11 月 30 日安息日下午
存心节：
“任何时候都没有人见过上帝；父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。 KJV — 约翰福音 1:18
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. KJV — John 1:18
“耶稣带着贫穷和屈辱而来，为的是成为我们的榜样，也成为我们的救赎主。如果他以君王般的盛况出现，他怎么能教导人谦卑呢？他怎么能像登山宝训那样提出如此尖锐的真理呢？如果耶稣以君王的身份居住在人间，那么卑微的人还有什么希望呢？ DA 138.1
然而，对于大众来说，约翰指定的那一位似乎不可能与他们的崇高期望联系在一起。因此，许多人感到失望，并且非常困惑。 DA 138.2
“祭司和拉比们非常想听到的耶稣现在要恢复以色列王国的话，却没有说出来。他们一直在等待和注视这样一位国王。他们已经准备好迎接这样一位国王了。但如果有人试图在他们心中建立一个正义与和平的国度，他们就不会接受。” DA 138.3
“想到他给人类带来的宝贵祝福，耶稣补充说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，从今以后，你们要看见天开了，上帝的使者在人子身上上去下来。 DA 142.3
“基督在这里实际上是说，在约旦河岸，天开了，圣灵像鸽子一样降在我身上。那一幕只是我是神的儿子的象征。如果你这样相信我，你的信心就会被激发。你将会看到天堂是敞开的，并且永远不会关闭。我已经向你打开了。上帝的天使正在上升，承载着有需要和痛苦的人向天父的祈祷，也正在下降，为人类之子带来祝福和希望、勇气、帮助和生命。” DA 142.4
“Jesus came in poverty and humiliation, that He might be our example as well as our Redeemer. If He had appeared with kingly pomp, how could He have taught humility? how could He have presented such cutting truths as in the Sermon on the Mount? Where would have been the hope of the lowly in life had Jesus come to dwell as a king among men? DA 138.1
“To the multitude, however, it seemed impossible that the One designated by John should be associated with their lofty anticipations. Thus many were disappointed, and greatly perplexed. DA 138.2
“The words which the priests and rabbis so much desired to hear, that Jesus would now restore the kingdom to Israel, had not been spoken. For such a king they had been waiting and watching; such a king they were ready to receive. But one who sought to establish in their hearts a kingdom of righteousness and peace, they would not accept.” DA 138.3
“At thought of the precious blessings He had brought to men, Jesus added, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” DA 142.3
“Here Christ virtually says, On the bank of the Jordan the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove upon Me. That scene was but a token that I am the Son of God. If you believe on Me as such, your faith shall be quickened. You shall see that the heavens are opened, and are never to be closed. I have opened them to you. The angels of God are ascending, bearing the prayers of the needy and distressed to the Father above, and descending, bringing blessing and hope, courage, help, and life, to the children of men.” DA 142.4
12 月 1 日，星期日
我给你们做了榜样
阅读约翰福音 13：1-20。这里发生了什么，为什么这个故事如此重要？耶稣想要教导什么教训？
Read John 13:1–20. What happened here, and why is this story so important? What lessons did Jesus seek to teach?
