;从他里面出来;我会吩咐你的一个忠诚同伴确保你不再返回。”这个孩子立即正常了,心智清醒了。这是耶稣真正将一个邪灵驱出人身的第一例子。所有以前的案例都只是所谓的恶鬼附身;不过这次是一个真正的恶鬼附身案例,像这类案例在那些日子以及直到五旬节之日时有发生,当主之灵在五旬日被浇灌到所有肉身之时,这些少数天界反叛者永远不可能再利用某些不稳定类型的人类了。 153:4.1 (1713.3) In the midst of the discussions of this after meeting, one of the Pharisees from Jerusalem brought to Jesus a distraught youth who was possessed of an unruly and rebellious spirit. Leading this demented lad up to Jesus, he said: “What can you do for such affliction as this? Can you cast out devils?” And when the Master looked upon the youth, he was moved with compassion and, beckoning for the lad to come to him, took him by the hand and said: “You know who I am; come out of him; and I charge one of your loyal fellows to see that you do not return.” And immediately the lad was normal and in his right mind. And this is the first case where Jesus really cast an “evil spirit” out of a human being. All of the previous cases were only supposed possession of the devil; but this was a genuine case of demoniac possession, even such as sometimes occurred in those days and right up to the day of Pentecost, when the Master’s spirit was poured out upon all flesh, making it forever impossible for these few celestial rebels to take such advantage of certain unstable types of human beings.
153:4.2 (1714.1) 当人们大为惊奇时,一个法利赛人站起来,并控告耶稣之所以能做这些事情,是因为他和恶鬼勾结;控告他在驱赶这一恶鬼过程中,在他所采用的语言中承认他们彼此认识;他又继续陈述,耶路撒冷的宗教导师和领袖们认为耶稣通过鬼王别西卜的力量行使他所有所谓的奇迹。这个法利赛人说道:“不要与这个人有任何关系;他是和撒旦一伙的。” 153:4.2 (1714.1) When the people marveled, one of the Pharisees stood up and charged that Jesus could do these things because he was in league with devils; that he admitted in the language which he employed in casting out this devil that they were known to each other; and he went on to state that the religious teachers and leaders at Jerusalem had decided that Jesus did all his so-called miracles by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Said the Pharisee: “Have nothing to do with this man; he is in partnership with Satan.”
153:4.3 (1714.2) 耶稣之后说道:“撒旦何以能驱出撒旦?一个自身分裂的王国无法立足;若一个房子被自身分裂,它很快就会被弄成废墟。若一个城不团结,它能经受围攻吗?若撒旦驱出撒旦,那么他就是自身分裂的;那么他的王国如何立得住?不过你们应该知道,没有人能进入一个壮汉家里抢夺他的家具,除非他先制服并捆住那个壮汉。因此,如果我靠别西卜的力量驱鬼,那么你们子孙又靠谁驱出他们呢?因此他们必会成为你们的审判者。但若我靠神之灵驱鬼,那么神之王国就真正要降临到你们身上了。若你们未被偏见所蒙蔽,未被恐惧和骄傲所误导,你们会容易察觉到,比恶鬼更强大的人站在你们中间。你们迫使我宣布,不与我相合的,就是敌我的,而不与我收聚的,则散在各处。你们这些人明目张胆、心怀叵测、蓄意擅将神的作为归于魔鬼的行为!我实实在在对你们说,你们所有罪恶必被宽恕,乃至你们所有亵渎神灵的一切也必被宽恕,但无论是谁处心积虑怀着邪恶意图亵渎神,他必永远无法获得宽恕。因为这些充满罪孽的惯犯永远不会寻求和接受宽恕,他们犯下了永恒拒绝神性宽恕的罪恶。 153:4.3 (1714.2) Then said Jesus: “How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; if a house be divided against itself, it is soon brought to desolation. Can a city withstand a siege if it is not united? If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? But you should know that no one can enter into the house of a strong man and despoil his goods except he first overpower and bind that strong man. And so, if I by the power of Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I, by the spirit of God, cast out devils, then has the kingdom of God truly come upon you. If you were not blinded by prejudice and misled by fear and pride, you would easily perceive that one who is greater than devils stands in your midst. You compel me to declare that he who is not with me is against me, while he who gathers not with me scatters abroad. Let me utter a solemn warning to you who would presume, with your eyes open and with premeditated malice, knowingly to ascribe the works of God to the doings of devils! Verily, verily, I say to you, all your sins shall be forgiven, even all of your blasphemies, but whosoever shall blaspheme against God with deliberation and wicked intention shall never obtain forgiveness. Since such persistent workers of iniquity will never seek nor receive forgiveness, they are guilty of the sin of eternally rejecting divine forgiveness.
