“‘父啊！你若愿意，就把这杯撤去。然而不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。’” – 路 22:42
当他们在十字架上垂死时，其中一个被钉在耶稣旁边的犯人对耶稣说：“耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我。”耶稣回答说：“今日你要同我在乐园里了。”你有没有想过那是什么意思呢？
“乐园”这词原来是指一个封闭的花园，后来演变为一个义人死后等待复活的地方。而在启示录中，它似乎指向新耶路撒冷和新的创造，在那里神的子民要与主同活直至永远。
那么，在今天的经文中耶稣所说的“乐园”，就是那个犯人当天便与衪一起的地方，是指什么地方呢？是一个花园？一个等候室？是新耶路撒冷？
我这样想：如果“乐园”就是在那地、就是在那时、在星期五下午那两个十字架上呢？我明白那里说来不像是个乐园，没有人想到那里渡假，更不用说在那里生活直至死亡了。
然而根据圣经记载，当耶稣在十字架上付上祂的生命时，就在那地和那时，祂进入祂的荣耀里。在那地和那时，祂坐在祂的宝座上。在那地和那时，祂进入祂的国，在那里天父的旨意会成就，就像在天上一样。而那在祂旁边的十架上的囚犯会与祂同在，而他也是最先与祂同在的人。
祷告
耶稣，我渴望与你同在你的国度里，求你赐我信心去背起十字架，走向乐园。阿们
路加福音 23:32-43
32又有两个犯人，和耶稣一同带来处死。
33到了一个地方，名叫髑髅地，就在那里把耶稣钉在十字架上，又钉了两个犯人，一个在左边，一个在右边。
34当下耶稣说：“父啊，赦免他们！因为他们所做的他们不晓得。”兵丁就拈阄分他的衣服。
35百姓站在那里观看。官府也嗤笑他，说：“他救了别人，他若是基督，神所拣选的，可以救自己吧！”
36兵丁也戏弄他，上前拿醋送给他喝，
37说：“你若是犹太人的王，可以救自己吧！”
38在耶稣以上有一个牌子，写着：“这是犹太人的王。”
39那同钉的两个犯人，有一个讥诮他说：“你不是基督吗？可以救自己和我们吧！”
40那一个就应声责备他说：“你既是一样受刑的，还不怕神吗？
41我们是应该的，因我们所受的与我们所做的相称，但这个人没有做过一件不好的事。”
42就说：“耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我！”
43耶稣对他说：“我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了！”
Jesus, Remember Me
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” – Luke 22:42
While they are dying by crucifixion, one of the two criminals next to Jesus says to him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Have you ever wondered what that’s all about?
Originally the word for “paradise” referred to an enclosed garden. Later it meant a place where the righteous dead waited for the resurrection. In the book of Revelation it seems to point to the new Jerusalem and the new creation, where God’s people will live with the Lord forever.
In our reading today, what does Jesus mean by “paradise,” where the criminal will join him that very day? Does he mean a garden? A waiting room? The New Jerusalem?
Here’s what I wonder: what if “paradise” is right there, right then, on those two crosses on that Friday afternoon? I know, it doesn’t sound like paradise. And no one would want to vacation there—not to mention living and dying there.
But according to the Bible, when Jesus surrenders his life on the cross—right there, right then—he is in his glory. Right there, right then he is on his throne. Right there, right then he has come into his kingdom, where the Father’s will is done on earth, the same as in heaven. And the criminal on the cross nearby is there with him, the first one there with him.
Prayer
Jesus, I want to be with you in your kingdom. So give me enough faith to take up a cross and to carry it to paradise. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