“门徒们并没有采取互相服务的行动。耶稣等待一段时间，看看他们会做什么。然后他，这位神圣的导师，从桌子上站了起来。他脱下妨碍行动的外衣，拿了一条毛巾，束上腰带。门徒们带着惊讶的兴趣观看着，默默地等待着接下来发生的事情。 「然后，耶稣把水倒在盆里，就洗门徒的脚，并用自己所束的手巾擦干。」这一举动，让弟子们大开眼界。痛苦的耻辱和屈辱充满了他们的心。他们理解了这种无声的责备，并以全新的眼光看待自己。 DA 644.4
“所以基督表达了他对门徒的爱。他们自私的精神使祂充满悲伤，但祂并没有就他们的困难与他们争论。相反，他给了他们一个他们永远不会忘记的榜样。他对他们的爱不容易被打扰或浇灭。他知道父已将万有交在他手里，他也从神而来，又到神那里去。他对自己的神性有充分的认识；但他却脱下了王冠和王袍，取了仆人的形象。他在世上最后的行动之一就是以仆人的身份束腰，履行仆人的职责。” DA 644.5
“逾越节之前，犹大第二次与祭司和文士会面，并签订了将耶稣交到他们手中的契约。但后来他又像无辜者一样与门徒们混在一起，并且对准备筵席的工作很感兴趣。门徒们对犹大的目的一无所知。只有耶稣才能读懂他的秘密。然而神并没有揭发他。耶稣渴求他的灵魂。当他为这座注定要灭亡的城市哭泣时，他对他的感觉就像对耶路撒冷一样。他的心在哭泣，我怎能放弃你？犹大感受到了这种爱的约束力。当救主的手洗净那双脏脚，并用毛巾擦干时，犹大的心因当时就承认自己的罪的冲动而激动不已。但他不会谦卑自己。他硬着心不肯悔改；旧有的冲动暂时搁置一旁，又再次控制了他。犹大现在对基督为门徒洗脚的行为感到愤怒。他想，如果耶稣能够如此谦卑自己，他就不可能成为以色列的王。在世俗王国中所有世俗荣誉的希望都被摧毁了。犹大很满意，因为跟随基督不会有任何收获。在看到他如他所想的那样贬低自己之后，他更加坚定了与他不认的目的，并承认自己被欺骗了。他被恶魔附身，他决心完成他答应的背叛他的主的工作。 DA 645.1
“犹大在选择自己在餐桌上的位置时，试图把自己放在第一位，而基督作为仆人首先服侍他。犹大对约翰怀有极大的怨恨，但他却被留到了最后。但约翰并没有将此视为责备或轻视。当门徒们观看基督的行动时，他们非常感动。当轮到彼得时，他惊奇地喊道：“主啊，你洗我的脚吗？”基督的屈尊让他心碎。想到其中一个门徒没有履行这项服务，他感到非常羞愧。基督说：“我所做的，你现在不知道；但你以后就会知道了。”彼得不忍心看到他相信是神的儿子的主却扮演仆人的角色。他的整个灵魂都奋起反抗这种屈辱。他没有意识到基督就是为此来到世上的。他非常强调地喊道：“你永远不能洗我的脚。” DA 645.2
基督郑重地对彼得说：“我若不洗你，你就与我无份了。”彼得拒绝的服务是一种更高层次的洁净。基督来是为了洗净人心中罪的污点。彼得拒绝让基督洗他的脚，就是拒绝包含在低级洁净中的高级洁净。他确实在拒绝他的主。让主为我们的净化而工作并不是对他的羞辱。最真实的谦卑就是怀着感恩的心接受为我们所做的任何准备，并真诚地为基督服务。” DA 646.1
“The disciples made no move toward serving one another. Jesus waited for a time to see what they would do. Then He, the divine Teacher, rose from the table. Laying aside the outer garment that would have impeded His movements, He took a towel, and girded Himself. With surprised interest the disciples looked on, and in silence waited to see what was to follow. “After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.” This action opened the eyes of the disciples. Bitter shame and humiliation filled their hearts. They understood the unspoken rebuke, and saw themselves in altogether a new light. DA 644.4
“So Christ expressed His love for His disciples. Their selfish spirit filled Him with sorrow, but He entered into no controversy with them regarding their difficulty. Instead He gave them an example they would never forget. His love for them was not easily disturbed or quenched. He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and went to God. He had a full consciousness of His divinity; but He had laid aside His royal crown and kingly robes, and had taken the form of a servant. One of the last acts of His life on earth was to gird Himself as a servant, and perform a servant's part.” DA 644.5
“Before the Passover Judas had met a second time with the priests and scribes, and had closed the contract to deliver Jesus into their hands. Yet he afterward mingled with the disciples as though innocent of any wrong, and interested in the work of preparing for the feast. The disciples knew nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. He felt for him such a burden as for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city. His heart was crying, How can I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Saviour's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again controlled him. Judas was now offended at Christ's act in washing the feet of His disciples. If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be Israel's king. All hope of worldly honor in a temporal kingdom was destroyed. Judas was satisfied that there was nothing to be gained by following Christ. After seeing Him degrade Himself, as he thought, he was confirmed in his purpose to disown Him, and confess himself deceived. He was possessed by a demon, and he resolved to complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying his Lord. DA 645.1
