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Articles by John D. Witvliet
The God Who Suffers
Advent Week 3: Sacrifice and Salvation God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament, using poetic words and imagery, to describe the hope of salvation. This week, we contemplate prophecies pointing toward the Messiah—the servant, the light, the promised one God’s people longed for. Read Isaiah 52:13–53:12. During Advent, it is easy to sentimentalize the Incarnation.
受苦的神
阅读：以赛亚书52:13–53:12 在将临期间，人们容易带着感情绘声绘色地讲述道成肉身的故事。我们把取了肉身的神想象成一个婴孩，母亲陪伴左右；我们期待祂成为“奇妙策士”和“和平之君”（赛9:6）。这些确实是耶稣身份和人性的真实方面，当然也是每年这个时候合适的圣经主题。但以赛亚在他最后一首“仆人之歌”中的预言性话语——描述了神的一位即将到来的仆人，他将被发现成为列国信实的领袖——这加深了我们对基督道成肉身的生命的理解：耶稣降生是为了受苦和受死。 耶稣的荣耀之路并非一帆风顺。祂不但没有被世人接受，反而被人藐视和厌弃（53:3）。祂没有被尊为王，而是被刑罚和杀害（53:5，9）。这不仅仅是人类的悲剧——这实则是神隐秘计划中的一部分（53:10）。基督自愿受苦表明祂不仅愿意作我们的大祭司，也愿意作献祭的羔羊。 这个深刻的现实不仅仅是一个神学概念。耶稣在肉身中作为人受苦，亲身参与了所有人类经历中最痛苦、最黑暗的方面。祂知道什么是面容憔悴、形容枯槁 (52:14)、何谓受欺压、被剪除...
奇異的潔凈恩典
閱讀：馬太福音3:1-12 福音書作者馬太用一個簡單的時間戳記敘了施洗約翰事工的歷史背景：“那時”（馬3:1）。在讀前一章（以及《路加福音》第3章）時可以知道那時正是狂妄統治者的時代——比如大希律王，他在嗜血的憤怒中殺死了伯利恆的小男孩。希律死後，他的兒子掌權。此時的約瑟依然擔心家人的安危，因此舉家去了拿撒勒，“這是要應驗先知所說‘他將稱為拿撒勒人’的話了。”（太2:23）。 《馬太福音》堅持這是要應驗神的預言。“神說——它就成了，”馬太一次又一次地這樣強調。這樣的認識當然並非不言自明，因為彼時可見的現實表明邪惡似乎正在獲勝。比如當嬰兒死於邪惡君王之手時，我們真的可以相信天國近了，就像約翰所傳講的那樣嗎（3:2）？ 施洗約翰恰如《舊約》中以利亞的形象，身穿駱駝毛，吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。以利亞是另一位在邪惡政權下侍奉神的先知。亞哈王和希律一樣，也因野心而殺戮。在以利亞戲劇性地戰勝了巴力的先知后，他的王后耶洗別為以利亞的項上人頭開了個價。...
Old Testament Israel Can Do No Wrong. Except When It Can’t Do Anything Right.
Every Christian storyteller has a dilemma. When you want to communicate the history of your people—your church, your denomination, or the church as a whole—how do you frame it? As an encouraging story of corporate faith, courage, obedience, and success? Or a chastening story of God’s faithfulness and mercy despite corporate sin, confusion, and stubbornness? If you’re casting vision or fundraising, you’ll want the former. Everybody likes hearing their victories celebrated and their sacrifices noted.
嚴厲的福音
閱讀：路加福音3:7-18 施洗約翰火熱的悔改佈道並不是許多福音派教會所宣講的“入門福音”。約翰希望人們不僅僅承認自己的罪，相信耶穌，並承認他們信祂。按照這位施洗者的說法，悔改帶來生命的改變。去愛貧乏的人！說實話！用誠信營生！它對淺嘗輒止的宗教涉獵說“不”。報名參加約翰的洗禮是讓自己完全順服在精神和道德的凈化中。按照路加的說法，這些話正是那“福音”（第18節）！ 順服上帝一直是以色列被揀選的核心。他們作為神選民的地位並不取決於他們的宗教表現。相反，他們作為神寶貴產業的身份為他們順服神的使命奠定了基礎。通過亞伯拉罕的家庭，神的子民將在這世上成為神的代表：神的聖潔、憐憫，祂的堅定的愛和祂的信實。“你們要歸我做祭司的國度，為聖潔的國民。”神在頒布十誡前對摩西如此說（出19:6）。但以色列沒在此揀選中失敗了，陷入了偶像崇拜並被逐出應許之地。 儘管神的子民最終返回了這片土地，但羅馬的佔領依然帶來流放的威脅。因此，當約翰談到悔改和歸回時，以色列人不禁想起神的祝福和對他們的呼召——人群蜂擁而來。...
