Wednesday, 6th July 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-16 Let Go and Understand the Heart of God
Destiny is from God, and without God, we cannot enter into our destiny. V1 ‘Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.’ Jesus was teaching the people to know and understand the Heart of God. But not everyone could comprehend, and therefore the Pharisees came to challenged Jesus about the laws of divorcing wives.
V5-9 ‘And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.”’ Jesus was teaching the truth in front of the Pharisees, He told them that Moses’ laws were established to prevent them sinning against God through adultery.
V10-12 ‘In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”’ We must understand the heart of God for us, our own destiny. At the same time, we must pray and understand the heart of God for our children, so they can live and support their spouse to fulfil the calling from God for them. Just like how Rebecca was born to support Isaac to fulfil his life destiny. We must understand the Bible, to leave the parents do not necessary mean to physically move away from their parents, but to really live in the vision of God for their spouse and support each other wholeheartedly.
V13-16 ‘Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.’ Today, Jesus is also asking us, if we are willing to bring our children and our spiritual children to Him. We must lead people to Jesus, not just to ourselves. If we love our children, then we must bring them to Jesus, learn to let go and let Jesus take over. Jesus took the children from their parents, held them, and blessed them.
The parents were willing to bring their children and let Jesus take over, but the disciples only saw troubles. They thought by stopping the children going to Jesus, they could give Jesus some space to rest, but Jesus was teaching them the lesson of life. We must learn to let go, let our children and our beloved ones experience Jesus.
Section Two V17-52 Let Go and Follow by Faith
V17 ‘Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”’ The rich young ruler was eagerly pursuing Jesus, he was running to Jesus and kneeling before Him. He called Jesus a ‘good teacher’, which meant flawless and perfect, but in his heart, he was living under the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Because he wanted to receive the eternal life by doing good deeds, which was a religious mindset. But Jesus didn’t rebuke him, because Jesus knew this young man was blinded by his upbringing, therefore, Jesus taught him patiently.
V21-22 ‘Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.’ Sadly the rich young man could not follow what Jesus taught him, because he was not relying God, but relying on his own wealth and power. What do we rely on today? God wants us to get rid of everything in this world that we rely on so we can fully rely on Him.
V27 ‘But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”’ When we are willing to rely on the things of the Kingdom of God, then all things are possible. Therefore, that’s why it’s so important for us to do devotion, to read the Bible, to memorise the Bible verses… so we can live a life full of possibilities, all our worries and fears will disappear, and our eyesight and mindset will be filled with wonderful things in life!
V32-34 ‘Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”’ Jesus will not hide the path in front of us, when we are entering into our destiny, there will be challenges, but we don’t need to be afraid. Do we worship Jesus like an idol or do we really follow Jesus? If we want to serve God with power and authority, then we must follow Jesus in the path God has give to us in our destiny.
V43-45 ‘Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”’ Jesus wants us to serve Him and disciple the nation. Do not give up when we come across challenges, even when people refuse to listen to us, do we continue to try and never give up?
V46-47 ‘Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”’ The name ‘Timaeus’ means to honour, but the name ‘Bartimaeus’ means the son of Timaeus. The father of the blind man was born with an expectation to be honoured, but the blind man was only known as the son of his father. Bartimaeus didn’t give up, he believed in his destiny, and he cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus heard him.
V52 ‘Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.’ Jesus told him to leave the identity as only the son of Timaeus, and to embrace his true destiny in life. God has greater purpose for us, do we believe in it? When we are willing to let go, follow God by faith, and we will be able to walk into the destiny God has given to us.
