This week we will continue to study the Gospel of Luke.
(1) Recollect what we have considered about how the women spent the Sabbath. How might you describe the state of their minds and their emotions?
(2) What did the preparation of the spices indicate?
(3) What might be the first thought of the women when they saw the stone removed and the body of Jesus missing?
(4) To whom did the angels appear at the birth of Christ? To whom did they appear at Jesus’ resurrection? Why not to Jesus’ disciples first?
(5) Mull over these first words of the angels, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
a. Do you think the angels’ rebuke was a little harsh? Why or why not?
b. What was the error made by these women according to the angels?
c. In what way might we still make the same error these days?
d. How then should we approach our own death as disciples of Jesus?
e. How then should we approach the funeral of a true believer of Jesus Christ?
(6) “He is not here; He has risen.”
a. How much might the women understand by these words?
b. How did the angels help them understand these words in the rest of v. 7?
c. How would you describe the state of their minds and emotions now?
(7) Can you imagine how these women ran back to tell the disciples and how they could not hold their excitement? Why didn’t the disciples believe them; why did they think it was nonsense? If you were one of the Eleven Disciples, would you believe them? Why or why not?
(8) Peter (and John, see Note below) ran to the tomb to check it out:
a. What did he see?
b. Why did he go away still “wondering to himself what had happened”?
c. What did his disbelief point to? Was it due to slowness of mind? severe lack of faith? or the depth of his hurt, fear and devastation in the last few days?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Perhaps, it is helpful to set out the order of events on Easter morning, combing the accounts of the four Gospels:
- In the early morning, the women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body. (Mk. 16:2-3, Lk. 24:1)
- The three women were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James) and Salome, followed by other women. (Mk. 16:1 and Lk. 24:10)
- The three women found the stone had been removed by an angel. (Matt. 28:2)
- Mary Magdalene hurried to tell Peter and John, who ran toward the tomb. (Jn. 20:2-4)
- Then, Mary (the mother of James), Salome and then the other women arrived at the tomb, entered it and saw angels who assured them Jesus had risen. They ran in joy and fear back to inform the disciples. (Matt. 28:8)
- Peter and John arrived and saw the empty tomb without understanding what happened and left. (Jn. 20:4-10)
- Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb (outrun by Peter and John) and stood there weeping, and Jesus revealed Himself to her. (Jn. 20:11-18)
- As the other women returned to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared to them. (Matt. 28:9-10)
本週我們會研讀完路加福音，跟著開始研讀舊約利未記；請細細慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 讓我們先回想復活清晨之前的光景：你可以怎樣形容這些婦女的心情？
(2) 她們帶著所預備的香料來到墳墓前表明了什麼？
(3) 一見墓石輥開，也不見耶穌的身體，她們第一個念頭是什麼？
(4) 天使在基督降世時先向什麼人報訊？在基督復活後天使先向誰報訊？為何不先向門徒？
(5) 請細思天使這句話：「為什麼在死人中找活人呢？」
a. 這是否責備的話？為什麼？
b. 按天使所言，婦女們錯在什麼地方？
c. 今天，我們會怎樣犯類似的錯誤？
d. 作為信主的人，我們該怎樣看自己的死？
e. 我們該怎樣看在主裡而死的親友的安息禮拜？
(6) 「祂不在這裡，已經復活了…」：
a. 這些婦女當時會怎樣領會這句話？
b. 天使怎樣繼續幫助她們去領會這句話？
c. 你可以怎樣形容這些婦女現在的意念和心情？
(7) 彼得(與約翰—見下註) 起來，跑到墳前去看個究竟：
a. 他看到什麼？
b. 為何仍心中希奇(不明所以)？
c. 他的不信是出於遲鈍、小信或是心靈過度的創傷？
(8) 今天你得到的主要的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
註：或許把四福音所載有關復活清晨的事蹟，順序列出，有助我們更領會當時的情景：
• 婦女們帶著香膏到墳前欲膏耶穌的身體(路24:1)
• 她們是抹大拉的馬利亞、雅各的母親馬利亞和撒羅米(可16:1; 路24:10)
• 這三人發現墓石被天使挪開(太28:2)
• 抹大拉的馬利亞跑去告訴彼得和約翰。二人立刻跑去觀看(約20:2-4)
• 雅各的母親馬利亞，撒羅米和其他婦女也到了，進墓，並看見天使。天使告訴她們主已復活。她們急忙跑去給門徒報訊(太28:8)
• 彼得和約翰看見空墳卻不明白(約20:4-10)
• 抹大拉的馬利亞再回墓地(當然是不夠彼得、約翰跑得那麼快) ，正哭的時候看見耶穌(約20:11-18)
• 其他婦女在要給門徒報信途中遇見主(太28:9-10)
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, He has risen!” (Lk. 24:5-6)
I am not a big movie fan. Apart from the fact that I do not have the luxury to watch too many movies, I simply do not have the patience. I prefer reading novels. Perhaps, it is because I can pause when I want to and pick up where I left off at my convenience. In any case, one of the movies that left a deep impression on me is “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Apart from the fact that it is quite a funny story, it gives me a bit more insight into the Greek culture, especially how they celebrate Easter.“Once the Priest (of the local church) has called out 'Christos Anesti', friends and neighbors exchange the same, saying 'Christos Anesti' and, in response, 'Alithos Anesti' (truly, He is risen) or 'Alithinos o Kyrios' (true is the Lord)".
