爱的寻觅

在人类的辞海里，没有一个字，比爱更沉重，更高贵，更能弹拨我们的心弦。圣经说，爱如死之坚强。又说，如今常存的有信，有望，有爱，这三样，其中最大的是爱。爱是永不止息。

爱的寻觅，是今夜话剧的主题，也是我们人生的主旋律。在人生的舞台上，我们没有人是旁观者。我们都是演员。

我们每个人，都是爱的结晶。是父母之爱，启动我们的生命。而我们接下来的人生之旅，最大的追求莫过于爱的寻觅。

从湖南乡下三十九岁母亲怀中的襁褓，到珞珈山上大学图书馆内直面美女的秋夜惊魂，引发少年人四年之久的的单相思暗恋，到毕业后天各一方的两年鸿雁传情，到洞房花烛夜的两情相悦，这是属于我的爱的故事。我靠发奋读书所取得的一点成绩来给自己壮胆求爱，打造灰男人(Cinderella Man)成功追到白雪公主的爱情故事现代版。但爱的寻觅结果并没有给我和她带来婚姻的甜蜜与幸福，直到我们先后回到真爱的源头里，成为基督徒。

圣诞节，正是上帝在人类历史舞台上展开的戏剧性一幕。令人惊奇的是，你我都有份于这个宇宙规模的、曲折动人的、爱的寻觅的悲喜剧。悲，是因为这个故事的主角付出了天大的牺牲与代价，但仍有人忽视漠视甚至轻视上帝之爱，与爱失之交臂。喜，是因为爱如此之广博深厚，有许多人成为蒙爱的儿女。

在这个宇宙性的爱的寻觅中，你我竟然是被爱被追的对象！而爱我们追我们的竟然是上帝的儿子耶稣基督。这是圣诞的故事最令人不可思议的。

我个人爱的寻觅向量是高攀，有点象癞蛤瘼想吃天鹅肉。这个时代更有许多人指望嫁入豪门。但圣诞，却是低就，是创造宇宙与生命的超自然之主，降卑来到自己的后花园，就是地球，寻找拯救失丧的人。

上帝的儿子向犯罪堕落后在死荫幽谷中挣扎的人类示爱，求爱。他怜悯我们的软弱，低就我们到不能再低的程度。

第一，低就到卑贱。耶稣基督虽然是万王之王，是不折不扣的天国君王，但他没有出生在皇宫里，他乃是诞生在马棚，被包裹放在马槽里。他与卑贱认同，为的是让卑贱者升高。他从灰尘里抬举贫寒人，从粪堆中提拔穷乏人。

第二，低就到平凡。他是一切美善美好美丽的创造主设计师，但他自己下凡来到地上作人，却选择不是一个英俊的美男子，他没有佳形美容，同时代的人看见他并不恋慕他。他与平凡认同，为的是把超凡的生命带到凡人中间。他说，我来了，是要叫人得生命，并且得的更丰盛。

第三，低就到奴仆。他不受人的服侍，却专一服侍各种有需要的人。他与奴仆的心态认同，为的是把上帝无穷的恩惠赐给人。他使瞎眼的看见，瘸腿的行走，长大麻风的得洁净，聋子听见，哑巴说话，死人复活。

第四，低就到贫穷。天上的飞鸟有窝，地上的狐狸有洞，但他连枕头的地方也没有。他与贫穷认同，为的是把天国赐给心灵贫穷的人。他宣告，心灵贫穷的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。

第五，低就到病患。他没有健康的体魄，他多受痛苦，常经忧患。他与苦难认同，这位平安夜圣善夜的圣子来，为的是把平安赐给在苦难中的人类。因他受的刑罚我们得平安，因他受的鞭伤我们得医治。他说，在我的里面有平安，在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。

第六，低就到被拒。他是生命之光，从高天来到黑暗人间，但黑暗却不接受光，把他钉在十字架上，让他立在天地之间，上不着天，下不着地。他与被拒绝不理解认同，为的是把光带到人间，让黑暗中摸索的人成为光明之子。耶稣说，“我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。” 耶稣对跟从他的人说：“你们是世上的光。”

第七，低就到受伤。耶稣在十字架上祷告天父：父啊，赦免他们，因为他们所作的，他们不知道。他与宽恕赦免认同，为的是得着被罪恶所捆绑不能原谅宽恕那些伤害自己的人。耶稣说，你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯。

第八，低就到舍身。耶稣受难前宣告，他若被举起来，就要吸引万人来归向他。的确，上帝呼召浪子回家，用的正是十字架苦肉计所表达的爱。他与牺牲舍命认同，为的是可以他死你活。这绝对不是司空见惯的丛林法则。

