Don’t miss this chance || 切勿错失良机

This Spiritual Waimai is a part of a series entitled Mission Accomplished: the mission of Jesus Christ as told by Matthew and now lived out by you and me.

这篇属灵外卖是“完成的使命”系列文章之一，这个由马太福音所述耶稣基督的使命，现在要由你我活出来。

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Matthew 14:1-12 NIV

那时，分封的王希律听见耶稣的名声，就对臣仆说：“这是施洗的约翰从死里复活，所以这些异能从他里面发出来。”起先希律为他兄弟腓力的妻子希罗底的缘故，把约翰拿住锁在监里。因为约翰曾对他说：“你娶这妇人是不合理的。”希律就想要杀他，只是怕百姓，因为他们以约翰为先知。到了希律的生日，希罗底的女儿在众人面前跳舞，使希律欢喜。希律就起誓，应许随她所求的给她。女儿被母亲所使，就说：“请把施洗约翰的头放在盘子里，拿来给我。”王便忧愁，但因他所起的誓，又因同席的人，就吩咐给她。于是打发人去，在监里斩了约翰，把头放在盘子里，拿来给了女子，女子拿去给她母亲。约翰的门徒来，把尸首领去埋葬了，就去告诉耶稣。
马太福音 14:1-12

Herod: A life of rejecting God’s call to repentance
希律：拒绝神呼召悔改的生命

Herod Antipas was a man of great influence who was given the opportunity to hear God’s message but rejected it. His father, Herod the Great, had also rejected with great force God’s message. During Herod the Great’s reign in Jerusalem, a star appeared heralding the birth of a king. Wisemen from the east came to Jerusalem in search of that king. Before Herod the Great stood an opportunity that could change his life. Would he seek this newborn king and worship Him? Instead of receiving the good news of great joy, he had all of the baby boys in Bethlehem killed in hopes of destroying the newborn king who Herod the Great feared would threaten his rule. The newborn king of course was King Jesus.

希律·安提帕具有强大的影响力，他有机会听到神的信息，却又拒绝了此信息。他的父亲，大希律王，也曾极力拒绝神的信息。在希律王统治耶路撒冷期间，有一颗星显现，预表着一位君王的诞生。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷寻找这位王。一个改变希律王生命的机会摆在了他面前。他会去寻找这位新生的王并敬拜他吗？希律王并没有接受这个大喜的好消息，而是杀尽了伯利恒所有的男婴，希望能除灭那位新生的君王，希律王担心他会威胁到自己的统治。这位新生的君王当然就是耶稣。

Herod Antipas succeeded his father Herod the Great. He too was presented with an opportunity that would change his life. Just like his father, he rejected it and the result was more death. The death of John the Baptist, the cousin of King Jesus.

希律·安提帕接续父亲希律王之位。他也得到了一个改变生命的机会。和他的父亲一样，他也拒绝了，结果是造成更多的死亡，就是施洗约翰之死，他是君王耶稣的堂兄。

Before John’s seemingly senseless death, he boldly preached to Herod Antipas the only message John ever preached to anyone. And he preached it to everyone: repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. Herod Antipas didn’t like this message. Especially because he was living an immoral lifestyle. He had taken his own brother’s wife as his mistress. John publicly rebuked Herod Antipas for this. But instead of repenting, Herod had John thrown in jail.

在约翰看似徒然的死亡之前，他大胆地向希律·安提帕传讲了一个信息，也就是约翰向众人传讲的唯一信息。他向众人传讲，天国近了，你们应当悔改。希律·安提帕不喜欢这个信息，尤其是因为他过着不道德的生活。他娶了自己兄弟的妻子，约翰为此事当众斥责希律·安提帕。但是希律没有悔改，反而把约翰关进了监狱。

Interestingly, Herod seemed to like John. But his heart was conflicted. He was a king enjoying his power and ability to even steal his brother’s wife. He was compelled by his relationship with his mistress yet there was something in him that was longing for truth. Unfortunately, his longing for truth was silenced by his sinful desires and the influence of those around him. Against his wishes, he saved face and called for the execution of John.

有趣的是，希律王似乎喜欢约翰。但他心里很矛盾。他是国王，享受着他的权柄和能力，甚至夺走了兄弟的妻子。他受迫于这段情妇关系，但内心却渴望真理。不幸的是，他对真理的渴望被他的罪恶欲望和周围人的影响所压制。他违心地保全了面子，要求处决约翰。

Herod had a lifetime of sinful choices. His affair with his brother’s wife was just one of them. Just like everyone else, he had an opportunity to repent. John had personally given him this welcome to repentance. But instead, Herod rejected God’s message of repentance and it led to an uncomfortable situation that Herod regretted: the calling for the death of John. His sinful life also made way for him to be driven by fear. Fear of the public, fear of his guests, fear of his mistress. Herod was not a free man; he was enslaved by his sin and those around him.

希律王一生所作的都是罪恶的选择。他和兄嫂的风流韵事只是其中之一。和其他人一样，他本有机会悔改。约翰亲口表示欢迎他悔改。但是相反，希律拒绝了神关于悔改的信息，这导致了希律处于不安的境地：处死约翰。他的罪恶生命也让他被恐惧所驱使。害怕公众，害怕他的客人，害怕他的情妇。希律不是一个自由人；他被自己的罪和周围的人所辖制。

You may not be an influential king like Herod living in public sin and called out by a mighty prophet, but what can be learned from Herod’s life? Without repentance, small sinful choices can grow into a situation in which you, like Herod, feel trapped and deeply regret. You may be driven by fear of what others think about you. You are not free.