“Judas, in choosing his position at table, had tried to place himself first, and Christ as a servant served him first. John, toward whom Judas had felt so much bitterness, was left till the last. But John did not take this as a rebuke or slight. As the disciples watched Christ's action, they were greatly moved. When Peter's turn came, he exclaimed with astonishment, “Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?” Christ's condescension broke his heart. He was filled with shame to think that one of the disciples was not performing this service. “What I do,” Christ said, “thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” Peter could not bear to see his Lord, whom he believed to be the Son of God, acting the part of a servant. His whole soul rose up against this humiliation. He did not realize that for this Christ came into the world. With great emphasis he exclaimed, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” DA 645.2
“Solemnly Christ said to Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me.” The service which Peter refused was the type of a higher cleansing. Christ had come to wash the heart from the stain of sin. In refusing to allow Christ to wash his feet, Peter was refusing the higher cleansing included in the lower. He was really rejecting his Lord. It is not humiliating to the Master to allow Him to work for our purification. The truest humility is to receive with thankful heart any provision made in our behalf, and with earnestness do service for Christ.” DA 646.1
12 月 2 日星期一
我必再来
阅读约翰福音 14：1-3。耶稣是在什么背景下说这些话的？
Read John 14:1–3. In what context did Jesus say these words?
“然后用可爱的词称呼他们，‘小孩子们，’他说，‘还有一会儿我和你们在一起。你们要寻求我，正如我对犹太人所说的，我所去的地方，你们不能去；所以现在我对你说。” DA 662.2
“门徒听见这话，心里不高兴。恐惧降临在他们身上。他们紧紧围绕着救主。他们的师父和主，他们敬爱的老师和朋友，他对他们来说比生命还珍贵。他们在一切困难中向他寻求帮助，在悲伤和失望中向他寻求安慰。现在他要离开他们，这群孤独、依赖的同伴。他们心中充满了阴暗的预感。 DA 662.3
“但是救主对他们说的话充满了希望。他知道他们会受到仇敌的攻击，而撒但的诡计最能成功地对付那些因困难而沮丧的人。因此，他指示他们远离“所见的事”，转向“所看不见的事”。哥林多后书 4:18。他将他们的思绪从地上的流放转向天上的家。 DA 662.4
“‘你心里不要忧愁，’他说； ‘你们信神，也信我。在我父的家里有许多宅邸：如果不是这样，我早就告诉你们了。我去给你准备地方。如果我去为你们预备了地方，我就会再来接你们到我那里去。我在哪里，你们也在那里。我去哪里你们都知道，我走的路你们也知道。为了你们，我来到了这个世界。我正在为你工作。当我离开后，我仍然会认真地为你工作。我来到世上是为了向你们显现我自己，以便你们可以相信。我到天父那里去，为你与他合作。基督离开的目的与门徒所担心的相反。这并不意味着最终的分离。祂要为他们预备地方，以便祂再来接他们归祂自己。当他为他们建造大厦时，他们也要按照神圣的样式塑造品格。” DA 663.1
“Then addressing them by the endearing term, “Little children,” He said, “Yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.” DA 662.2
“The disciples could not rejoice when they heard this. Fear fell upon them. They pressed close about the Saviour. Their Master and Lord, their beloved Teacher and Friend, He was dearer to them than life. To Him they had looked for help in all their difficulties, for comfort in their sorrows and disappointments. Now He was to leave them, a lonely, dependent company. Dark were the forebodings that filled their hearts. DA 662.3
“But the Saviour's words to them were full of hope. He knew that they were to be assailed by the enemy, and that Satan's craft is most successful against those who are depressed by difficulties. Therefore He pointed them away from “the things which are seen,” to “the things which are not seen.” 2 Corinthians 4:18. From earthly exile He turned their thoughts to the heavenly home. DA 662.4
“‘Let not your heart be troubled,’ He said; ‘ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.’ For your sake I came into the world. I am working in your behalf. When I go away, I shall still work earnestly for you. I came into the world to reveal Myself to you, that you might believe. I go to the Father to co-operate with Him in your behalf. The object of Christ's departure was the opposite of what the disciples feared. It did not mean a final separation. He was going to prepare a place for them, that He might come again, and receive them unto Himself. While He was building mansions for them, they were to build characters after the divine similitude.” DA 663.1
12 月 3 日星期二
我就是道路、真理、生命
阅读约翰福音 14:5, 6。多马对耶稣要去哪里提出了什么疑问？耶稣有何反应？
Read John 14:5, 6. What query did Thomas make about where Jesus was going? How did Jesus respond?
