“我是你们的主,你们的夫子,尚且洗你们的脚,你们也当彼此洗脚。我给你们作了榜样…” - 约 13:14-15
几天前(6月19日),我们默想了哥林多前书第13章,其中描绘了耶稣呼召我们靠之生活的美好的爱。这是一种忍耐、恩慈、不嫉妒、不自夸、不张狂的爱。我们以谦卑、满有恩慈的行动和服事来彰显这种爱。
耶稣在给门徒洗脚时就显明这种爱。《约翰福音》第13章向我们讲述了这件事。耶稣穿戴得像个仆人,把毛巾束在腰上,蹲下来。门徒们对耶稣这样的做法感到有些尴尬。但祂解释说,一个美好的生命需要从祂那里接受这种仆人式的爱,再去与他人分享。
这是耶稣在《圣经》中给我们的关于如何效法祂榜样的最直接的命令之一。虽然给人洗脚可能不是我们当今文化的一部份,但还有许多其他的方式可以表达这种服事他人的爱:我们可以倾听;可以为他人辩护;可以分享我们的时间和恩赐。我们可以向各地的人彰显基督那谦卑的爱,可以鼓励人们向他人显明基督的爱。这样一来,基督的爱就可以传播到各地,并改变世界!
祷告
耶稣,我们仆人式的君王,我们何等感谢你向我们显明你那谦卑的爱。求赐给我们谦卑的心,使我们能接受你的这种爱,并与各地的人分享你的爱。奉你的名祷告,阿们。
约翰福音 13:1-17
1逾越节以前,耶稣知道自己离世归父的时候到了。他既然爱世间属自己的人,就爱他们到底。
2吃晚饭的时候——魔鬼已将卖耶稣的意思放在西门的儿子加略人犹大心里——
3耶稣知道父已将万有交在他手里,且知道自己是从神出来的,又要归到神那里去,
4就离席站起来,脱了衣服,拿一条手巾束腰。
5随后把水倒在盆里,就洗门徒的脚,并用自己所束的手巾擦干。
6挨到西门彼得,彼得对他说:“主啊,你洗我的脚吗?”
7耶稣回答说:“我所做的,你如今不知道,后来必明白。”
8彼得说:“你永不可洗我的脚!”耶稣说:“我若不洗你,你就与我无份了。”
9西门彼得说:“主啊,不但我的脚,连手和头也要洗!”
10耶稣说:“凡洗过澡的人,只要把脚一洗,全身就干净了。你们是干净的,然而不都是干净的。”
11耶稣原知道要卖他的是谁,所以说“你们不都是干净的”。
12耶稣洗完了他们的脚,就穿上衣服,又坐下,对他们说:“我向你们所做的,你们明白吗?
13你们称呼我夫子,称呼我主,你们说的不错,我本来是。
14我是你们的主、你们的夫子,尚且洗你们的脚,你们也当彼此洗脚。
15我给你们做了榜样,叫你们照着我向你们所做的去做。
16我实实在在地告诉你们:仆人不能大于主人,差人也不能大于差他的人。
17你们既知道这事,若是去行就有福了。
The Service Of Love
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example. . . ." - John 13:14-15
A few days ago (June 19) we reflected on 1 Corinthians 13, which gives a picture of the beautiful love that Jesus calls us to live by. It's a love that is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud. We show this kind of love in humility and with acts of kindness and service.
Jesus showed this kind of love when he washed his disciples' feet. John 13 tells us about it. Jesus dressed himself like a servant, wrapping a towel around his waist and getting down on the floor. The disciples felt embarrassed that Jesus would do such a thing. But he explained that a beautiful life consists of receiving this kind of servant-love from him and then sharing it with others.
This is one of the most direct commands that Jesus gives us in the Bible about how to follow his example. Though washing people's feet may not be a part of our culture today, there are many other ways to serve people with the love of Christ. We can listen to them; we can advocate for them; we can share our time and gifts. We can show people everywhere the humble love of Christ, and we can encourage them to show Christ's love to others. In this way the love of Christ can spread everywhere and transform the world!
Prayer
Jesus, our servant-King, we are so grateful for the humble love you have shown to us. Give us the humility to receive this love from you and to share it with others everywhere. In your name, Amen.