This week we will
start the book of Mark.
Mark focuses on the deeds, rather than the teachings of Jesus, putting the emphasis on Jesus being the “servant” of the Lord. You may want to consult your study Bible or any of the many fine commentaries. It suffices to say here that Mark writes possibly from Rome to the persecuted Italian new believers, giving them perhaps the earliest written account of the gospel. He writes with many vivid words (like immediately) that engage the readers with the emotion and tension of the gospel account.
(1) Imagine this as the first ever written account of the gospel. If you were a non-believer, especially in Rome, what impact might the first line of this gospel have on you?
(2) Mark does not begin with the birth of Jesus, but with the beginning of His ministry. What does this tell you about the purpose of his writing, as inspired by the Holy Spirit?
(3) Mark appeals to Isaiah 40:3 to portray John the Baptist as the one foretold to prepare the way for Jesus. What was the significance of John’s ministry? Why was it so necessary? What if there weren’t any preparatory ministry by John to precede Jesus’ own ministry?
(4) What does John testify about Jesus in concrete terms?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
按我們的「五年靈修計劃」的讀經編排次序，本週開始研讀新約馬可福音。請細細慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
馬可福音是著重描述耶穌的事蹟，去刻劃祂“僕人” 的生命，故此也是四福音中最短的一本。有關背景等較詳盡資料，請參閱啟導本和其他釋經書。在此，祇簡單的指出一般解經家同意早期教父們的記載，認為是馬可在羅馬書寫的，為使在意大利受逼迫的信徒有一本書寫的福音書。書中的記述常運用生動的詞句(如立刻)，叫讀者如在現場一樣，領會所載之真確。
(1) 如果你是當時意大利的一位非基督徒，讀到馬可所寫的第一節，你會有什麼反應？
(2) 馬可(在聖靈感動下)一開始就跳到耶穌公開傳道的事蹟，沒有像馬太和路加記述主的出生。何故？這與這福音書的重點可有關連？
(3) 馬可引述以賽亞書40:3來介紹施洗約翰為那位豫備道路的使者。約翰的出現有何重要性？為何是必須的？如果沒有這豫備道路的，會對耶穌的工作產生什麼影響？
(4) 請詳細分析約翰見證的內容。他見證的重點包括什麼？
(5) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
The Four Gospels not only mention the ministry of John the Baptist, but they also point out that he and his ministry had already been foretold by the prophet Isaiah. In other words, his ministry was not to be taken likely for he would play an important part in the plan of salvation in Jesus Christ.
In the Four Gospels, we see the immediate impact of his ministry as he boldly pointed out the sins of the religious leaders and called them and the people to repentance. His ministry was greeted with great success, as even many of the religious leaders came to receive his baptism of repentance.
But his ministry was meant to be preparatory in that should these repenting Jews not subsequently listen to his testimony about who Jesus is, their baptism of repentance would be totally meaningless.
As it happened, some of those who received John's baptism of repentance did believe in his testimony and went on to follow Jesus. These included Peter and Andrew.
When we leave the Four Gospels and read about the post-resurrection accounts in the Book of Acts, we come to realize that while many of the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem, many of John’s disciples spread throughout Asia Minor and beyond, carrying the gospel with them. As a result, they played no small part in the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. All these were a result of the bold ministry of John the Baptist.
As much as we do understand that no one is indispensable when it comes to the ministry of the church, one has to wonder what if—what if John did not faithfully carry out his role as the one who prepared the way of the Lord?