冉冉升起之子
阅读：路加福音1:67-79 按照我们教会的教派传统，在每天的晨祷中，我们以撒迦利亚之歌作为祷词来祷告。每当新一天开始，我们如此或说或唱：“清晨的日光从高天临到我们，要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，把我们的脚引到平安的路上。”（路1:78-79）。 任何不辞辛劳早起爬上小山或塔楼、为要看看太阳如何燃烧着从地平线上探出来、再慢慢鼓胀成一个雀跃着的炽热球体的人，都会明白将日出寓意希望是多么自然而然。冉冉升起的太阳说：“无论昨天发生了什么，今天都是新的可能。越过黑暗有生命，历经纷争享平安。” 也许这个比喻最有名的用法来自旧约先知玛拉基，他把太阳描绘成一只和平的鸟，在它飞过的路径、向抬头仰望它的人洒下怜悯。在尤金·毕德生（Eugene Peterson）令人难忘的意译版本中，《玛拉基书》4:2如此写道：“为你，日出！公义的太阳将临于敬畏我名之人，医治将焕发自它的翅膀”（译自《信息版圣经》（The Message），原文：For you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name,...
祂不会撇下我们
将临期周二：罪与救赎 在让人们准备好迎接弥赛亚方面，施洗约翰发挥了关键作用。 本周，我们会思考《圣经》对约翰的目的是怎么说的。 我们反思他关于罪和悔改的教导能如何影响我们自己的基督徒门徒生活。 阅读：玛拉基书3:1-4 今天我们读旧约的最后一卷书，就在我们翻到《马太福音》第一章之前。以色列人从巴比伦流亡归来，耶路撒冷的圣殿已经重建，但他们与神的关系依然……挺复杂。 《玛拉基书》围绕着神的一系列宣告而构建，以色列人对这些宣告则提出了质疑和控诉。随着这些对话的展开，以色列持续的罪恶和背叛被展露无遗，而这位以色列的神的坚定品格也完全彰显。我们今天阅读的第3章中的段落，是从以色列人恳求公义的神显现（2:17）、而神则应许派遣一位使者为主预备道路（3:1）开始的。在那之后，神自己要来到圣殿。这是多么充满希望的应许！拣选以色列人为祂宝贵子民的神要来，再次显明祂对自己子民的承诺。...
Side B Christians Like Me Are An Asset Not a Thre...
After a recent conference, a gay friend reached out to me with a heartbroken message: “I thought the yoke of Jesus was supposed to be light.” Some leaders responding to the event, he said, were “making it sound like faithfulness to Jesus either means Jesus changing something that he hasn’t changed yet” or “God really [wanting] me to lie to people and just say that I’m not gay anymore.” He felt like crying, he said.
Singleness Lessons I Learned from the Early Churc...
Lately, Christians have cast their minds and social media musings back to the early church on the topics of singleness and sexuality. Much of the conversation centers on past spiritual practices of celibacy and claims about what early church leaders taught about singleness. Some suggest that early church leaders enthusiastically ‘tore down’ the centrality of marriage within the church.
光之城
將臨期週一: 基督的再來和永遠的統治 本週，我們專注於基督的複臨：我們對基督再來的確切盼望。我們探索《聖經》對基督的大能和公義審判的描繪，以及我們在新創造中與上帝一起等待的榮耀未來。 閱讀：啟示錄21:9-22:5 當我從英格蘭搬到蘇格蘭居住時，我發現其中的一件難事是冬天的日光時間變短了。陰天的時候彷彿天從未亮過。我覺得這會讓人有些沮喪，但有些人被其嚴重影響，不得不坐在模仿陽光的燈下。我們的身體健康依賴於陽光；心靈的健康也是這樣。 毫不奇怪，在許多文化中人們崇拜太陽，有時也崇拜月亮。為什麼晴天會讓我們精神振奮？為什麼很多人喜歡曬太陽？科學證實，我們的星球與太陽的距離，以及它提供的光和熱，對地球上的生命至關重要。 在創世之中，神的祝福通過受造物傳遞給我們，其中就包括陽光。在末后的更新中，我們將生活在神的直接同在中，就像我們在白晝沉浸於日光一樣——並且將不再有黑夜。 想象一下：一座充滿光的城市。把它想象成一顆璀璨耀眼的水晶寶石（啟21:11），光線從第19-20...
We Begin at the End
Advent Week 1: Christ’s Return and Eternal Reign This week, we focus on the Second Advent: our sure hope in Christ’s return. We explore Scripture’s portrayal of Christ’s power and righteous judgment, and the glorious future we await with God in the new creation. Read Titus 2:11–14 and Revelation 1:7–8. We begin at the end. Not at the manger. Not with the Magi offering gifts of worship or the shepherds rejoicing in wonder. Not with Mary’s visit to Elizabeth or Joseph’s angelic dream.
