在那十架之地 (1)

在那十架之地 (1)
聖經閱讀：路加福音23:26-31 現代中譯本|合和本
2013年3月27日(三)

今天和接下來的幾天，我們將從路加福音第23章開始讀起，這些經節告訴我們耶穌死在十字架上的事情。 　彼拉多判決耶穌要被釘死在十字架上，兵士們就把祂帶離到一個名為各各他的山丘上，他們逼迫耶穌要背著祂的木頭十字架。在這之前，兵士們已經用鞭子毒打了耶穌，耶穌太虛弱以致於無法背起那笨重的十字架，所以兵士們便逼迫一個人「把十字架擱在他肩上，叫他背著，跟在耶穌後面走」 (第26b 節) 。 　那個被迫背起耶穌十字架的人叫西門，他是從古利奈來的人。也許西門根本就不知道耶穌是誰，我很想知道他背著十字架、跟在耶穌後面走到各各他的時候，他心裡面有什麼樣的感想。 　人們強逼西門去背耶穌的十字架，但是並沒有人強迫耶穌要死在十字架上，祂是心甘情願為我們捨棄生命的，為甚麼呢？因為祂愛我們並要我們得到上帝的救恩。 　因著耶穌願意為我們死，我們要讚美上帝！－BH 「他們把耶穌帶到一個地方，叫各各他，意思就是『髑髏岡』。於是他們把耶穌釘在十字架上。」 馬可福音15:22, 24a 禱告：上帝，謝謝祢讓耶穌願意為我犧牲祂的生命。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (PPC譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

At the Cross (1)
Bible Reading: Luke 23:26-31
Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Today and for the next few days, we will look at verses from Luke, chapter 23. These verses tell us about Jesus dying on the cross. 　Pilate sentenced Jesus to die on a cross. The soldiers led Him away to a hill called Golgotha. They forced Jesus to carry His own wooden cross. Before this, the soldiers had beaten Jesus. He was too weak to carry the heavy cross. So they forced a man “to carry Jesus’ cross and walk behind him” (verse 26b). 　The man who carried Jesus’ cross was named Simon. He was from Cyrene. Maybe Simon did not even know who Jesus was. I wonder how Simon felt as he walked behind Jesus to Golgotha. 　People forced Simon to carry Jesus’ cross. But no one forced Jesus to die on the cross. He was willing to give up His life for us. Why? Because He loves us and wants us to receive God’s gift of salvation. 　Praise God that Jesus was willing to die for us! —BH “They led Jesus to the place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means “The Place of the Skull.”) The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross.” Mark 15:22,24a PRAYER: God, thank You that Jesus was willing to give up His life for me. In His name. Amen.