四本福音書不但都提到施洗約翰的工作，更指出他的出現和事工早在以賽亞書中已被預言到。所以，他的工作實非偶然，更是對主耶穌基督的救贖計劃甚有幫助。
在四福音中，我們看到他勇敢的呼喚當時的猶太人和宗教領袖悔改，帶來了立時的果效。群眾似乎是爭先恐後的要受他的悔改的洗禮。
但在救恩計劃之中，他的工作仍屬預備性的。若然這些受了悔改的洗的人拒絕相信耶穌的話，所受的悔改的洗禮也是徒然的。
不過，不少接受他洗禮的，終於是相信了，並跟隨了主耶穌，包括彼得與安德烈在內。
當我們繼續看四福音之後的使徒行傳，就讀到當使徒們仍留守耶路撒冷的時候，施洗約翰的門徒已分佈了小亞細亞，甚至更遠的地方。他們也把福音帶到這些地區。在福音傳離猶太地的事上，他們也扮演了重要角色。這些是施洗約翰勇敢傳道的果子。
當然，我們都知道，在神的事工上，沒有「不可缺少」的人。但誠然，一個神僕的忠心，是能叫神的國度得到擴張。若然，約翰未能忠心完成他位份的使命，基督的使命豈不是難上加難嗎？
(1) Mark gives only a summary of Jesus’ baptism, but in a summary, Mark purposely highlights several important truths about Jesus. What are they?
(2) Consult John 1:32-34. For whom was this baptism meant, at least in part?
(3) Again, Mark gives a summary account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. What is he trying to highlight and how are they significant?
(4) Mark then jumps to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee after John the Baptist was jailed. Again, he gives an extremely brief summary of the message of Jesus, highlighting the essence of Jesus’ message. What is he trying to highlight and what is their significance?
(5) What follows is the account of calling of the first disciples. Can you catch some of the special words Mark uses to give a vivid account of what happened? What is Mark trying to tell us?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
馬可以他著名的生動詞句，把耶穌公開傳福音的開始以「節錄」式(summary form)來描繪:
(1) 耶穌的受洗：請細思他節錄的重點和其重要性。
(2) 請參閱約翰福音1:32-34: 這洗禮對施洗約翰有何意義？
(3) 耶穌受試探： 請細思他節錄的重點和其重要性。
(4) 耶穌在加利利傳「神的福音」：請細思他節錄耶穌信息的重點和其重要性。
(5) 在記述耶穌首次呼召門徒時，請留意他的特別用詞：如「立刻」，「隨即」等。用意何在？
(6) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
Mark is known to employ words like “immediately” to engage the emotion of his readers and to paint a very vivid picture of the event he describes. And, in the account of the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, he describes Peter and Andrew as leaving their nets “immediately” to follow Jesus.
The account might give us the impression that Peter and Andrew made such an important decision in life in a hasty manner. But the gospel of John tells us otherwise. The truth of the matter is that the brothers met Jesus earlier when John the Baptist pointed them to Jesus, saying He is the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:36). Peter and Andrew spent at least a day with Jesus, learning more about Him on a one-on-one basis.
So, it appears that when they went back to their own profession as fishermen, they had more time to digest and mull over Who Jesus is and whether to follow Him. Then Jesus showed up along the shore of Galilee and called them to follow Him. At this time, they would have thought over their decision, and were ready to make an immediate commitment.
Yes, there are those who use “haste” as an excuse not to make a decision to follow Christ, and there are also those who appear to make a decision to follow without much hesitation. Since following Christ is such a personal matter, it is not wise for us to judge in this respect.
The key is always whether the one making the decision has been “convicted” by the Holy Spirit. If this person is convicted by the Holy Spirit of his sins and the love of Christ, who are we to say that he is not ready to make a decision to follow Christ? The worst is when a person has no conviction of his sin and yet makes a decision to follow Christ; it is at best a rational choice, but not necessarily one that is “in spirit and in truth”.