断气前他宣告：成了！

是什么成了，而非完了？是爱的寻觅完成了！

是上帝儿子主动把自己置之死地，好与人类最后最大的敌人─死亡认同，为的是开启从死亡通往永生的大门。

生命之主，当然无法被死亡所无限拘禁。耶稣死后第三天，在那个初熟节，第一个复活节的黎明，他复活了。他向我们真实地演示，死亡并非生命的结束，乃是永恒新生命的开始。耶稣说：“我就是复活，我就是生命，信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活。凡活着信我的人，必永远不死。” 耶稣为人类开启了出死入生之门。

耶稣本是至高上帝的儿子，以血肉之体出场在人类历史中，最后在十字架上舍身流血，为的正是寻找在罪恶苦难和死亡中挣扎的我们。

爱我们灵魂的主，低就我们，向我们示爱，向我们求爱。你答应他吗？让我们都答应他的求爱吧。西方的求爱方式，是男人单腿下跪，拿着戒指盒，仰望他所爱的女子，问她“你嫁给我好吗？”

耶稣基督用他在十字架横木上完全展开的双臂，敞开他的胸怀，呼召我们悔改回归。你愿意从死亡之路上回转，成为永生上帝的儿女，成为教会也就是基督新妇的一份子吗？

有朝一日，耶稣基督会以王者的身份归来，迎娶所有接受他爱的邀请的人，完结人类罪恶死亡的历史，引进新天新地。如今他在天上，等候你自己情愿。

你愿意吗？让我们以祷告感恩的心来到主耶稣的面前，回应他对我们的大爱。

喜葬感言

周六上午，我跟妻子，还有好些位弟兄姐妹，参加刘淑和阿婆（姚红姐妹的外祖母）的喜葬，算是在人生的大学上了又一堂感人至深的课。之所以是喜葬，是因为她老人家寿高九十有七，于感恩节中午安息主怀。

从她后人的追忆里，我们在场的学生们透过眼泪分明发现一个圣徒级别的老人。她的一生完全可以用坎坷不平来形容。他出身大家闺秀，嫁给一个从事摄影艺术的基督徒。正值小俩口计划奉献传道之际，上帝接走了她的丈夫。她把奔丧的亲友教友捐献的所有款项，分文不取地转手奉献给了红十字会去支持其他孤儿的需要。二十八岁的寡母，走出两年郁抑的低谷，走过近七十年的风风雨雨。她不仅一手把三个小孩子拉扯长大成人，后来还承担起帮助抚养第三第四代的义务，深得晚辈们的一致敬重与喜爱。文革动乱时期，她备受无端的指控，吃尽干繁重体力活的苦头，又没完没了地写检讨，接受心灵的煎熬。从丧亲之痛中走出来的她，显得异常刚强，在那个黑白颠倒的时代，毅然决然地冲出心灵的桎梏，勇敢地活下来了。虽然她受到不公的待遇，但她总是以诚待人，又及时教育校正试图替她报复仇人的孙儿们。在那个物质匮乏的时代，她出于广博的母爱努力行善，积极帮补周围有需要的孤儿与穷人。她的善举令所有听者无不动容拭泪。

她大半生没有归家感，以至噩梦连连，直到十年前在若歌教会受洗归主。她是一位勤于祷告的阿婆，经常为别人而代求。为她追思证道的詹牧师，就曾常常蒙她代祷。詹牧师证道经文来自箴言书13章12节：“所盼望的迟延未得，令人心忧。所愿意的临到，却是生命树。”人生如列车抵达一个又一个让人等得心忧的中途站，继续追梦向前，直到人生终点站。可喜可贺的是，终点站不是句点，乃是开始，是生命树象征的崭新旅程。

参加完刘阿婆的喜葬，有一节罗马书的圣经经文跳入我的脑海：“凡恒心行善寻求荣耀尊贵，和不能朽坏之福的，（神）就以永生报应他们。”上帝显然是乐意施恩的主，虽然我们自始至终都无法参透上帝的作为。

正如喜葬最后那首阿婆所喜爱的诗歌（再相会）所言，如今阿婆结束了多难的地上人生，终于可以在永恒的天家，与她所爱的丈夫再相会，享受与上帝永远同在，以上帝为乐的全新人生。愿上帝继续祝福刘阿婆和她的亲人们。

从老虎的困惑说开去

老虎伍兹感恩节深夜在妻子挥杆训夫的谩骂声里驾车出走的当儿，闯了一个不大不小的祸，惊动了天下。倒不是说他因为撞损家门口路旁的消防栓与一颗树而被罚了寥寥一百多刀。那点小损失对一个一年挣数千万刀的高球能手，完全不在话下。他的损失也不在广告商那里，因为这事处理得当的话，老虎的曝光度应当可以不减反增，广告费理应飙升才是。

