Have you stepped into the boat? | 你踏入那艘船了吗？

When is the last time you took a boat trip with Jesus?
你上次跟随耶稣进行乘船之旅是什么时候呢？

It is natural to want to follow a superstar at the height of their popularity. After Jesus’ awe-inspiring Sermon on the Mount and His display of supernatural power as He spectacularly healed the sick, massive amounts of people were clamoring to follow Him. So many people were running after Jesus that He ordered His disciples to jump in a boat to go to the other side of the lake. But right before they jumped in the get-away-boat, two men approached Jesus. Maybe they were thinking they wanted to get in that boat with Him. But Jesus knew what was waiting for Him in the middle of that lake. A deadly storm was brewing. So He wanted to make sure that they truly wanted to follow Him.

想要追随一位处于人气鼎盛期的超级明星是很自然的一件事。当耶稣完成他振奋人心的登山宝训，并且通过神奇地治愈病人而展示出超能力时，一大群人喧嚷着要来跟随耶稣。有太多人聚集在他们周围，耶稣吩咐门徒跳入船内并渡到湖的另一边去。正当他们进入逃离之船时，有两个人来到耶稣跟前。可能他们也想着要跟随耶稣进到那艘船。但是耶稣知道在湖中央等待他的是什么。一场致命的风暴正在酝酿，所以他想确认这两个人是真心想要跟随他。

To be a disciple, you’ve got to follow Jesus into the boat
要成为一名门徒，你得跟随耶稣进入那艘船

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22 NIV

耶稣见许多人围着他，就吩咐渡到对岸去。有一个文士进前来对他说：“老师，你无论往哪里去，我都要跟从你。”耶稣说：“狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，人子却没有枕头的地方。”又有一个门徒对耶稣说：“主啊，容许我先回去埋葬我的父亲。”耶稣说：“让死人埋葬他们的死人，你跟从我吧！”
马太福音 8:18-22

The first man who came to Jesus was a religious man who had deeply studied God’s law. He acknowledged Jesus as a great teacher and said He would go anywhere with Jesus. But Jesus must have known this man’s heart; was he willing to give up the comforts of his own home? We don’t know how the man responded, but no more of the conversation is recorded. Immediately another man speaks up also with the desire to follow Jesus, but he just needs a little time. Maybe Jesus was beckoning him to jump in the boat. But the man hesitated as he looked back at his family and what he would be leaving behind.

第一个来到耶稣跟前的是一位熟知律法的文士。他认识到耶稣是一位伟大的老师，他说他愿意跟随耶稣去到任何地方。但是耶稣一定是看到了他的内心，他会愿意离开自己舒服的家吗？我们不知道 这个文士是如何回答的，但是再没有关于这段对话的记载了。紧接着另外一个人也表示要跟随耶稣，只是他需要一点时间。可能耶稣准许他进入船内，但是他犹豫了，因为他回头看到自己的家人和他即将要舍弃的一切。

To truly follow Jesus, one must look ahead and never look back. The first test of being a disciple is: are you willing to leave a life living for yourself behind? Will you follow Jesus wherever He leads you? Jesus knew what lay ahead in that boat. If any disciple was looking backwards as they stepped in the boat, they would never make it. A disciple who looked back at comfortable home or family traditions would survive neither the impending storm nor the demonic encounter awaiting them on the other side of the lake.

想要真正跟随耶稣，就必须向前看，永不回头。作为门徒的第一项测试就是：你愿意离开以往那为自己而活的生活吗？你愿意跟随耶稣去到任何地方吗？耶稣知道那艘船的前头等待着的是什么。如果进入船内的任一门徒往回看，他们就都无法完成行程。不想放弃舒适的家或者家庭传统的门徒，既无法在即将到来的风暴当中存活，也无法在湖那边的凶险的境遇当中存活。

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25 NIV

于是耶稣对门徒说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起自己的十字架来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的，要丧失生命；凡为我丧失生命的，要得着生命。
马太福音 16:24-25

Is there anything holding you back from getting in the boat with Jesus? It is really hard to stand with one foot in the boat and one foot on shore. The boat will never get anywhere with you standing like that and if you do that for too long, chances are you will fall in the lake!

