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约翰福音生命读经 · 第24篇

死人的需要－生命的复活（二）

The Need of the Dead— Life’s Resurrecting (2
1我们看过约翰福音中的神迹，就能了解，主首先临到我们作生命，祂所遇到的头一类阻挠是犹太教宗教，第二类是爱祂的人所持有的意见。人意见的阻挠，今天在祂的召会中丝毫未变。好些最爱主的人，却有数不过来的意见，阻挠主在召会中作复活的生命。在召会之外，拦阻主作生命的是宗教。但在召会里面，妨碍祂作我们生命的是无穷尽的意见。这九个事例非常有意义，因为给我们看见，主作生命是开始于重生，结束于复活。这一切事例都是表号，表明主在好些不同的方面来作我们的生命。经历主作我们的生命，开始于重生，并于复活达到高峰。
1By considering the signs in the Gospel of John, we can realize that the Lord firstly comes to us as life. The first category of hindrances that He met was the Judaistic religion, and the second category was that of the human opinions held by those who loved Him. The hindrance of human opinions is exactly the same today in His church. Countless opinions of those who love the Lord the most hinder the Lord from being resurrection life in the church. Outside the church, it is religion that prevents the Lord from being life. But inside the church, it is the endless opinions that hamper Him from being our life. These nine cases are very meaningful because they show that the Lord as life starts with regeneration and ends with resurrection. All of these cases are signs signifying that the Lord comes to us as life in several different aspects. The experience of the Lord as our life begins with regeneration and reaches the climax with resurrection
2主耶稣说，『我是复活，我是生命。』（约十一25。）复活是超过生命的。就其本身说，生命只能存在，复活却能抵挡一切的攻击，甚至能抵挡死亡的攻击。主不只是生命，祂也是复活。死亡不能拘禁祂，因为祂能胜过死亡。死亡不能扣留祂，因为祂不只是生命－祂也是复活。生命是生存的能力，复活却是胜过一切抵挡生命者的能力。因此，由于复活能击败一切对生命的攻击，牠也就超过生命。根据圣经，死亡是一大能力。当死亡临到人的时候，人无法逃避。连原子能也无法胜过死亡。只有作为复活的主自己能击败死亡。祂能拯救所有的死人脱离死亡。因为祂不只是生命，祂还是复活。祂既是复活，就能打破死亡的能力，连阴间也不能把我们的主拘禁在坟墓里。我们必须学习如何天天应用这复活的生命。我们不只必须凭主作生命而活著，我们也必须藉主作复活而得胜。许多时候环境像死亡一样影响我们，但赞美主，一切的事（包括摸著死亡）都是试验，因为这些事证明究竟主是不是复活。没有甚么能拘禁我们，因为我们有主作我们复活的生命。不管我们所背负的压力或难处如何，我们都能忍受，因为我们有复活的生命。根据十一章二十五节，主不是说我们不会死，乃是说我们要向全宇宙证明，我们所信的主是复活！撒但尽其所能要将我们永远置于死地，有一天，可能我们都会死，但我们都要复活。在整个宇宙间这将是最大的得胜，这个得胜要见证主是复活。不过，甚至在我们日常的生活中，我们也可以豫尝到那复活的最终得胜。所以使徒保罗说，『使我认识基督、并祂复活的大能。』（腓三10。）
2The Lord Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25). Resurrection is superior to life. By itself, life can only have existence, but resurrection can withstand any kind of attack, even the attack of death. The Lord is not only life, but He is also resurrection. Death cannot hold Him because He can conquer death. Death cannot retain Him, because He is not only life — He is also resurrection. Life is the power to exist, but resurrection is the power to conquer everything that is against life. Therefore, because resurrection can defeat every attack against life, it is superior to life. According to the Scriptures, death is a great power. When death comes upon a man, he cannot escape it. Not even atomic power can overcome death. Only the Lord Himself as resurrection can defeat death. He can deliver all of the dead persons from death because He is not only life but also resurrection. Since He is the resurrection, He can break the power of death. Even Hades is unable to confine our Lord to the tomb. We must learn how to apply this resurrection life day by day. We must not only live by the Lord as life, but we must also conquer by the Lord as resurrection. Many times our circumstances affect us like death. But praise the Lord that all matters which contain the touch of death are a test because these matters prove whether or not the Lord is the resurrection. Nothing can confine us, for we have the Lord as our resurrection life. Regardless of the pressure or trouble we are bearing, we can stand it because we have resurrection life. According to 11:25, the Lord did not say that we will not die, but that we will prove to the whole universe that the Lord in whom we believe is the resurrection! Satan will try his best to put us permanently into death. One day, though we all may die, we will all be resurrected. Throughout the whole universe this will be the greatest victory, the victory that will testify that the Lord is the resurrection. However, even in our daily life we may have the foretaste of the ultimate victory of that resurrection. This is why the Apostle Paul said, “To know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10).