正如我在昨天讀經提示中所言，馬可的記述常運用生動的詞句(如立刻)，叫讀者如在現場一樣，領會所載之真確。在記述主耶穌呼召彼得和安德烈作門徒時，馬可說：「他們就立刻捨了網，跟從了他」(2:18)。他這樣寫，可能會使我們產生一個疑問：二人這樣作出如此重大的決定，是否有點兒輕率？但約翰福音提供補充的資料，叫我們知道他們並非這樣。
原來二人先是施洗約翰的門徒。安德烈因著約翰指著耶穌作的見證說：「看哪，這是神的羔羊」(約1:36)，就跟著主，並與主同住了一日；事後他也找著自己的哥哥彼得，領他去見耶穌。故此二人早已有機會認識耶穌。
似乎，他們之後回到家中，繼續打魚作業。相信在這期間，他們有更多的時間彼此討論，究竟耶穌是誰。就在耶穌走過加利利海邊的那天，看見他們，就呼召他們來跟從祂。那時，他們已想清楚了，也準備好了，就「立刻」的捨了網，來跟從祂。
我遇見不少人是用「太快了」或「太輕率了」來作藉口不跟從主。但我也遇到一些，似乎是毫不猶疑的決志跟從耶穌的。但這是個人生重大的決定，也是非常個人的決定，我們不應妄加論斷。
不過，最重要的是，作決定的人，是否被聖靈光照出他們的罪，認定自己需要主耶穌的拯救。若果一個人，被聖靈叫他「為罪、為義、為審判，自己責備自己」(約16:8) 或被神的愛所感動而立刻的跟從主，我們是誰，竟敢說他們作的是輕率的決定呢？反而，當一個人根本不自覺有罪，卻要決志作基督徒，這才叫人擔心呢！
(1) Where did Jesus meet the man possessed by an evil spirit? What does it say about the spiritual condition of the time?
(2) As this marks the early period of Jesus’ ministry, why would Jesus stop the evil spirit who appeared to be testifying for him, calling him “the Holy One of God”?
(3) Read a similar account in Acts 16:16-18 where Paul also refused to be associated with the demon and would not accept their testimony. What can you learn from both accounts? (Refer to 2 Co. 6:14-18.)
(4) The people hearing his preaching and witnessing the driving out of the demon, said, “A new teaching”. In what sense was the teaching “new”? Is it “new” also to today’s generation?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 耶穌是在什麼地方遇上這污鬼的？這表明當時猶太人當中屬靈的境況是怎樣的？
(2) 耶穌既然是剛開始公開的傳道，絕大部份的人不曉得祂是誰。污鬼之言豈不是有力的見證，為何耶穌不準他作聲？
(3) 參閱使徒行傳16:16-18。保羅同樣要巫鬼住聲。這兩事例與哥林多後書6:14-18的教導有什麼關連？
(4) 聽到和看到的人驚訝的稱這事為「新道理」，是什麼意思？對今日的世代是否亦屬新的呢？
(5) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
The incident about Jesus’ stopping the “testimony” of the evil spirit in Mark 1:25 reminds me of a similar incident in Acts 16:16-18. Allow me to simply repeat the article I wrote at the time:
I have come across incidents where Buddhist monks or nuns attempted to reach out to Christian churches, with the notion that we are really the same and all religions somehow lead to the same God. Some Christian leaders appeared also to welcome them with open arms.
Paul’s treatment of the slave girl in Acts 16 should help us guard against such misguided enthusiasm.
When you think about it, the slave girl was actually doing Paul and Silas a great favor on the surface. The two were foreigners introducing a brand new faith to this pagan city. The slave girl was not only known locally, but quite sought after too. Therefore, it would not seem to hurt Paul’s cause when the slave girl (or rather the demon or evil spirit within her) testified to who Paul and Silas was. She told the people, “The men are servants of the Most High God.” Not only that, she appeared to give credence to their message: “(they) are telling you the way to be saved.” (16:17)
The hearers who revered the slave girl and her spirit would have no problem welcoming Paul and Silas and their message because of her testimony. But Paul would have none of that. In the name of Jesus, he drove out the evil spirit from the slave girl. One might wonder why Paul would choose to do this. The reason, in fact, is not hard to understand.
In 2 Corinthians 6:15, Paul strongly preached against the unequal yoke between believers and the world, and in so doing he said, “What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (i.e. demon)?”
In testifying about who Paul and Silas were and what their message is, the evil spirit was hoping that the people would not only believe the gospel message, but would also remain loyal to him. In other words, the evil spirit was trying to elevate himself to the level of God, and was hoping that the people would not take Christ as the only way to salvation.
But God would have none of that. There is no room for coexistence between God and demons or idols. By driving the evil spirit out of the slave girl in the name of Jesus, Paul proved to the people that there is only one true God, and there is also only one true way to salvation, which is through Jesus Christ.
