10/16/2013僕人的任務

經文:馬可福音4－7章

中心思想:馬可福音4：1-5：20

提要

        為自己造勢是一回事，能夠有能力的證明自己名符其實則是另一回事，基督藉著言論（比喻）及作為（神蹟），向門徒及群眾證明祂的真實身份。起初連親近的同伴也為了祂的能力和權威大惑不解，他們說：「這到底是誰，連風和海都聽從祂了。」（可4：41）但這位僕人般的救主很有耐心的透過祂所行趕鬼、治病，甚至死人復活的神蹟，說服門徒了解祂的人格以及任務。

每日與主同行

        上個禮拜你讀到那個年少多金的官員的故事（太19：16-22），他是一位富有的慕道友，來到耶穌前面要求做祂的門徒，耶穌告訴他要先計算代價，年輕人真的算了，卻不願付出這麼多，他的財富成了他的上帝！
        今天你要看到另一個人，他要求耶穌讓他跟隨祂，他願意放棄一切，這次耶穌卻不答應（可5：18-20）！這不是「你願放棄所有來做我的門徒嗎？」（他願意！）而是「你願意去我差你去的地方嗎？」（他願意！）對那曾被鬼附的人來說，上帝的呼召就是要他留在家裏──在低加波利傳揚耶穌為他作了何等大的事，眾人就都希奇（可20：5），由於他樂意在他家附近成為一個見證，於是有十個城鎮受到耶穌基督福音的影響！
        你的生命是否已經被這位行神蹟的耶穌改變了？若是已經改變，你可願意回家，「將主作為你所作的，是何等大的事」告訴家人、朋友嗎？

默想

神蹟改變了十個城鎮
        那個在格拉森被鬼附的人，遇到基督之前是赤身露體、兇殘駭人的，但遇到基督後，他「坐著，穿上衣服，心裏明白過來」（可5：15）──這個轉變並沒有逃過鄉人的眼睛（可5：19，20）。

金言

如果基督在你家，你的左鄰右舍很快就會知道的！

Mission of the Servant

Scriptures:Mark 4-7

Heart of the Passage:Mark 4:1-5:20

Overview

        It's one thing to make great claims for yourself; it's something else again to back up those claims with convincing proofs. Through both His words (parables) and works (miracles), Christ proclaims His true identity to the disciples and the multitudes. At first even His closest companions are perplexed by His power and authority, wondering, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (4:41). But patiently—through the miracles of exorcism, healing, and even raising the dead—the Master Servant works to convince His followers of the nature of His person and mission.

Your Daily Walk

        Last week you read about the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22), a wealthy God-seeker who came to Jesus and asked to become one of His disciples. Jesus told him first to go and count the cost. The young man did .. . and was unwilling to pay the price. His gold had become his god.
        Today you will meet another man who asked to become one of Jesus' traveling companions. He was willing to leave all to follow Jesus, but this time Jesus said no (5:18-20)! It was not a case of "Do you have what it takes to be My disciple?" (he did!) but rather, "Are you willing to go where I want to send you?" (he was!). For the former demon-possessed man, God's call to go was a call to stay home—"to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him" (5:20). And by his willingness to be a witness right where he lived, ten cities were affected by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
        Has your life been transformed by the miracle-working Jesus? If so, are you willing to go home ... and tell family and friends "how great things the Lord hath done for thee" (5:19)?

Insight

The Miracle That Transformed Ten Towns 
        The demon-possessed man from the region of the Gadarenes was naked and raging before his encounter with Christ. But afterward, he was "sitting,... clothed, and in his right mind" (5:15)—a transformation that did not escape the notice of his countrymen (5:19-20).

Adage

If Christ is in your house, your neighbors will soon know it.