門徒訓練原則 馬可福音 10:32-45
- 馬克牧師
- Mar 14, 2024
- 10 min read
耶穌第三次預言受難和復活
（太20‧17－19；路18‧31－34）
32他們行路上耶路撒冷去。耶穌在前頭走，門徒就希奇，跟從的人也害怕。耶穌又叫過十二個門徒來，把自己將要遭遇的事告訴他們說： 33「看哪，我們上耶路撒冷去，人子將要被交給祭司長和文士，他們要定他死罪，交給外邦人。 34他們要戲弄他，吐唾沫在他臉上，鞭打他，殺害他。過了三天，他要復活。 」
雅各和約翰的要求
（太20‧20－28）
35 西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來，對耶穌說：「夫子，我們無論求你甚麼，願你給我們做。」 36耶穌說：「要我給你們做甚麼？」 37他們說：「賜我們在你的榮耀裏，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」 38耶穌說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼。我所喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？我所受的洗，你們能受嗎？」 39他們說：「我們能。」耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們也要喝；我所受的洗，你們也要受； 40只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」 41那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒雅各、約翰。 42耶穌叫他們來，對他們說：「你們知道，外邦人有尊為君王的，治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。 43只是在你們中間，不是這樣。你們中間，誰願為大，就必作你們的用人； 44在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。 45因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」
各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天要讀的故事是耶穌第三次預言他的死，而且門徒又做錯了重樣的一次請求。耶穌這一次再次解釋給他們聽跟隨上帝的代價。
從之前的經文我們已經記得耶穌兩次的講過，關於他即將要受死被殺釘在十字架上的事情。門徒一直都聽不懂，而這個地方耶穌已經是第三次再說，他即將要死要被殺害，但是到現在門徒還是沒有理解。但是當我們在看這段故事的時候，我們也不要只是批評門徒，我們其實有另外一個更正面的方式能夠來理解這段故事，也從這個故事中來學習道理。
首先我們還是可以來看看他們所犯的錯誤。福音書裡面的作者沒有美化他們這些門徒所犯的錯誤。這些人正在記載他們當年跟耶穌的時候所做過的所有事情，所犯過的所有的錯。福音書的作者非常誠實坦白的把他們當年所說的話跟做的事情都記載了下來，所以其實他們是很誠實的。等我們其實也可以從這些門徒的身上，看見人性。特別是人性，你我都有的人性，因為人的軟弱是所有人的軟弱，不是某種人的軟弱。當我們看著別人犯過的錯誤，看著別人的軟弱，看著別人的誤會的時候，其實我們該說的不是批評跟審判，而是把它放在自己身上想一想，那我呢？我是不是也一樣呢？我是不是也犯過類似的錯呢？如果我們所有人都能夠不斷地拿這樣的反省在自己身上的話，其實我們人跟人之間就會少了很多的攻擊跟誤會，因為其實你我都一樣是軟弱有罪的人。
當然，比較令人令耶穌可能難過的是，他已經第三次講到他即將要走上十字架的道路，預備被釘在十架上並復活這件事情，但是現在雅各和約翰這兩兄弟還是想像的地上的王國。他們想的事情還是要成為左右護法。什麼意思呢？坐在耶穌的左右，他們會認為耶穌要做往他們希望成為左丞相和右丞相。他們腦子裡面所想像的，還是一個屬於地上的王國，要成為重要人物的這個思想。而另外10個門徒也差不多，他們只是在抱怨說怎麼可以你們先問，我們也應該問，我們也想要得到重要的位置，可能耶穌這個時候是無語了，看著他們說，啊，你們到現在還沒搞懂。
耶穌只能夠再一次地跟他們解釋：「你們還是誤會了。」耶穌在剛剛第九章裡面才剛講完的是，願意做首領的必要做眾人末後的，做眾人的用人。他這邊必須再重新地講一遍，說的是第43節：「誰願為大，就必作你們的用人，在你們中間誰願為首，就必做眾人的僕人。」他自己都說他自己是上帝的兒子，卻不是要受眾人的服侍，而是要來服事人，甚至要捨命作多人的贖價。
我們知道，雅各、約翰、彼得這三個可以說是門徒裡面的重要的三個門徒。他們跟耶穌特別的親近，登山變相的時候也是他們三個人上去的。但是，就算連這麼親密跟著耶穌親身經歷他的人，都沒有辦法完全捕捉到耶穌的使命，都要耶穌一而再，再而三地不斷地跟他們教訓。我們也去思想自己，在彼此對待的時候，可能我們也要多一點的耐心，多點的思想。不要以為我們今天講了一句話、講了一句聖經，就人應該聽懂，從此以後就變成新的人。不會的，每一個人都不斷地在聽，並且聽了又忘，忘了在聽，我們總是在聽，一點一點，很小很小的往前進、往前改變。所以，如果你是做牧者，你是做領袖的，做老師的人，你真的要多一點的耐心。看看門徒們吧！
耶穌在這邊重申了一句：「你們如果想要成為領導人的話，你們要做眾人的僕人。」當我們把得權柄這件事情看清楚，你擁有的權柄是不是為了你自身的享受。一個只為自己謀求權勢的人是不配的當成領袖的。這一個領袖，這個擁有權力的人，是為了為眾人得到更多的好處，為了要去服事眾人，為了要去幫眾人做更多的事情，才配得被交托這樣的權柄他才配的去使用這樣的權柄。這一個人就是「擁有極大的權力，卻甘心做眾人的僕人」。就如我們在古代的故事中，一個勤政愛民的皇帝，才是被人愛戴的好皇帝。而一個只顧享樂的皇帝，終究會失去天下人的心。
雖然門徒在這邊還沒有理解，但是我們還是要感到高興的事情是，他們最終都一直對耶穌抱持著不變的忠心。後來耶穌死了復活升天之後，十二使徒真正的也成為了耶穌要他們成為的人，向天下去傳福音，改變了整個羅馬帝國，也改變了整個人類歷史。他們最後每一個人都是用生命去為福音獻上自己全部。所以，雖然說門徒在學習的過程中間有混淆，有不明白，有犯過錯，但是上帝依然使用他們，12個普通人，平凡人，去成就了不平凡的大事。那今天你我也一樣，我們都是會犯錯的，每一天都在掙扎的普通人，但是上帝依然可以用你，也可以用我，在他的計劃之中，我們都有重要的事情要做。
耶穌在這裡生日還表達一個非常重要的觀念，叫做順服。“坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的就賜給誰。”一切的事情都在上帝的旨意之下。我們所有人都在上帝的管轄範圍之內，所以我們當做的不是自己去想一堆新的辦法，而是順服在上帝早就完美的旨意之下，並且按著去執行。這才是最偉大的事工。耶穌按著上帝的旨意去完成了他的使命，沒有逃避。門徒按著上帝的旨意去完成他們該完成了。而今天，你我，我們在世上，我們在現在，我們所經歷的一切，世上也有我們當完成的事情，願我們學習順服上帝的旨意。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天看一個瞎子得看見的神蹟故事。
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time, Mark chapter 10:32-45
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
“We are going up to Jerusalem,”he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The Request of James and John
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?”he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,”Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Dear brothers and sisters,
Peace be with you. Today, we are going to read the story of Jesus prophesying his death for the third time, and once again, the disciples made a similar mistake in their request. Jesus, once again, explained to them the cost of following God.
From the previous scriptures, we remember that Jesus had spoken twice about his impending death and crucifixion. The disciples had consistently failed to understand. Now, for the third time, Jesus spoke of his impending death, but the disciples still did not grasp it. However, as we delve into this story, let us not merely criticize the disciples. There is another, more positive way to understand this story and learn from it.