I do understand that even Buddhist monks need to hear the gospel, but we should guard against being manipulated into sending a wrong message to the people that Christ and Belial can be in harmony!
耶穌在馬可福音1:25吩咐污鬼不要作聲，叫我想起使徒行傳16:16-18那段相似的事件。容許我在此，重載我對那事件的感想：
「我曾見過有些佛教僧侶或尼姑試圖接觸基督教教會，說大家都是一樣的；所有宗教都領人到同一位神。有些基督教領袖是熱烈地歡迎他們。 我覺得使徒行傳第16章從保羅怎樣對待那使女的事件，我們學到要防範如此判斷錯誤的熱忱。
你會認為表面看來那使女的喊叫是幫了保羅和西拉一個大忙(就如這污鬼對耶穌一樣)。他們這兩個外人在這異教城市宣講一個全新的信仰(也像耶穌在此是剛剛開始祂公開的工作)。那使女不但是廣為本地人熟識，同時也頗受歡迎。故此，當那使女（其實是在她身內的鬼魔或邪靈）證明保羅和西拉的身份時，表面看來並沒有損害保羅的事工。她告訴群眾：「這些人是至高神的僕人。」還說：「對你們傳說救人的道。」（16:17）她好像是說：他們的信息是可信的。
那些畏懼那使女和在她裡面的邪靈的群眾，聽到她的見證可能會毫不猶疑地歡迎保羅和西拉，並接受他們傳講的信息。但是保羅絕對不用他們的幫忙。他奉耶穌的名驅逐使女身內的邪靈。有人或會不明白保羅為何要這樣做。其中的原因其實是不難明白的。
在哥林多後書6:15，保羅鄭重地教導信主的人與世界的人不可同負一軛。他說：「基督和彼列（就是撒但的別名）有什麼相和呢？」
那邪靈見證保羅和西拉的身份和他們所傳的信息的同時，是希望那些群眾不但相信福音，也仍保持對牠忠心不變。換句話說，那邪靈是想將自己提升到與神同等，希望群眾不會認為信靠基督是惟一得救恩的途徑。
但是神絕對不用牠的幫忙。在神與魔鬼或是其他偶像中間是毫無共存的空間。保羅奉耶穌的名驅逐邪靈離開那使女，為要向群眾顯明世上只有一位真神；天下間也只有一條引到救恩的正確途徑，就是藉著耶穌基督。
我真知道佛教僧侶也需要聽到福音的，但我們要提防不被人利用來向群眾傳達一個錯誤的信息，以為基督和彼列是可以和平共處的！
(1) Compare this miracle of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law with the driving out of the demon. Which is the more spectacular? Which is a greater miracle? Why?
(2) Of all the disciples, we know at least Peter was married. 1:18 says, he “at once” left his nets and followed Jesus. Refer to Mark 10:28. What really has Peter left behind? What did he think of his decision? What did this “small” miracle mean to his family?
(3) Mark paints a very human picture of a small working-class town where people all had to work in the daytime. That evening, they all flocked to Jesus at Peter’s house with their lanterns or lamps. Read Isaiah 9:1-2 and soak in what was happening that night.
(4) 1:35 gives us a picture of Jesus’ “devotional life”. How does Mark, in a few words, give us Jesus’ example of what prayer-life should be?
(5) When everyone was looking for Jesus, He decided to go somewhere else. Why? What can we learn about the priority of Jesus’ ministry?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 試把退熱的神蹟與先前趕鬼的神蹟相比，那一個是更大的神蹟呢？為什麼？
(2) 從這報導，我們知道至少彼得是已婚的。但1:18告訴我們，他是「立刻」的撇下網來跟從主。請翻閱10:28。其實彼得是撇下什麼來跟從主的？他是怎樣看這決定的呢？這「小小」的神蹟對他的家人有何重大的意義？
(3) 馬可在這裡很生動的把這日出而作、日入而息的小鎮生活描繪出來。日落後，眾人相信是手拿著燈聚集在彼得的家門。請翻到以賽亞書9:1-2，感受一下這豫言怎樣應驗在當天的晚上。
(4) 1:35給我們看到主的禱告生活。你可在短短一節中怎樣學主的禱告榜樣呢？
(5) 當眾人都找耶穌時，祂卻要往別處去。為什麼？從這決定，我們可以看到什麼是主的優先次序？
(6) 今日你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
I am greatly bothered by some of the devotional books that promote a few minutes of devotional time a day. Such shallowness is alarming. Some even use Brother Lawrence’s famous term of “practicing the presence of God” to imply that it is sufficient to “sense” God’s presence in everything we do, without cutting out an extended time of solitude in prayers and scriptural reflection.
