耶穌對自己身份的認知 Jesus' Understanding of His Own Identities
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Submitted by admin on Sat, 10/06/2012 - 16:15
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耶穌對自己身份的認知
一個人的自我認知在於瞭解自己的身份(Identity)，以及隨這身份所賦予的工作、責任、義務、和權利。當認知錯置，小則無法完成自己應有的工作使命；大則枉費生命時間，更帶給自己與別人極大的傷害。
耶穌走遍各城各鄉，在會堂教訓人，宣講天國的福音，又醫治各樣的病症。當時，眾人所最想知道的是耶穌的身份。雖有人說他是施洗約翰；有人說是以利亞；又有人說是耶利米或是先知裏的一位。但最終還是如大祭司該亞法，想知道：「我指著永生神叫你起誓告訴我們，你是 神的兒子基督不是？」耶穌對他說：「你說的是。」神的兒子在天上有至高無比的尊榮；基督是 神的受膏者，是 神在地上為祂的子民所立的君王。這兩個身份都具備最崇高的地位，擁有最大的權能，但耶稣自己如何看待這兩個身份呢？
在凱撒利亞腓立比的境內，耶穌問門徒說：「人說我──人子是誰？」西門彼得最後回答說：「你是基督，是永生 神的兒子。」這是耶穌首次承認、接受門徒認他為基督，但當下，他囑咐門徒，不可對人說他是基督。反而是在那時刻，耶穌開始指示門徒，他必須上耶路撒冷去，受長老、祭司長、文士許多的苦，並且被殺，第三日復活。彼得馬上想阻擋耶穌受苦受害，但耶穌也隨即教導門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我…。」耶穌對「基督」這尊貴身份的認知，不在於他應擁有的地位、權柄、榮耀；卻在於為拯救世人所必須受的凌辱、苦難、甚至捨去自己的生命。（太16:13-25）
緊接著，在變貌山上，耶穌正禱告的時候，他的面貌就改變了，衣服潔白放光。忽然有摩西、以利亞兩個人同耶穌說話；他們在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將成的事。後來有聲音從雲彩裏出來，説：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的，你們要聽他。」當時雖在肉身，但耶穌變成天上的形像，有無比的榮耀，臉面明亮如日頭，衣服潔白如光；天父也出聲宣告：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」但在榮光與天父的愛語中，耶穌與摩西、以利亞所談論的卻是他在耶路撒冷將被藐視、被凌辱、承受最殘酷、最痛苦的十字架上之死。耶穌對「神的兒子」這天上榮耀身份的認定，不是徒享天父所有的稱讚與榮耀，而是完成天父交付的使命：經羞辱成就榮耀；背惡名成就美名；擔負憂愁成就永遠的喜樂；入死亡成就活命。(路9:28-36)
對眾人耶穌說：「我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。」牧人不是因被託付帶領群羊，即可轄制他們；不是因被賦予牧人之身份，即自高自大。耶穌對好牧人的認知是：顧念保護羊，免於狼的撕裂攻擊；走在羊前，作群羊的榜樣；體恤憐憫羊，真心的認識羊，羊也認識他；引領羊出入得草吃，叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。但最基本、最直接、最親密的卻是「為羊捨命」。以自己的生命保護愛惜群羊。(約:10:7-18)
與門徒相聚的最後時刻，耶穌說：「我是你們的主，你們的夫子，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。」耶穌是萬物之主，有權柄能力，他醫治人的病痛，風和海都聽從他，他用權柄吩咐污鬼，連污鬼也聽從了他。他也是一切智慧的源頭，充充滿滿地帶給我們真理，他的教訓帶有生命與權柄。他是主，他是夫子，他不要求門徒尊敬服事他。反倒自己卑微作僕人的樣式，洗門徒的腳，服事眾人。
這就是耶穌的一生，他知道自己是基督、是 神的兒子、是萬物之主、是夫子。但他不追求計較這些尊貴身份所賦予的權利與榮耀，只一心一意甘願受苦、謙卑服事，完成這些身份帶來的使命。他更直接堅決的宣告：「我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。」
使徒教會時期使徒們的自我認知：
「作耶穌基督僕人和使徒的西門彼得寫信給…….」(彼後1:1)。
「作 神和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各……」(雅1:1)。
「耶穌基督的啟示，就是神賜給他，叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰…..」(啟1:1) 「我約翰就是你們的弟兄，和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐一同有分…..」(啟1:9)。
「耶穌基督的僕人保羅，奉召為使徒，特派傳 神的福音…」(羅1:1)。
使徒教會的柱石，彼得、雅各、和約翰三位德高望眾的長老，在寫信給眾教會時，只自認自稱「耶穌基督的僕人」、「你們的弟兄」。保羅在工作晚期，雖然他已完成許多美好的工作，但當他將自己介紹給從未見過面的羅馬教會時，仍只自認自稱「耶穌基督的僕人」。
很久很久了，當時的聯總總負責訪問我所居住的地方的教會，被安排住在我家。安息日上午，一過八點鐘，他即頻頻看錶。最後他忍不住問我，是否有會堂的鑰匙，希望我馬上載他去會堂。到了會堂，下車、開門、我正忙著開窗；一轉頭，他已拿出掃帚，在掃庭院的落葉雜草。只回我一句話：「弟兄姊妹安息日來聚會，要有乾淨清爽的環境。」
當今：
1. 有一教會，當時只有一位執事。負責人會改選時，因他平日言行未能被多數信徒所認同肯定，所以沒有被選為教務負責。於是大發雷霆，指責信徒：「我被立為執事是假的嗎?」他以為自己是唯一的執事，所以理所當然應該是教會的主席教務負責人。
2. 有一位弟兄來訪問教會，因職務的關係在聚會後介紹他給會眾:「我們歡迎○○教會來訪的○弟兄。」他馬上舉手大聲糾正：「是○執事。」
3. 有一次，陪坐在一位患病的姊妹床邊，一群信徒隨後也來探訪。見一位熟識的弟兄，於是將他介紹給病人：「感謝 神！○○弟兄和許多弟兄姊妹來看妳！」他抬眼看著我說：「我最近已經被按立為長老！」
4. 近聞，聯總總負責曾對同工宣示：「我若不能處理楊傳道，怎能作聯總總負責帶領IA？」
5. 更近聞，台總一位負責人新近被按立長老時，指定要求聯總總負責蒞臨他所屬的教會，為他按立。聯總總負責也遵照辦理。
……
耶穌立下好榜樣，使徒效法耶穌。雖然在神的救贖經綸被賦予貴重的身份，但他們念茲在茲的不是這身份的名位或權利，反倒堅守在 神面前的本份，自稱自認為僕人，忠心服事 神，為傳揚福音與照顧主羊奔波、受苦、甚至捨命。
但我們卻似乎與主的榜樣、訓誨，越離越遠。將 神家中的身份當作權位，所想的盡是因這身份應得的尊重與榮耀；甚至以為此身份可依人授予，忘了基督才是教會的頭。所有一切恩賜都是聖靈所運行，依照神的旨意所賜與；所有信徒(不論有無身份、職稱)均是各為肢體。尤其是「在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。」
天國本應是充滿歡喜快樂之處，主耶穌與眾聖徒應是充滿盼望，期待我們。只深怕我們的作為卻讓他們滴下在天國的眼淚！
Jesus’ Understanding of His Own Identities….
Self-Recognition means that a person understands his own
identity and the missions, the responsibilities, the obligations and the rights attached to this identity. One will not be able to accomplish his goals in life if he misplaces the priority these items for the identity. Furthermore, the misplacement may not only cause him the waste of his time and life, but brings great harm to himself and the others.
