新约 - 马可福音(Mark)第8章

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,
"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so.
They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.
The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away,
he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.
He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it."
Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
"Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."
They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread."
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied.
"And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village."
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
马可福音第八章   第 8 章 

  可 8:1-3> 也许我们所挂虑的都只是微小的事情,但,你听到祂说“我怜悯”吗? 

  8:1-3 你是否曾感到神要忙于处理很多重要的事情,而看不到你的需要?你看耶稣关心这些人饮食的需要,祂也关心我们每日的需要(参太 6:31-32 )。你是不是认为有一些挂虑是神不会关心的呢?世上没有任何事情是太难而神没有能力处理的;也没有任何需要是太微小而神不去注意的。 

  可 8:1-10> 这个神迹跟五饼二鱼差不多嘛? 

  8:1-10 这个神迹跟给五千人吃饱的神迹( 6:30-44 )是两件事。那次大部分是犹太人,这次耶稣是在低加坡里的外族地区向一群外族人传道。耶稣的工作和信息开始影响大量的外族人。耶稣怜悯非犹太人的记载,进一步肯定了马可福音的写作对象是罗马人。 

  耶稣继续工作 

  可 8:11> 法利赛人硬不信,就强解耶稣的神迹,我对耶稣所做所说的又抱什么态度? 

  8:11 法利赛人试图说耶稣行神迹只是靠邪灵的力量或巧合,他们要求耶稣从天上显神迹,做只有神才可以做到的事。不过,耶稣拒绝了他们的要求。祂知道这样的神迹并不能说服他们,因为他们早已决定不信祂。有时候,人的心灵会硬到一个地步,就是最具说服力的事实和例证也不能改变他们。 

  可 8:15> 法利赛人和希律也有酵? 

  8:15 酵在这段经文中象征邪恶。只要少许的酵,就能使一团面发起,同样的,犹太领袖们刚硬的心也能渗透和毒害整个社会,令人们起来反对耶稣。 

  可 8:15> 是希律的酵,还是撒都该人的酵? 

  8:15 马可提到法利赛人和希律的酵,马太则提到法利赛人和撒都该人的酵。马可福音的写作对象是罗马人,他们认识希律,却可能不知道撒都该这个犹太宗教派别,马可就引用了耶稣说话中令读者较易明白的部分。这儿希律可能指希律党,就是支持希律的人。很多希律党的成员也是撒都该人。 

  可 8:17-18> 忘了上次是怎样难受;忘了祂是怎样扶持我;忘了……在黑暗中,我害怕,祂,还在吗? 

  8:17-18 门徒体验过耶稣所行的这么多神迹,却仍然不清楚耶稣的真正身分。他们曾经见过耶稣用五个饼和二条鱼给五千人吃饱( 6:35-44 ),现在却怀疑祂能否给另一群人吃饱。 

  我们的领悟力有时也同样迟钝。虽然基督过去曾带领我们经过试炼和引诱,但我们不相信祂将来也会带领我们。你是否紧闭心门,不能接受神为你做的事?不要学像门徒,要记住基督曾经为你做过的事,并相信祂会继续帮助你。 

  可 8:25> 我们的眼可以看见,我们的心嘛…… 

  8:25 对于耶稣来说,行这个神迹并不困难,但祂为什么要摸两下才使这瞎子看见呢?祂分步骤来做可能是为了表明治病有时候须循序渐进,不是每次都立刻治愈;又或者是要说明属灵的真理并不是一开始就能了解清楚的。但无论怎样,这个人在耶稣离去前已痊愈了。 

  可 8:27> 凯撒利亚腓立比是一个特别的地方吗? 

  8:27 凯撒利亚腓立比是一个异教城市,敬拜很多希腊神像,其庙宇则供奉远古的潘神。这里正是耶稣要门徒承认祂是神的儿子的好地方。分封王腓力( 6:17 )把凯撒利亚易名为凯撒利亚腓立比,以免与沿海的城市凯撒利亚混淆(参徒 8:40 )。沿海的凯撒利亚是腓力的兄弟希律安提帕所统治区域的首都。 

  可 8:28> 施洗约翰和以利亚是谁? 

  8:28 关于施洗约翰的事迹,请参 1 章 1 至 11 节; 6 章 14 至 29 节。关于以利亚的事迹,请参列王纪上 17 至 20 章;列王纪下 1 至 2 章。 

  可 8:29> 现在耶稣就要问你∶“你说我是谁?”你的答案是…… 

  8:29 耶稣首先问,别人认为祂是谁,接着就问门徒,他们认为祂是谁。只知道别人怎样说耶稣是不够的,你必须知道、明白和接受祂是弥赛亚,必须由对祂好奇进到献身与祂,由欣赏祂进而敬拜祂。 

  可 8:29-31> “人子”这名称有什么意义? 