They have obviously overlooked that Brother Lawrence grounded his practice of the presence of God in his own extended time of fellowship with God on a daily basis.
Even worse is that such teaching simply “uses” God to give us a sense of peace to carry us through the day. But our relationship with God is not based on utility, but one that is based on love—the cultivation of intimacy between two people in love.
As a result, we see in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ that in the midst of the demand of ministry, He intentionally cuts off an extended period of time to be alone with Father God. So we read in Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
Jesus, indeed, leaves us the best example for how to spend time with God:
- When: To be able to get up early in the morning takes preparation the night before, without which we will not be able to wake up to meet with God.
- Where: If there is anyone who can genuinely practice the presence of God anywhere, it has to be the Son of God, and yet He finds it absolutely necessary to be away from the crowd and his usual environment to meet with His Father, without any distraction.
- What: And in solitude, He talks to His Father.
- How often: The Four Gospel undoubtedly gives us the impression that this is His habit throughout the life of Jesus on earth, and often He would pray the entire night.
If the Son of God “needs” to cut out so much time, often to meet with His Father God, how much more do we need to do so in order that we may grow in our knowledge of Him and His will for us, to receive strength to do His will, to be able to recognize our sins and repent, and to grow in our love for Him and men?
看到基督教的書店中擺滿了叫人每日只用幾分鐘就可以做妥靈修的書籍，我心中覺得實在可惜；因為我們是在鼓吹非常膚淺的信徒生活。
我也聽到不少人引用Brother Lawrence為例，教人學習「時刻與神同在practice the presence of God」的習慣，不一定需要用太長的時間來藉獨自禱告、細思聖言來親近神。
他們其實忘記了，Brother Lawrence之能隨時的意識到神的同在，乃是因他先有長時間的獨自與神相交的時刻。
那些教人只需用幾分鐘就可作靈修的人，完全是在「利用」神來給我們短暫的平安和力量去應付每天的挑戰，而不是看重與神建立愛的關係。任何真愛的關係，是需要投資不少的時間才得以建立的。
故此，我們看到主耶穌在極繁忙的工作中，刻意的拿出一段極長的時間來獨自的與父神相交。正如馬可福音1:35所說：「次日早晨，天未亮的時候，耶穌起來，到曠野地方去，在那裡禱告。」
短短一句話，就給我們作了最佳的榜樣，教導我們怎樣的親近神：
時間：祂是天未亮，清早起的。若不是早一晚上作好心理的準備和定意，明早是不能如此的親近神的。
地點：世上如果有人真的是「時刻」都能意識到神的同在，那就一定是主耶穌，神的兒子了。連祂也感到需要離開一切的煩擾，跑到沒有人到的地方，獨自的親近父神。
方式：祂是獨處的，向神禱告。
頻道：四福音清楚的叫我們知道，這是主耶穌平生素常的習慣，而且往往是整夜的禱告。
若然，神的兒子也需要拿出一段長的時間，常常來與父神會面，何況我和你呢？若要在認識神、明白祂在我們身上的旨意、有力量去遵行、能認出自己的隱惡，真正的悔改和真正在愛神、愛人上長進，捨此實無他法。
(1) How did the leper come to ask Jesus for healing? What does this tell you about him?
(2) Did the leper have faith when he said, “If you are willing”? What should faith in God entail?
(3) What options can you think of that Jesus could use to heal him? What method did He choose and why?
(4) As a leper, what kind of a plight would he have gone through in life? What kinds of healing did this touch accomplish?
(5) Jesus asked the man to comply with Mosaic Law after cleansing. What does such a ceremony aim to accomplish?