(Nancy Gaifyllia)
In one of the churches that I was privileged to serve in, this is how we greeted one another at Easter. It is such a pity that such a meaningful and important greeting is being reduced to “Happy Easter”. Without Christ’s resurrection, there is no "Happy Easter”; for that matter, there is no happiness at all in the world!
「那兩個人就對他們說：為甚麼在死人中找活人呢？」(路24:5)
我不是影迷。不是我不愛看電影，而是沒有時間。而且，我情願看書，因為可以隨時把它放下，在方便時再拿起來繼續看。不過，在我看過的電影中，“我的肥大希臘婚禮” 一片，給我留下深刻的印像。一方面，這是我喜愛的笑片；另一方面，它給我稍為認識到現今的希臘文化，特別是他們怎樣慶祝復活節。
在這電影中，那位沒有信仰的男主角，被邀參加女朋友家中的復活節筵席。那天，這希臘大家庭的餐桌上擺滿了各樣復活節特別的食物。他對他們親友當中見面時彼此的稱呼感到興趣。於是問他的女朋友：「他們說 “Christos Anesti” 是什麼意思？」這女子就隨意的回答說：「他們是說復活節快樂」。其實，他們並非說復活節快樂，乃是說：「基督已復活！」這正是早期的基督徒在復活節見面時所說的。照我知道，這仍是今天希臘人所繼續的傳統：
「(在復活節崇拜中) 當牧師宣報：“Christos Anesti” 之後，各朋友與鄰居就彼此對說：“Christos Anesti” ，並且回答說：“Alithos Anesti”( 真的復活了) ；或說： “Alithos‘o Kyrios”( 祂真是主！)」(Nancy Caifylia)
在我曾事奉的其中一個教會，這正是同工們在復活節彼此的問候。可惜，這個極重要的信息，在世俗的希臘人中，竟被看待為「復活節快樂」而已。當然，沒有基督的復活，何來復活節的快樂呢？不過，更重要的是沒有基督的復活，全人類、全世界就沒有真正、永遠的快樂！
The recounting by these two disciples gives us insight into the mindset of Jesus’ disciples concerning how they looked at the death and disappearance of Jesus’ body and how they viewed who Jesus is.
(1) While the Eleven Disciples remained hiding in Jerusalem, what did these two disciples do? What might be their plans for their lives?
(2) From v. 19, what do we know about whom they considered Jesus as?
(3) According to v. 21, what was their hope concerning Jesus? How was it dashed?
(4) What was their interpretation of the “empty tomb” of Jesus?
(5) If the view of these two disciples was representative of most, if not all, of Jesus’ disciples, what was wrong with their view in the following areas?
a. Who Jesus is
b. The purpose of His mission
c. The purpose and necessity of His death
d. The implication of His resurrection
(6) How did Jesus rebuke them? What was their core problem?
(7) V. 27 is a very significant statement:
a. What does it tell us about the Old Testament?
b. If Jesus had not come, how would you describe the Old Testament?
c. But Jesus has come. How should we look at both the Old Testament and the New Testament?
(8) What might be the significance of Jesus breaking bread with them and being recognized just as they were breaking bread together?
(9) How did they describe their experience of having the Scriptures explained to them by Jesus? Have you had a similar experience?