老虎的困惑在于他专业打洞不专一。虽然他走遍世界，到处挥杆打洞，成为世界第一的常胜高球手。但他忘了，他的私人果岭只有一个，他的私人高尔夫球场根本就没有十八个洞。古代皇帝拥有后宫美人无数的历史，在今天这个越来越民主，越来越养不起一家人的时代，看来是一去不复返了。

老虎的困惑其实正是常人的困惑。你若不相信的话，问问自己，假如艳遇的机会跑到你面前，你还能正常呼吸，正而八经，正襟危坐，正直不阿，正气凛然，正确处理吗？亏得咱们老祖宗有智慧，生怕后辈们忘德，造了好些以正压邪的四字短语充满中华辞海。

艳遇的机会从诱惑开始。不知何年起，色情业搬家到网上。垃圾电邮象雪片飘来，成灾成堆。虽然雅虎古狗新浪都设置了垃圾邮箱，过滤了绝大多数的垃圾邮件，但不免偶尔正常邮件与垃圾邮件被互换邮箱。我们大概多少都收到过一些标题醒目的黄色垃圾邮件：我很无聊想跟你谈，我发现了你，我很可爱，网上一夜情，想找本地不安分满足的妻子吗？另外有些邮件是骗钱的，说自己是非洲某富翁的遗孀，想转移一笔成千万的家产到外国，需要你帮忙开一个银行账户，然后给你可观的酬金。当然，等你傻乎乎地花了几块钱开户，告诉对方户头密码，那些钱可能就不翼而飞了。一个人丢几块钱是小事，成千上万的人上当捐钱就是积少成多的大事了。

中国古人说，食色，性也。人生来就有肚脐眼上面与下面的需要。基本次序是，温饱思淫欲。这不，老祖宗根据观察与经验都替晚辈们想过了想通了。地球人似乎都知道，食与色，应该有合适的道德界限。那咱们究竟该如何达成一个健康正常的食色兼备的人生呢？老祖宗告诫说，读书！因为书中自有黄金屋，书中自有颜为玉。不读书没有用，因为万般皆下品，唯有读书高；学而优则仕。这样，读好了书，不仅有金钱，有美色，还有官位，可谓钱权色俱备了。读书，似乎成了咱们开启人生美好前途的一把金钥匙。咱生活的时代，更是把读什么书讲明了，所谓学好数理化，走遍天下都不怕。如今咱们那辈人走遍了天下，多少人还是担惊受怕失业丢饭碗。都怪前辈当年说话没有买一诺千金的保险。

曾几何时，学好数理化的高调还没落定，学财经学管理学英文，蔚然成为新风尚。这不足为怪。盛传今年华尔街高盛雇员平均年度奖金超过七十大万。咱们这些当年学好了数理化的优秀学生们听到后难免不会没有一点想法的。那些奖金，竟然可以在与产品和服务不紧密挂钩的环境中，从钱堆里生出钱来！咱们老百姓的钱，以投资的名义乐意给人拿去生了钱，看着那点血汗钱走时间隧道的过山车，但无论牛市熊市，都帮助养活养肥了不少食利者。

现在读书似乎比以前还时髦。君不见，今天海内外的中国人，是多么地加倍重视教育啊。在国内更是有过之而无不及。天不亮，孩子们就上学了。天黑了才放学，回家吃完饭继续补习功课，周末假期也不例外，让那些课堂上可能留一手的老师继续挣外快。

我们真的只是为争取钱权色而读书吗？究竟为什么更崇高的目的而读书？《大学》开门见山说，“大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善”。又说，“古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国；欲治其国者，先齐其家；欲齐其家者，先修其身；欲修其身者，先正其心；欲正其心者，先诚其意；欲诚其意者，先致其知；致知在格物。物格而后知至，知至而后意诚，意诚而后心正，心正而后身修，身修而后家齐，家齐而后国治，国治而后天下平”。

究竟什么样的明德值得我们去明白呢？亲民（或新民）到底是什么样的人？人间真有至善吗？如果我们用圣经的启示来重新诠释大学之道，也许我们会得到发人深省的结论。明德就是上帝借圣经启示所显明给我们的他那善良、纯全、可喜悦的心意，亲民（新民）就是在基督里新造的人，至善就是基督所表彰的神圣真善美。基督是我们重生后明白并顺服上帝美好心意的起点，更是我们在他里面不断更新成长的生命之唯一楷模与标杆。

除非人有上帝儿子基督的那战胜罪恶权势的属天新生命，老虎的困惑仍然或多或少是我们的困惑。通往至善的路，本来就不是快易通。

Lion, Lamb, and Light

Imagine you are going on national television in prime time as an America’s Top Talent contestant. You are asked by the judges to compose a song on the spot and sing it, on the theme of hope. What will be the lyric? How about the music score? Let me give it a try.

