4 月 17 日 预苦期圣周 濯足节 星期四

(陈喜瑞传道 谢恩堂)

经文-约翰福音 12:1-11

12 逾越节前六日，耶稣来到伯大尼，就是他叫拉撒路从死里复活之处。 2 有人在那里给耶稣预备筵席，马大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶稣坐席的人中。 3 马利亚就拿着一斤极贵的真哪哒香膏，抹耶稣的脚，又用自己的头发去擦，屋里就满了膏的香气。 4 有一个门徒，就是那将要卖耶稣的加略人犹大， 5 说：“这香膏为什么不卖三十两银子周济穷人呢？” 6 他说这话，并不是挂念穷人，乃因他是个贼，又带着钱囊，常取其中所存的。 7 耶稣说：“由她吧！她是为我安葬之日存留的。 8 因为常有穷人和你们同在，只是你们不常有我。”9 有许多犹太人知道耶稣在那里，就来了，不但是为耶稣的缘故，也是要看他从死里所复活的拉撒路。 10 但祭司长商议连拉撒路也要杀了， 11 因有好些犹太人为拉撒路的缘故，回去信了耶稣。

经文反思

记得，当时，主耶稣基督还清清楚楚地说：“由她吧！为什么难为她呢？她在我身上作的是一件美事。”甚至主耶稣基督还语重心长地提醒我们：“我实在告诉你们：普天之下，无论在什么地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的以为纪念。”（可 14：6、9）是啊！ “因为常有穷人和你们同在，只是你们不常有我。”两千过去了，今天的我们是多么羡慕当年马利亚可以有这样的亲近主，服事主啊！那真的是多么美的事啊！

祷告

主耶稣基督啊！我们知道您一无所缺，但是，原来我们如果愿意为您做点什么的话，如果我们愿意为您献上什么的话，您居然看为美事！我们愿意更多明白您的心意，在您的心意里为您多献上，多付出，让您看为美事！阿们！

应用

今天我们与其一直羡慕马利亚当年可以有机会为主耶稣基督作一件美事，还不如透过主耶稣基督的教导，更多学习明白主耶稣基督的心意，更多操练爱神爱人，为主耶稣基督，为父神所爱的儿 女，多做些美事！

17 April Maundy Thursday

(Ps Cyril Chen Camberwell Methodist Church)

Scripture - John 12:1–11

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Reflections on the Scripture

Remember, at that time, the Lord Jesus Christ clearly said, "Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me." He even solemnly reminded us, saying, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." (Mark 14:6, 9) Indeed! "The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime, but you will not always have me." Two thousand years have passed, and how much we, today, long to be as close to the Lord as Mary was, serving Him in such a beautiful way!

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we know that You are lacking nothing, yet when we choose to do something for You, when we offer something to You, You consider it a beautiful thing! We long to understand Your heart more and, in alignment with Your will, to offer and give more, so that You may see it as a beautiful thing! Amen!

Applications

Rather than merely longing for the opportunity that Mary had to do a beautiful thing for Jesus, let us, through His teachings, seek to understand His heart more deeply. Let us practice loving God and loving others, doing beautiful things as beloved children of the Father, for the glory of Jesus Christ.