“…百夫长，看见耶稣这样断气，就说：‘这人真是神的儿子！’” – 可 15:39
因为被耶路撒冷的宗教领袖诬告，保罗被捕入狱。保罗使用他罗马公民的身份，一直上诉至在罗马的凯撒面前（使徒行传21至26章）。
凯撒的罗马帝国版图由埃及伸展至英国，又由西班牙到亚美尼亚。这些地方的市民和奴隶都向凯撒下拜，他们害怕为他打胜仗的的军队。他们使用上面写着他是“神的儿子” 的钱币。
在面对凯撒审讯之前，保罗在罗马被软禁了两年。在这段时间他接待各式各样的访客，他放胆传讲神的国和主耶稣。
试想一下，在凯撒王国的首都，保罗竟然宣告有另一个王国和另一位主。
不错，主是死在凯撒的一个十字架上，但对那位目击耶稣死亡的罗马百夫长来说，耶稣才是“神的儿子”，而不是凯撒。
神国的存在和主耶稣的绝对权威，直接挑战世上每一个王国和统治者。基督的法则，超越每一条与此相反的人为法则，而因着神国的模式，任何其他生活的模式都被搁在一旁。
这全都是好消息，但也是很危险和被这世界的权势抗拒的消息。但无论如何，在基督里，我们是祂国度的子民并服从祂的权柄，即使要在十字架上受苦也在所不惜。
祷告
耶稣，我们在你面前谦卑，惟愿每一个王国和每一位统治者都会这样做。阿们。
使徒行传 28:16, 30-31
16进了罗马城，保罗蒙准和一个看守他的兵另住在一处。
30保罗在自己所租的房子里住了足足两年。凡来见他的人，他全都接待，
31放胆传讲神国的道，将主耶稣基督的事教导人，并没有人禁止。
Under Caesar’s Nose
“When the centurion . . . saw how [Jesus] died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” – Mark 15:39
Paul had been jailed because of false charges from the religious leaders in Jerusalem. So he used his Roman citizenship to appeal his case all the way to the judgment seat of Caesar in Rome (Acts 21-26).
From Egypt to Britain, from Spain to Armenia, the Roman Empire was Caesar’s world. Citizens and slaves bowed to him. They feared his armies, which brought him victory. They used his coins, which declared him “the Son of God.”
Before the appointment, Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome. During that time, he welcomed all sorts of visitors. And he spoke boldly about the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus.
Think about that. In the capital city of Caesar’s empire, Paul proclaimed another kingdom and another Lord. Yes, that Lord had died on one of Caesar’s crosses. But to a Roman commander who witnessed that death, it was obvious that Jesus, not Caesar, was “the Son of God.”
The kingdom of God, by its very existence, and the Lord Jesus, by his supreme authority, are a direct challenge to every realm and ruler on earth. The law of Christ overrules every contrary human law. And the way of the kingdom sets aside every other way.
Every bit of this is good news. But it’s also dangerous news, unwelcome by the powers and authorities of this world. Nevertheless, in Christ we are citizens of his kingdom and under his authority. Even if that means suffering on a cross.
Prayer
Jesus, we humble ourselves before you. May every realm and every ruler do the same. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