153:4.4 (1714.3) “你们中有许多人今日来到岔路口;你们开始也要在父之意志和自我选择的黑暗道路之间做出不可避免的选择。你们此时所选择的,你们最终必如是。你们必定要令好树结好果,不然树变坏则必结坏果。我宣布,在我父的永恒王国中,树凭借其果子而闻名。不过你们有些人如同毒蛇般,你们已经选择邪恶的人怎能结出好果子?毕竟,你们内心的大量邪恶从你们嘴中说出。” 153:4.4 (1714.3) “Many of you have this day come to the parting of the ways; you have come to a beginning of the making of the inevitable choice between the will of the Father and the self-chosen ways of darkness. And as you now choose, so shall you eventually be. You must either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else will the tree become corrupt and its fruit corrupt. I declare that in my Father’s eternal kingdom the tree is known by its fruits. But some of you who are as vipers, how can you, having already chosen evil, bring forth good fruits? After all, out of the abundance of the evil in your hearts your mouths speak.”
153:4.5 (1714.4) 之后另一个法利赛人站了起来,他说道:“导师,我们想要让你给我们一个预定的迹象,我们将会达成一致,作为建立你教导之权威和权利。你愿意同意这一安排吗?”当耶稣听到这句话,他说道:“这没有信仰和寻求迹象的一代人寻求标记,但却没有任何迹象会给你们,除了你们已经拥有的,以及在人子从你们中间离开时你们将会看到的。” 153:4.5 (1714.4) Then stood up another Pharisee, who said: “Teacher, we would have you give us a predetermined sign which we will agree upon as establishing your authority and right to teach. Will you agree to such an arrangement?” And when Jesus heard this, he said: “This faithless and sign-seeking generation seeks a token, but no sign shall be given you other than that which you already have, and that which you shall see when the Son of Man departs from among you.”
153:4.6 (1714.5) 当他讲完时,他的使徒们围住他,将他从这个犹太教会堂领出去了。他们默不做声,与他一同回家到伯赛大。他们都因主教导策略的突然改变而大为惊讶,并有点心惊胆战。他们完全不习惯看到他以如此激进的方式行事。 153:4.6 (1714.5) And when he had finished speaking, his apostles surrounded him and led him from the synagogue. In silence they journeyed home with him to Bethsaida. They were all amazed and somewhat terror-stricken by the sudden change in the Master’s teaching tactics. They were wholly unaccustomed to seeing him perform in such a militant manner.
5. 周六晚上 ^top 5. The Saturday Evening ^top
153:5.1 (1715.1) 耶稣再次将他使徒们的希望撞得粉碎,他反复粉碎了他们最喜爱的期望,但却没有任何失望时期或是痛苦时节可与此时赶上他们的相比。此时也有一种真正对他们安全的害怕与他们的沮丧混在一起。他们都因大众离弃之突然和彻底性而出乎意料地受到了惊吓。他们也因从耶路撒冷前来的法利赛人所展示出的意想不到的大胆和坚定自信的决断,而有点害怕和不安。不过最为重要的是,他们因为耶稣策略的突然改变而困惑。在通常情况下,他们本会欢迎这种更为激进态度的出现,不过它的确伴随许多意想不到的事到来了,这令他们受到了惊吓。 153:5.1 (1715.1) Time and again had Jesus dashed to pieces the hopes of his apostles, repeatedly had he crushed their fondest expectations, but no time of disappointment or season of sorrow had ever equaled that which now overtook them. And, too, there was now admixed with their depression a real fear for their safety. They were all surprisingly startled by the suddenness and completeness of the desertion of the populace. They were also somewhat frightened and disconcerted by the unexpected boldness and assertive determination exhibited by the Pharisees who had come down from Jerusalem. But most of all they were bewildered by Jesus’ sudden change of tactics. Under ordinary circumstances they would have welcomed the appearance of this more militant attitude, but coming as it did, along with so much that was unexpected, it startled them.