“门徒们仍然感到困惑。多马总是被疑惑所困扰，他说：“主啊，我们不知道你往哪里去；我们不知道你往哪里去。”我们怎样才能认路呢？耶稣对他说，我就是道路、真理、生命；若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去。你们若认识我，也就认识我父了；从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他了。” DA 663.2
“通往天堂的路并不多。每个人都不能选择自己的道路。基督说：“我就是道路：……若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去。”自从第一次福音布道在伊甸园宣告女人的后裔要伤蛇的头以来，基督就被高举为道路、真理和生命。当亚当活着时，亚伯将被杀羔羊的血献给上帝，代表救赎主的血，这就是他的方式。基督是族长和先知得救的途径。唯有他是我们才能接近神的道路。 DA 663.3
“基督说：‘你们若认识我，也就认识我的父了；从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他了。’但门徒们还不明白。” DA 663.4
“Still the disciples were perplexed. Thomas, always troubled by doubts, said, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.” DA 663.2
“There are not many ways to heaven. Each one may not choose his own way. Christ says, “I am the way: ... no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Since the first gospel sermon was preached, when in Eden it was declared that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, Christ had been uplifted as the way, the truth, and the life. He was the way when Adam lived, when Abel presented to God the blood of the slain lamb, representing the blood of the Redeemer. Christ was the way by which patriarchs and prophets were saved. He is the way by which alone we can have access to God. DA 663.3
“‘If ye had known Me,’ Christ said, ‘ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.’ But not yet did the disciples understand.” DA 663.4
阅读约翰福音 14：7-11。耶稣怎样消除腓利的误解？
Read John 14:7–11. How did Jesus clear up Philip’s misunderstanding?