Firstly, let us examine their mistakes. The authors of the Gospel did not sugarcoat the errors of these disciples. They recorded everything the disciples did and said when they were with Jesus, including their mistakes. The Gospel authors were honest and candid in documenting their actions and words. From this, we can also see the humanity in these disciples. Human weakness is universal, not limited to specific individuals. When we observe the mistakes, weaknesses, and misunderstandings of others, instead of criticizing and judging, we should reflect on ourselves. Have we not made similar mistakes? If each of us constantly reflects on our own shortcomings, we will reduce much of the attacks and misunderstandings between people, for we are all equally weak and sinful.
Of course, what may have saddened Jesus even more is that despite having spoken for the third time about his impending journey to the cross, to prepare for crucifixion and resurrection, James and John still envisioned an earthly kingdom. They desired to be chief officials, to sit at Jesus' left and right. They still envisioned an earthly kingdom where they could be important figures. The other ten disciples were not much different; they complained about why James and John had asked first, indicating their desire for important positions. Perhaps Jesus was speechless at this point, looking at them and thinking, "You still haven't understood."
Jesus had to explain to them once again: "You have misunderstood." He had just spoken in Chapter 9, saying that whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all, the last shall be first. He reiterated this in verse 43: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Even though he himself is the Son of God, he came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
We know that James, John, and Peter were the three important disciples among the twelve. They were particularly close to Jesus, even going up the mountain with him. But even these close followers who personally experienced Jesus' teachings could not fully grasp the essence of the Gospel. Jesus had to repeatedly teach them. So let us also reflect on ourselves. When we treat each other, we may need to be more patient and thoughtful. Do not assume that just because we say a sentence or quote a Bible verse, others should understand and be transformed instantly. No, everyone is continually learning and forgetting, always progressing and changing, albeit slowly. Therefore, if you are a pastor, a leader, or a teacher, you need to be more patient. Look at the disciples!
Jesus reiterated here: "If you want to be leaders, you must be servants of all." When we understand this principle, we realize that the authority we possess should not be for our own enjoyment. Those who seek power solely for their own benefit are not worthy of leadership. A true leader, one who holds power, does so to benefit others, to serve them and do more for them. Such a person is worthy of being entrusted with authority. This person is one who "has great power but willingly becomes a servant to all." As we see in ancient tales, an emperor who governs diligently and loves his people is the beloved ruler. A ruler who indulges in pleasure will ultimately lose the hearts of the people.
Although the disciples did not understand at this point, we can still rejoice in the fact that they always maintained unwavering loyalty to Jesus. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, the twelve apostles truly became the people Jesus wanted them to be, spreading the Gospel to the world and changing the entire Roman Empire and human history. Each of them eventually sacrificed their lives for the Gospel. So, although the disciples were confused and made mistakes during their learning process, God still used them, twelve ordinary people, to accomplish extraordinary things. Today, we are also the same; we are all imperfect and struggle daily as ordinary people. But God can still use you and me in his plan, and we all have important tasks to fulfill.
Jesus also expressed a very important concept here, called obedience. "Sitting at my left and right is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." Everything is under God's will. We are all within the scope of God's authority, so what we should do is not come up with a bunch of new ideas ourselves, but to obey under God's perfect will and act accordingly. This is the greatest ministry. Jesus completed his mission according to God's will, without evasion. The disciples also fulfilled what they were supposed to do according to God's will. And today, you and I, in this world, in the present, what we experience, there are things we should accomplish. May we learn to obey God's will.
Thank you all for listening, and tomorrow we will look at the story of a blind man receiving sight, a miracle.
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