5月18日

標　　題：他人的代價

經　　節：站在耶穌十字架旁邊的，有祂母親與祂母親的姊妹，並革羅罷的妻子馬利亞，和抹大拉的馬利亞。（約翰福音十九章25節）

沒有十字架就沒有基督教。你不可能拒絕背起自己的十字架，而成為耶穌的門徒。十字架是痛苦，它會永遠改變你的一生。有時候，付上最大代價的不是你自己，而是你所愛的人。你可能已經預備好，無論付上任何代價都要遵循神的命令，因為你已經與神同行，知道神的道路永遠是最好的。然而，你所愛的尚未有同樣的經歷，也沒有像你一樣清楚聽到神的旨意。

耶穌瞭解天父要帶祂上十字架的旨意。十字架對耶穌來說，代表痛苦的死亡；同時，十字架也把痛苦帶給祂周圍的人。因為十字架，耶穌的母親痛苦地看著自己的兒子被公眾羞辱、刑罰與謀殺。而耶穌其他的親友也親眼看見耶穌受肉體的折磨，祂的門徒驚慌地四散逃跑，他們在自己生命中最黑暗的夜晚，茫茫不知所措。因著耶穌的順服，祂每個門徒都有自己的十字架。

你對主的順服將影響其他人（路加福音十四：26）。不要因為怕家人所付的代價太高，而拒絕神對你的指示。要謹慎，以免你阻礙了自己心愛的人，去背起他們自己的十字架。絕對不要違背神的旨意，來保護你心所愛的人，因為違背神的代價太高。寧可仰望你的榜樣耶穌，觀察因為耶穌的順服，祂周圍的人付上什麼代價。

The Cost to Others

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

There is no Christianity without a cross, for you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without taking up your cross. Crosses are painful, they forever change your life, but sometimes the greatest cost will not be to you but to those you love. You may be prepared to obey the Lord’s commands, whatever they are, because you’ve walked with Him and know that His way is best. Yet there will be those close to you who have not related to Jesus in the same way and have not heard His voice as clearly.

Jesus understood that His Father’s will for Him led to a cross. The cross would mean a painful death for Jesus, and it would also bring suffering to those closest to Him. Because of the cross, Jesus’ mother would watch in agony as her son was publicly humiliated, tortured, and murdered. Jesus’ aunt and close friends would witness His excruciating death. His disciples would be scattered in terror and confusion in what would be the longest, darkest night of their lives. Because of Jesus’ obedience, there would also be a cross for each of His disciples.

Obedience to your Lord’s commands will affect others (Luke 14:26). Don’t refuse to obey what you know God is asking because you fear the cost to your family will be too great. Beware lest you seek to prevent those you love from taking up the cross God has for them. Don’t ever try to protect those you love by disobeying God. The cost of disobedience is always far greater. Rather, look to Jesus, your model, and see what it cost those around Him for Him to be obedient to His Father.