提要
耶穌被釘十架,對祂的門徒來說,真是一大打擊。不只十二位核心門徒,而是所有耶穌的跟隨者,都因祂的死訊驚駭不已。那實在是個恐怖的時刻。
耶穌復活之日,門徒中有兩個人,離了耶路撒冷,走在往以馬忤斯的路上。他們聽說了空墳墓的傳聞而感到困惑──不是確信。因此他們悶悶不樂、沮喪又失望的邊走邊談論這幾天所發生的事。途中,有第三者加入他們。他問他們談論什麼事。其中一位名叫革流巴的,老實不客氣的回答:「你大概是耶路撒冷城,唯一不知道這幾天所發生的事的人吧!」
耶穌佯裝不知,問他們:「什麼事呢?」他們就把那些令祂刻骨銘心的事件告訴祂。他們說完後,耶穌向他們解釋說,基督(彌賽亞)必須經歷這一切的事,以實現摩西和先知書上的話。將近以馬忤斯時,耶穌作出還要往前走的樣子,兩位門徒卻懇求祂在那裡過夜。就在吃晚餐時,事情突然明朗了。耶穌擘開餅遞給他們,「他們的眼睛明亮了」。但在他們說得出話來之前,耶穌卻在他們眼前消失了。
多麼令人驚奇啊!特別是對這些徹底失望的門徒。他們一度「盼望要贖以色列民的就是祂」,但祂像向其他的狂熱分子一樣也死了。三年的盼望和自我犧牲,在一夜間被粉碎。然而,現在卻出現一個空的墳墓,一次活生生的顯現和消失!這到底是怎麼回事?
事情是:耶穌將要救贖以色列民,不僅僅是脫離羅馬的壓迫,而是脫離撒但的轄制。祂要將自己的百姓從罪惡裡救出來。永恆的國度近了!
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Overview
The crucifixion was a real blow to Jesus’ disciples. Not just the inner group of twelve, but all of Jesus’ followers were devastated by the news of His death. It was a grim moment.
On Resurrection Day, two of Jesus’ followers left Jerusalem to walk to Emmaus. They had heard the rumors of the empty tomb but were confused, rather then convinced. Depressed and disappointed, they were glumly walking along, discussing the events of the previous few days, when they were joined by a third man. He asked what they had been talking about. One of them, named Cleopas, responded rather curtly, “Are you the only one living in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”
Jesus feigned ignorance, “What things?”, He asked. They went on to tell Him what He so intimately knew. After they had finished, Jesus went on to explain that the Christ (“Messiah”) had to undergo all these things in order to fulfill the writings of Moses and the Prophets. Then He acted as if He were going farther than Emmaus. The disciples implored Him to stay the night. Over dinner it suddenly became clear. As He broke the bread and gave it to them, “their eyes were opened”. But even as they gasped a greeting, He disappeared from their sight.
What a surprise! Especially to these thoroughly disappointed disciples. They had “hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (NIV), and He had died, just like any other zealot. Three years of hope and self-sacrifice had been dashed, and then this! An empty tomb, a flesh-and-blood appearance and disappearance! What was going on?
Here’s what. Jesus was going to redeem Israel, not merely from Roman oppression, but from Satanic oppression. He was going to save His people from their sins. The eternal kingdom was at the door!
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