(6) Was it not natural for the man to spread such good news? What did his disobedience accomplish?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 長大痲瘋的是怎樣來求耶穌醫治呢？這表明些什麼？
(2) 長大痲瘋的說：「你若肯」，是表明他是有信心的嗎？信神的信心應包括什麼？
(3) 你可以想到耶穌可以用多少個方式來醫治他呢？為什麼特要用「摸」這方法？
(4) 作為一個長大痲瘋的人，你會經歷到什麼難處與苦楚？主的一摸對你有什麼意義？
(5) 耶穌吩咐他遵從摩西律法潔淨的要求。這樣獻祭的意義是什麼？
(6) 如此得潔淨，你能怪他把這事傳開嗎？然而這不順從帶來了什麼後果？
(7) 今日你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
Although Mark always records his stories in a very short and concise manner, it does not take away the precious message behind each incident. The healing of the leper in Mark 1:40-45 is a case in point.
Mark simply tells us that there is leper. Beyond that, there is not much information of who he is. But the fact that he kneels before Jesus, someone he has only heard of, fully shows his desperation and the plight of his situation—the loneliness, the hopelessness and pain, both physical and emotional.
Mark also records a very simple plea, “If you are willing.” This is such a vivid depiction of the struggle among believers. We have no doubt about God’s mighty power to heal, but we often struggle with whether He cares enough to heal!
I sense that God is not so much disappointed with our lack of faith in His power than His hurt by of our lack of trust in His love that He cares! And so, He wishes to demonstrate to this leper that He does care, not by simply commanding the disease to go away (which He certainly could do), but by touching him with His bare hand. Who knows for how long that anyone has touched this leper especially since he contracted the disease. No one even wanted to come close to him. This touch has to be so unexpected, and yet so powerful. It must have touched him to the core of his inner being!
Frankly, even if he were not healed, he would have worshipped Him as God, because only God would care enough to touch a leper like him. But the fact is that he is healed! I know he did not obey Jesus’ command to keep quiet, but how can one keep silent! If he kept quiet, as Jesus said in another occasion, the stones would cry out! This is the kind of God we have in Jesus Christ. A God who cares!
馬可的記述往往雖然是篇幅較短，但卻沒有叫主要的信息受損。1:40-45所記載的事件是最好的例證。
馬可沒有供給我們任何有關這長大痳瘋的人的資料。但他之所以跪下來求耶穌，充份叫我們感受到他內心的迫切和苦況—心中的孤寂與無望和身、心、靈的苦痛。
馬可也只記載他短短、簡單的請求：「祢若肯，必能叫我潔淨！」這句話充份的反映出一般信徒的掙扎。我們對神的全能是絕對相信的，但對神是否願意，是否真的眷顧(does He care) 卻不大肯定了。
我總覺得，神的心因我們不信祂的用心，比不信祂的能力更傷痛。所以，為要叫這長大痳瘋的知道祂眷顧(He cares) ，祂沒有單用權力的說話叫他得醫治，乃是刻意的伸手摸他腐爛的身體。我們不曉得這人有多久沒有人摸過他，人人都是畏而遠之。這一摸，肯定是他意想不到的，也肯定是直摸到他孤寂心靈的深處。
我相信，他就是沒有立時的痊癒，也必立刻的俯伏敬拜這位連他這樣長大痳瘋的人也眷顧的神！不過，這一摸，真的叫他完全得到醫治。我知道這人並沒有遵從主的吩咐：「甚麼也不要告訴人」。但如此的厚恩，正如耶穌在另一處經文所言，如果他閉口不言，石頭都要發出讚美呢！這就是我們的主耶穌，眷顧我們的神！
The early fathers told us that Mark was writing this gospel exactly as he heard from Peter. Therefore, it is natural that much of the early accounts center around Peter’s hometown and his home.
(1) “Jesus saw their faith” (2:5). Whose faith did He see? How did they demonstrate their faith? How special was it?
(2) Instead of saying “be clean” like He said to the leper in chapter one, why did He say, “your sins are forgiven”? What is the basis for forgiveness of sin according to the Bible? (I John 1:9)
(3) Jesus asked, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?”. What do you think the answer should be? Can Jesus say to all the sinners in the world, your sins are forgiven? Why not?