Hope is Peter Pan’s pixie dust; it gives you wings of faith to fly to Neverland.

Hope is the Hummer with 239 horsepower; it drives you across the uneven terrain of life.

Hope is the catchy word that enchants us; it gets Obama to the White House.

Hope is the sweet dream of a girl; it promises her a white knight prince in waiting.

Hope is the undying fire in a heap of ember; it rekindles the passion of your heart.

Hope is the assurance of tomorrow; it knows the setting sun shall rise again above the horizon.

Hope is the energizer bunny; it just keeps you going and going and going ….

Two thousand years ago, a man named Zachariah also sang his song of hope. He and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in age, without a child. One day, an angel of the Lord visited him while he was on priestly duty in the Temple of Jerusalem. To his disbelief, his wife would bear a child who shall be named John, aka John the Baptist. He would be the forerunner, the equivalent of an usher or an emcee of a Broadway show, for Jesus Christ who was to be born six months after John. On the eighth day after John’s birth, the day of circumcision according to Mosaic Law, Father Zachariah composed this song, a song of hope (Luke 1:67-79):

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven t shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

This song uses two explicit metaphors to describe our Lord Jesus Chrsit: a horn of salvation, the rising sun from heaven. The song also has three implicit metaphors: Lion of Judah, Lamb of God, and Light of the World. Lion, Lamb, and Light are three reasons for our true hope in life.

First, this horn of salvation came from the household of King David in the tribe of Judah. Nearly 1900 years before the birth of Christ, Jacob, a patriarch of Israelites, prophesied by his deathbed the coming of the Shiloh, the Peace Giver, from the tribe of Judah (Gen.49:10). Judah was likened to lion’s cub. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was referred to in the Bible as the Lion of Judah (Rev.5:5). Nine centuries later, Prophet Nathan relayed God’s promise to King David that a descendant from David will be King forever. This eternal King for the kingdom of God is none other than Jesus Christ, the true Lion King, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Perhaps unbeknown to Zachariah then, this horn of salvation, the Lion of Judah is not only King of the Jews, but he is the King of all God’s people as well.

This Lion King was to suffer mortal wound, as animatedly depicted in the C. S. Lewis book and a recent movie by the same name of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, and in another movie “The Passion of the Christ”. The Lion of Judah is also the Lamb of God. This is one greatest paradoxical truth of the bible: the King of the kingdom of God was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, in so doing, calling and winning the hearts of many lost sinners to become the citizens of the heavenly kingdom. John the Baptist, according to his father Zachariah’s song, was to present this Lord, the Lion King, to God’s people so that they will have the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. This Lion King was to become the Lamb of God, by dying on the Cross to make the forgiveness of sin possible. As a priest, Zachariah probably knew better that the forgiveness of sin did not come easy; it involved the shedding of blood. In this case, it was the shedding of the precious blood of the Son of God. Have you accepted this Lion King of Judah, the Lamb of God, into your heart and received the forgiveness of sins? I encourage you to take the step of faith and accept him.

Zachariah continued in his song of hope: the rising sun will come to us from heaven. The Light of the World from another world was to come to us and make dwelling among us. That is the central message of Christmas: God the Son became God the Incarnate, the Immanuel, that is, God with us. This Light will dispel all darkness. Seven centuries before Christ’ birth, Prophet Isaiah prophesied in manifold clarity this Immanuel would be born of a virgin (Isa.7:14), as a shoot (Isa.11:1) “from the stump of Jesse” (King David’s father), and as “the great light” seen by “the people walking in darkness” and a light dawning “on those living in the land of the shadow of death” (Isa.9:2).The origin of this light is otherworldly, for his name is divinely revealing, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6). Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). We live in a post-modern world that marginalize, if not outright reject, truth of any kind and brand, especially the metanarrative of biblical truth. The evolutionism you learn at schools tries to upset your faith by trumping God’s truth that God is the Creator of the Universe and Life. The Light of the World has come, full of truth and grace. Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Have you seen the light of truth? In this light, have you seen you have lived in darkness for too long? Now it is high time to come out of the darkness of sin and become a child of light. Jesus also says to his followers, “You are the light of the world” (Mat.5:14). As children of light, we are to bear witness to the light and live a life that is full of light.