“求主将父显给我们看，”腓利喊道，“我们就满足了。” DA 663.4
基督对他的理解迟钝感到惊讶，痛苦地惊讶地问道：“我和你在一起这么久了，你还不认识我吗，腓力？”难道你们在父借着我所做的事中看不到他吗？你不相信我来是为父作见证吗？ “那么，你怎么说，让我们看看父亲呢？” “人看见了我，就看见了父。”当基督成为人时，他并没有不再是神。尽管他降卑为人，但神性仍然是他自己的。唯有基督才能在人类面前代表天父，而门徒们在三年多的时间里有幸目睹了这一代表。 DA 663.5
“‘相信我，我在父里面，父在我里面；否则，就因着我的行为而相信我。’他们的信心可以安全地建立在基督的行为所提供的证据上，这些行为是任何人自己都无法做到的。”曾经做过，或者曾经可以做。基督的工作证明了他的神性。借着他，天父得以显现。 DA 664.1
如果门徒相信圣父与圣子之间的这种重要联系，当他们看到基督为拯救一个灭亡的世界而受苦和受死时，他们的信心就不会放弃他们。基督试图引导他们从低下的信仰状态中获得经验，如果他们真正认识到他是什么——道成肉身的神。他希望他们明白，他们的信心必须引向上帝，并在那里扎根。我们慈悲的救主多么热切而坚持不懈地努力帮助门徒做好准备，以应对即将袭击他们的试探风暴。他会让他们和他一起藏在上帝里面。” DA 664.2
““Lord, show us the Father,’ exclaimed Philip, ‘and it sufficeth us.’ DA 663.4
“Amazed at his dullness of comprehension, Christ asked with pained surprise, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?” Is it possible that you do not see the Father in the works He does through Me? Do you not believe that I came to testify of the Father? “How sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man. Though He had humbled Himself to humanity, the Godhead was still His own. Christ alone could represent the Father to humanity, and this representation the disciples had been privileged to behold for over three years. DA 663.5
“‘Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.’ Their faith might safely rest on the evidence given in Christ's works, works that no man, of himself, ever had done, or ever could do. Christ's work testified to His divinity. Through Him the Father had been revealed. DA 664.1
If the disciples believed this vital connection between the Father and the Son, their faith would not forsake them when they saw Christ's suffering and death to save a perishing world. Christ was seeking to lead them from their low condition of faith to the experience they might receive if they truly realized what He was,—God in human flesh. He desired them to see that their faith must lead up to God, and be anchored there. How earnestly and perseveringly our compassionate Saviour sought to prepare His disciples for the storm of temptation that was soon to beat upon them. He would have them hid with Him in God.” DA 664.2
12 月 4 日星期三
我就是真理
阅读约翰福音 1 章 14 节、17 节；约翰福音 8:32;约翰福音 14:6;和约翰福音 15:26。约翰如何将真理的概念直接与耶稣联系起来？
Read John 1:14, 17; John 8:32; John 14:6; and John 15:26. How does John tie the concept of truth directly to Jesus?
“尽管他们在沙漠中疲惫地徘徊，但他临在的象征一直伴随着他们。因此，基督在我们人类的营地中设立了他的帐幕。他在人的帐篷旁支搭了他的帐篷，以便他可以住在我们中间，让我们熟悉他神圣的品格和生命。 “道成了肉身，住在我们中间（我们也见过他的荣耀，正是父独生子的荣耀），充满了恩典和真理。”约翰福音 1:14，R.V.，页边。 DA 23.3
“自从耶稣来到我们身边，我们就知道神熟悉我们的试炼，也同情我们的悲伤。亚当的每一个儿女都可以明白，我们的创造主是罪人的朋友。因为在救主在世的生活中所呈现的每一个恩典教义、每一个喜乐的应许、每一个爱的行为、每一个神圣的吸引力中，我们都看到‘上帝与我们同在。’” DA 24.1
基督借着他的人性触摸了人类；借着他的神性，他抓住了神的宝座。作为人子，他给我们树立了顺服的榜样；作为神的儿子，他赋予我们服从的能力。基督在何烈山的灌木丛中对摩西说：“我是自有永有的……你要对以色列人这样说：‘我是’差遣我到你们这里来。”出埃及记 3:14。这是以色列人得拯救的誓言。因此，当他“以人的样式”降临时，他宣称自己是“自有永有”。伯利恒之子，温柔谦卑的救主，是神“以肉身显现”。提摩太前书 3:16。他对我们说：“我是好牧人。” “我是活的粮。” “我是道路、真理和生命。” “天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。”约翰福音 10:11; 6:51； 14:6;马太福音 28:18。我是每一个承诺的保证。我是;不要害怕。 “神与我们同在”是我们从罪中得释放的保证，是我们有能力遵守天国律法的保证。 DA 24.3
“但是对于他们的问题，‘你是谁？’”耶稣回答说：“就是我从起初对你们所说的。”约翰福音 8:25，R.V.他话语中所揭示的，也体现在他的品格中。他是他所教导的真理的化身。 DA 465.3
“在他的听众中，有许多人因信心而归向他，他对他们说：“你们若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的门徒了；你们若遵守我的道，就真是我的门徒了。你们将会知道真理，而真理将使你们自由。” DA 466.1
“这些话冒犯了法利赛人。他们不顾这个国家长期受外邦奴役的事实，愤怒地喊道：“我们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，从来没有受过任何人的奴役，你怎么说，你们就能得自由呢？”耶稣看着这些人，这些恶意的奴隶，一心想着复仇，悲伤地回答说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，凡犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。”他们处于最糟糕的束缚之中——被邪灵所统治。” DA 466.2
