大斋节一

我原是为这时候来的

——约翰福音十二章廿七节

    面对救赎人类的十架苦杯，主曾求父“将这杯撤去”；但主又说：“然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”

面对因背负世人罪孽被神离弃的极其痛苦的时刻，主曾求父：“倘若可行，便叫那时候过去”，但主又说：“我原是为这时候来的”。

人生难得几度拼搏。一生当中，总有需要我们付出某些代价，甚至付出高昂代价的时刻。我们的祷告是：“叫那时候过去”，抑或“我原是为这时候来的”？

作为神羔羊的主啊，求你拯救我们脱离客西马尼园的苦楚与挣扎，使我们跟随你到各各他山的十字架下！

注：复活节前四十天为大斋节，用于忏悔、默想、反思。

Lent 1

John 12:27

For this purpose I have come to this hour

  The bitter cup of humankind’s redemption through his death on the cross was before him. Jesus asked: “Take this cup from me.” But he also said, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

In the moment when he faced the extreme suffering of being forsaken by God due to the sins of the world, Jesus begged: “If it is possible let this pass.” But he also said, “For this purpose I have come to this hour.”

How precious are the struggles we encounter in this life. There inevitably comes a time when we too must pay some price, even the ultimate price.

When that time comes, will our prayer be, “Let this moment pass?” Or will it be, “For this purpose I have come to this hour?”

O Jesus, Lamb of God, save us from the struggles and bitterness of Gethsemane. But also enable us to follow you to the foot of the cross on Golgotha!