有什么牵绊着你让你无法与耶稣踏入那艘船吗？一只脚站在船内，一只脚站在岸边真的很困难。如果那样站着，那艘船永远无法带你去任何地方。而且如果那样站着的时间过长，大概率是你会掉进湖里。

To follow Jesus into the storms of life, have faith
跟随耶稣进入到生活的风暴，要有信心

Stepping into the boat is, well, the first step. Once you follow Jesus into that boat, the real adventure begins.
踏入那艘船，其实是第一步。一旦你踏入那艘船，真正的冒险之旅就开始了。

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:23-27 NIV

耶稣上了船，门徒跟着他。海里忽然起了猛烈的风暴，以致船几乎被波浪淹没。耶稣却睡着了。门徒去叫醒他，说：“主啊，救命啊，我们快没命啦！”耶稣说：“你们这些小信的人哪！为什么胆怯呢？”于是他起来，斥责风和海，风和海就大大平静了。众人惊讶地说：“这是怎样的一个人？连风和海都听从他？”
马太福音 8:23-27

Jesus was the first one to step into the boat. The disciples followed. (Note this little life lesson: always let Jesus be the first one to get into the boat!) As soon as they were underway two things happened: Jesus went to sleep, and a tremendous storm overtook them. Jesus may have had no place to rest His head that was a comfortable home, but He knew how to take a power nap wherever He was! As He was sleeping, a storm came that was so fierce that the seasoned fishermen thought they were going to drown. In their fear they called for Jesus to save them. Before He saved them, He asked His disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

耶稣是第一个进到船内的人，门徒们跟在后面（注意这个人生课程：永远让耶稣首先进入船内！）。一启程就发生了两件事情，一件是耶稣睡着了，另一件是巨大的风暴淹没了他们。耶稣当时可能并没有一个舒适的环境可以休息，但是他无论在哪里都知道如何打盹儿补充精力。他睡着的时候，一场猛烈的风暴来了，猛烈到连经验丰富的渔夫都认为他们马上要没命了。在惧怕当中他们呼唤耶稣救他们。在救他们之前，耶稣问道：“你们这些小信的人哪，为什么胆怯呢？”

Without faith, it is easy to fear the hardships of life. But when you develop your faith through reading God’s Word and daily trusting God, fear will shrink and faith will grow. Maybe this little boat ride was a test for the disciples to increase their faith. Jesus never left them in that boat, but He was quietly sleeping nearby. There may be times that it seems that Jesus is absent from your storm. But know that He is always near and hears you when you call.

没有信心会很容易惧怕生命中的困难。但是当你通过阅读神话语并且每天信靠神来锻造你的信心时，恐惧就会缩减，信心就会增长。也许这段乘船之旅是给门徒的一个考验，借此来增长他们的信心。耶稣并没有留他们独自在船上，而是在附近安静地睡着。也许我们有时会觉得风暴来临时耶稣似乎不在身边。但是要记得他永远与我们同在，当我们呼求他时，他是听得到的。

As soon as the disciples called, Jesus acted, and the men were amazed. Had they never gotten in the boat, or had there been no storm, they never would have seen his power and authority exercised in such a magnificent way. You may dread the storms coming, but they are opportunities for you to activate your faith and see the mighty hand of God work.

门徒一呼求，耶稣马上就采取行动。人们都甚惊奇。假如他们未曾进入到船里，或者风暴未曾出现，那么他们就不会见证到耶稣 通过如此大能的方式展现出他的力量和权柄。你可能会害怕即将来临的风暴，但是它们却是激发你信心，见证神大能的机会。

Following Jesus may not always be what you were expecting
跟随耶稣可能并不总如你所预期

Once they made it across the lake through the storm to the safety of the other shore, the disciples must have been both exhausted and exhilarated. After such an epic journey, I wonder if the disciples were anticipating a sort of important meeting. Why else would Jesus have traveled all the way across the lake in a major storm if not for a significant appointment?

他们经过风暴，穿越湖泊来到安全的对岸，门徒们一定是筋疲力尽，却也极度兴奋的。经历过如此艰难的旅程，我猜想门徒们此时肯定期盼着一场重要的会面。如果不是因为这个重要会面，那为什么耶稣会要穿越如此巨大的风暴来到这里呢？

But as soon as they stepped out of the boat and on to the shore, Jesus and the disciples encountered two men that no one wanted to be near. They were demon-possessed men who lived on the outskirts of society. Not exactly VIPs. Even worse, after the encounter with these two men, the entire town had no regard for Jesus and even asked Him to leave.