Brothers and sisters, our hope of deliverance does not rest on the power of any nation in this world. It comes from the power of the world to come. The horn of salvation is mighty and able to deliver us from the oppression of any dark force, be it injustice, sin and death. Those who take pride in the ever more powerful human armaments will be put to shame. The world’s powers, more often than not, have come out of the gun barrels, but they come and go, without exception. The power of the everlasting Kingdom of God comes not by human strength, but by the mighty arm of the Lion King of Judah. The King has come, in humility and love, and he shall return, in glory and power. Are you ready for this King’s return? Prepare a way in the hearts of our own and our contemporaries, just as John the Baptist did in his time. Preach the Word all the time, in words and deeds. Be creative. Be courageous. Never lose heart.

Brothers and sisters, our hope of salvation does not come from the self righteous acts of human efforts, a common hallmark of all the world’s unbiblical religions. Our hope of salvation comes from the righteous sacrifice of the Lamb of God. He alone is able to deliver us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and, ultimately, the presence of sin. Any human efforts will fall short of achieving eternal salvation. Who in our right mind would think that the gift of eternal life can be sufficiently earned by our limited and imperfect acts of charity trenched in highly questionable motives of ultimate self-serving? Come to Jesus the Lamb of God for the forgiveness of sins, would you?

Brothers and sisters, our hope of understanding does not come from ever shifting scientific conjectures and speculations. It comes from the Light of the World, who bears witness to God’s truth to this world of darkness. The truth is: we are all created in God’s glorious images and likeness. We are God’s image bearers. But we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Now the Light has come, we ought not to continue living in darkness. Come out of the dungeon and the closet, and embrace the fresh and warm sunlight from the high heaven. Walk on the sunny side of life. What darkness are you in? What secret life are you living? What immoral web of relations are you entangled into? Come out of it. Live in the light. As Apostle Peter said, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pet.2:9).

Today, on the first Sunday of the Advent season, I implore all of us, behold our Lord Jesus Christ and become his. Believe the Lion King of Judah, and become his redeemed citizen of heaven. Believe the Lamb of God, and become a new member of his flock. And Believe the Light of World, and become his witness of light and life. Jesus the Lion, Lamb, and Light is the true hope of our life. God bless you.

写给小孔

小孔，请允许我越过大洋彼岸，向你问好。

你妈妈一位中学好友向我介绍了你的现状，希望我能写点什么给你，帮助你从郁抑症中走出来。我必须老实承认，这是一个难题，因为我毕竟还没有与你建立朋友与信任关系。一个十八岁的少年，愿意听一个四十五岁陌生中年人的话吗？但我必须假定你愿意听，不然我实在找不到更好的理由去码下面的方块文字。

我从那位基督徒朋友的简单描绘中，感觉你是一位有独立见解与思考的青年人。你从人生百态的细心观察里，深深觉得人生的荒诞与无聊。这绝对不是头脑简单的观察。这是真实的写照！如果我不是跟随基督的人，我很可能与广大世人一样，继续在灵魂的麻木中过追求功名利禄、醉生梦死、得过且过的世俗生活，或者选择出家，离群索居，寻找一片属于自己心灵的净土。我猜你会同意，人们这样的生活是既不多现实价值也缺少终极意义的。

人活着的目的到底是什么？

这是许多人问过的大问题。回答这个问题的关键不在人自己怎么说。关键取决于人到底从哪里来，又到哪里去。找对了人生命的来龙去脉，来去之间的短暂人生，自然就有了比较明朗的答案。我想我的这一推理是合理的。

极其幸运的是，我们不是漫无目的的进化产物。这是出自圣经启示的答案。至于我们求真为什么要押宝在圣经上，这就需要一番深入思考与研究了。包括我在内的许多人都如此思考过研究过。长话短说，圣经所预告所见证的历史上那位耶稣基督，划时代地改变了人类的历史，改变了人类的前途与命运。历史上值得我们花精力研究的人并不多，耶稣无疑是最闪光的一位。

圣经明言，人乃是按照上帝的形像与样式而受造的。这里的形像与样式不是指物质层面的，乃是属灵的，就如智慧理性与创造力，慈爱怜悯与公义心，等等。人受造，一方面是为了成为上帝的知心朋友，享受上帝赏赐给我们的各样美善的恩典，就如亲情友情爱情，阳光雨露美食，等等。人受造，二方面是为了让人彼此相爱，亲如兄弟姐妹。人受造，三方面是为了替上帝管理宇宙万有。这三方面，构成了人生的三重立体使命，即信仰使命(敬神)，道德使命(爱人) ，管理使命(理物) 。人在宇宙中的正确位置，乃是一神之下(故要敬神，即把神当神，以神为乐) ，人群当中(故要爱人如己) ，万有之上(故要管理宇宙万物) 。

