Strengthening of one’s faith

John 11: 17-27

Jesus Comforts the Sisters

¹⁷On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Bethany was less than two miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁹and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

²¹"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

²⁴Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

²⁷"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,^[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

1. 中心內容：
   
   內容：
   1>（v17）Jesus went to Martha and Mary’s house. He also knew that Lazarus had been buried for four days.
   2>（v18-19）Many Jews came over to the house and comforted the two sisters.
   3>聽到主耶穌來了，姊妹兩人不同的反應，馬大出去迎接，馬利亞仍留家中。（v20）When they heard that Jesus came, Mary and her sister Martha reacted differently. Martha greeted Jesus at the door while Mary stayed inside.
   4>馬大表露心聲：你若早在，我兄弟必不死。你無論向神求什麼，神必應許。（v21-22）Martha said: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”.
   5>主耶穌應許拉撒路必要復活。（v23）Jesus told her that Lazarus will return from the dead.
   6>馬大誤以為末日的復活。（v24）Martha had mistaken what Jesus meant.
   7>主耶穌針對自己：勝過死亡權勢，是生命的主作出宣告。（v25-26）The victory over death is a proclamation of faith.
   8>馬利亞作信仰告白。（v27） A confession of faith was made.

主題：
1>復活在我，生命也在我（耶穌是生命的主宰）。Jesus is the Ruler of our lives.
2>信心的提升。Strengthening of one’s faith.

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>應邀作家庭探訪、關懷的耶穌基督。（v17、v20）Jesus Christ who visits and cares about the family.
2>生命的主宰耶穌基督。（v21、v25）Jesus Christ the Ruler.
3>使人因信得永生的耶穌基督。（v26）Jesus Christ who saves those who believe in Him.
4>彌賽亞、救世主耶穌基督。（v27）Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the Savior.
5>上帝的兒子耶穌基督。（v27）Jesus Christ the Son of God.
6>降世為人的耶穌基督。（v27）Jesus Christ who was sent to us.

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>耶穌的時間
聽見拉撒路病了，就在所居之地，仍舊住了兩天。Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, so he stayed there for two days. （v6）耶穌到了，就知道拉撒路在墳墓裏已經四天了。When Jesus arrived, he knew already that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.（v17）
當主耶穌在世上的時候，一切言行舉止，都完全遵照上帝的旨意，包括時間的安排，也都沒有離開上帝的計劃。When Jesus was alive, every acts done and words said, including the timing were according to God’s will. 因此，當上帝所計劃的時刻未到之前，祂常常說：因為時候未到！但是當上帝計劃的時刻到來之後，祂便改口說：因為時候到了！We should not judge before the anointed time. And when the time comes, He will say: “It is time”.
在這個事件當中，根據第六節的描述，當主耶穌聽到拉撒路病了之後，卻還停留在所居之地兩天之久，這樣的反應令人有「不太在乎」的感覺。也因為主耶穌停留這兩天，導致當祂來到這個家庭時，一般人認為時間已經錯過了，已經沒有希望了。馬大所說「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死」這句話，足以代表一般人的心聲。What Martha said (“If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”.) shows what most people would feel in this situation.
但是，我們若綜觀整個事件的始末，將發現其實主耶穌是有計劃的，故意藉著時間上的延遲，造成拉撒路的死亡，甚至埋葬四天。藉此以彰顯祂不僅擁有醫治的權柄，甚至擁有勝過死亡的權勢。目的就是讓更多人，因為看見而相信祂。
反省：主耶穌有祂的計劃、有祂的時間，而且絕對不會誤事。我是祂的兒女，是否對祂深信不疑？我也是服事祂的人，是否凡事尋求並順服祂的計劃？God has everything planned according to his will and will not mistaken. We are His sons and daughters, am I having doubts? I am also His servant, must I obey His plan?

