The Saviour People Fail to Recognize

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-12-14


眾門徒從山上下來時,便問耶穌說:「那麼,爲什麽經師說:厄里亞應該先來呢?」耶穌回答說:「厄里亞的確要來,且要重整一切;但我告訴你們;厄里亞已經來了,人們卻不認識他,反而任意待了他;照樣,人子也要受他們的磨難。」門徒這才明白耶穌給他們所說的,是指的洗者若翰。
瑪竇福音 17:10-13

Francesco Albani [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Baptism of Christ by Francesco Albani
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

在今天的福音中,門徒在問耶穌為什麼厄里亞應該先來。在這之前,耶穌帶了伯多祿、雅各伯和若望上山,在山上他們看到梅瑟和厄里亞,以及耶穌的聖容。梅瑟代表法律,而厄里亞代表先知。

在耶穌的時代,人們都期待默西亞來臨,而在默西亞出現以前,厄里亞要先來。耶穌沒有直接回答門徒的提問,但他確認厄里亞不單要先來,而且已經來到,那就是若翰洗者。人們沒有認出若翰洗者就是厄里亞,更認不出耶穌就是一早預許的默西亞。耶穌說若翰洗者遭到的磨難,人子也要承受。

為了給基督預備道路,若翰洗者受了很多苦,最後更被斬首。我們跟隨基督的路同樣是一條充滿荊棘的路,求聖神賜予勇氣和智慧,繼續走當走的路。

這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫,內容以下列文章為根據: Commentary on Matthew 17:10-13, 厄里亞來了,人們卻不認識他


As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10-13

In today's Gospel, we read that the disciples asked Jesus why Elijah must come first. Before that, three of Jesus' disciples – Peter, James and John - witnessed Transfiguration of Jesus. They also saw Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the prophetic tradition respectively.

In the time of Jesus, people looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. They also expected Elijah to come first. Jesus did not answer the question directly, but confirmed that Elijah must come and had already come. He was referring to John the Baptist. People did not recognize John the Baptist as the returned Elijah, and they would not recognize Jesus as the Messiah that they had been waiting for. Jesus would suffer the same persecution and rejection as John the Baptist did.

In order to pave the way for Christ, John the Baptist had much to suffer and was killed in the end. Following the footsteps of Christ is never easy. May the Holy Spirit grant us courage and wisdom to keep following Jesus.

This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Commentary on Matthew 17:10-13, 厄里亞來了,人們卻不認識他

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