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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Mark 8:27-38 Understand the Way of the Lord 馬可福音 8:27-38 明白主道路

Tuesday, 12th March 2024

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

V27-30 Be Healed and Be Seen 被醫治被看見

“Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ So they answered, ‘John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ.’ Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.”

『耶穌和門徒出去，往愷撒利亞-腓立比的村莊去。在路上問門徒說：「人說我是誰？」他們說：「有人說是施洗的約翰，有人說是以利亞，又有人說是先知裡的一位。」 又問他們說：「你們說我是誰？」彼得回答說：「你是基督。」耶穌就禁戒他們，不要告訴人。 』

Jesus wanted to see if the disciples knew Who He really is. The disciples followed Jesus for three years, but do they really know Who Jesus is and what Jesus can do? We might be believers for many years, but do we really meditate on Who Jesus is? We know He is the Healer, but are we really healed? We know He is the Saviour, but are we really saved? It’s not about what Jesus can do, but how we believe. Jesus knew what the disciples were thinking, He just wanted the disciples to really think and meditate. Of course Jesus knew what others say about Him, but when Peter answered that Jesus is the ‘Christ’, Jesus wared them not to tell.

At the time, Jewish people were ruled under the Roman Government, they were oppressed by the Romans and they wanted to revive their nation. They were longing for a leader to help them and to save them. But God’s salvation plan is way bigger than what they want! They just want their nation back, but God is saving all people from this evil world! Jesus told the disciples not to tell others Who He really is, because He knew they could not yet understand it.

Do we really know Who Jesus is? We only want the problems in front of us to be solved, but we cannot see the eternal plan God has for our lives. We are afraid of letting go of what we hold onto, because we don’t really believe in what Jesus can do! Jesus knew His job was not to take back the Kingdom of Judah, He knew that His disciples could not yet understand the meaning of the Christ. Do we know the meaning of the Christ in our lives? We must first be healed and let our eyes be opened, to see the Lord is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

V31-33 Be Disciplined Be Trained 被教訓被試煉

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’”

『從此，他教訓他們說：「人子必須受許多的苦，被長老、祭司長和文士棄絕，並且被殺，過三天復活。」 耶穌明明地說這話，彼得就拉著他，勸他。 耶穌轉過來，看著門徒，就責備彼得，說：「撒旦，退我後邊去吧！因為你不體貼神的意思，只體貼人的意思。」』

Jesus was not afraid of giving teaching and disciplines to those who are following Him and listening to Him. He knew what He was sent to do, to bring the Truth to all people. What is our roles as Christians, do we also give teaching and tell the truth to people? Or do we try to please others and try to say things that others like to hear? When we really live out the life of God, the world will tempt us, and lure us into its trap. Jesus knew Satan was tempting Him, so He rebuke Satan by discipling Peter. Jesus was not only talk to Peter but also to all the disciples, because He knew that was what all the disciples were thinking.

Jesus was rebuking the spirit of temptation that’s behind Peter. He knew Satan’s evil schemes, for the disciples not to agree with Jesus and not to follow Jesus. Jesus knew He would go on the cross, and He could not let anything stop Him accomplishing the Will of God. When we face trials and temptations, what is our attitude? We may feel tired, we want to give up, we make assumption, and we think it’s ok… But only when we are being trained then we will know if we are really walking in the Way of God.

V34-38 To Choose To Self-Deny 要選擇要捨己

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.’”

『於是叫眾人和門徒來，對他們說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。 因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了生命。 人就是賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有什麼益處呢？人還能拿什麼換生命呢？凡在這淫亂罪惡的世代，把我和我的道當做可恥的，人子在他父的榮耀裡同聖天使降臨的時候，也要把那人當做可恥的。」』

The path of following Jesus is a lifetime journey, we must continue to deny ourselves throughout our lives, as long as we live on this world, we will always be tempted by this world. What we must do is always making choices to come back to the Way of God, and to deny ourselves, to stop trying to save ourselves, but to really follow the Will of God. We all want to receive, we use our time, our energy, our money, trying to take this world, but what is the benefit of all this?