2>信心的層次
馬大對耶穌說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死；就是現在，我也知道，你無論向神求甚麼，神也必賜給你。」耶穌說：「你兄弟必然復活！」馬大說：「我知道在末日復活的時候，他必復活。」 “Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”（v21-24）當主耶穌快接近馬大與馬利亞家的時候，馬大出來迎接，並且對主耶穌說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死。接著又說，就是現在，我也知道，你無論向上帝求什麼，祂也必賜給你。」When Jesus arrived at Martha and Mary’s house, Martha greeted Jesus at the door and said to him: “Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 主耶穌卻對她說：「你的兄弟必然復活！」聽到主耶穌的應許，馬大立刻回應說：「我知道在末日復活的時候，他必復活。」Jesus responded: “Your brother will rise again.” As soon as Martha heard that, she replied: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 從以上的對話當中，我們發現馬大對主耶穌，其實有一定程度的認識，包括主耶穌所教導，有關末日復活的事，她都明白，也都相信。We learn from this conversation that Martha knew Jesus’ teaching about the resurrection, understood and believed in Jesus. 但是她對主耶穌的信心，仍然停留在「病得醫治」的層次，並未提升到「死而復活」的深度。But her level of faith toward Jesus remains in the healing of sickness and it didn’t go deeper to the resurrection from death.
反省：我對主耶穌的認識有多深？我對主耶穌的信心有多大？只是精神上安慰人的主？或僅止
於病得醫治的主？還是能夠使死人復活的主？How well do I know Jesus? What about my faith? Is the Lord just a comforter, a healer or a savior?

3>信心的提升
耶穌到了，就知道拉撒路在墳墓裏已經四天了。On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.（v17）耶穌說：「你們把石頭挪開。」那死人的姊姊馬大對他說：「主啊，他現在必是臭了，因為他死了已經四天了。」”Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord”, said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad smell. Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days.” （v39）
剛剛說過，主耶穌之所以延遲到達，絕對有祂的用意。As said, the fact that Jesus got to their house late was intentional. 因為根據經驗，屍體在墳裏停放四天，必然發臭。Because the dead man has been there for four days and there is a bad odor.（v39）在這種完全絕望的狀況下，主耶穌的出現，並且使拉撒路復活，更能證明祂擁有「讓死人復活」的權柄。最重要的是：藉這個事件，提升馬大、馬利亞這對姊妹，對主耶穌信心，也就是從「病得醫治」，提升到「死而復活」。If we observe the general flow of the event, we notice that Jesus actually had a plan. He purposely delayed visiting Lazarus so late as to have him buried for four days. As a result, Lazarus' resurrection not only demonstrated Jesus' power of healing, but also his power over death. All this is to have people see his power and believe in him.

反省：我對主耶穌的信心，目前是在哪一個層次？是否不斷經歷、不斷提升？At what level is my faith at this moment? Does experience help me to have a greater faith?

4>生命的主宰
耶穌對她說：「復活在我，生命也在我，信我的人雖然死了，也必復活！凡活著信我的人，必永遠不死！你信這話嗎？」Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
（v25-26）主耶穌對馬大宣告說：「復活在我，生命也在我，信我的人雖然死了，也必復活！凡活著信我的人，必永遠不死！這話何等鏗鏘有力！就是宣告：祂就是生命的主宰！Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” These spoken words are very strong and powerful. This is a proclamation. He rules over our lives.
反省：我是否經歷並確信，主耶穌就是生命的主宰？Have I experienced and accepted God to be the Ruler of my life?

5>馬大的信心

馬大說：「主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是神的兒子，就是那要臨到世界的。」(v27) She told him : “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
大多數的基督徒，一談到馬大，總是停留在「忙得不可開交，無心聽主話語」的刻板印象當中。Most Christians see the negative side of Martha’s act, which in this case is “too busy greeting Jesus and was kept away from listening His Words” . 然而從這一段「馬大跟主耶穌的對話」當中，我們發現其實馬大也是一個「充滿信心」的婦人。But from the conversation of Jesus and Martha, we come to know that Martha was in fact a woman with great faith. 因為她說：主啊！是的！我信你是基督，是神的兒子，就是那要臨到世界的。Because she said: “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 這樣的回應，絕對是主耶穌所喜悅的This kind of response is pleasing to the Lord。正如彼得對主耶穌的回應「你是基督，永生上帝的兒子。」（馬太福音16:16）一樣。It is comparable to the response from Simon Peter to Jesus “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) 而且，能夠有這樣的對話，表示她對主的認識頗深。Being able to have this kind of conversation demonstrates her deep understanding of Jesus. 向來我
們對馬大總是貶過於褒，如今反而要大大的肯定馬大對主耶穌的認識與信心。Oftentimes, we disregard the role of Martha. Now, rather, we should come to affirm her knowledge and faith in Christ.

反省：我是否能像馬大一樣，在主面前，向主告白說：我信你是基督，是上帝的兒子，就是那
要臨到世界的？Am I able to confess to God by saying “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” like Martha?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用

Translated by Candy Ho