(10) What might be the purpose(s) of Jesus’ appearance to these two disciples?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請細細慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
這裡的兩個門徒對主受難的重述，給我們明白門徒對主的死亡、身體的失蹤和耶穌究竟是誰，當時的領會：
(1) 當十一個使徒躲在耶路撒冷時，這二人為何卻要離開？他們是否仍看自己是主耶穌的門徒呢？
(2) 從第19節的話，他們看耶穌是誰？
(3) 按第21節所言，他們對耶穌的盼望是什麼？這盼望是因甚麼而破碎呢？
(4) 他們怎樣看耶穌的「空墳」？
(5) 以這二人作代表的話，門徒看錯了什麼，包括：
a. 耶穌是誰？
b. 祂的使命是什麼？
c. 祂受死的目的和必須？
d. 祂復活的真義？
(6) 耶穌怎樣責備他們？他們問題的核心是什麼？
(7) 第27節帶有極重要的真理：
a. 主耶穌的話使我們對舊約聖經有什麼領會？
b. 如果主耶穌沒有降世，舊約聖經會變成了什麼？
c. 基督已死而復活，我們該怎樣看整本舊、新約聖經？
(8) 耶穌與他們擘餅的重要性何在？
(9) 他們怎樣形容聽主講解聖經時的感受？你有類似的經歷嗎？
(10) 主耶穌特意向這兩位「不知名的」門徒顯現有什麼意義？
(11) 今天你得到的主要的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him...” (Lk. 24:30-31)
It is true that the two disciples who left Jerusalem on the first day of the week were not part of the Eleven, and one of them was even unnamed. But just the same, Jesus chose to reveal Himself to them, perhaps, even before He showed Himself to the Eleven, except Peter (24:34).
And, it is also true that the two disciples were “foolish” and “slow of heart” (24:25) and they incurred the rebuke of Jesus. But just the same, Jesus revealed Himself to them. Why?
I believe that speaks volumes of the heart of our Lord Jesus. They were just as downcast as the Eleven. As they walked, they must be conversing with each other and were trying to make sense of the death of Christ which utterly shattered their hope that Jesus would be the Messiah, and their dream of the redemption of Israel (24:21). As foolish and slow of heart as they were, I believe, they loved the Lord and that was the reason that Jesus had to show Himself to them, to prevent them from unnecessary grief. Their departure from Jerusalem would mean that the testimony of the Eleven of seeing the Risen Lord would not reach them for some time. That is how good our Lord is to all those who love Him, although they were not necessarily perfect in faith and understanding.
However, I am deeply touched by how Jesus
finally revealed Himself to them and helped them recognize Him: It was when He
was breaking bread with them, just as He broke bread with the Eleven on the
night that He was betrayed — giving thanks and giving it to the disciples. It was just at that moment that, “their eyes
were opened and they recognized Him” (24:31). Again, it is true that these two lesser-known disciples were likely not
part of the Last Supper, but just the same, the Supper was meant for them and the
bread was meant for them. This
reinforces the significance of the Lord’s Supper instituted by Jesus Himself in
these ways:
- It is meant for all disciples of His, you and me included.
- As the Lord’s Supper reminds us of His death for us on the cross — the consummation of His redemption and His forgiveness of our sins, we have to continually encounter Him afresh in this event — though not as an re-enactment, still as a significant, constant reminder of His amazing love and the completeness of His redemption.
- It appears that the first disciples took it as a daily remembrance as “Every day they… broke bread in their homes and ate together with gladness” (Acts 2:46). In other words, it is meant to be more than a ritual, but part of the believer’s daily life to remind themselves what the Lord has done for them and to look forward to His return “every day”.
What a wonderful time of “eye-opening” it was for the two disciples, and may your eyes and my eyes be opened every time we break bread with the Lord — Yes, He is with us; and may we daily put His death and His return in front of us, as part of our life.