(4) What does Mark aim to tell us about Jesus in this miracle?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) “耶穌見他們的信心”(2:5)。祂見的是誰的信心？他們怎樣顯出他們的信心呢？他們的信心特別在什麼地方？
(2) 耶穌不是說：「你痊愈吧」，而是說：「你的罪赦了」。為什麼？按聖經的教導，赦罪的基礎是什麼？(參約翰壹書1:9)
(3) 耶穌問文士們：「或對癱子說：你的罪赦了！或說：起來，拿你的褥子行走！那一樣容易呢？」。答案應是什麼？今天耶穌可否對全人類說：你們的罪赦了呢？為什麼不能？
(4) 馬可記述這神蹟的主旨是什麼？
(5) 今日你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
One of the common heresies in Christianity is the notion that since God is so loving that He will not really condemn everyone to hell, but all will somehow be saved.
But this is certainly not the message of the gospel.
It is true that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17) But this is not the whole truth. John continues to say that “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (Jn. 3:18)
The truth is there is really one thing that God cannot do, and that is to forgive us irrespective of whether we repent of our sins or not. This is simply contrary to His character. It is with this thought that Jesus challenges the scribes by asking, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” (Mk. 2:9).
For one, Jesus wants to convince them of Who He is, the only One who can forgive. The evil spirits, as we know, may be able to perform miracles, but they can never forgive sins, because they themselves are sinners. Only God can and that is Who Jesus is.
But if the paralytic does not have the faith of repentance, there is nothing God can do. This is what happens to the rich young ruler in Mark 10, as he leaves in sadness without the faith of repentance, although Jesus clearly loves him. (Mk. 10:21)
在基督教的眾多異端中，最普遍的是認為神既是愛，祂絕不會叫人被定罪，永遠落在地獄中。他們主張，救恩叫全人類都得拯救。
這是絕對與聖經的福音相違的。
不錯，「神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救」(約3:17) ，不過這句話還有下文，就是「信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。」(3:18)
神固然是全能的，祂卻有一樣是祂不能、也不會作的，就是赦免不肯悔改的人。這是與祂聖潔和公義的屬性相違的。故此，祂要問文士說：「或對癱子說你的罪赦了，或說起來，拿你的褥子行走！那一樣容易呢？」(可2:9)
當然，這句話是要他們知道，祂就是那位能赦罪的神。我們知道邪靈或會行異能，但卻絕對沒有赦罪的權柄，因為牠們本身有罪。惟有神能夠。
另一方面，也叫我們知道這癱子是有悔罪的信心的；否則，神不會，也不能赦免他了。這正是馬可福音第十章裡少年長官的情況。雖然耶穌看著他，愛他；但因他沒有真正的悔改，他的罪就得不到赦免。
(1) From this brief account about Levi, can you describe the kind of life a tax collector might have? Take time to think of someone that you know who might live a life quite similar to that of Levi (who is Matthew). How hard might it be for that person to become a Christian? Why?
(2) Why then would Levi follow Jesus immediately upon being called?
(3) What did Levi do right after he became Jesus’ disciple? Why did he not cut off all ties with his former circle? (Many commentators tell us that the term, sinners, refers to prostitutes.)
(4) Ask yourself, if you were one of the Pharisees, would you feel comfortable about Levi and his circle of friends and their lifestyle? Would you also wonder why Jesus would willingly be part of such a dinner?
(5) As a Christian, what might be the kind of people that would make you uncomfortable in associating with?
(6) Mull over the reply Jesus gave in v.17. How should it affect your attitude toward reaching people who might make Christians uncomfortable?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 從這段經文的描寫，請你試把一個當時作稅吏的人的生活形容出來。放在今天的社會裡，你有認識誰的生活與這些稅吏相似的呢？這些人是否容易信主？為什麼？
(2) 你以為利未在此一聽主的呼召就跟從，原因何在？
(3) 利未跟從主後，是否就遠離舊日的朋友？為什麼？（從四福音的記載，我們知道自義的猶太人一般稱妓女為「罪人」。）
(4) 請誠實的自問：若然你是法利賽人，你會否與利未和他的酒肉朋友為伍？看見耶穌好像毫不介意的與他們飲宴，你會有什麼感想？
(5) 作為信主的人，你最不願意與什麼人交往呢？為什麼？
(6) 細想主在第17節的回答，對你在上一題的答案有何提示？
(7) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
I think you would agree with me that the longer we have become Christians, the fewer non-Christian friends we have.
