馬克福音2:1-12記載了一個攤子得醫治的故事,他是被四個人抬去見耶穌,但因人多,不得近前,他們就把房頂拆通,從房頂把癱子放下去房間裡。耶穌見他們的信心,就對攤子說:“小子,你的罪赦了。”整本聖經裡唯一記載神赦免一個人,是在那人悔改之前。當然,當時宗教領袖、聖經教師都質疑耶穌,因為真的除了上帝之外,無人有赦罪的權柄。耶穌是神,祂當然有赦罪的權柄;然而當祂對那癱子說赦罪的恩言時,祂是要付出生命的代價,祂即將要為那癱子的罪、為全人類的罪被釘死在十字架上。祂知道那癱子需要身體的醫治,然而祂更要醫治那癱子的靈魂。
救贖主教會主日崇拜時選了一首詩歌,歌詞大意是說:遠在我們開口求赦免之前,遠在我們犯罪之先,遠在我們繼續深陷罪中哀歎之前、遠在我們會更多犯罪之前,遠在我們牽引別人犯罪之前,遠在我們的罪成為別人犯罪大門之前,遠在我們又再犯罪之前,神是否會赦免我們呢?我懼怕在我生命的最後一縷氣息,我會滅亡於岸邊。但神您竟然指著自己起誓,在我死亡之時,你的兒子必然會散發榮光,如同祂現在三發榮光一樣;因您已經如此做了,讓您的兒子為我的罪而死。我不再懼怕。
主啊,遠在我開口求赦免之前,你已經為我的罪而死,你已經以你的生命為我的贖罪價。求你讓我明白你赦罪恩典有多深!求你使我被你的浩瀚恩典所得著,以至於我能夠被你有效恩慈引致真正悔改歸向你。阿們!
Wilt thou forgive?(A Hymn to God the Father)
BY JOHN DONNE
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.
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