Holiness (2)
The Holiness of Jesus Christ耶稣基督的圣洁 The promises of the coming of Messiah in the Old Testament became increasingly specific, until it was evident that Messiah must not only be human but divine (see Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). As such, He must be holy. And so, when the angel told Mary of the child to be miraculously born of her, a virgin, he said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, emphasis mine). 旧约所应许到来的弥赛亚的形象渐渐变得明确了，最后可以看到弥赛亚不仅是人，也同时是神（见以赛亚书9：6-7；弥迦书5：2）。因此，他必然是圣洁的。也因此，当天使传报玛丽亚圣子将奇迹般从她——一位童贞女——而生，他说，“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，因此所要生的圣者必称为神的儿子”(路加福音1：35，斜体为作者所加）。 Throughout the life and ministry of our Lord on the earth, it became increasingly clear this was no ordinary man; indeed, He was more than a prophet and more than a mere man. This was the Son of God. Even the demons had to acknowledge Him as the”Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34). The things Jesus said and did marked Him out as One who stood head and shoulders above any other (merely human) being. Peter was a professional fisherman, but when he obeyed the instructions of the Lord Jesus, the results were awesome. Peter’s response was appropriate: 通过我们的主在地上的生活和侍奉，渐渐可以看得清楚他不是一位普通人；实际上，他也不单是一位先知，也不仅仅是人。他是神子。就是污鬼也承认他是“神的圣者”（马可福音1：24；路加福音4：34）。耶稣的言行标志他是站在任何（仅仅是人）存在之上的神。彼得曾以打渔为业，但当他顺服了主耶稣的教导，却产生了惊人的结果。彼得的回应是恰当的： 8 When Simon Peter saw [that,] he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8). 8 西门彼得看见，就俯伏在耶稣膝前，说：主阿！离幵我，我是个罪人！（路加福音5：8） When Jesus healed the demon-possessed dumb man, the multitudes marveled, saying, 当耶稣治愈污鬼附体的哑巴，众人都希奇，说： 33 “Nothing like this was ever seen in Israel” (Matthew 9:33). 在以色列中，从来没冇见过这样的事（马太福音9：33）。 When Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven and then proceeded to heal him, the people could not escape the implications: 当耶稣告诉瘫子他的罪一杯赦免，接着治愈了他，人们不能避免如此的推测： 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk’? 10 But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this” (Mark 2:5-12). 5 耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：小子，你的罪赦了。6 冇几个文士坐在那里，心里议论，说： 7 这个人为甚么这样说呢？他说僭妄的话了。除了神以外，谁能赦罪呢？ 8 耶稣心中知道他们心里这样议论，就说：你们心里为甚么这样议论呢？ 9 或对瘫子说你的罪赦了，或说起来！拿你的褥子行走；那一样容易呢？ 10 但要叫你们知道，人子在地上冇赦罪的权柄。就对瘫子说： 11 我吩咐你，起来！拿你的褥子回家去罢。12 那人就起来，立刻拿着褥子，当众人面前出去了，以致众人都惊奇，归荣耀与神，说：我们从来没冇见过这样的事！（马可福音2：5-12）。 When the man born blind was healed by Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were most reluctant to admit that such a miracle had taken place. The blind man could “see” the implications of what had happened, and he pressed them on his interrogators: 当那位生来就瞎眼的人被耶稣治愈，文士和法利赛人很不情愿承认这样的奇迹发生了。瞎眼的人可以“看见”所发生的事情的含义，他将这看法阐明给他的询问者： 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and [yet] He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:30-33). 30 那人回答说：他幵了我的眼睛，你们竟不知道他从那里来，这真是奇怪！ 31 我们知道神不听罪人，唯冇敬奉神、遵行他旨意的，神纔听他。从创世以来，未曾听见冇人把生来是瞎子的眼睛幵了。 33 这人若不是从神来的，甚么也不能做(约翰福音9：30-33）。 The miracles and signs performed during Jesus’ earthly ministry pointed to His holiness, as did the events surrounding His death. The supernatural darkness for three hours and the rending of the veil of the temple (Luke 23:44-45), along with other factors, caused the crowds to go away shaken by what they saw and heard (Luke 23:46-48). One of the criminals crucified beside Jesus gave testimony to His innocence in his last moments of life and asked Jesus to remember him when He entered into His kingdom (Luke 23:36-43). One of the soldiers at the foot of the cross also gave testimony to the uniqueness (shall we say “holiness”?) of Jesus: 耶稣早期的侍奉工作中所行的奇迹和征兆指向他的圣洁，就如围绕他的死亡所发生的事情一样。超自然的3小时黑暗和殿里的幔子从当中裂为两半（路加福音23：44-45） 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he [began] praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47). 47 百夫长看见所成的事，就归荣耀与神，说：这真是个义人！ （路加福音23：47）。 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up [His] spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:50-54). 50 耶稣对他说：朋友，你来要做的事，就做罢。于是那些人上前，下手拿住耶稣。51 冇跟随耶稣的一个人伸手拔出刀来，将大祭司的仆人砍了一刀，削掉了他一个耳朵。 52 耶稣对他说：收刀入鞘罢！凡动刀的，必死在刀下。53 你想，我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来么？ 54 若是这样，经上所说，事情必须如此的话怎么应验呢？（马太福音27：50-54）。… Read More »Holiness (2)