新约的鸟瞰
旧约中这些主要的点都不过是豫表，因此需要主耶稣来作实际。当祂成为肉体而来，祂为神支搭了一个帐幕，并且支搭在我们中间。（约一14。）在约翰二章祂向犹太人启示，祂不仅是帐幕，也是神的殿。（约二18-21。）因此，当祂在地上的时候，祂是帐幕，也是殿。当领头的使徒彼得第一次被带到主面前的时候，主把他的名字从西门改为矶法，矶法的意思就是石头。（约一42。）在约翰一章五十一节，主耶稣对拿但业说，“我实实在在的告诉你们，你们将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。”这话指明雅各的梦的实现，在于主建造神的家。
主和门徒在一起约三年之后，有一天把他们带出宗教的范围和气氛，到了所谓圣地的边界，在那里问他们一个问题：“你们说我是谁？”（太十六15。）彼得说，“你是基督，是活神的儿子。”主就说，“我还告诉你，你是石头，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的门不能胜过她。”（太十六16，18，另译。）主启示祂是磐石，彼得是石头。这话必定给彼得很深的印象，因为过了不久，他责备犹太匠人，似乎说，“你们犹太匠人把祂钉在十字架上，完全弃绝了那建造的石头。但神已叫祂复活，使祂成为房角的首石。”在林前三章十一节保罗说，教会是建造在基督这根基上。彼得在他第一封书信中说，所有来到主面前的人就是活石，被建造成属灵的殿。（彼前二4-5。）这就是伯特利，神的家。至终，这伯特利要扩大完成于新耶路撒冷。一面新耶路撒冷是神在人中间的帐幕；另一面神自己和羔羊在那里是殿。这是神建造的鸟瞰。
信息重点：主说：“我要建造我的教会。”彼得说，信徒都是活石，被建造成属灵的殿。
应用祷告：主啊，使我不仅作一块得救的石头，更作一块愿意与别人配搭、接受建造的活石。
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A Bird’s-Eye View of God’s Building in the Bible (5) — John 1:50-51
A Bird’s-Eye View of the New Testament
All the major points in the Old Testament are merely types; therefore, the Lord Jesus needed to come as the reality. When He came in the flesh, He tabernacled for God and pitched His tent among us (John 1:14). In John 2, He revealed to the Jews that He is not only the tabernacle but also God’s temple (John 2:18-21). Therefore, while He was on earth, He was both the tabernacle and the temple. When the leading apostle Peter was first brought to the Lord, the Lord changed his name from Simon to Cephas, which means stone (John 1:42). In John 1:51, the Lord Jesus said to Nathanael, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” These words indicate that the fulfillment of Jacob’s dream lies in the Lord’s building of God’s house.
After spending about three years with His disciples, the Lord one day took them out of the religious sphere and atmosphere, to the border of the so-called holy land, and asked them a question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15). Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Lord then said, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower her” (Matt. 16:16, 18, alt. trans.). The Lord revealed that He is the rock and Peter is a stone. This must have made a deep impression on Peter, for not long after, he rebuked the Jewish builders, as if saying, “You Jewish builders nailed Him to the cross, utterly rejecting that building stone. But God raised Him from the dead and made Him the chief corner stone.” In 1 Corinthians 3:11, Paul says that the church is built on Christ as the foundation. Peter in his first epistle says that all who come to the Lord are living stones, being built up as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:4-5). This is Bethel, God’s house. Ultimately, this Bethel will be enlarged and completed in the New Jerusalem. On one hand, the New Jerusalem is God’s tabernacle among men; on the other hand, God Himself and the Lamb are the temple there. This is the bird’s-eye view of God’s building.
Message Focus: The Lord said, “I will build My church.” Peter said that believers are all living stones, being built up as a spiritual house.
Prayer: Lord, make me not only a saved stone but also a living stone—willing to fit together with others and be built up.