很明显，我们人类古往今来，离开上帝创造我们的心意相去甚远。圣经告诉我们，这乃是归因于人类离弃上帝，走自我中心的道路，在罪恶的深渊里越陷越深，不能自拔。上帝出于爱人类的大爱，在人类历史中兴起拯救的伟大工程。而救赎的中心人物，正是上帝的儿子耶稣基督。他降世为人，为的是成为上帝的赎罪羔羊，替人类流血舍身，赎尽罪孽，除尽罪恶，引进永生。耶稣来，为要寻找拯救所有失丧的人，要赐给我们一个崭新的生命，赋予我们人生合神心意的使命。耶稣基督，能够驱散我们心中的阴霾，把喜乐平安的阳光生命带给凡愿意接受他跟随他的人。

回到我们起初的问题：人活着的目的到底是什么？

人在地上暂时活着，最大的目的乃是通过认识耶稣基督来了解神对我们人类的精彩永恒计划，活出神造人的初衷：敬神，爱人，理物。

我愿意为你祷告，求神把你从暗淡无光的绝境带进永远生命的光明国度。如果你同意，我愿意与你交朋友。欢迎你与我直接联系。

一位关心你的基督徒

另类礼物，另类包装

（一）
买来的礼物
我舍不得拆封
直到皮面发黄如胴
一下两下三下
我撕破包装
礼物果然秀色可餐
值得细品慢咽

（二）
女皇慷她国民之慨
酿造一份精美礼品
我每天量出少许
沉入巴掌大的湖心
请柠檬陪老两口
一小口一小口地打捞恩情

（三）
皮嫰肉软
白里透红
心坚如骨
提亲的时候
嘴巴一直撇得斜斜的
不知是害臊还是不肯

（四）
除非推倒绿色围墙
你无法看见一包红色的水
拥挤在密不透风的屋子里
老王的施舍
让小狗都铭记

（五）
被烈日烧烤出来的饼干
竟然是鲜嫩的
另类吗哪
从天降下
成串
成束

（温馨提示：在这感恩的时节，我们生活的每一个细节都是感恩的理由。你能猜出上述短诗所描绘的上天惠赐我们享用的普通得极不平凡的种种礼物吗？）

Lord’s love lifts life’s lows

Have you ever felt downcast and downtrodden? The kind of defeat you get when you badly wanted to succeed? The kind of detours you did not plan or foresee? The kind of disappointment you have for both you and others when you really strove to do your best and be your best? The kind of despair you are entering into? Perhaps it is straight A grades to earn or a test not to flunk, a dream college to apply for or graduate from, a good paying job to seek or leave (voluntarily or not), a wife or husband to love or reconcile with, a friendship to forge or mend, a child to raise and discipline, a career ladder to climb up or scale down. Yes, we have defeats, detours, disappointments and even despairs, plentiful of them. I have a few big ones. I was prepared and expected to go to the very best college in China, but had to settle for less, months after my father untimely passed away, double setbacks for me then. I was hoping to become a university professor doing world class research, but ended up working in drug industry due to an event beyond my control. I was expecting a marriage that began with the typical fairytale happy union, but found myself bankrupt in love. Those are some of my life’s many lows. None of us, not even the Bible characters, are immune to life’s defeats, detours, disappointments and despairs. Peter is one such character. Let’s take a good look at him and his ordeals.

Peter’s life has a few low points. Remember Peter’s two fruitless night fishing expeditions, first recorded in Luke 5, which is in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and then again in John 21, which is in the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry after resurrection. On both occasions, Peter the fisherman and his friends labored a whole night on the lake of Gennesaret or Tiberas, that is, the Sea of Galilee, catching not even one fish! That is as low as any fisherman can get. It is in his life’s low point when Jesus first called him to follow as a disciple and become a fisher of man, and then reconfirmed the apostolic calling for Peter. In addition, we read about Peter’s walking on the water, only to sink deep in poor faith. We read about Peter’s great confession, which gets him the praise from Jesus, only to speak moments later on the devil’s behalf. Of course, Peter the braggart boasted his superior love to Jesus than his friends during the last supper, and Peter the brave heart chopped off a poor servant’s ear during Jesus’ nighttime arrest, only to turn into Peter the coward who denies out of fear, not once, not twice, but thrice, before the rooster crows, his association with and knowledge of Jesus after the Master’s arrest. Peter has to be disappointed with himself. So much so that he and six other disciples took a night off and went on a fishing expedition, again in the Sea of Galilee. Apparently all fish there that night got the advance notice from the Maker of heavens and earth to stay away from Peter and his cohorts and dodge their snarling net. The immediate context of our sermon text today is found in John 21.