“保惠师被称为‘真理的圣灵’。他的工作是定义和维护真理。他首先作为真理的圣灵住在人心中，因此他成为保惠师。真理里有安慰与平安，但谎言里却找不到真正的平安与安慰。正是通过错误的理论和传统，撒但才获得了控制人心的力量。通过引导人们遵循错误的标准，他扭曲了性格。圣灵通过圣经对人的心思说话，并将真理印在人心上。因此，他揭露了错误，并将其从灵魂中驱逐出去。基督借着真理的灵，借着神的话语，使他的选民归服他自己。” DA 671.1
“Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life. “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, R. V., margin. DA 23.3
“Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see ‘God with us.’” DA 24.1
“By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, “I AM THAT I AM.... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14. This was the pledge of Israel's deliverance. So when He came “in the likeness of men,” He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God “manifest in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16. And to us He says: “I AM the Good Shepherd.” “I AM the living Bread.” “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” John 10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matthew 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid. “God with us” is the surety of our deliverance from sin, the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven.” DA 24.3
“But to their question, “Who art Thou?” Jesus replied, “Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.” John 8:25, R.V. That which had been revealed in His words was revealed also in His character. He was the embodiment of the truths He taught. DA 465.3
“Among His hearers many were drawn to Him in faith, and to them He said, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” DA 466.1
“These words offended the Pharisees. The nation's long subjection to a foreign yoke, they disregarded, and angrily exclaimed, “We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?” Jesus looked upon these men, the slaves of malice, whose thoughts were bent upon revenge, and sadly answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” They were in the worst kind of bondage,—ruled by the spirit of evil.” DA 466.2
“The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.” DA 671.1
12 月 5 日，星期四
圣经与真理
阅读约翰福音 5：38-40。耶稣在这里对圣经说了什么？
Read John 5:38–40. What is Jesus saying here about the Scriptures?
“犹太人拥有圣经，并认为仅仅凭借对圣经的外在知识，他们就拥有永生。但耶稣说：“他的话没有住在你们心里。”他们拒绝了基督的话，就亲自拒绝了他。他说：“你们不肯到我这里来得生命。”” DA 212.1
“In every page, whether history, or precept, or prophecy, the Old Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God. So far as it was of divine institution, the entire system of Judaism was a compacted prophecy of the gospel. To Christ “give all the prophets witness.” Acts 10:43. From the promise given to Adam, down through the patriarchal line and the legal economy, heaven's glorious light made plain the footsteps of the Redeemer. Seers beheld the Star of Bethlehem, the Shiloh to come, as future things swept before them in mysterious procession. In every sacrifice Christ's death was shown. In every cloud of incense His righteousness ascended. By every jubilee trumpet His name was sounded. In the awful mystery of the holy of holies His glory dwelt. DA 211.5
“The Jews had the Scriptures in their possession, and supposed that in their mere outward knowledge of the word they had eternal life. But Jesus said, ‘Ye have not His word abiding in you.’ Having rejected Christ in His word, they rejected Him in person. ‘Ye will not come to Me,’ He said, ‘that ye might have life.’” DA 212.1
阅读路加福音 24:27。为什么耶稣首先引用圣经来揭示他事工的意义很重要？
Read Luke 24:27. Why is it important that Jesus first pointed to the Scriptures in order to reveal the significance of His ministry?