「到了坐席的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他們。他們的眼睛明亮了，這才認出他來。」(路24:30-31)
在以馬忤斯路上的這兩個門徒固然不是十一個使徒之一，其中一位更是無名氏；但是，主耶穌卻選擇向他們顯現，甚至是除了彼得之外，在其他使徒之前（24:34）。
對，正如耶穌所言，這兩個門徒是“無知＂和“遲鈍＂的（24:25），但祂卻仍然向他們顯現。為什麼？
我相信這正顯出主耶穌的心腸。他們正如那十一個使徒一樣，是滿面愁容的（24:17）。在路上，他們“正談論相問＂，因為主耶穌的死亡正使他們以祂為彌賽亞，要救贖以色列人的盼望完全粉碎了（24:21）。他們雖然是無知和遲鈍，但我相信他們是愛主的，所以主耶穌要向他們顯現（約14:21），免得他們傷心。他們既然離開耶路撒冷，就沒有機會親耳聽見稍後十一個使徒見到復活主的見證，至少要隔一段的時間才知悉。我們的主就是這樣的好，不容愛祂的人多受一刻無謂的驚恐。
同時，我深深的被主怎樣把自己向他們顯示的做法所感動。祂與他們擘餅，正如祂與十二個門徒擘餅一樣：祝謝了，擘開，正遞給他們的時侯，“他們的眼睛明亮了……認出祂來＂（24:31）。這兩位不大知名的門徒，雖然沒有機會出席主的最後晚餐，但是主所設立的聖餐仍是為他們的，所擘的餅也是屬他們的。這正給我們肯定聖餐的寶貴：
- 聖餐是為所有門徒而設的,包括你和我；
- 聖餐既是記念主在十字架上為我們的代死—叫我們生命得救贖，罪得赦免—我們需要常新的在記念主的時候經歷衪。當然不是像歷史重演般，但卻與保羅一樣，譲基督的十字架活劃在我們眼前；
- 使徒行傳2:46告訴我們，初期的信徒是每天這樣的記念主:“他們天天同心合意恆切的在殿裡，且在家中擘餅＂。換句話說，擘餅不是一個儀式，乃是信徒每日生活的一部份，每天的記著主為我們所作、所成就的，並每天等候祂的再來。
兩位門徒就是這樣在與主擘餅的時侯，眼睛明亮了。但願每次與主擘餅的時候，我們的心眼同様被照亮；因為每次舆弟兄姊妹一起擘餅的時候，主同樣的就在我們當中。
(1) We are not sure if the Lord was in the habit of using the greeting “Peace be with you”. How significant was such a greeting at a time like that, and how much do you think it meant to the disciples?
(2) They had already heard from the women, from Simon and now from the two disciples, who said in their own words, “It is true! The Lord has risen” (24:34). Why would they be “startled and frightened”? In their minds, what was meant by “The Lord Has risen”?
(3) Jesus rebuked them for doubting (24:38). What might they still be doubting?
(4) How did Jesus prove to them that He is not a ghost?
(5) How then do you understand the meaning of Jesus’ “bodily resurrection”?
(6) With the showing of His hands and feet, the disciples still did not believe it “because of joy”. What does it mean?
(7) Have you ever desired something so intensely that when it comes true, you are afraid to believe it?
(8) Even with the presence of the Risen Christ, how were the disciples able to understand the Scriptures? What about us?
(9) In summarizing the talk by Jesus, Luke ends with the Great Commission in vv. 47-49:
a. What is the message?
b. What is the scope of the commission?
c. What is our role?
d. How can we carry out the Great Commission?
(10) Were the “eye-witnesses” the only ones who carried out the Great Commission in the first century? (What about Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos in Acts 18:1-4; 24-28?)
(11) Now Luke comes to the end of his account. Re-read Luke’s introduction in 1:1-4 and the closing account of this chapter. How has he affirmed the faith of Theophilus in these areas?
a. What the gospel is (according to what he has been taught)
b. Who Jesus is
c. Why He had to die
d. Where He is now
e. What the disciples of Jesus are to do from now on
(12) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請細細慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 我們不曉得「願你們平安」是否主慣用的問候語，但在這時刻，這句話對門徒有什麼特別意義？
(2) 既已聽到婦女們的見證，加上西門和這二人的見證，而他們也說：「主果然復活」；為何仍「驚慌害怕」？他們是怎樣領會「主已復活」的？
(3) 主耶穌責備他們的疑惑(24:38) ：他們尚疑惑什麼？
(4) 耶穌怎樣證明祂不是鬼魂？
(5) 既是這樣，我們現在明白什麼是「身體復活/bodily resurrection」嗎？
(6) 他們既知主耶穌有骨、有肉，卻「喜得不敢信」，這是什麼意思？
(7) 你曾嘗過因得著甚為盼望的事物，以至喜得不敢信的經歷嗎？
(8) 既有復活主的親自同在，門徒還需要什麼才能明白聖經呢？這對你明白聖經有什麼提醒？
(9) 路加在結束時以「大使命」為主耶穌升天時的教導 (24:47-49) ：
a. 這使命的信息是什麼？
b. 這使命的幅度是什麼？
c. 我們的位份是什麼？
d. 我們怎樣能完成這使命？
(10) 在第一世紀時，是否單是目睹復活主的人才承擔這「大使命」？(可參使徒行傳第18章中之亞居拉夫婦和亞波羅)
(11) 讀到路加福音的結束時，試重溫1:1-4的引言，看看路加是否達到堅固提阿非羅的信心，特別是有關：
a. 傳給他的福音的真實？
b. 耶穌是誰？
c. 祂為何要死亡？
d. 祂現在在何處？
e. 作為祂的門徒現在的使命？
(12) 今天你得到的主要的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“You are witnesses of these things.” (Lk. 24:48)
One of the most powerful testimonies of the early church were given by the “Apostles” who were first-hand eye-witnesses of the Risen Lord. As Jesus emphasized, the important role of the first Christians in His Great Commission was to be His “witnesses” (Lk. 24:48, Acts 1:8). Peter understood that the Twelve were uniquely qualified and chosen to be such witnesses, and as a result, in order to fill the vacancy left by Judas, “it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22)
Unfortunately, it was this “narrow’” definition that caused the Apostle Paul to defend his role as an “Apostle” (one being sent) and effective witness for Christ (1 Cor. 9:2, 2 Cor. 11:5).