The Gospel of Advent: Good News for the Season
“I bring you good news ...” (Luke 2:10). With these words, the angel began a stunning gospel proclamation: The Savior, the promised Messiah, the Lord, had been born! When we think of the gospel—of the Good News—we rightly think of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We think of our sin, of Jesus’ sacrifice, of the salvation and eternal life Christ offer. In this sense, it’s only natural to think of Easter as the “gospel” holiday—it marks the central events that make our redemption possible.
그는 우리를 혼자 남겨두지 않을 것입니다.
여기를 클릭해서 '성탄절에 전하는 복음' 묵상 본문을 다운 받으세요. 죄와 구속 세례 요한은 오실 메시아를 사람들이 맞이할 준비를 시키는 데 중요한 역할을 했습니다. 이번 주에 우리는 성경에 기록된 요한의 목적에 대해 생각해 봅니다. 죄와 회개에 대한 요한의 가르침이 주님의 제자로 사는 우리의 삶에 어떻게 영향을 미칠 수 있는지 묵상합니다. 오늘의 말씀: 말라기 3:1-4 오늘 우리는 마태복음 첫 장을 펴기 직전에 구약성경의 마지막 책을 읽었습니다. 이스라엘 사람들은 바빌론 포로 생활에서 돌아왔고, 예루살렘 성전은 다시 세워졌습니다. 하지만 하나님과 그들의 관계는 여전히 복잡합니다. 말라기는 하나님이 하시는 연속된 선언을 중심으로 구성되어 있습니다. 그리고 하나님의 이 선언에는 이스라엘 백성의 질문과 불평이 뒤따릅니다. 이러한 대화가 이어지면서, 이스라엘의 하나님의 변함없는 성품과 더불어, 이스라엘의 그치지 않는 죄와 반역이 드러납니다.
희망의 생김새
여기를 클릭해서 '성탄절에 전하는 복음' 묵상 본문을 다운 받으세요. 희생과 구원 하나님은 구원의 소망을 묘사하기 위해 구약의 선지자들을 통해 시적인 단어와 이미지를 사용하여 말씀하셨습니다. 이번 주에 우리는 하나님의 백성이 갈망하는 종, 빛, 약속된 메시아를 가리키는 예언에 관해 묵상합니다. 오늘의 말씀: 이사야 11:1-5; 예레미야 33:14-16 내게는 세 딸이 있습니다. 이 아이들을 찬찬히 바라볼 때마다 어떤 경이로움이 느껴집니다. 이처럼 온전한 하나의 세계―내 딸들의 삶과 정체성, 미래―가 어떻게 너무나도 작은 수정란에서 생겨났는지, 놀라움을 감출 수 없습니다. 인간 생명의 기적과 신비는 어떻게 가능할까요? 오직 하나님만이 아십니다. 선지자 이사야 시대부터 예레미야 시대까지 내려오면서, 북 왕국과 남 왕국의 이스라엘 백성은 그들의 죄에 대한 하나님의 심판으로 그들의 땅과 생명, 가족, 삶의 터전이 파괴되는 것을 경험했습니다. 결국에는 잘될 것이라는 희망은 전부 사라졌습니다.
어린양을 보라
여기를 클릭해서 '성탄절에 전하는 복음' 묵상 본문을 다운 받으세요. 죄와 구속 세례 요한은 오실 메시아를 사람들이 맞이할 준비를 시키는 데 중요한 역할을 했습니다. 이번 주에 우리는 성경에 기록된 요한의 목적에 대해 생각해 봅니다. 죄와 회개에 대한 요한의 가르침이 주님의 제자로 사는 우리의 삶에 어떻게 영향을 미칠 수 있는지 묵상합니다. 오늘의 말씀: 요한복음 1:29-34 구약성경에는 목자가 매우 많이 등장합니다. 아브라함도 목자였습니다. 야곱과 라헬, 모세, 다윗 왕, 선지자 아모스도 목자였습니다. 구약성경의 하나님 백성 공동체에는 양이 필요했기 때문에 목자는 중요한 일이었습니다. 그들은 하나님에게 희생제물을 바쳐야 할 요건을 충족시키기 위해 양이, 그것도 많은 양이 필요했습니다. 수많은 양들이 도살되는 것을 상상하면 우리는 불편합니다. 그 피비린내 나는 제물에 참여한 사람들은 또 얼마나 불편했을지 상상해 보십시오! 하지만 죄 때문에 하나님은 희생을 요구하셨습니다. 하나님은 양을 요구하셨습니다.
