In the Life of Christ There is something deeply human about the woman in Mark 5 who quietly moved through the crowd hoping no one would notice her. For twelve years she had suffered with an issue of blood, a condition that not only weakened her physically but isolated her socially and spiritually according toContinue reading “WHEN DESPERATION REACHES FOR JESUS”
Category Archives: Jesus Christ
WHEN THE BIRDS PREACH FAITH
In the Life of Christ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” — Matthew 6:25 There are moments when I read the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 and realize how easily worry disguises itself as responsibility. I tell myself I am simply planning ahead, protecting my family, or preparing for theContinue reading “WHEN THE BIRDS PREACH FAITH”
WHEN HEALING TURNS INTO WORSHIP
In the Life of Christ “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” — Luke 17:19 As I walk with Jesus through Luke 17:11–19, I find Him moving along the border between Samaria and Galilee, a place where human divisions were well known. There, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance and criedContinue reading “WHEN HEALING TURNS INTO WORSHIP”
WHEN HE KNOCKED ON HEAVEN’S DOOR
In the Life of Christ “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” — Matthew 7:7 One of the most comforting realities I discover in the life of Jesus is how often He invited ordinary people to come to the Father with confidence.Continue reading “WHEN HE KNOCKED ON HEAVEN’S DOOR”
40个问题之一 为什么人类总是对“超自然”充满兴趣?
无论科技如何进步,人类始终无法完全摆脱对“超自然”的好奇。 今天,我们生活在人工智能、高速网络和现代医学的时代。许多人认为,关于灵魂、鬼魂、天使、恶魔或神的观念,已经属于过去。现代社会强调科学、逻辑和可验证的事实,因此,一些人认为超自然信仰只是古代文明留下来的“迷信”。 但有趣的是,即使在最现代化的社会中,人们仍然持续关注超自然现象。关于灵异、命运、死亡之后、灵魂世界以及神秘力量的话题,始终拥有巨大的吸引力。电影、小说、短视频、游戏和网络讨论中,这类主题从未真正消失。 为什么会这样? 也许原因并不像人们想象的那么简单。 人的内心天然会寻找“更高的存在” 圣经认为,人并不仅仅是肉体和思想的组合。人里面还有一种更深层的渴望,一种对永恒、意义与超越现实世界的追求。 古代基督徒思想家奥古斯丁曾说: “人的心若没有安息在神里面,就永远无法真正安息。” 这句话流传了上千年,因为它触碰到了人类共同的经验。即使一个人拥有财富、知识和科技,他仍然可能感到空虚。很多人会在深夜思考: “人生到底有什么意义?” “死亡之后还有什么吗?” “宇宙真的只是冰冷的物质吗?” 这些问题不是落后的表现,而是人性的一部分。 圣经在《传道书》3:11说: “神造万物,各按其时成为美好,又将永生安置在世人心里。” 这里“永生”并不只是指时间无限,而是一种对永恒的意识。人类天然会意识到,现实世界似乎并不是全部。 科学能够解释“如何”,却不总能回答“为什么” 现代科学非常重要。它帮助人类理解自然规律,也改善了无数人的生活。 但科学主要回答的是: “事情是怎样发生的?” 而人类更深的问题通常是: “为什么存在?” “为什么人会渴望爱、公义与永恒?” “为什么人会敬畏死亡?” “为什么几乎所有文明都相信某种灵性世界?” 这些问题超出了实验室能够完全解释的范围。 即使在高度现代化的国家中,很多受过高等教育的人仍然相信灵魂、来世或者某种超越物质世界的存在。这说明,人类对超自然的兴趣,并不只是因为“无知”。 事实上,仅仅把人看成“粒子和化学反应”,常常无法满足人的内心。 人不仅需要知识,也需要意义。 超自然世界之所以吸引人,是因为它让人感觉“世界并不只是眼前这样” 如果世界只是机械运转的物质系统,那么人生很容易变得单调。 但超自然题材会让人产生一种感觉: “也许还有更大的真实存在。” 因此,人们喜欢神秘故事、奇异现象和关于灵界的讨论。无论东方还是西方,这种兴趣一直存在。 中国古代文化中,也长期存在关于天、灵、善恶报应以及人与看不见世界之间关系的思考。虽然不同文化的表达方式不同,但人类对于“超越现实”的探索却非常相似。 很多影视作品之所以吸引人,也正因为它们触碰了这种内心渴望。人们希望世界不仅仅只有压力、工作和现实竞争,还存在更高层次的意义与真实。 圣经对超自然的看法 圣经并不否认超自然世界。 相反,圣经认为,灵性的世界真实存在。神存在,天使存在,而邪恶的灵也存在。因此,圣经并不鼓励人盲目追求神秘体验,因为并不是所有灵性的事物都来自真理。 《约翰一书》4:1提醒人们: “不要凡灵都信,总要试验那些灵是出于神的不是。” 圣经的重点并不是让人沉迷于神秘现象,而是引导人认识创造人的神。 根据基督教信仰,人类真正的问题,不只是缺少知识,而是与神分离。因此,人会不断寻找替代品:财富、权力、娱乐、神秘主义甚至偶像崇拜,希望填补内心深处的空缺。 但这些东西通常无法带来真正长久的平安。 为什么“40个问题”系列会讨论这些内容? 因为今天很多人开始重新思考: “科技真的已经解释了一切吗?” “人只是高级动物吗?” “意识、道德和灵魂究竟从哪里来?” “如果神存在,那么人生应该如何活着?” 这些问题并不幼稚。 事实上,也许正是这些问题,让人真正开始认识自己。 圣经认为,人类之所以不断寻找超自然,不只是因为好奇,而是因为人的内心深处知道:世界不只是物质,人也不只是肉体。 也许,人真正寻找的,并不是“神秘力量”。Continue reading “40个问题之一 为什么人类总是对“超自然”充满兴趣?”
WHEN FAITH BREAKS THROUGH THE ROOF
In the Life of Christ There is something deeply moving about the moment Jesus looked upward through a broken roof and saw desperate men lowering their friend into the room. Mark 2:5 says, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” I often pauseContinue reading “WHEN FAITH BREAKS THROUGH THE ROOF”
WHEN FAITH STEPS OUT OF THE BOAT
In the Life of Christ *“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”* — Matthew 14:28 There are moments in the life of Christ that feel almost impossible to imagine without placing ourselves into the scene. Matthew 14:22–33 is one of those moments. TheContinue reading “WHEN FAITH STEPS OUT OF THE BOAT”
Faith That Arrives Empty-Handed
In the Life of Christ “Let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” — Mark 10:14 One of the most touching scenes in the life of Christ unfolds when parents began bringing their children to Jesus. The disciples, thinking they were protecting His time and energy,Continue reading “Faith That Arrives Empty-Handed”
WHEN FAITH LEARNS TO STAY
In the Life of Christ “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” — John 20:29 Thomas has often been remembered as “Doubting Thomas,” but when I revisit John 20:24–29, I see something more familiar and human. I seeContinue reading “WHEN FAITH LEARNS TO STAY”
Faith That Refused to Walk Away
In the Life of Christ There are moments in the life of Christ that surprise me because they seem uncomfortable at first reading. Matthew 15:21–28 is one of those moments. Jesus travels into the regions of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile territory far beyond the familiar borders of Israel. There, a desperate Canaanite mother cries outContinue reading “Faith That Refused to Walk Away”