然而当他们一下船来到岸上时，耶稣和门徒就遇见两个 没有人想要接近的人。他们是两个被鬼附的人，住在郊区。这种可不算是贵宾待遇。更糟的是，跟这两人会面之后，全城的人都不欢迎耶稣，央求他离开。

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
Matthew 8:28-34 NIV

耶稣渡到对岸去，到加大拉人的地区，有两个被鬼附的人从坟墓迎着他走来，他们极其凶猛，甚至没有人敢从那条路经过。他们喊着说：“　神的儿子，你为什么干扰我们？时候还没有到，你就上这里来叫我们受苦吗？”离他们很远，有一大群猪正在吃食。鬼就央求耶稣说：“若要把我们赶出去，就打发我们进入猪群吧！”耶稣对他们说：“去吧！”鬼就出来，进入猪群。一转眼，整群猪都闯下山崖，投在海里，淹死了。放猪的就逃进城去，把这一切事和被鬼附的人所遭遇的都告诉众人。全城的人都出来迎见耶稣，见了他以后，就央求他离开他们的地区。
马太福音 8:28-34

Jesus and His disciples crossed a lake and survived a storm so that Jesus could set free two men that were completely rejected by society. So rejected that even when they were healed, the entire town begged the Healer Jesus to leave.

耶稣和他的门徒们成功穿越猛烈风暴来到对岸，只为将两位完全被社会拒绝的人释放出来。即使这两个人被医治了，耶稣仍被整座城的人拒绝，他们央求耶稣这位医治者离开。

This means that our incredible Savior Jesus will cross a tumultuous sea to reach the ones who need to be rescued. Are you willing to follow Him across the rough waves arriving at the dark places to meet the seemingly undesirable ones? Jesus will go to the places where He is not appreciated and even rejected. His followers who will journey with Him will have the privilege of seeing those bound in chains be set free and transformed.

这意味着，我们奇妙的救主会穿过狂暴的海面 到那些有需要被救治的人那里。你愿意跟随耶稣穿过巨浪抵达那些黑暗的地方，去见那些似乎被社会拒绝的人们吗？耶稣会去到那些不感激他甚至会拒绝他的地方。他的跟随者会很荣幸地见证到那些被锁链束缚而后被释放和转变的人们。

Jesus’ followers have the honor of joining His mission
耶稣的追随者有荣幸加入到他的大使命

If you are a follower of Jesus who has stepped into the boat, endured the storm and reached the lost, you will have the joy of being a part of the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ mission statement was taken from Isaiah 61. He recited it one day while in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth.

如果你是那位进入到船内的追随者，忍受风暴，救助失丧的，你会有作为完成耶稣大使命一员的喜乐。耶稣的大使命宣言来自于以赛亚书61章。一个安息日，他在拿撒勒的会堂里复述了一遍。

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:16-21 NIV

耶稣来到拿撒勒，就是他长大的地方。在安息日，照他素常的规矩进了会堂，站起来要念圣经。有人把以赛亚先知的书交给他，他就打开，找到一处写着：“主的灵在我身上，因为他用膏膏我，叫我传福音给贫穷的人；差遣我宣告：被掳的得释放，失明的得看见，受压迫的得自由，宣告　神悦纳人的禧年。”于是他把书卷起来，交还给管理人，就坐下。会堂里的人都定睛看他。耶稣对他们说：“你们听见的这段经文，今天已经应验了。”
路加福音 4:16-21

Have you accepted the call to become a disciple of Jesus? If you have received the gift of salvation, now it is time to step into the boat with Jesus. Then by faith brave the storms and be motivated by the compassion and love of Jesus to go to those who are lost. It will be the greatest adventure of your life.

你接受呼召成为耶稣的门徒了吗？如果你已经得着救恩的礼物，现在是时候跟随耶稣踏到那艘船了，然后在风暴中增长信心，因着耶稣的怜悯和恩慈去得着那些失丧的灵魂。这将会是你人生中最大的冒险之旅。