A few days after resurrection, Jesus decided to appear to his disciples for a third time. This time, to seven of the twelve disciples. The Gang of Seven was fruitless in their nightlong fishing expedition. Something fishy must be going on. To their credit, they were quite persistent in disrupting the restful sleep of fish that night. Before dawn, Jesus appeared on the shore, asking them, not without some light sarcasm, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No” was their terse and truthful reply. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Jesus instructed. And catch they did. A netful of 153 fish in just one cast! John was the first to recognize it was Jesus on the shore. Guess what Peter did. He jumped off the boat and swam toward the shore. Imagine Peter’s bittersweet emotions. Sweet, because the Lord is the lord of even fishery. Bitter, because Peter could not quite let go of his guilt in denying Jesus three times before the dawn of Good Friday. Make no mistake, Peter loves the Lord, despite all his failings.

Jesus did three remarkable things that morning to mend and lift up Peter’s broken spirit. First, he cooked breakfast for Peter and six other disciples. Notice before they hauled the net ashore, fish and bread were already being baked on burning coal. Nowhere in the text says that Jesus went to the early morning market for food. It has to be a miracle in the midst of another. I suggest fish and bread simply came out of thin air in that pre-dawn hour. Jesus demonstrated his care and love for Peter and others by providing what they were laboring for. We can imagine the atmosphere. It has to be a sobering mood. Silence, more than the sporadic sound of munching on fish and bread by the hungry seven, dominated the breakfast time. Peter probably could not get away with the thought: Hmm, after a whole night of fruitless labor, just one cast as instructed by the Lord netted 153 fish. What a miraculous change in fortune! To continue in one’s own effort and be fruitless, or to follow the Lord that provides all of our needs, that is the clear choice set before Peter and his friends. I am sure Peter recalled the first fruitless fishing in the same lake over three years ago. The two nights of fruitless labor serve as two bookends to Peter’s life. It has to invoke a sense of coincidence and awe. Once a disciple, forever a disciple. There is no turning back. The world behind me, the Cross before me, no turning back, no turning back. People in the world are overtly preoccupied with meeting the physical needs, forgetting that it is God who supplies all of our needs. If only we turn back to God and seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these things shall be added unto us. Just look at the animal planets documentary, water everywhere is teeming with lively creatures. Look at God’s gardens everywhere, they are filled with the produces of every kind, in very creative packages. Our lows in life arising from our excessive concern and worry can be effectively dealt with by knowing the love of God who is the Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will Provide.

The second thing Jesus did to Peter was no less remarkable. He asked Peter three questions and reaffirmed Peter’s apostleship. If the breakfast met Peter’s physical needs, then the post-breakfast questions address his deep emotions and broken spirit. Jesus asks Peter by addressing his original name: Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? Some theologians wish to attach this use of the original name to mean Jesus’ intention to awaken Peter’s bruised soul. The word love here is agapas, the kind of holy and godly love. Jesus was asking if Peter really loves Jesus more than these, meaning here his fisherman friends and fishing business. Listen to what Peter has to answer, sort of indirectly: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Here Peter used the Greek word phileo, the kind of brotherly love that is less than agape in both intensity and scope. Essentially, the humiliated Peter who thrice denied the Lord a few days ago dared not to speak about his superiority in loving the Lord. But he acknowledged that the Lord knew his heart and he indeed loved Jesus, just not on the same scale that Jesus loved him. Jesus clearly was pleased with Peter’s reply and issued the first order of his commission to Peter now reappointed and reaffirmed as the leader of the apostolic pack: Feed my lambs. Lambs (harnia) means little and immature baby sheep. Instead of being concerned with one’s own well being, Peter was to provide pastoral care by feeding the young and immature children of God with the word of God.

The dialogue did not stop there. Jesus asked Peter a second time, just like the first time, except omitting the words “more than these”: Simon son of John, do you truly love me? Peter did not waste any time in affirming as before: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Again Peter used the Greek word phileo to humbly reply to Jesus’ inquiry of agape love. Basically, he was saying: Yes, Lord, you know my heart, I do have some love for you, just not as much as you and I wanted to have. Jesus then issued the second order of his commission: take care of my sheep. Here Jesus used a different verb (poimaine) and a different noun (probatia). Poimaine means shepherd, tend, or take care of. Probatia is still little sheep, but a bit more mature and grown up than harnia the little baby lamb. Peter’s mission was not only to feed the needy lambs of God, but also to provide holistic shepherding care to the whole flock of God.