  8:29-31 人子是耶稣最常用的自称。人子代表天上的形像,在末日时有审判的权柄和能力(参但 7:13 )。这名称显示耶稣就是神所证实的弥赛亚,是神的代表。这段经文中,人子紧紧地与彼得的认信──耶稣是基督──连在一起,确定了人子具有弥赛亚的意思。 

  从此,耶稣简单直接地告诉门徒有关祂受死和复活的事,三次预告祂的死( 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:33-34 ),并开始预备他们面对将要发生的事。 

  可 8:30> 你大概也会说“耶稣是基督吧”,但你全然明白这句话吗? 

  8:30 耶稣为什么告诫门徒不要告诉任何人关于祂身分的真相?耶稣知道他们还需要更多的教导,才能明白祂藉着死亡和复活所要成就的事。假如门徒没有得到更多的指导,即使承认耶稣是基督,也只是一知半解,不全然明白。 

  可 8:32-33> 我们常说“愿你的旨意成就”,只是,我真的明白吗?我真的愿意神的旨意成全吗? 

  8:32-33 这一刻彼得并没有考虑神的旨意,只想到自己人性的愿望和感觉。他希望基督作王,而不是受苦的仆人(参赛 53 章)。他准备好领受跟随弥赛亚的荣耀,而不是面对逼迫。 

  基督徒的路不是通往财富与安逸的平坦大道,相反途中常有艰难、逼迫、缺乏和苦难。彼得看不到整幅图画,我们不要重蹈他的覆辙,要注视神从看似不好的事上所带出的好结果,耶稣被钉十字架,但三日后复活就是一个例子。 

  可 8:33> 我是真心为人着想,但有时会不会好心做坏事? 

  8:33 彼得常是门徒的发言人,耶稣挑彼得出来说话,可能是要间接地向所有门徒说话。无知的门徒尝试阻止耶稣被钉十字架,以为可以帮助祂去完成祂在地上的使命。撒但也曾引诱耶稣逃避十字架的道路(参太 4 章)。撒但的动机是邪恶的,门徒的反应则是发自对耶稣的爱和钦佩。不过,门徒要做的是跟随耶稣,而不是引导和保护耶稣。惟有耶稣复活后,他们才完全明白祂去死的原因。 

  可 8:34> “当背十字架跟从主”──对于这句说话,你有何体会? 

  8:34 罗马人处决严重罪犯的方法,就是把他们钉死在十字架上。犯人要背着十字架到行刑的地方,表示对罗马人的屈服。 

  耶稣用背十字架来表明祂对跟从祂的人的要求──完全顺服。祂并不反对快乐,也不要我们受不必要的痛苦,祂只是要我们提起勇气,时刻跟随祂,在工作困难、前路暗淡时仍遵从祂的旨意。 

  可 8:35> 生命中有多少我所热爱的,是我舍不得丧掉的? 

  8:35 我们应该为福音的缘故放下自己的生命,这并不表示我们的生命不重要,而是任何东西甚至生命,也不能跟我们从基督里所得的恩典相比。耶稣希望我们选择去跟从祂,而不是过满足自我的犯罪生活;祂希望我们不再擅作主张,而让祂来掌管生命。这是很合理的,祂是创造主,比我们更清楚什么是真正的生命。祂要求我们顺从祂,不再痛恨自己,不再跟祂争着作自身的主宰。 

  可 8:36-37> 我不贪心,我不是要得到全世界,不过我正努力要得到…… 

  8:36-37 许多人花毕生的时间寻找快乐,但耶稣说,我们若把快乐建立在地位、权力和物质上,最后我们将会一无所有。无论我们在世上拥有什么,都只是暂时的,不能换取我们的灵魂。你为要得到你想要的东西而努力工作,你可能会有一个“快乐”的人生,不过到最后,你仍会发觉人生是空虚、徒劳的。你愿意看重追求神而轻看自私的快乐吗?跟随耶稣,便会知道什么是丰盛的生命,并得到永远的生命。 

  可 8:38> 我今天怎样看待耶稣?我希望祂再来的时候这样看待我吗? 

  8:38 耶稣谈到得失、取舍时,往往把世界的看法颠倒过来。祂在这里给我们选择接受或拒绝祂。现在我们可以拒绝祂,但当祂再来的时候祂也会拒绝我们;现在我们可以接受祂,那时祂也会接纳我们。拒绝基督可能使我们免被别人羞辱,却必为我们带来永恒的责备。──《灵修版圣经注释》