Glorify God’s Holy name

15:29 耶穌離開那地方，來到加利利湖邊。他上了山，坐下。15:30 一大群人又來找他，並帶來跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多患其他疾病的人，安置在耶穌腳前；耶穌一一治好他們。15:31 那群人看見了啞巴的說話，殘疾的復原，跛腳的走路，失明的看見，都非常驚奇，也都讚美以色列的上帝。 15:32 耶穌叫門徒來，對他們說：「我很體貼這一群人，他們跟我在一起已經三天，現在沒有甚麼可吃的了。我不願意叫他們餓著回去，恐怕會在路上暈倒。」15:33 門徒說：「在這偏僻的地方，我們哪裏去找足夠的食物給這一大群人吃飽呢？」15:34 耶穌問他們：「你們有多少餅？」他們回答：「七個餅和幾條小魚。」15:35 耶穌吩咐群眾坐在地上，15:36 拿起那七個餅和幾條小魚，感謝上帝，擘開，遞給門徒；門徒又分給群眾。15:37 大家都吃，而且吃飽了。門徒收拾剩餘的碎屑，裝滿了七個籃子。15:38 吃飽的，除了婦女和孩子，有四千人。15:39 於是耶穌遣散群眾，然後上船，往馬加丹地區去。

Matthew 15:29-39 (New International Version)

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

²⁹Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

³²Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

³³His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"

³⁴"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."

³⁵He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. ³⁹After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

一、中心內容 Message：

內容 Content：
01>主耶穌來到加利利湖邊，上了山並醫治各樣的病症。（v29-30）Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. He went up on a mountainside and healed many. (v29-30)
02>凡看見醫治神蹟的人，都將榮耀歸給上帝。（v31）Whoever saw the healing miracles gave glory to God. (v31)
03>主耶穌叫門徒來，針對三天未進食的群眾表示體貼（憐憫）。（v32）Jesus called his disciples to him and showed compassion for these people who have not eaten for three days. (v32)
04>門徒針對供應那麼多人的餐食問題，深深表示疑慮。（v33）The disciples were having doubts as to where they could get enough food to feed such a crowd. (v33)
05>主耶穌從門徒手中取得七個餅幾條小魚，經祝謝後眾人吃飽還剩下七藍。（v34-38）Jesus took and seven loaves and the fishes from the disciples, gave thanks and in the end there were seven basketfuls of leftovers. (v34-38)
06>主耶穌遣散群眾，然後上船，往馬加丹地區去。（v39）Jesus had sent the crowd away and he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan. (v39)

主題 Theme：
1>上帝聖名得榮耀。Glorify God’s Holy name.
2>四千（男）人吃飽的神蹟。Miracle of feeding four thousand men.

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit?

1>擁有醫治權柄的耶穌基督。（v30）Jesus Christ who has the healing power. (v30)
2>聖名配得尊榮、頌讚的上帝。（v31）God whose Holy name is worthy of praises, honour and glory. (v31)
3>體貼（憐憫）人的耶穌基督。（v32）Jesus Christ who has compassion for men. (v32)
4>行七個餅幾條魚讓四千人（男人）吃飽的耶穌基督。（v33-38）Jesus Christ who fed four thousand men by just seven loaves of bread and some small fishes. (v33-38)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？ What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1>吸引眾人的耶穌 Jesus attracts great crowds

耶穌離開那地方，來到加利利湖邊。他上了山，坐下。一大群人又來找他。（v29-30a）Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him. (v29-30a)

主 耶穌來到加利利湖邊的山上，群眾立刻從各處蜂擁而到，並且圍繞在祂的四周圍，這樣的景象，經常在福音書中出現。這些被吸引來跟隨的人，動機可能不盡相同， 但是主耶穌的生命具有強大的吸引力，絕對是一個不可否認的事實。因為在祂的生涯當中，包括：醫病、趕鬼、行神蹟、教導人---等，與當時的宗教領袖截然不同，乃是帶著極大的權柄與能力。因此，凡所到之處，總是人山人海。
Lord Jesus went up on a mountainside by the Sea of Galilee and great crowds came to him. This kind of scene can often be seen in the books of the Gospel. These crowds who were attracted and followed him might not all have the same motive, but there was absolutely no doubt that Jesus’s life had a strong attractive power. His life was completely different from the religious leaders at that time. His mighty authority and power can be seen when he healed the sick, casted away demons, performed miracles and gave his teachings. Therefore, wherever he went, there were always great crowds.

