“〔耶和华〕披上亮光,如披外袍。” - 诗 104:2
有些人害怕黑暗,谁晓得会有什么东西藏在拐角或楼梯下面呢?圣经中第一页的创世记说,世界是一个黑暗和可怕的地方,谁晓得有什么躲藏在见不到的深渊中呢?神接着说:“要有光”,黑暗便即刻不再逞强了(创世记 1:3-4)。
从创世记 1章到启示录 22章,圣经一直在说明光与神的密切关系。在启示录 22章,我们看到新耶路撒冷的居民不需要点灯,甚至不需要日光,因为“主神要光照他们”(启示录 22:5)。
耶稣登山变像的故事,显明了神与光的关连。衪的脸面明亮“如日头”,衪的衣裳“洁白如光”(马太福音 17:2)。真是令人惊讶的景象!
福音书的作者们尝试从几个不同的角度来解答“耶稣是谁?”这个问题。神“披上亮光,如披外袍”(诗篇 104:2),耶稣明亮的面容清楚地表明衪就是神。
这个世界有时仍然会是一个黑暗和可怕的地方 - 不单是在黑夜才会这样。然而,这里有好的消息,无论何时,当有耶稣的光照亮时,黑暗便不能逞强了,衪的光帮助我们不再惧怕。
祷告
主耶稣,求你照亮整个世界!求你照亮黑暗的角落,并驱除阴暗。求你照亮困惑的心灵,又救我们摆脱恐惧。阿们。
马太福音17:1-8
1过了六天,耶稣带着彼得、雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰暗暗地上了高山,
2就在他们面前变了形象,脸面明亮如日头,衣裳洁白如光。
3忽然,有摩西、以利亚向他们显现,同耶稣说话。
4彼得对耶稣说:“主啊,我们在这里真好!你若愿意,我就在这里搭三座棚:一座为你,一座为摩西,一座为以利亚。”
5说话之间,忽然有一朵光明的云彩遮盖他们,且有声音从云彩里出来说:“这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的,你们要听他!”
6门徒听见,就俯伏在地,极其害怕。
7耶稣进前来,摸他们说:“起来,不要害怕!”
8他们举目不见一人,只见耶稣在那里。
Jesus Shines
"The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment." - Psalm 104:2
Some people are afraid of the dark. Who knows what's hiding around the corner or down the stairs? On the Bible's first page in Genesis 1, the world is a dark and scary place. Who knows what's hiding in the unseen depths? Then God says, "Let there be light," and puts darkness in its place (Genesis 1:3-4).
From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, the Bible connects light closely with God. In Revelation 22, we learn that residents of the New Jerusalem won't need lamps or even the sun because "the Lord God will give them light" (Revelation 22:5).
This connection between God and light shows up in the story of Jesus when a mysterious event changes his appearance. His face shines "like the sun," and his clothes become "as white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). Amazing!
From multiple angles, the gospel writers seek to answer the question "Who is Jesus?" His shining appearance sends a bright signal that Jesus is God, who "wraps himself in light as with a garment" (Psalm 104:2).
The world can still be a dark and scary place—and not just at night. But here's some good news. Wherever the light of Jesus shines, it puts darkness in its place. And it helps us not to be afraid.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, shine all over the world! Shine in dark corners, and chase shadows away. Shine in troubled hearts, and set us free from fear. Amen.