3人的意见总是拦阻人在召会中经历主作复活的生命。因此，人的意见必须先放弃，才可能有召会生活。我们何等需要学习一个功课，就是在召会中安静不语，不发表我们的意见！我们甚至必须比马利亚更安静。我们该一言不发。我们该仅仅带个信给主就彀了，这样，拉撒路就会得救。不管主答不答应，来不来，我们只管安静。我们只把事情完全留在主的手中。那样我们就绝不会错，主也绝不会迟。祂来的时候，我们必须不发一言。我们只该让祂讲，给祂机会作祂所要作的。我们只该豫备好与祂合作。这就是过召会生活正确的路。我们若是这样，就要经历基督作复活的生命。在约翰福音里，这一章论到召会生活，是非常有意义的。主是来到召会中作复活生命的一位，但有两类阻挠，一类是宗教，另一类是人的意见。甚至基督教这宗教也绝对是一个阻挠，叫主不能达到带进生命的目的。今天有许多所谓的基督徒自由团体，他们已经放弃了宗教的基督教，已经从公会和其他的基督教组织出来。然而在这些自由团体中，人的意见却无穷无尽！他们中间也许没有像宗教那样的东西，但他们的意见何等拦阻主的去路！因此，我们必须学一个功课，不只放弃基督教，也弃绝我们自己的意见。然后我们才会给主一条自由的通路，叫祂成为我们的生命。一旦主能彰显祂自己，那么主就会得著一个活的召会了。让我们记得，宗教和意见是两大类阻挠，妨碍了主作我们生命的水流。
3The human opinion is always in the way of experiencing the Lord as the resurrection life in the church. Therefore, human opinion must be given up before it is possible to have the church life. How we need to learn the lesson of being silent in the church instead of voicing our opinion! We must be even more quiet than Mary. We should not say a word. We should simply send a message to the Lord—that is all. Then Lazarus will be saved. Whether the Lord answers or not and whether He comes or not, we are simply quiet. We just leave the matter completely in the hands of the Lord. Then we will never be wrong and He will never be late. When He comes, we must not say a word. We should just let Him speak and give Him the opportunity to do whatever He wants. We should simply be available to cooperate with Him. This is the proper way to have the church life. If we do this, we shall experience Christ as the resurrection life. This chapter in John is very meaningful when it is related to the church life. The Lord is the One who comes to the church as the resurrection life, but there are two categories of hindrances. One is religion and the other is human opinion. Even Christianity as a religion is absolutely a hindrance to the Lord’s purpose of bringing life. Today, there are many so-called free groups of Christians who have given up Christianity as a religion. They have come out of the denominations and other Christian organizations. Nevertheless, how endless are the human opinions among these free groups! Although there may be nothing like religion among them, yet how much their human opinions stand in the Lord’s way! Therefore, we must learn the lesson of not only giving up the Christian religion but also of forsaking our own opinions. Then we will afford the Lord a free course to be life in our midst. Once the Lord can express Himself, then the Lord will have a living church. Let us remember that religion and opinion are the two main categories of frustration to the flow of the Lord as our life.