It is true that their testimonies as eye-witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection had been most powerful, but ultimately, it was the fact that they were “clothed with the power from on high” (Lk. 24:49, Acts 4:33) that really mattered. Furthermore, the term apostles (those being sent) is certainly not confined to the Twelve:
- Jesus sent 72 other disciples (Lk. 10:1-17);
- Paul and Barnabas were called apostles (Acts 14:4,14);
- Apollos was also mentioned alongside the apostles (1 Cor. 4:6, 9);
- Andronicus and Junias were also called apostles (Rom. 16:7).
As a result, we find that those who might not be “eye-witnesses” of the Risen Lord had not only assumed the Great Commission as theirs, but were also effectively used to preach the gospel. Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos were prime examples (see Acts 18). It is also important to note that it was not the Twelve Apostles who carried the gospel beyond Jerusalem; it was the other disciples (Acts 8:1-4).
Since the 1st century, disciples of Jesus Christ have continued to assume the Great Commission as their own, and bear witness to the Risen Lord, though not as eye-witnesses of His resurrection, but as eye-witnesses of the power and reality of the Risen Christ in the forgiveness of their sins and the transformation of their lives — not just theirs, but all those who would believe Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
「你們就是這些事的見證 。」(路24:48)
初期教會在傳福音時，其中最有力的見證，是在乎使徒們作復活主的「目擊證人」。因主耶穌在宣報「大使命」時，鄭重的指出：「你們就是這些事的見證」(路24:48; 徒1:8) ，徒得就認為，他們十二位使徒是有特殊的位份來為主作見證人。故此在填補猶大的空缺時，他堅持「必須從那常與我們作伴的人中，立一位與我們同作耶穌復活的見證」(徒1:22) 。
可惜的是，因著他這 “狹窄” 的定義，使保羅要為自己使徒的位份來力辯，要證明他同樣是使徒、是基督復活有力的見證(林前9:2; 林後11:5) 。
像我所言，這些初期的目擊證人，的確是主復活的有力見證，但至終他們傳講這復活信息的大能全賴「領受從上頭來的能力」(路24:49)，即聖靈的降臨(徒1:8) 。再者， “使徒”( 意即被差的人) 的位份不是只限於這十二人的：
˗ 耶穌豈不也差派了其他72個門徒嗎？(路10:1-17)
˗ 保羅和巴拿巴豈不是也被稱為使徒嗎？(徒14:4, 14)
˗ 亞波羅是與其他使徒並提的(林前4:6, 9) ；
˗ 安多尼古和猶尼亞也被稱為使徒(羅16:7) 。
故此，我們清楚讀到，那些不一定是主耶穌復活的目擊證人，都照樣承擔了「大使命」、並作福音有力的「見證人」。亞居拉夫婦和亞波羅是其中最佳的例子(參徒第18章) 。再者，我們也讀到，那些真正照「大使命」所吩咐把福音傳離耶路撒冷的，正是這十二使徒以外的門徒(參徒8:1-4) 。
自第一世紀以來，作主門徒的就肩負了這「大使命」，繼續的為復活主作見證。他們雖然不是主復活的目擊證人，但是他們卻是這復活大能的見證—見證這復活主在他們身上所顯出的赦罪、拯救、賜永生、生命改變的大能—不但在他們身上，更是在每一個同樣相信、接受耶穌基督作個人救主和主的人的身上！