In his life, Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. At that time, most of the people wanted to know who Jesus was, his identity. Though some said he was John the Baptist, other said Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets, the ultimate question was asked by Caiaphas the high priest, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Then Jesus said to him, “You have said so.” The Son of God acquires the highest glory in heaven. The Christ is the anointed of God, he is the king established by God on earth. These two identities possess high position and great power and authority. But how did Jesus see himself in these two identities?
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” After several different answers, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was the first time that Jesus admitted to his disciples that he was the Christ. Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. And he began to show them that he must go to Jerusalem and suffered many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Peter then tried to stop Jesus from going to suffer these tribulations. But Jesus told his disciple immediately, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…” The way Jesus saw his noble identity as the Christ was not the position, the power, the authority and the glory in this title; but the tribulations, the sufferings and even the sacrifice of his own life in order to accomplish his mission and to save the people. (Mt 16:13-25)
Afterward, one day Jesus took his disciples and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And Moses and Elijah also appeared in glory and talked with him. They spoke of Jesus’ departure, which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Though Jesus was in flesh at that time, he was transfigured into the heavenly figure in great glory. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. The Heavenly Father proclaimed, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” In such a glorious state and amid such a loving voice of Heavenly Father, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talked about the despites, the tribulations, and the most cruel and painful death that Jesus was to suffer in Jerusalem. The understanding that Jesus had for his identity as “the Son of God” was not to enjoy the praises and glory with Heavenly Father, but to accomplish the mission entrusted to him. He had to suffer the despite in order to accomplish the glory; to bear the ill repute in order to gain the good repute; to shoulder the painful sorrows in order to reach the everlasting joy; to enter the death in order to have life eternally. (Lk 9:28-36)
To the multitude Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” The shepherd” was the identity that Jesus designated for himself in term of his relation with the people. However, the flock was not entrusted to the shepherd for him to domineer over them; nor does the shepherd a title to be boastful. In Jesus’ understanding the shepherd cares and protects the sheep from the snatches and the attacks of the wolf. The shepherd walks in front of the sheep, to be their good leading examples. He shepherd loves and has compassion toward the sheep; he sincerely understands his sheep and they know him, too. The good shepherd always leads the sheep to the green pasture, so that the sheep will have life and have it abundantly. But the most basic, direct and intimate way for a shepherd to love his sheep is to lay down his life for them. He will love and protect his sheep with his own life. (Jn 10:7-18)
During the last night with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” “The Lord and The Teacher” were the identities that Jesus designated for himself in term of his relation with the disciples. Jesus is the Lord of all creations with power and authority. He heals all infirmities; the wind and the sea obey him; he casts out demons only with a word. He is also the source of all wisdoms; he comes to us full of truth; his teaching is with authority and life. Yes, he is the Lord and the Teacher, but he does not ask for respect and serving from his disciples. On the contrary, he humbled himself and took the form of the servant to wash the feet of his disciples and to serve them.