你可能不像希律那样是一个有影响力的君王，在大庭广众之下活在罪中，受召于一位伟大的先知，但是从希律的生命中你可以学到什么呢？如果没有悔改，每一个小小的罪恶选择最终可能会使你像希律王那样，陷入困境并深深后悔。你可能害怕别人对你的看法。你并不自由。

We can surmise that the decision to execute John was a guilty burden Herod carried. For when he heard about Jesus, he instantly thought it was John coming back to life doing miracles. Apparently, Herod believed in resurrection and miracles. Yet how sad it is that even at this moment, he didn’t repent. Some time later, Jesus Christ Himself stood before Herod. Here was the One who could forgive Herod of every sin and relieve him of every guilty burden. Yet Herod did not bend his knee before Jesus. On the contrary, he mocked Him and allowed Jesus to go to His death on the cross.

我们可以猜想，处死约翰的决定是希律背负的一个罪责重担。因为他一听见耶稣的事，就以为是约翰复活行异能。显然，希律王相信复活和神迹。然而，可悲的是，即使在这个时刻，他也没有悔改。又过了些日子，耶稣基督亲自站在希律面前。这是能赦免希律一切的罪，解除他所有罪责重担的那一位。然而希律并没有屈膝降服在耶稣面前。相反，他嘲笑耶稣，任凭耶稣死在十字架上。

Do not miss this moment to be free from sin in your life. You may feel that you cannot escape, that the sin has become too complicated to break free of it. Addictions, bad relationships, agreements, debts, conflicts – all can all be forgiven, transformed and made new under the power of the forgiveness from Christ. Do not save face. Do not hide. Do not allow fear of others take control of you. Do not wait until it is too late. Come today to repent of your sin and begin a new life of freedom.

不要错失你生命中能让你从罪中得解脱的时机。你可能觉得自己无法逃脱，罪已经变得太复杂，根本摆脱不了。在基督宽恕的大能之下，成瘾、不良关系、协议、债务、冲突，都可以被宽恕、转化和更新。不用保全面子。不用掩饰。不要让对他人的恐惧控制你。不要等到为时已晚。今天就来为罪忏悔，开启自由的新生活。

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:7-10 NIV

我们若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了；我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义；我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，他的道也不在我们心里了。
约翰一书 1:7-10

Suffering for the Message of Christ
为基督的福音受苦

John’s death seems tragic and senseless. A man with a great mission who died too young. Why did he die? Was it because an outrageous king was moved by the dance of a girl? No, John was killed because of his message of repentance and forgiveness in Christ. The sinful world hates this message and continues to rail against it. Across the world today, there are many who suffer like John because of the message of salvation through Christ. How does Jesus view this injustice? Why does He allow it to continue? Why did He allow His cousin John to die in prison? Did He forget John?

约翰的死看起来既悲惨又徒然。他肩负着伟大使命却英年早逝，为什么他会死？是因为一个无耻的国王被一个女孩的舞蹈感动了吗？不是的，约翰被杀是因为他传达了在基督里悔改和饶恕的信息。这个罪恶的世界痛恨这条信息，并且还要不断地指责它。在今天的世界，有许多人像约翰一样，因为基督救赎的福音受苦。耶稣如何看待这种不公平的现象？为什么祂允许这事继续发生？为什么祂任凭祂的堂兄约翰死在监里？衪忘记约翰了吗？

When Jesus heard what had happened [to John], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
Matthew 14:13 NIV

耶稣听见了，就上船从那里独自退到野地里去。众人听见，就从各城里步行跟随他。
马太福音 14:13

Was there anyone else on earth at that time that was a peer to Jesus like John was? They shared in the same mission, the same goal and were even from the same family. When John was gone, Jesus needed some time alone with the Father. We are now Jesus’ coworkers sharing in His mission and His goal. When we suffer for the cause of Christ, He knows and cares deeply.

在那个时候，世上还有谁能像约翰一样与耶稣相提并论吗？他们肩负共同的使命，共同的目标，甚至来自同一个家族。约翰走后，耶稣需要与天父独处一段时间。我们现在是耶稣的同工，分担祂的使命和目标。当我们为基督的缘故受苦的时候，衪全都知道并深切地关心着我们。

Don’t miss this chance
切勿错失良机

Take an honest look at your life. Is there a message God is speaking to you over and over but you are missing? Or worse, rejecting? God loves you and wants the best for your life. Don’t miss an opportunity to receive the good news of forgiveness through Jesus. Confession of sin and repentance leads to a life of freedom and peace with God. Also, don’t miss the chance to be one who bears the good news to others who are enslaved to sin. You may experience earthly suffering for your service to Christ, but when following our Lord, the best is always yet to come.

如实检视你的生命，有没有一种信息是上帝不断地在告诉你，但却被你忽视？或更糟的是，被你拒绝？神爱你，希望你拥有最美好的生命。不要错过任何机会从耶稣那里领受饶恕的喜讯。认罪和悔改能带来有神同在的自由平安的生命。还有，不要错过机会向那些被罪辖制的人传福音。你可能会因为服事基督而经历世上的苦难，但当你跟随我们的主，最美好的事物总会到来。