4在进一步来看这末后一个事例之先，我们必须发掘出一个原则。在二章我们看见，第一件神迹是变水为酒。第二件神迹在四章，是叫大臣垂死的儿子活过来。我们曾数次题过，在整卷约翰福音里，圣灵的用意就是使主耶稣作生命，应付我们一切的需要。在二章和四章的这两件神迹，启示了由死得生的原则。在全部九个事例中都有这原则，就是生命在复活的范围中应付人的每一需要。现在我们可以领会，何以变水为酒这事是头一件神迹。这事包含了由死得生这个极重要的原则。这是九个事例的基本原则。在每一事例中除了象征死亡的水以外，甚么也没有。我们所是的一切，以及我们所有的一切，除了死水以外甚么也没有。换句话说，除了死水之外，我们甚么也不是，甚么也没有。你若想想在每一事例中人的情形，就会发现人在每一事例中，除了死亡，甚么也没有。看看尼哥底母这个人，他一无所有，只有死水。看看撒玛利亚妇人，她的干渴表示她在死亡的威胁之下。看看那大臣垂死的儿子，他在死亡残酷的手下。看看那病了三十八年的人，他有甚么?死亡。看看得主𫗪养之前的群众，他们饥饿是因为除了死水，他们甚么也没有。看看那些干渴的宗教徒，他们节期末日的虚空也说出死亡。看看那被法利赛人带到主跟前来的有罪女人，她也只有死水。按属灵说，连那个瞎子也只有死亡。还有拉撒路，甚至死得发臭了。所有牵连在这九个事例中的人，除了死水甚么也没有。按照二章，那六口石缸，就是人性的豫表，装满了死水，直满到缸口。照样，在每一事例中的每一个人，都满了死亡。死亡被启示在每一事例中。然而，主进入这些死亡的局面中，为要按复活的原则作生命。祂将每一局面中的死亡变为生命，并且从死亡中带出生命来。
4Before going further into this last case, we must discover a principle. In chapter two we saw that the first sign was that of changing the water into wine. The second sign, in chapter four, was that of making the dying son of the royal official live. We have mentioned several times that the intention of the Holy Spirit throughout this gospel is simply to make the Lord Jesus to be the life to meet all of our needs. These two signs in chapters two and four reveal the principle of life out of death. In all nine cases there is the principle of life in the realm of resurrection to meet every human need. Now we can understand why the changing of water into wine was the “beginning of signs.” It contains the all-important principle of bringing life out of death. This is the basic principle in all of the nine cases. In every case there is nothing but water, which signifies death. All that we are and all that we have is nothing but the water of death. In other words, we are nothing more than the water of death and we have nothing other than the water of death. If you consider the condition of the people in each case, you will discover that in every case they had nothing but death. Look at the man named Nicodemus. He had nothing but the water of death. Look at the Samaritan woman. Her thirst meant that she was under the threatening of death. Look at the dying son of the royal official. He was under the cruelty of death. Look at the man who was sick for thirty-eight years. What did he have? Death. Look at the multitude before they were fed by the Lord. They were hungry because they had nothing other than the water of death. Look at the thirsty religionists. The vanity with which their feast ended also spoke of death. Look at the sinful woman who was brought to the Lord by the Pharisees. She also had only the water of death. Spiritually speaking, even the blind man had only death. And Lazarus reeked of death. All the people involved in these nine cases had nothing but the water of death. According to the second chapter, the six waterpots, a type of humanity, were filled to the brim with the water of death. Likewise, every person in every case was filled with death. Death is revealed in every case. However, the Lord came into these situations of death in order to be life in the principle of resurrection. He turned the death of each situation into life and brought life out of death.
5我们可将这复活中生命的原则，应用在所有的事例中。首先，主对尼哥底母说到重生。你知道甚么是重生的原则?重生就是说，主在复活里来作我们的生命。主怎能重生人，或使人再生一次?就是按著复活的原则作他们的生命。在撒玛利亚妇人的事例中，主与她谈到活水的满足。一个可怜的罪人怎能因活水得满足?只有凭著复活里生命的原则。当主在复活里进到我们里面作生命，我们就得著满足我们的活水。原则上，主耶稣医治大臣那垂死的儿子，意思也是将生命分赐给他。要医治死伤，需要在复活里分赐生命。
5Let us apply this principle of life in resurrection to all of the cases. Firstly, the Lord spoke with Nicodemus about regeneration. Do you know what is the principle of regeneration? Regeneration simply means that the Lord has come to be our life in resurrection. How can the Lord regenerate people or cause them to be born anew? Simply by being their life in the principle of resurrection. In the case of the Samaritan woman, the Lord spoke with her about the satisfaction of the living water. How can a poor sinner be satisfied with the living water? Only by the principle of life in resurrection. When the Lord comes into us as life in resurrection, we shall then have the living water which satisfies us. In principle, the healing of the dying son of the royal official also meant that life was imparted to him. For the healing of the death wound there was the need for the imparting of life in resurrection