Amazing, Cleansing Grace
Advent Week 2: Sin and Redemption John the Baptist played a crucial role in preparing people for the Messiah. This week, we consider what Scripture says about John’s purpose. We reflect on how his teachings about sin and repentance can speak to our own lives of Christian discipleship. Read Matthew 3:1–12. The Gospel writer Matthew preserves the historical setting for John the Baptist’s ministry with a simple timestamp: “In those days” (v. 1).
The Ahmaud Arbery Case Prepares Me for Advent
As we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ this Advent, many of us have also been preparing our hearts for another story: the trial of the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery. On November 24, a court in Brunswick, Georgia delivered a verdict convicting them of murder. “I never thought this day would come,” said Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, outside the courthouse.
If a Social Issue Matters to God, the Church Should Be Praying About It
We live in a world full of public trauma and tragedy. Most mornings, we wake up to discover newsfeeds and social media accounts churning with fear, anger, guilt, and shame rooted in a long list of persistent social problems. In this age of ubiquitous information, our heads and hearts are quickly flooded by the rising waters of evil and injustice. A decade ago, I began to record every time I heard the statement “The church is so silent about X.” My anecdotal list is now very long.
希望的樣子
閱讀：以賽亞書11:1-5，耶利米書33:14-16 我有三個女兒，我常帶着驚奇打量她們。我無法想象整個世界——我女兒們的生活、身份和未來——會是從一個微觀的受精卵開始的。人類生命的奇迹和奧秘要怎樣成為可能？只有神知道。 從先知以賽亞的時代一直到耶利米的時代，南國和北國的以色列人經歷了土地、生命、家庭和生計的盡都毀滅，這是神對他們罪孽的審判。所有美好出路的希望都已破滅。一代代人以各種方式經歷了死亡，以至於他們無法相信情況有一天會發生改變。然而，他們仍然渴望有一位救世主來拯救他們，渴望一位彌賽亞從敵人的魔掌中把他們解救出來。 當希望消失不見，當他們作為遭欺壓的外來者、在滅了自己民族的帝國中生活時，先知以賽亞和稍晚一點的先知耶利米都預言了希望。透過他們，神傳達了這個希望的應許，並將它描述為“從耶西的本必發一條”，就像“大衛公義的苗裔長起來”（賽11:1；耶33:15）。 在神應許的希望出現之前，好幾個世代過去了。然而，藉着我們的主耶穌基督的降臨，這應許終於成為現實。當一代又一代神的子民疑惑神是否真的會出現時，就在這恰好的時間，耶穌來了。耶穌，這位...
Bethlehem Baptist Leaders Clash Over ‘Coddling’ and ‘Cancel Culture’
This was supposed to be a landmark year for Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, as the historic congregation, best known for John Piper’s 33-year tenure as pastor, marked its 150th anniversary. Bethlehem College and Seminary (BCS)—which grew from the church’s lay training institute to an accredited program—also has reason to celebrate. This fall, the school will inaugurate its second president, 10 years after its first graduating class.
Why Good Friday Is Still Dark
The events of Good Friday are utterly breath-taking. We celebrate nothing less than this: "that God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross" (Col. 1:20). We are talking here about something that happens at the very foundations of the universe.
Mary’s Perfume Points Us Toward the Cross
“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3). In a scene of generous hospitality and intimate fellowship, Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus have gathered in the afterglow of Lazarus’ return to life (John 12:1-11). Lazarus is reclining at the table with Jesus. Martha, ever the active servant, is serving food.
Yes, Mary Knew
With elegant simplicity, the apostle John writes, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). It is clear, it is straightforward, and it is almost unbelievably strange. The conviction that God became man, not as a mere theological concept but as a concrete event in the history of the world, is at the heart of the Christian faith. This is the mystery of the Incarnation.
Are Our Christmas Stories Missing the Most Important Person - the Holy Ghost?
Our Christmas cards, carols, and crèches delight in the characters of the Christmas story. In pageants, there are a lot of parts to go around: Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus; the angels, shepherds, and Magi; perhaps even Elizabeth and Zechariah, Simeon and Anna. But for all the times and ways the story is told, one key participant is almost impossible to find: the Holy Spirit. This omission is particularly noticeable in our music.
The Holy Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future
Our Christmas cards, carols, and crèches delight in the characters of the Christmas story. In pageants, there are a lot of parts to go around: Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus; the angels, shepherds, and Magi; perhaps even Elizabeth and Zechariah, Simeon and Anna. But for all the times and ways the story is told, one key participant is almost impossible to find: the Holy Spirit. This omission is particularly noticeable in our music.
Three Views: Why Confess Sins in Worship When It Seems So Rot...
To Guide Us In Between Kathleen Norris The value of corporate confession comes simply from the fact that we are doing it with people—those we've been glad to share ministry with, and those we find more difficult to appreciate. A person in the next pew may have slighted us; we may have just learned that a person across the aisle was insulted by something we said. Corporate confession is a time to air it all out and reflect on our regrettable tendency to harm one another.
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