On the one hand, it is natural.
As we become a Christian, we enter into a brand new family, the family of God. And as a new baby in Christ, we desperately need nurture and growth, and growth in Christ is definitely relational. Therefore, it is a must that we devote much time, not only in personal devotion, but in corporate worship and fellowship. And as we grow and acquire gifts of service from the Holy Spirit, it is also natural that we are willing to exercise our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. All these, together with our need to care for our family and to work for a living, have meant that we rarely have time to maintain our existing friendships with our secular friends, let alone building new ones.
So the question remains: How can we truly accomplish the Great Commission (not as a full-time missionary) with a depleting pool of non-Christian friends?
This is the reason that the example of Levi is so important to us.
He did not cut off his circle of friends once he became a follower of Christ. You have to understand what his friends were—the most secular and worldly bunch that the Pharisees of his time frowned upon. And the company these friends kept was not really the purest—they were prostitutes. If I were his counselor, I would have advised Levi to cut off his ties completely with his former friends.
To our surprise, not only did he not shun his worldly friends, he threw a dinner for them in his home, allowing his friends to bring their companions, the sinners (i.e. prostitutes along). But he did it for one reason only—so that they may meet Jesus. By hosting his friends, he was not condoning their sinful lifestyle, nor was he re-living his former life. Rather, he was using whatever influence he still had with them, to bear testimony to his newly transformed life—by introducing to them his new Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It is
also with this in mind that Paul says,
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.” (1 Co. 5:9-10)
I believe we need to intentionally maintain or re-cultivate a circle of secular friends for the sake of introducing our Lord Jesus to them.
我相信你會同意我這樣的說法，就是信主越久的，越少有未信的朋友。
這個情況是可以理解的。
當一信主時，我們就立刻生加入基督的身體—這屬靈的大家庭中。像初生的嬰孩一樣，我們急需要被餵養，為要在與神、與人的關係中成長。故此，我們必須用時間，不但作個人的靈修，更要與弟兄姊妹一同敬拜、一同相交。當慢慢的成長，被神給予恩賜，我們更需要在神的家中事奉，彼此合力建立基督的身體。這一切都是需要付上時間的代價的。加上仍要照顧家人、上班等等，我們何來時間保持與世俗朋友的來往，更談不到建立新的友誼了。故此，我們信主越久，就越少未信主的朋友了。
這卻帶來一個相當嚴重的問題，就是：我們怎樣能完成神所交付的大使命呢？是否要作全時間的宣教士才行？或是捨近而圖遠，單靠每年的短宣去補數呢？
因此，利未在馬可福音第二章的見證，實在是我們當學的榜樣。
他一信主之後，並沒有立刻的與以前的友人斷絕來往。我們要知道，他舊日的朋友就是連一般百姓也看不起的酒肉朋友。他們的歡宴，往往也包括了「罪人」，即是娼妓。如果你是剛信主的利未的導師，你一定會叫他立刻斷絕這些朋友。
奇怪的是，利未不但沒有立刻的與他們斷絕來往，反而在家設宴款待他們，連他們的「罪人」也歡迎參加。他這次的歡宴與前不同，是特別要把他的主耶穌基督介紹給他們。他這樣的歡宴，絕對不是再認同以往罪中的生活，乃是利用尚有的友情和影響力，使他們認識耶穌，在他們面前為福音作見證。
保羅也是這樣，在勸導我們過聖潔生活之餘，作出類似的提醒：「我先前寫信給你們說，不可與淫亂的人相交。此話不是指這世上一概行淫亂的，或貪婪的，勒索的，或拜偶像的；若是這樣，你們除非離開世界方可。」(林前5: 9-10)