As we read our Bibles, we discover that there are two kinds of storms: the storm of correction, when God discipling us; and the storm perfection, when God helps us to grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobed God and had to be corrected. The disciples were in a storm because they obeded to Christ and had to be perfected. Jesus had tested them in a storm before, when He was in the boat with them (Matthew 8:23-27). But now he tested them being out of the boat.
當我們閱讀聖經時,會發現有兩種風暴:一種是管教的風暴,是上帝管教我們的時候;另一種是成全的風暴,是神幫助我們成長的時候。約拿遭遇風暴是因為他悖逆神,需要接受管教。門徒遭遇風暴是因為他們順服基督,需要被成全。耶穌之前也曾在風暴中與他們同在船上時考驗過他們(太 8:23-27)。但這一次,祂在離開船的情況下考驗他們。
Many Christians have the mistaken idea that obedience to God's will will produces "smooth sailing." But this is not true. "In the world you shall have tribulation." Jesus promised (John 16:33). When we find ourselves in the storm because we have obeyd the Lord, we must remember that He brought us here and He care for us.
許多基督徒誤以為順服上帝的旨意就能一帆風順。但這並非事實。 「在世上,你們有苦難。」耶穌應許道(約翰福音 16:33)。當我們因順服主而身處風暴之中時,我們必須記住,是祂把我們帶到這裡,祂也眷顧我們。
"Jesus is praying for me." This entire scene is a dramtic picture of the church and the Lord today. God's people are on the sea, in the midst of a storm. Yet Jesus Christ is in Heaven “making intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). He saw the disciples and knew their plight (Mark 6:48), just as He sees and knows our needs. Jesus feels the burden that we feel and knows what we are going through (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus is praying for His disciples, that their faith will not be fail.
"耶穌正在為我禱告。"這幅畫面生動地描繪了今日教會與主的關係。神的子民如同在海上,身處風暴之中。然而,耶穌基督卻在天上「替我們祈求」(羅馬書 8:34)。祂看見門徒,知道他們的困境(可 6:48),正如祂看見並了解我們的需要。耶穌感同身受我們所承受的重擔,也知道我們正在經歷的一切(希伯來書 4:14-16)。耶穌正在為祂的門徒禱告,求神使他們的信心不動搖。
If you knew that Jesus Christ was in the next room, praying for you, would it not give you new courage to endure the new storm and do His will? Of course it would. He isn't in the next room, but He is in Heaven interceding for you. He sees your need, He knows your fears, and He is in control of the situation.
如果你知道耶穌基督在隔壁房間,為你禱告,難道不會帶給你新的勇氣去面對新的風暴,並遵行祂的旨意嗎?當然會。祂雖然不在隔壁房間,但祂在天上為你代求。祂看見你的需要,祂知道你的恐懼,祂也掌管一切。
Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. “I will be with you when you walk across the water” (Isaiah 43:2). Jesus may not come just because we ask Him, because He knows when we need Him most. Jesus waited until the boat was far from the riverbank and all hope had vanished before He came. Jesus was testing His disciples' faith; this meant stripping away their masks.
耶稣总是在我们生命的风暴中来到我们的身边。“当你走过水面时,我会与你同在”(赛 43:2)。耶稣可能不是当我们要祂来时, 祂就应该来,因为祂知道我们什幺时候最需要祂。耶稣等到船远远的离开河岸, 而人的希望都消失了, 祂就来了。耶稣正在测试祂门徒的信心,这意味着剥掉人的面具。
Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show His disciples what they feared most (the sea). This was the stepping stone for Jesus to come among them. We often fear difficult experiences in life (such as surgery or the pain of losing a loved one), unaware that these events bring Jesus Christ closer to us.
为什幺耶稣要在水上行走?要显示给祂的门徒看到他们最怕的事情(大海)这是耶稣来到他们中间的台阶. 我们常常害怕生活中的困难经历(如动手术或丧亲之痛), 却不知道这事把耶稣基督带来, 使祂离我们更近了。
Why didn't they recognize Jesus? Because they weren't looking for Him. If they had waited for Him in faith, they would have recognized Him immediately. Instead, they drew the wrong conclusion, judging by appearances, thinking He was a ghost. Fear and faith cannot coexist in the heart, because fear always blinds us to the Lord's presence.
他们为什幺认不出耶稣? 因为他们不是在寻找祂。若他们一直以信心等祂,他们会马上认出祂。相反,他们提出了错误的结论, 从外表上看, 以为祂是幽灵。恐惧和信心不能同时存在于心里,因为害怕总是蒙着眼睛看不见主的同在。
“He will help me grow.” This is the whole purpose of the storm—to help His disciples grow in their faith. After all, Jesus will one day leave them, and they will face many storms in their minstries. They had to learn to trust Him even though He was not present with them, and even when it looked as though He was not present with them, and even though it looked as though He did not care.
“耶稣会帮助我成长。” 这就是暴风雨产生的目的,帮助祂门徒在信心上的成长。毕竟,耶稣有一天会离开他们,他们在宣教事工上将面临许多风暴。他们必须学即使耶稣没有与他们在一起时,也要信靠祂. 甚至看起来像耶稣并不照顾他们。
Now, our center interest shift to Peter. Before we criticize Peter for sinking, let's honor him for his magnificient demonstration of faith. He dared to be different. Anyone can sit in a boat and watch. But it takes a person o real faith to leave the boat and walk on the water.