“从圣经历史的阿尔法摩西开始，基督在所有圣经中都解释了有关他自己的事。如果他首先向他们显现，他们的心就会得到满足。在他们充满喜乐的时候，他们不会再有任何渴望了。但他们有必要了解旧约圣经的预表和预言为他所作的见证。他们的信仰必须建立在这些之上。基督没有行神迹来说服他们，但解释圣经是他的第一个工作。他们将他的死视为他们所有希望的破灭。现在他从先知那里表明这是他们信仰的最有力的证据。 DA 796.4
“在教导这些门徒时，耶稣表明了旧约作为他使命见证的重要性。许多自称基督徒的人现在抛弃了旧约，声称它不再有任何用处。但这不是基督的教导。他如此看重这一点，以至于有一次他说：“他们若不听摩西和先知的话，即使有一个人从死里复活，他们也不会被说服。”（路加福音 16:31） DA 799.1
“Beginning at Moses, the very Alpha of Bible history, Christ expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Had He first made Himself known to them, their hearts would have been satisfied. In the fullness of their joy they would have hungered for nothing more. But it was necessary for them to understand the witness borne to Him by the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established. Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was His first work to explain the Scriptures. They had looked upon His death as the destruction of all their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that this was the very strongest evidence for their faith. DA 796.4
“In teaching these disciples, Jesus showed the importance of the Old Testament as a witness to His mission. Many professed Christians now discard the Old Testament, claiming that it is no longer of any use. But such is not Christ's teaching. So highly did He value it that at one time He said, ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’” Luke 16:31. DA 799.1
11 月 6 日星期五
进修资料
基督对他的理解迟钝感到惊讶，痛苦地惊讶地问道：“我和你在一起这么久了，你还不认识我吗，腓力？”难道你们在父借着我所做的事中看不到他吗？你不相信我来是为父作见证吗？ “那么，你怎么说，让我们看看父亲呢？” “人看见了我，就看见了父。”当基督成为人时，他并没有不再是神。尽管他降卑为人，但神性仍然是他自己的。唯有基督才能在人类面前代表天父，而门徒们在三年多的时间里有幸目睹了这一代表。 DA 663.5
“‘相信我，我在父里面，父在我里面；否则，就因着我的行为而相信我。’他们的信心可以安全地建立在基督的行为所提供的证据上，这些行为是任何人自己都无法做到的。”曾经做过，或者曾经可以做。基督的工作证明了他的神性。借着他，天父得以显现。 DA 664.1
“如果门徒相信圣父与圣子之间的这种重要联系，当他们看到基督为拯救一个灭亡的世界而受苦和受死时，他们的信心就不会放弃他们。基督试图引导他们从低下的信仰状态中获得经验，如果他们真正认识到他是什么——道成肉身的神。他希望他们明白，他们的信心必须引向上帝，并在那里扎根。我们慈悲的救主多么热切而坚持不懈地努力帮助门徒做好准备，以应对即将袭击他们的试探风暴。他会让他们和他一起藏在上帝里面。” DA 664.2
“Amazed at his dullness of comprehension, Christ asked with pained surprise, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?” Is it possible that you do not see the Father in the works He does through Me? Do you not believe that I came to testify of the Father? “How sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man. Though He had humbled Himself to humanity, the Godhead was still His own. Christ alone could represent the Father to humanity, and this representation the disciples had been privileged to behold for over three years. DA 663.5
“‘Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.’ Their faith might safely rest on the evidence given in Christ's works, works that no man, of himself, ever had done, or ever could do. Christ's work testified to His divinity. Through Him the Father had been revealed. DA 664.1
“If the disciples believed this vital connection between the Father and the Son, their faith would not forsake them when they saw Christ's suffering and death to save a perishing world. Christ was seeking to lead them from their low condition of faith to the experience they might receive if they truly realized what He was,—God in human flesh. He desired them to see that their faith must lead up to God, and be anchored there. How earnestly and perseveringly our compassionate Saviour sought to prepare His disciples for the storm of temptation that was soon to beat upon them. He would have them hid with Him in God.” DA 664.2