6在那病了三十八年的软弱者身上，发生了甚么事?原则也是同样的，因为主在复活里临到他，作点活人的生命。因为主在复活里来作他的生命，主就成了点活人的能力，使他强壮起来。在饥饿人群的事例中，主来作他们生命的粮。主若没有死而复活，绝不能成为我们的活粮。因为祂在十字架上被杀受死，并且在复活生命的大能里起来，祂就能用那活粮𫗪养并满足我们。我们能凭祂并藉祂得𫗪养。这也是在复活里生命的原则。在七章干渴人的事例中，主是活水，解除他们的干渴。主怎能成为我们的活水?约翰七章清楚的告诉我们，主得荣耀之后，赐生命之灵便成了活水。主得荣耀是甚么意思?那就是说，主被钉死又复活了。在祂的复活里，主成了解除我们干渴的活水。
6What happened to the impotent man who was sick for thirty-eight years? Again the principle is the same, for the Lord came to him as the enlivening life in resurrection. Because the Lord came to be his life in resurrection, the Lord became the enlivening power to make him strong. In the case of the hungry multitude, the Lord came as their bread of life. If the Lord had not died and been resurrected, He could never be our living bread. Since He has died by being slain on the cross and has been raised in the power of resurrection life, He can feed and satisfy us with the living bread. We can be fed by and with Him. This also is the principle of life in resurrection. In the case of the thirsty people in chapter seven, the Lord was the living water to quench their thirst. How can the Lord be our living water? John 7 clearly tells us that after the Lord was glorified the life-giving Spirit became the living water. What does it mean for the Lord to be glorified? It simply means that the Lord was to be crucified and resurrected. In His resurrection the Lord has become the living water which quenches our thirst
7在有罪女人的事例中，主释放她脱离了罪的辖制与奴役。主死了，对罪人成为那活而伟大的『我是。』主用祂复活里的生命加强我们，加力给我们，使我们脱离罪的辖制。没有祂复活里的生命，我们绝不能脱离罪的奴役。
7In the case of the sinful woman, the Lord set her free from the bondage and slavery of sin. The Lord died to be the living, great I Am to sinners. The Lord strengthens and energizes us with His life in resurrection, which frees us from the bondage of sin. Without His life in resurrection, we could never be freed from the slavery of sin.
8那生来瞎眼者的事例也启示复活里生命的原则。主怎么可能赐给他视力和生命的光?十章乃是九章事例的延续，那里说主这好牧人必须死，好将神圣的生命赐给祂的羊。主必须死，在灵中成为复活的生命。现今祂是在复活里生命的根基上临到我们。当然，末了的事例，叫拉撒路从死人中复活，显然是根据基督在复活的范围里作生命。头一个神迹，第二个神迹，现在末一个事例，都启示了约翰福音的用意与原则：藉著叫死人复活而得生命。主得到拉撒路患病的消息时，为何等了两天而不立即就去?严格说来，主等了两天是因为祂不愿单单医治人；祂宁愿点活我们。主绝不照著我们的领会来医治；祂是藉著点活人来医治人。五章说到一个病了三十八年软弱的人，你从那事例中能找著『医治』一辞么?在主眼中那人真是病了么?不，在主眼中，那人是死了。主没有治他的病，祂是点活那死人。因此，藉复活而有的生命原则乃是说，主总是点活死人。
8The case of the man born blind also reveals the principle of life in resurrection. How was it possible for the Lord to give him sight and the light of life? Chapter ten, which continues the case in chapter nine, says that the Lord, as the good shepherd, had to die in order to give His divine life to His sheep. The Lord had to die and become the resurrection life in the Spirit. Now He comes to us on the basis of life in resurrection. Of course, it is clearly evident that the last case, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, is based upon Christ as life in the realm of resurrection. The first sign, the second sign, and now the last case reveal the intention and principle of the Gospel of John: that of life through the resurrection of the dead. Why was it that the Lord waited for two days instead of going immediately upon receiving the news of Lazarus’ sickness? Strictly speaking, the Lord waited for two days because He would not only heal people; rather, He would enliven us. The Lord never heals according to our understanding; He heals by enlivening. Can you find the term “healing” in chapter five about the impotent man who was sick for thirty- eight years? Was that man actually sick in the eyes of the Lord? No, in the eyes of the Lord that man was dead. The Lord did not heal his sickness; He enlivened that dead man. Therefore, the principle of life through resurrection is that the Lord always enlivens the dead