现在, 我们的兴趣中心转移到彼得。在我们要批评彼得下沉之前, 让我表扬他伟大信心的显现。他敢于与人不同。任何人都可以坐在船上并且观看。但真正有信心的人, 敢于离开船而在水上行走。
What caused Peter to sink? His faith began to waver because he took his eyes off the Lord and began to look at the circumstance around him. Why did you doubt ?" gaze away from the Lord and began to look at his surroundings. Jesus asked Peter, “Why do you doubt?” Jesus asked (Matthew 14:31). This word can be translated “doubt” carries the meaning of “standing uncertainly at two ways.” Peter started out with great faith but ended up with little faith because he saw two ways instead of one.
是什幺原因使彼得下沉? 他的信心开始动摇了. 因为他把目光从主那里移开, 并开始去看周围的环境。耶稣问彼得说,“你为什幺要怀疑?” (太 14:31)。 “怀疑”这字词可翻译为 “站立在两个方向的路不确定的心态。” 彼得一开始很有信心,但后来却没有信心,因为他向两个方向看, 而不是专注仰望主。
We must give Peter credit for knowing that he was sinking and for crying out to the Lord for help. when he knew he was sinking. He cried out when he was "beginning to sink," and not when he was drowning. Perhaps this incident came to Peter' mind years later when he wrote in his first epistle: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open onto their prayers" (1 Peter 3:12).
在彼得知道他要下沉时, 并向主呼求帮助, 在这里我们要给予他应得的赞赏。当他 “开始下沉” 时,他就呼求主的帮助, 而不是当他被溺水的时候。也许在这事发生多年后, 彼得在他的彼得前书中写道 : “因为主的眼睛看顾义人,主的耳听他们的祷告”(彼前3:12)
“Jesus will help me grow.” This is the purpose of the stormto help His disciples grow in faith. After all, Jesus will one day leave them, and they will face —many storms in their missionary work. They must learn to trust in Him even when Jesus is not with them, even when it seems as if Jesus is not caring for them.
这种经历对彼得来说是很艰难,但它对彼得自己和认识主的成长有极大的帮助。生活的风暴不容易面对,但它们是必要的。它们教导我们无论在任何情况下, 只要信靠耶稣基督和顺服祂所说的话。谚语说得好,“信心不是因为有证据,但顺服却是不顾后果。”
Now, our focus shifts to Peter. Before we criticize Peter’s sinking, let me praise his display of great faith. He dared to be different. Anyone can sit in a boat and watch. But a truly faithful person dares to leave the boat and walk on the water.
“耶稣要看我做到。” 如果祂说,“来吧,” 那就是表明一定能达到预期的目的。既然耶稣是 “我们信心的创始成终者”(来 12:2),无论祂已经开始什幺,祂都要完成。我们可能会失败,但最终,上帝会成功。耶稣和彼得一起走在水面上, 一同上了船。
What caused Peter to sink? His faith began to waver. Because he turned his gaze away from the Lord and began to look at his surroundings. Jesus asked Peter, “Why do you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). The word “doubt” can be translated as “an uncertain mindset, standing on two paths.” Peter started with faith, but later lost it because he looked in two directions instead of focusing on the Lord.
Peter deserves praise for crying out to the Lord for help when he knew he was sinking. He cried out for the Lord's help when he "began to sink," not when he was drowning. Perhaps many years later, Peter wrote in his 1 Peter: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayers" (1 Peter 3:12).
彼得的经历结果证明是对他自己和其它门徒的祝福。当他们看到了耶稣基督的大能,祂征服且平静了风暴,他们只能跪拜, 并敬拜祂。当耶稣平息第一场风暴时(太8:23-27),门徒说:“这是怎样的人?” 但是, 现在他们明确的见证祂是,“祢是上帝的儿子!”
门徒帮助耶稣喂饱了五千人,然后上帝允许他们经历一场风暴。在使徒行传中,他们赢得了五千人(徒4:4),然后是迫害的风暴开始。毫无疑惑的, 彼得和门徒们回忆起他们的与主共同经历风暴, 并获得了勇气。
这神迹放大了耶稣基督的王权。事实上,当马太写下彼得的要求时,“请祢命我去,” 他用的是希腊词,意思是 “王的命令。” 彼得知道耶稣基督是自然万物的王,包括风和海浪。祂的话就是律法和原则, 必须遵守。
船在迦百农和伯赛大附近的革尼撒勒(Gennesaret)的地方靠岸,并且耶稣在这里医治了许多人。这些人是否知道耶稣经历了一场风暴后, 才来到此处满足他们的需求吗?我们还记得耶稣忍受了审判的风暴, 来拯救我们的灵魂(诗42:7)吗?耶稣为我们忍受了风暴,令我们可能永远不要面对上帝的审判。我们应该像祂的门徒一样,在祂脚前跪拜,承认耶稣是万王之王和万主之主.
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