马可福音 10 – 如何走入命定里
2022年7月6日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
如何更加贴近神给我们的带领？本章第一节讲到“那里”指的是第九章33节的迦百农。在那里，门徒看到、听到了很多事，知道自己所跟从的师傅有能力、有使命，于是开始争论“谁为大”（9:34）。门徒眼中的“大”就是在神国里有权柄能力，然而耶稣教导他们，“若有人愿意做首先的，他必做众人末后的，做众人的用人”（9:35）, 又用一个小孩子来做比喻天国的价值（9:36-37）。天国看重的跟从不是像拜偶像一样拜耶稣。门徒带着自己的目的来跟从耶稣，但耶稣要的不是“拜”而是“信”。本章经文里，耶稣更深的教导门徒跟从神的意义。在现今的大环境下，我们要怎样跟随神？耶稣要我们相信他，不再追着自己的欲望而走。我们以前的跟从是拜耶稣，让耶稣成就我们的私欲，但我们要学习如何走入命定里。“命定”是神给我们的，是与生俱来的。在马可楼，神帮助我们明白自己的命定。
一、v.1-16 放下 明白神心意
V1 耶稣的生命就是给人天国的真理、神的话语。我们跟从神的人要知道我们与人的互动不要停留在吃喝玩乐，当那些人愿意放下自己来跟我们的时候，我们要学习耶稣去“教训他们”，将生命的道释放给人。我们要用神的话语帮助人建立生命，明白天国的奥秘。
V2 法利赛人非常熟悉神的话语，但他们来试探耶稣。
V3 耶稣的反问是一个关键，他问法利赛人的是摩西的律法。然而，那些法利赛人的回答不是讲述律法的规定，而是讲摩西怎样允许他们在软弱中还跟随神。
V5 “条例”并非律法的规定，而是人定出来的命令。
V6-7 耶稣将他们带回神起初创造时的心意。“离开父母”并非只是指搬出父母的家，而是离开原来从父母那里所领受的，与妻子“联合”，忠心投身在神给夫妻的同一个呼召里。
V10-12 摩西为了不让当时的人因着与婚姻外的人犯奸淫，所以才允许休妻。门徒听了耶稣的话，一开始并不明白，于是耶稣进一步解释给他们听。“辜负”原文是反对。婚姻不仅是“信与不信不能同负一轭”，更重要的是我们要先明白神给我们的命定、神对我们的心意是什么，妻子若明白神的心意，才能帮助丈夫。丈夫找妻子不要看外表和能力，而是要找到那个能帮助自己完成神给他命定的人。当两人走的路不一样时，婚姻就会很艰难，因为两人走在自己的心意而没有走在神的命定里。犯奸淫的人就拜偶像，选择跟从自己的情欲，选择另一个自己想要的人。作为姐妹，你愿意成就神在你丈夫身上的命定吗？
V13-16 耶稣说的是，我们是否愿意带着我们的孩子和属灵的孩子 来到耶稣这里，让他们被耶稣触摸？我们带领人，是否有带他们到耶稣那里？我们愿不愿意将孩子交给耶稣，让耶稣去接手“抱着小孩子”。门徒看见的是表面，觉得这样做耶稣会很辛苦，但耶稣教导他们生命的功课。我们是否愿意让我们的孩子和所牧养的人给耶稣接手，经历神的能力、医治？我们要懂得放手，明白神的心意。
二、v.17-52 放下 凭信心跟从
V17-20 这人是有身份的，但他“跑来跪在”耶稣面前，说明他是有追求的人。他问耶稣的问题有两个信息，第一，“良善”原文是没有瑕疵的、好的，所以耶稣用反问句提醒他，他前面的是一个完全良善的神。这个有钱人是拜神而不是信神。我们跟从耶稣，是带着自己的目的来拜他还是信他？第二，当这人觉得自己都遵行了律法，问耶稣他还有什么事要做时，耶稣看到这人是在分辨善恶树下跟从神，以为得永生是靠自己的好行为。
V21-22 耶稣没有批评论断他，而是看到这人陷在蒙蔽当中，反而“爱他”，喜欢这个人。可惜，那人听了耶稣的回答后因为自己产业很多就忧愁的离开了。
V23-25 耶稣说这人倚靠的的自己的钱财而不是神。我们跟从神，倚靠的是什么呢? 神要我们拿走一切属世的东西，单单跟从神。
V26-27 门徒的问题也是我们常常问的。耶稣告诉我们，我们倚靠人是不可能，只要我们倚靠神，凡事都能。我们来晨祷、读经、背经，有神的话语，才不会只看到“不可能”，而是看到”凡事都能”。
V28-30 我们也常说自己把工作放下来教会，觉得自己为了神已经放下了很多，但耶稣提醒，我们还是在紧紧抓住这些人事物而无法跟从神。我们不是不管自己的家庭、孩子，而是要学习先神后人再大地。我们若愿意放下对属世牵绊的挂虑和倚靠，神不会让我们羞愧。
V32-34 跟随耶稣的人都知道耶稣要去耶路撒冷，所以开始害怕。耶稣没有向我们隐瞒他前面要走的路，因为他不要我们去拜他，而是真正的跟从他。
V35-38 我们常不知道我们所求的权能是什么，我们有权能，是帮助我们走入命定，使我们可以门训万民。
V42-45 我们是否愿意放下自己，成为仆人领袖？我们传福音、带门徒，是否被人拒绝几次就放弃了？我们是否愿意服事那些人而不是让他们来服侍我们？
V46 当时的犹太人鄙视那些身体有残缺的人，觉得他们是不洁的。“底买”原文是被人看为好的，可惜这个儿子生来瞎眼，连名字都没有（“巴底买”的意思就是底买的儿子），只能讨饭过活。
V50 当时犹太社会里，人的外袍代表自己的身份，但这瞎子将自己的衣服放下，称呼耶稣是“我的主”，他相信耶稣给他新的生命，不再活在羞愧里。
V52 “去”就是离开的意思，耶稣让巴底买离开从自己原本家族来的命运，他就“立刻看见了”并且“跟随耶稣”。我们是否看重自己家族带给我们的让我们蒙福的东西胜过神？我们是否相信神能给我们更好的？我们愿意放下，凭信心跟从神，走进神给我们的命定吗？