3月22日

標　　題： 難以想像

經　　節： 他們坐席正吃的時候，耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們，你們中間有一個與我同吃的人要賣我了。」（馬可福音十四章18節）

我當然永遠不會背叛神！每位門徒都誠摯為自己對耶穌的忠誠辯護。當他們一起安舒地斜臥在樓上的房間，在他們的主面前，他們很難想像自己會對基督的忠誠搖擺不定。然而，耶穌看著他們說：「我實在告訴你們，你們中間有一個與我同吃的人要賣我了。」一個人怎麼可能享受這與救主同在的親密、心靈契合的時刻，爾後在很短的時間內，輕率地背叛及落入靈性的失敗？

在客西馬尼園和十字架環境的壓力下，門徒做出自己從未想到的事。他們沒想到自己周遭的人是如此殘酷地仇視他們的主。耶穌曾經警告過他們，世人會憎恨他們，因為恨他們以先，已經恨祂（約翰福音十五：18∼21，十六：33）。只有基督知道他們所面對的試探程度。在面對壓力的時候，我們的心往往做出令人不能置信的事。聖經中預言猶大儘管與耶穌同行三年，他仍會背叛耶穌。不僅如此，彼得也否認耶穌，所有門徒都背棄了耶穌。

你的生活是何等迅速地由樓上安全寧靜的房間，轉變成客西馬尼和十字架現實苦毒的環境？保守你的心，傾聽神溫柔的聲音：第一代使徒所犯的錯誤，你也可能犯，你也可能背叛耶穌，如同第一代使徒所做的一樣。如果耶穌警告你，你生命中某個地方可能會離棄神，今天就留意祂的話語！

The Unthinkable

Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." (Mark 14:18)

Surely I would never betray the Lord! Each disciple earnestly pled his loyalty to Christ. As they reclined together in the comfort and security of the upper room, in the presence of their Lord, the disciples could not imagine themselves ever wavering in their loyalty to Christ. Yet Jesus looked at them and said, “One of you who eats with Me will betray Me!” How was it possible to share such an intimate and profound moment with the Savior and then rush so quickly toward betrayal and spiritual failure?

During the intense pressures of Gethsemane and the cross, the disciples did things they never thought they would do. They had no idea how cruel and hateful the world around them would be to their Lord. Jesus had cautioned them that the world would hate them because it hated Him (John 15:18–21; 16:33). But only Jesus knew the full extent of the temptation they would face. In the pressure of the moment the heart does surprising things. Scripture had predicted Judas would betray Jesus, despite having walked with Him for over three years. But Peter, too, would deny Him, and all would forsake Him.

How quickly the surroundings of your life can shift from the security and tranquility of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane and the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord’s gentle warning: the failure that was possible with His first disciples is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciples did. If Jesus is warning you of an area in your life in which you could fail Him, heed His words today!