9你以为主要医治你么?不，主要点活你。照著老旧的观念，医治的意思就是改革、改良你。但主从未改良你，或规正你的行为。祂总是点活你。主惟一的用意乃是将祂自己分赐给你，作点活你的生命。为这缘故，主不肯立刻去拉撒路那里治他的病。祂一直等到拉撒路死透了，埋葬了。祂一直等到拉撒路的生命到了绝对的尽头。拉撒路死得那么彻底，以致在坟墓里发臭了。这时候主才来。祂不在这时以前来，因为不愿在医治的原则上来。祂只在复活里生命的原则上来。比方，一位热心宗教的弟兄发觉自己脾气不好。我们可以说，他有坏脾气的病。或是一个孩子，得救之后发觉自己很调皮。他也是一个病人，是害了调皮病。另一个信徒太喜欢开人玩笑，有戏言病。这些病人发现了他们的症状之后，都去将这些病情告诉主。正如马大说拉撒路病了，他们也说他们得了坏脾气的病，行为不良的病，或开玩笑的病。他们要主医治他们，改良他们的脾气，使他们有好脾气，改良他们的行为，使他们有好行为，并且调整他们开玩笑的毛病。想要主调整他那开玩笑毛病的弟兄祷告说，『主阿，保守我的口！』换句话说，这些人病了，并且求主医治他们。但主绝不会来医治你。你越求主医治你的脾气，你的脾气就越不好。主绝不来医治，乃要等、等、等；：直到你死了。祂不会答应你求医治的祷告，乃要等到你的病转为死亡。祂要等到你看见你不只是病了，也是死了。主要等到你告诉祂说，你无可救药了，你对自己完全失望了。你还盼望有所改良么?你果真对自己绝望了么?我怕你们还对自己有些许盼望。好些时候，你就像马大和拉撒路。一面你是患病的拉撒路；另一面，你是报信给主的马大。你将你的病情告诉主，盼望祂会来改良你的情形。但我们都能见证，主绝不会来答应这类的祷告。你越寻求改良，祂就离得越远。有一天，你终于领悟你全然无可指望，你会发现你这器皿除了死水以外一无所有。每件事都满了死亡；没有一件是活的。你就是那六口石缸中的一口，充满了死水。当你知道你完全在死亡里，在你里面除了死水以外一无所有，然后主就会来点活你。当你醒悟，知道这个事实，就是你死了，埋了，甚至发臭了，主就会来点活你。我们的确常常想要更好，想要改良自己！但主要等到你臭了，甚至别人都闻到了，然后祂要照著复活里生命的原则临到你，点活你。
9Do you think that the Lord wants to heal you? The Lord wants to enliven you. According to the old concept, healing means to reform or to improve you. But the Lord never comes to improve you or to regulate your behavior. He always comes to enliven you. The Lord’son ly intention is to impart Himself to you as the enlivening life. For this reason the Lord refused to go to Lazarus immediately to heal him of his sickness. He waited until Lazarus was thoroughly dead and buried. He waited until Lazarus’ human life had come to an absolute end. Lazarus was so completely dead that he was stinking in the tomb. It was at this time that the Lord came. He did not come before this time because He refused to come on the principle of healing. He came only on the principle of life in resurrection. Consider the example of a religious brother who discovers that he has a bad temper. We may say that he is sick with a bad temper. Consider also the case of a little boy who, after he is saved, discovers that he is quite naughty. He also is a sick person; he is sick with his mischievous behavior. Another believer may discover that he jokes too much and that he is sick with his joking. All of these sick people, after discovering their sickness, send the information about their sickness to the Lord. Just like Martha who said that Lazarus was sick, they also say that they are sick of a bad temper, of bad behavior, or of joking. They want the Lord to heal them by improving their temper so that it will be a good temper, by reforming their bad behavior so that it will be a good behavior, and by adjusting their joking. The brother who wants his joking adjusted prays, “O Lord, keep my mouth!” In other words, these people are sick and are asking the Lord to heal them. But the Lord will never come to heal you. The more you pray for the healing of your temper, the worse your temper will be. The Lord will never come to heal, but He waits...waits...waits...until you are dead. He will not answer your prayer for healing, but He will wait until your sickness turns into death. He will wait until you realize that you are not only sick but that you are also dead. The Lord will wait until you tell Him that you are a hopeless case, until you give up all hope for yourself. Do you still hope for some improvement? Are you really disappointed with yourself? I am afraid that each of you still possesses some hope for yourself. Many times you are like both Martha and Lazarus. On one hand, you are the sick Lazarus; on the other hand, you are the Martha informing the Lord. You inform the Lord about your sickness with the hope that He will come to improve your condition. But we all can testify that the Lord will never come to answer this kind of prayer. The more you seek for improvement, the more He stays away. One day you will finally realize that you are an absolutely hopeless case. You will discover that you are a vessel containing nothing but the water of death. Everything is full of death; nothing is living. You are just one of those six waterpots full of death water. When you realize that you are absolutely in death, having nothing except the water of death within you, then the Lord will come to enliven you. When you awake to the fact that you are dead, buried, and even stinking with bad odors, the Lord will then come to enliven you. How often we try to be better and to improve ourselves! But the Lord will just wait until you stink and even spread the bad odors to others. The Lord will wait until others smell your stinking odors. Then He will come to you in the principle of life in resurrection to enliven you.