So, this is the life of Jesus. He knew that he was the Christ, the Son of God, the Lord and the Teacher. But he did not pursue the glory and the authority attached to these noble identities. He devoted himself totally to accomplish the mission and the responsibilities brought to him with these identities. He was willing to suffer, humble to serve. But the utmost determination and realization of his life was that “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.”
The understandings of the apostles about their identities:
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ…” (2 Pet 1:1)
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ….” (Jas 1:1)
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place; and he made known by sending his angel to his servant John….I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance…” (Rev 1:1, 9)
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle…” (Rom 1:1)
Peter, James, and John, the pillars of the Apostolic Church, only recognized themselves as “the servant of Jesus Christ” and “your brother” when they wrote letters to the churches, though they were well respected and followed as the elders in the church. At the closing moment of his mission, Paul also only recognized himself as “the servant of Jesus Christ” when he wrote the letter to the church in Rome which he had never met before, though he actually had accomplished many great works for the Lord.
Long time ago, the chairman of IA at that time came to visit the church at the city where I dwelled. The church arranged him to stay in my house. It was the morning on the Sabbath Day, he became restless after 8:00 a.m. and kept watching the clock. Finally, he asked me if I had the key to the chapel and wanted me to take him to the chapel immediately. After arriving at the chapel, I was busy in opening the door and the windows. Then I turned around to look for him, he had taken out the broom and started to sweep the court yard. He looked back at me and just said, “The brothers and sisters shall have a clean place when they come to worship God.”
Present:
#1
There was a church with only one ordained deacon. Due to his unseemly deeds in his daily life, he was not elected as the Religious Affair Officer in the general election. He was so angry that he yelled aloud to the believers and said, “Was my ordination as a deacon a fake?” He thought that he must be the chairman and the Religious Affair Officer automatically, because he was the only deacon there.
#2
A brother came to visit the church where I attended the service. I was assigned to introduce him to the congregation after the service, “We welcome Brother X from XX to be with us today.” He immediately raised his hand and announced loudly, “It should be Deacon X.”
#3
I went to visit an elder sister in the hospital and sit by her bed. Then a group of church brethren came into the room. Among them, there was one brother I knew. So I was obligated to tell the sister, “We thank God that Brother X and many brethren from the church come to see you.” He raised his head and stared at me and said, “I have been ordained as an elder recently.”
#4
It was told that the current IA chairman once told his colleagues, “If I cannot deal with YM’s matter, how can I lead the churches around the world as the IA Chairman?”
#5
More recently, it was told that a certain standing committee member in Taiwan GA designated and asked the current IA Chairman to go to his church to perform the ordination ceremony for him when he was ordained as an elder. The Chairman complied.
Jesus has set a good example and the apostles have followed. Though they were given a noble identity in the mission of God’s salvation, they never set their minds in pursuing any power or authority attached to this identity. On the contrary, they insisted their basic status in the presence of God: they recognized and called themselves the “servant”. What was really in their mind were to serve God faithfully, to preach the gospel, and to love and to care for God’s sheep. They toiled, suffered, and even gave up their life for God.
It seemed that we are further and further away from the example set by Jesus and His teachings. We take the identities in the church as a position with power and authority. We only desire the respect and the glory coming along with these identities. Some even think that these identities can be handed down personally. We seemed to forget that Jesus Christ is the head of the church; and all the gifts are inspired by the Holy Spirit and they are distributed and given according to God’s own will. All believers, regardless of the common believers or the ordained officers, are the members of the body of Christ. We seem forget what Jesus said that whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
Heaven is a place full of joy and happiness. Jesus and all the saints are waiting for us with great hope and expectation. But I am afraid that with what we are doing now, it may make them shed tears in heaven!