153:5.2 (1715.2) 此时,在所有这些忧虑之上,当他们到家时,耶稣拒绝吃饭。他把自己关在楼上的一个房间里好几个小时。在几近午夜时,福音传道者的领头人约押,返回并报告他同伴中大约有三分之一背弃了这个事业。整个晚上,忠诚的门徒们来来去去,报告对主的厌恶感在迦百农是普遍的。来自耶路撒冷的领袖们很快就喂养这种不满感,并以每种可能的方式促进远离耶稣及其教导的运动。在这些难熬的时刻,十二个女人在彼得家开会,她们都极为烦乱,但她们没有人离弃。 153:5.2 (1715.2) And now, on top of all of these worries, when they reached home, Jesus refused to eat. For hours he isolated himself in one of the upper rooms. It was almost midnight when Joab, the leader of the evangelists, returned and reported that about one third of his associates had deserted the cause. All through the evening loyal disciples had come and gone, reporting that the revulsion of feeling toward the Master was general in Capernaum. The leaders from Jerusalem were not slow to feed this feeling of disaffection and in every way possible to seek to promote the movement away from Jesus and his teachings. During these trying hours the twelve women were in session over at Peter’s house. They were tremendously upset, but none of them deserted.
153:5.3 (1715.3) 在午夜过后一会儿,这时耶稣从楼上房间下来,站在十二人及其同伴们中间,为数总共大约三十人。他说到:“我承认这场王国的筛选令你们苦恼,但它是不可避免的。在你们所做的所有培训之后,你们还该有什么好的理由对我的话踌躇不决吗?你们为何在看到王国失去这些不冷不热的群众和这些半心的门徒时,充满了恐惧和惊慌失措?当新的日子在天国灵性教导的崭新荣耀中逐渐展露曙光时,你们为何要悲伤?如果你们发现难以忍受这一考验,那么,当人子必须要返回父那里时,你们将要做什么?你们何时且如何会为我升到我来这个世界之前地方的时刻准备好你们自己? 153:5.3 (1715.3) It was a little after midnight when Jesus came down from the upper chamber and stood among the twelve and their associates, numbering about thirty in all. He said: “I recognize that this sifting of the kingdom distresses you, but it is unavoidable. Still, after all the training you have had, was there any good reason why you should stumble at my words? Why is it that you are filled with fear and consternation when you see the kingdom being divested of these lukewarm multitudes and these halfhearted disciples? Why do you grieve when the new day is dawning for the shining forth in new glory of the spiritual teachings of the kingdom of heaven? If you find it difficult to endure this test, what, then, will you do when the Son of Man must return to the Father? When and how will you prepare yourselves for the time when I ascend to the place whence I came to this world?
153:5.4 (1715.4) “我亲爱的,你们必须要记住,是灵叫人活着;肉体和所有一切与之相关的,都没什么益处。我对你们所说的话语就是属灵和生命。振作起来!我并未离弃你们。许多人会被这些日子的直言不讳所冒犯。你们已经听说许多我的信徒已经转回了;他们不再与我同行。从开始我就知道这些半心的信奉者将会中途离开。难道我并没有选择你们十二人,并留出你们作为王国使者吗?那么,在这样的时刻你们也要离弃吗?让你们每个人都看向自己的信仰,因为你们中的一个处于严重的危险之中。”当耶稣讲完时,西蒙•彼得说:“是的,主,我们既悲伤又困惑,但我们却决不会抛弃您。您教导了我们充满永恒生命之话语。我们相信您,并一直以来追随您。我们不会转回,因为我们知道您是神派来的。”当彼得停止讲话,他们都一致点头同意他的忠诚宣誓。 153:5.4 (1715.4) “My beloved, you must remember that it is the spirit that quickens; the flesh and all that pertains thereto is of little profit. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Be of good cheer! I have not deserted you. Many shall be offended by the plain speaking of these days. Already you have heard that many of my disciples have turned back; they walk no more with me. From the beginning I knew that these halfhearted believers would fall out by the way. Did I not choose you twelve men and set you apart as ambassadors of the kingdom? And now at such a time as this would you also desert? Let each of you look to his own faith, for one of you stands in grave danger.” And when Jesus had finished speaking, Simon Peter said: “Yes, Lord, we are sad and perplexed, but we will never forsake you. You have taught us the words of eternal life. We have believed in you and followed with you all this time. We will not turn back, for we know that you are sent by God.” And as Peter ceased speaking, they all with one accord nodded their approval of his pledge of loyalty.
153:5.5 (1716.1) 之后耶稣说:“你们去休息吧,因为忙碌的时间就要降临到我们身上了;活跃的日子就在前面。” 153:5.5 (1716.1) Then said Jesus: “Go to your rest, for busy times are upon us; active days are just ahead.”