反省：當時主耶穌的生命與作為，是這樣的吸引群眾，今天我們這些跟隨主耶穌、學像主耶穌的人，所到之處又是如何呢？吸引人嗎？還是惹人怨？
Reflection: Jesus’s life and doings attracted great crowds. How is it like for us followers of Jesus today? Do we attract people or are we resented by people?

2>殘缺不全的人生 Incomplete life

耶穌離開那地方，來到加利利湖邊。他上了山，坐下。一大群人又來找他，並帶來跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多患其他疾病的人，安置在耶穌腳前。（v29-30a）
Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet. (v29-30a)

當時不僅一大群人，前來圍繞在主耶穌的四周圍，同時也帶來了跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多罹患其他疾病的人，前來安置在主耶穌的腳前。這些罹患各種病症的人，就是人生真實情境的寫照。所謂「家家有本難唸的經」或「人生不如意十之八九」等俗語，證明我們的人生，沒有任何一個人，能夠十全十美，乃是殘缺不全的。
Not only did great crowds of people came to Lord Jesus and surrounded him, there were also the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many other people with different diseases. They have laid themselves at his feet. These people with different symptoms of diseases were the true portrayal of real life. We all have different problems and things often don’t go according to one’s wishes. No one is perfect, but rather incomplete and flawed.

反省：我的人生如何？擁有平安嗎？常常喜樂嗎？一切都稱心如意嗎？還是有什麼病痛？有什麼重擔？有什麼苦悶？有什麼缺陷？有什麼難處？
Reflection: How is my life? Do I have peace and joy? Are things going as I wish them to be? Or is there any pain, burden, flaws or hardships?

3>領到主耶穌面前 Led before Lord Jesus

一大群人又來找他，並帶來跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多患其他疾病的人，安置在耶穌腳前。（v30a）
Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. (v30a)

當時有許多跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多患其他疾病的人，這些人都需要主耶穌的醫治，但是他們未必能夠自行前來。因此，需要有人願意協助、有人願意帶路。要是沒有人願意協助，沒有人願意帶路，他們就無法就近主耶穌，就無法得著醫治。因此，那些協助、帶路的人，所扮所演的角色，也是不可或缺的。
At that time, there were many who were lame, blind, crippled, mute and many others. They needed the healing of the Lord Jesus, but not all of them were able to come by themselves. Therefore, they needed people to help them and lead the way. If there was no one who was willing to help and lead the way, they could not have come near Jesus and been healed. Thus, the role of those who helped and led the way was indispensible.

反省：我是否經常注意，在我身邊有那些有綑綁、有難處，需要關懷、需要協助的人？是否將他們帶到主耶穌面前來？
Reflection: Am I aware of those who are experiencing hardships and are in need of care and help? Do I bring them before Lord Jesus?

4>使人復原的耶穌 Jesus who heals

一大群人又來找他，並帶來跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，和許多患其他疾病的人，安置在耶穌腳前；耶穌一一治好他們。（v30）
Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. (v30)

在這段聖經當中，非常清楚的記載，當時不管是跛腳的、失明的、殘疾的、啞巴的，或罹患其他各種疾病的人，只要帶來安置在主耶穌的腳前；主耶穌就一一的治好他們。顯示：主耶穌擁有醫治的權柄，主耶穌是醫治人、使人復原的主！
In this passage, it is clearly stated that at that time, whether it be the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute or many others, whoever laid themselves at the feet of Jesus were healed by him. It shows that Lord Jesus has healing power and he is the Lord who heals people and restores them.

反省：我對主耶穌的認識有多深？我擁有多少（肉體、心靈、個性、品德）因主耶穌而復原的經歷？
Reflection: How much do I know about Lord Jesus? How many times have I been restored and healed by Jesus (physically, spiritually, personality and character wise)?

5>上帝聖名得榮耀 Glory to the Holy name of God

那群人看見了啞巴的說話，殘疾的復原，跛腳的走路，失明的看見，都非常驚奇，也都讚美以色列的上帝。（v31）
The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (v31)

根據馬可福音的記載，這個時候主耶穌正路過低加波利境內，在這地區所居住的都是外邦人。這些外邦人因為看見了啞巴的說話，殘疾的復原，跛腳的走路，失明的看見，都非常驚奇，也都讚美以色列的上帝。
According to the book of Mark, at that time Jesus was passing by Decapolis— a region where the Gentiles lived. These Gentiles were very amazed as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they also praised the God of Israel.