10基督教的行动违反这原则，因牠是宗教，想要改良人，革新人，规正人的行为。但基督是生命，祂用这生命来点活人。祂以自己作生命来重生人，使人复活。改良、革新或规正人的行为，究竟是甚么意思?就是藉著原来的自己使原来的人更好。但基督以祂自己重生并再造我们。主不愿意医治原来的人；祂要一直等到原来的人死了。因此，你满了死水，发出死的臭味来了，那时主就要来再造你，并使你从那个死亡里复活，而归入祂自己那复活里的生命。约翰福音的原则就是基督在复活里作生命。这卷福音的用意不是藉著规正我们的行为来改良或革新我们。主惟一的用意是将生命带进我们里面。这生命要点活、重生、复活并再造我们。我们若能领略这卷福音的原则，我们的干渴就会解除，我们的饥饿就得饱足，我们的黑暗就被照亮，我们在罪中的辖制就被打碎，我们的死亡也被复活吞灭；这全是藉著在灵中，并藉著话，经历基督作我们复活的生命。我们绝不能凭著出于自己的任何东西、任何作为，来经历活的基督。永活的基督只能在灵中经历，也只能藉著话经历。灵与话要带我们进入复活里生命的原则中。如果我们在灵中藉话接受祂，我们就要得饱足，被照亮，得释放，并且得复活。当我们从死人中复活，我们就蒙拯救脱离死亡的各方面。没有一件事能压制我们，没有一件事能限制我们，也没有一件事能监禁我们，因为我们活在复活里。
10Christianity acts contrary to this principle, for it is a religion that tries to improve people, reform them, and regulate their behavior. But Christ is life and He comes to enliven people with that life. He comes to regenerate and resurrect them with Himself as life. What does it mean to improve, reform, or to regulate one’s behavior? It simply means to make the original man better by the means of the original self. But Christ comes to regenerate and remake us with Himself. The Lord would not heal the original man; He waits until the original man is dead. Therefore, when you are so full of the water of death that you stink with the odor of death, then the Lord will come to re-create you and resurrect you out of that death into Himself as life in resurrection. The principle of the Gospel of John is Christ as life in resurrection. The intention of this gospel is not to improve or reform us by regulating our behavior. The Lord’son ly intention is to bring life into us. This life will enliven, regenerate, resurrect, and recreate us. If we can apprehend the principle of this gospel, our thirst will be quenched, our hunger satisfied, our darkness enlightened, our bondage in sin broken, and our death swallowed up by resurrection — all by experiencing Christ as our resurrection life in the Spirit and through the Word. We can never experience the living Christ by anything of ourselves or by any of our doings. The living Christ is only experienced in the Spirit and through the Word. The Spirit and the Word will bring us into the principle of life in resurrection. If we take Him in the Spirit and through the Word, we shall then be satisfied, enlightened, freed, and resurrected. When we are resurrected from the dead, we are delivered from all aspects of death. Nothing can suppress us, nothing can restrict us, and nothing can imprison us because we are living in resurrection.