I know and you know well. The most dreadful has happened. Jesus asked Peter a third time, as if to remind him his denial of knowing Jesus three times. “Simon son of John, do you love me?” This time, Jesus asked Peter using the word phileo instead of agapas, as if to challenge him: Look, you have said twice that you have phileo kind of love for me. But do you mean it for sure? Do you even have that kind of love? The newfound joy of being reaffirmed and reappointed as the leader of the apostolic pack is now giving way to grieving in Peter’s heart. Peter replied, probably in breaking voice: Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you. If the Lord knows all things, why bother asking Peter to answer? We ask questions in the same vein: If the Lord knows all my failings and needs, why does he still want me to pray to him in confession and petition? Why the roundabout way? Brothers and sisters, talking to God about our failings and needs is God’s way of initiating the healing and blessing. There is power in letting out our concern, care, worry, oppression, depression, and suppression. The Lord wants us to bear his yoke, for his is lighter and easier than our own. Jesus issued a third order of his commission to Peter: Feed my sheep. Basically, Peter was to feed the lambs and sheep, and take good care of their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

Jesus continued, with his prophetic words about how Peter would finish his earthly journey and die a martyr’s death. This is the third thing after feeding Peter and his friends with breakfast, after quizzing Peter for his love and reaffirming/reappointing Peter to apostolic leadership position. Following provision and three-fold pronouncement is prophecy or prediction. Peter will enjoy some time of freedom in shepherding God’s church, before he is bound up and taken to the execution ground for a final suffering, the kind of suffering that Peter was fearful to witness during Jesus’ last few hours. Uninformed people may think this is Jesus’ way of getting even with Peter’s denial. Far from it, this is Jesus’ way of assuring Peter that Peter as the reinstalled leader of the apostolic pack will offer tender care to the flock of God’s people and eventually walk the same walk of the cross that he once was afraid of and now he is emboldened to trod upon, by imitating the Lord who so loves him and whom he has readily confessed to love. As surely as Jesus predicted Peter’s denials after last supper, Jesus is now predicting Peter’s martyrdom after the lakeside breakfast. I must admit that knowing the detail of one’s final leg of journey on earth can be a depressing thought. I would be hesitant to know the manner that I will die someday, be it plane crash or car wreck, cancer or heart attack, botched robbery with murder, you name it. But in perfect love there is no fear. When one knows the eventuality, one takes time to digest it, get over with it and have peace about it. Peter’s immediate reaction to Jesus’ prediction is asking about John’s fate out of curiosity: Lord, what about him? In the closing lines of John 21, we hear Jesus saying to Peter: “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

On that post-resurrection, perhaps foggy, morning, by the lake of Galilee, a silent transformation is taking place. The Peter who once led the pack of 12 apostles badly failed after Jesus’ arrest by denying the very Lord that he had followed for three plus years. After a couple of post-resurrection appearances to the disciples, restoration of Peter’s apostleship is in order. Jesus chose a time after Peter’s second fruitless fishing expedition with six other buddies. Jesus did three things to start the process of healing and restoration. First, he prepared a miraculous breakfast by the shore, even though the fish in the lake were ducking from Peter’s net cast one after another throughout the quiet, spring night. But fish and bread, like any other good things in life, are all gifts of God. To acknowledge God’s sovereign lordship is the starting point to come out of life’s endless worries and lows. Second, Jesus had a remarkably short counseling session with Peter in the presence of six others. He basically went straight to the heart of the matter: do you love me more than anything, your social network, your professional career, even your own life? The little love we or Peter have for the Lord is valued by the Lord. We do not have to pretend that we have greater love than anyone else. We come to the Lord just the way we are, a sinner short of agape love and in need of God’s mercy and love, no pretense, no veneer of trumped up godliness, no comparison with others. God is willing to restore our relationship with him if we confess how little love we have. Our love, as little as it is, is by no means belittled by God. I did not know what true love is, until I came to know the Lord in the midst of my marriage struggles. You too can come before God’s throne of mercy and gain or regain his forgiveness and favor. Lastly, Jesus predicted Peter the martyr who would pass life’s ultimate test of faith: to die a martyr’s death in the imitation of Christ and for the glory of God. Church history tells us, Peter was crucified upside down on a cross in Rome, for Peter felt it was unworthy for him to die in the same way as the Lord. In life and in death, we belong to Christ. If death cannot deter the faithful, nothing in this world, not the lows of our life, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Just as apostle Paul eloquently expresses at the end of Romans 8.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution, or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To that we all say: Amen and amen!!