這件事一方面顯示，藉著醫治事件，讓上帝的聖名得著榮耀；另一方面也顯示：連外邦人也都受感動而讚美以色列人所敬奉的上帝。
This incident showed that God’s Holy name was glorified through Jesus’s healing performances. On the other hand, it also showed that even the Gentiles were touched and praised the God of Israel.

反省：我的言行舉止，是否常常榮耀上帝的聖名？連外邦人都懂得讚美上帝，而我呢？是否常常讚美上帝？
Reflection: Do my words and deeds glorify God’s Holy name? Even the Gentiles knew to praise God, what about me? Do I praise God often?

6>全人關懷的耶穌 Holistic compassion of Jesus

耶穌叫門徒來，對他們說：我很體貼這一群人，他們跟我在一起已經三天，現在沒有甚麼可吃的了。我不願意叫他們餓著回去，恐怕會在路上暈倒。（v32）
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." (v32)

主耶穌對人們的關懷，心靈方面是無庸置疑的。但是根據這段經文的描述，我們發現：祂其實不僅關懷心靈的需要而已，同時也關懷肉體的需要。顯然，主耶穌對人們的關懷，是非常完整，全人的關懷。
There is no doubt that Jesus cares for men’s spiritual life. But from this passage, we notice that not only did Jesus care for the spiritual needs, he also cared for the physical needs. It is clear that the care Jesus has for men is complete and holistic.

反省：我傳福音、關懷人，層面有多廣？是否學習全人的關懷？
Reflection: How extensive do I go when I spread the gospel and care for others? Do I try to learn the holistic compassion of Jesus?

7>你手裏有多少餅 How many loaves of bread you have in your hand

顯然，這七個餅幾條魚的神蹟，並非靠外來的資源，而是運用現場僅有的，也就是取用門徒手中所擁有的，經過主耶穌接手、祝聖之後，就這樣成就了奇妙的大事。
當上帝呼召摩西時，同樣對摩西說：你手裏是什麼？然後同樣藉著摩西手中，那毫不起眼的牧羊杖，來成一件又一件奇妙的大事，順利帶領以色列百姓出埃及。
Clearly this miracle of seven loaves of bread and a few small fish was not relied on external resources but rather on what the disciples had in their hands at that moment. When Lord Jesus took over and gave thanks, the miracle was accomplished. When God called on Moses, God used that ordinary staff in his hand to perform miraculous sings and Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt.

當今有部份中小型教會，經常說：我們不像大型教會，因為我們沒有錢、沒有人、沒有空間、沒有資源，所以什麼都沒辦法做。其實，這是錯誤的觀念！
Nowadays, some smaller-sized churches often say that they can’t do anything because they don’t have enough money, people, space or resources. However, this is a wrong way of thinking!

反省：事奉上帝的我，是否先尋求外面的資源？是否等候資源累積豐富了、足夠了再---？還是善於運用現有的資源？就是先看看自己手裏有什麼？立刻為上帝擺上？
Reflection: When serving God, do I always seek external resources first and wait till I have enough resources? Or do I make use of what I have at the moment and immediately place it before God?

8>使少變多的耶穌 Jesus who makes many from less

這是一個非常明顯的神蹟，就是七個餅幾條魚讓四千（男）人吃飽，甚至還有剩餘。
This is a very clear miracle— feeding four thousand men with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish and even having leftovers.

這個事件啟示我們，主耶穌是「使少變多」的真神。因此，不管我們手中擁有多少資源、多少恩賜，只要帶到主耶穌面前，甘心樂意的獻上，經過祂祝福之後，必能滿足許多人的需要。尤其當我們願意將自己獻上，讓主耶穌來破碎、讓主耶穌來擘開，就能產生奇妙的能力，讓許多飢渴的生命得著滿足。不僅可以滿足一切需求，甚至還要豐富有餘。
This incident shows us that Jesus is truly the God who can make many from less. Thus, it doesn’t matter how much we have in our hands. As long as we bring them before Jesus and offer with a joyful heart, they will satisfy many needs of others after His blessing. Especially when we are willing to offer ourselves to be broken by Jesus, many hungry lives will be satisfied by this miraculous power. Not only can it satisfy all needs, there will even be surplus.

反省：我曾經將自己的生命擺上，讓主耶穌來使用嗎？我是否擁有七個餅幾條魚的經歷？
Reflection: Have I ever offered my life to be used by Jesus? Have I experienced something like the incident of seven loaves of bread and a few fish?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用 My Prayer/Life application