提要
你一定聽過一句古諺:「親暱生狎侮」。親暱即使不生狎侮,至少也會生輕漫,就如發生在耶穌身上的情形一樣。有趣的是,以色列國如此,並且,如果我們誠實的話,這也正是我們的毛病。
根據路加的記載,耶穌在曠野受試探後就回到祂的家鄉,拿撒勒。在安息日祂進了一個會堂,輪到祂讀聖經時,祂翻到以賽亞書六十一章,唸出一至二節,然後,祂看著會堂裡的拿撒勒人──都是祂的朋友和熟人──說:「今天這經應驗在你們身上了。」這句話顯然遭到反彈,因為耶穌接著便說:「沒有先知在自己家鄉被人悅納的」。當祂同鄉的憤怒節節升高時,耶穌沒有採取降溫的行動,祂反而火上加油。
耶穌繼續談到以利亞和以利沙的時代。那時,先知在自己同胞中的遭遇並不比現在好,因為當時的人也一樣不聽先知的話。在那三年半的饑荒時期,以色列中有許多窮乏的寡婦,但上帝怎麼做呢?祂差以利亞到一個迦南婦人,一個異教徒的家中去。在以利沙的時代,以色列中有許多長大痲瘋的,但上帝醫治了誰?不是以色列人,而是一個敘利亞人。耶穌的含意很清楚,祂的聽眾也明白耶穌是在影射他們,他們氣得甚至要把耶穌推到懸崖底下。
上帝的子民,經常是與祂最不親近的人。我們經常上教會、經常禱告、經常談論上帝,我們非常的敬虔。事實上,宗教已是我們的陳年老友。也就是因為這種熟稔的關係,造成我們不在乎厭倦和輕忽的態度。
但我們實在可以不必落到這種地步,只要我們天天為上帝所賜的寶貴禮物──在耶穌基督裡的生命──感謝祂;只要我們每早晨更新我們對祂的愛,每日活在祂的愛中,每晚上也安息在祂的愛裡。你可以稱它為「熟悉的新鮮」。
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Overview
You’ve heard the old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt”. And if not contempt, familiarity breeds at least neglect. This was the case with Jesus. Interestingly, it was also the case with the nation on Israel. And, if we’re honest, it’s the case with you and me too.
In Luke’s account, the temptation in the wilderness is followed by Jesus’ return to Nazareth, His hometown. There He attends the synagogue on the Sabbath, and when it’s His turn to read, He finds Isaiah 61. After reading verses 1 and 2, He looks at the assembled men of Nazareth, all friends and acquaintances, and says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” This obviously met with resistance, for Jesus goes on to say, “no prophet is accepted in his home town” (NIV). Then, as the anger of the hometown men mounts, Jesus does nothing to diffuse it, rather He adds fuel to the fire.
He goes on to refer to Elijah and Elisha’s time. Prophets then were no more listened to by their own people then now, Jesus says in effect. During the three-and-a-half year drought, there were probably thousands of Israelite windows in need. But what does God do? He sends Elijah to a Canaanite woman, a heathen. During Elisha’s day, there were many sick with leprosy. But whom does God heal? Not an Israelite, but a Syrian. Them implication was clear, and not lost on Jesus’ audience. So much so that they tried to throw Him over a cliff.
The people of God are often those least accessible to Him. We’re often in church, often praying, often talking about God. We’re very religious. In fact religion is old hat. And that familiarity produces carelessness, boredom and neglect.
It needn’t do so. Not if we thank God every day of our lives for His wonderful givft of life in Jesus Christ. Not if we renew our love every morning, life it all day, and rest in it at night. You might call it “familiar freshness”.
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Prayer
Lord Jesus, in this reading You have revealed Yourself as the One who preached the Gospel, healed the broken hearted, set at liberty the captives and net all human need. Thank You for meeting our needs, and grant that today we will have Your strength to share this good news with others. |