2025-01-02 周四 福音的内容(二)

经文:但圣灵降临在你们身上,你们就必得着能力,并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地、撒玛利亚,直到地极,作我的见证人。(徒一8,另译)

福音的内容─基督的所是、所作和成就(接上篇)

“霸占”这个辞用世界的话说,是相当野蛮、不好听的话;然而这辞相当达意,足以形容这一百二十人,被主耶稣充满的光景。如果他们里面不是满了主耶稣,不是主耶稣“霸占”了他们,以致他们里面除了主耶稣,没有别的东西,那他们怎敢留在耶路撒冷?他们并不是犹太地的人,而是加利利人;他们不是住在耶路撒冷城里的人,而是远在北方加利利一带的人。在大祭司和官长的眼中,他们不过是没有学问的平民(徒四13)。他们不是耶路撒冷城的人,而是加利利那里的人;他们听从主的话留下来,就证明他们里面只有主耶稣有地位。

在那个时候,耶路撒冷有一种空气,就是非常反对拿撒勒一党的人,非常反对跟随耶稣的人;凡是被听出有加利利口音,特别是加利利省拿撒勒地口音的,就受到人的仇视、藐视,甚至为难。那一百二十人离乡背井,撇下家庭,在一个反对的空气下留在耶路撒冷,一同聚集在那里,不作别的,只是同心合意的祷告。我们应该相信,并且深深地领会,虽然五旬节还没有来到,他们里面却已经满了主耶稣。

他们里面满了主耶稣自己,也满了祂的作为。主耶稣如何是神成了肉体,如何在地上作为一个人,如何在地上过生活,如何到十字架上受死,又如何被埋葬,然后从死里复活,又在复活之后显现在他们中间,甚至成为那灵吹进他们里面,并且在他们眼前升到天上,而天使又来说明主还要再来等等;这些都活画在他们眼前,活画在他们里面。

不仅如此,他们还在主耶稣离开并升天时,从祂接受一个托付,就是不要离开耶路撒冷,直等到神从上头,把天上的能力浇灌在他们身上;那时他们就必定得着能力,要从耶路撒冷这地方起,为祂作见证,直到万邦,直到地极(路二四47-49,徒一8)。他们接受了这个托付。一面,他们里面满了基督自己;另一面,他们满心等候从高处来的能力。在这能力还没有来到之前,他们在那里专专作一件事,就是同心合意在神面前祷告。我们应该相信,他们的祷告,必定是为着已过主耶稣如何给他们经历,以致他们里面满了感谢与赞美,而在主面前有很好的敬拜;另一面他们是在那里求告、仰望、等候,要领受从高处来的能力。

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The Content of the Gospel (2) — Acts 1:8

The Content of the Gospel: Who Christ Is, What He Has Done, and What He Has Accomplished (Continued)

The word “occupy” may sound harsh or even uncivilized when used in worldly terms, yet it aptly describes the state of the 120 gathered filled with the Lord Jesus. If their inner being had not been fully consumed by the Lord Jesus – if He had not “occupied” them to the extent that there was no room for anything else – they would not have dared to remain in Jerusalem. These individuals were not from Judea but from Galilee. They were not Jerusalem residents but people from the northern region of Galilee. In the eyes of the high priests and leaders, they were seen as uneducated men (Acts 4:13). Despite being outsiders, they obeyed the Lord’s command to stay in Jerusalem, proving that only Lord Jesus had a place among them. 

At that time, Jerusalem was a hostile environment for followers of Jesus. The atmosphere was strongly opposed to the “sect of the Nazarene” and those who followed Him. Anyone with a Galilean accent, especially from Nazareth, was met with contempt, suspicion or even hostility. Yet these 120 gathered left their homes and families, stayed in Jerusalem amidst such opposition, and gathered together, doing nothing but praying with one accord. This shows that, even before Pentecost, they were already filled with the Lord Jesus.

They were not only filled with the person of the Lord Jesus but also with the memory of His works. They vividly recalled how He became flesh, lived as a man on earth, died on the cross, was buried, rose again from the dead, appeared among them after His resurrection, breathed the Spirit into them, ascended to heaven before their eyes and received the angelic promise of His return. These truths were not only engraved in their minds but also alive within them.

Furthermore, they had received a commission from the Lord before His ascension: to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the heavenly power that God would pour out upon them. When they received this power, they were to be His witnesses, starting in Jerusalem and extending to all nations, even to the remotest part of the earth (Luke 24:47–49; Acts 1:8). Thus, they carried this dual burden: on one hand, they were filled with Christ Himself; on the other, they were eagerly awaiting the power from on high. In the meantime, they focused on one thing: praying with one accord before God. We can believe their prayers were twofold. First, they offered gratitude and praise, worshiping the Lord for all He had done for them and how He had filled them. Second, they prayed with expectation, seeking and waiting for the power from on high to come upon them.