肆 宗教的共谋，与生命的代死
IV. THE CONSPIRACY OF RELIGION AND THE GATHERING OF GOD’S CHILDREN
之于神儿女的聚集
11主只有在那些真正爱祂的人中间，才叫死人复活。今天对祂的召会也是这样，因为只有对一班真正爱祂的信徒，主才是复活的生命。然而，有关祂复活大能的消息传到宗教团体，就如传到犹太教去，就会导致一个反应。宗教团体会向主发怒，甚至决心捉拿祂，要把祂置于死地。十一章的犹太教，含示连今天的基督教，也非常反对主那要把复活生命带给人的愿望。在好些事例中，基督教这宗教已经驱逐作生命的主。在这些末后的日子，主越过越多与那些真切爱主之人的团体同在。结果祂要作好些事，叫人从他们的死里复活。但这消息到宗教团体那里，他们会愤怒，并且要反对基督这复活的生命。
11The Lord raised up the dead only among those who loved Him dearly. This is typical of His church today, for He is the resurrection life only to the group of believers who dearly love Him. However, as the information about His resurrection power is brought to the religious groups, such as Judaism, it will cause a reaction. The religious groups will simply become angry with the Lord and even make the decision to arrest Him and put Him to death. Judaism in chapter eleven implies that even the Christian religion of today is very much against the Lord’s desire to bring resurrection life to others. In many cases, the Christian religion has driven out the Lord as life. In these last days, the Lord is more and more with those groups of persons who love Him dearly. As a result, He will do many things to raise people out of their death. But this information will spread to the religious groups who will be angry and will be against Christ as the resurrection life.
12值得注意的是，拉撒路复活的时间，与逾越节的时间相近。按照圣经，我们知道基督是我们的逾越节。（林前五7。）但那些热心宗教的人要过另一种逾越节。热心宗教的人守他们自己的逾越节，杀害了那逾越节的实际。换句话说，基督是真正的逾越节，是逾越节的实际。热心宗教的人一面要守逾越节，另一面要除灭逾越节的实际。今天这原则在基督教里正好一样。虽然基督教与基督有密切的关系，事实上基督教却废弃基督的实际。基督教一面传讲关于基督的事，另一面却毁坏基督的实际。
12It is remarkable that the time of Lazarus’s resurrection coincided with the time of the Passover. According to the Scriptures, we know that Christ is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), but those religious folks were going to have another Passover. By keeping their own Passover, the religious people killed the reality of the Passover. In other words, Christ as the real Passover is the reality of the Passover. On one hand, the religious people wanted to keep the Passover; on the other hand, they wanted to eliminate the reality of the Passover. Today this principle is exactly the same in Christianity. Although Christianity has so much to do with Christ, it puts away the reality of Christ. It preaches about Christ on the one hand, but destroys the reality of Christ on the other
一 宗教的共谋完成神的定旨
A. Religion’s Conspiracy Fulfilling God’s Purpose
13我们已经看见，神所豫备死亡的局面使基督能彰显祂复活的大能，这复活大能的结果是叫死人起来。但是叫拉撒路复活这件事，引起一些难处。这消息传到法利赛人那里，法利赛人听见以后，认为情形非常严重。因此，他们共谋要杀耶稣。（约十一45～。）当法利赛人在共谋对付主耶稣的时候，当年的大祭司该亚法就豫言说，『也不想想，一个人替百姓死，免得全民灭亡，就是你们的益处。』（约十一49～50。）以下的经节说，『他这话不是从自己说的，是因他当年作大祭司，所以豫言耶稣将要替这民死；不但替这民死，并要将神四散的儿女，都聚集归一。』（约十一51～52。）这里所说将神的儿女都聚集归一，含示不仅主的死，连主复活的生命，都是为著建造神的儿女。这一切究竟有何意义?那就是说，复活的生命将兴起一个局面，藉此神四散的儿女能聚集在一起，以建立神在地上的居所。宗教的共谋有助于神定旨的完成。
13We have seen that the death situation provided by God enabled Christ to manifest His resurrection power and that this resurrection power issues in the raising up of the dead one. But this raising of Lazarus caused some trouble. The news of it spread to the Pharisees, and the Pharisees, after hearing of it, considered the situation as very serious. Thus, they conspired to kill Jesus (11:45-57). As the Pharisees were conspiring against the Lord Jesus, Caiaphas, who was high priest that 57 year, spoke prophetically, saying, “You know nothing at all, nor do you account that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation perish” (11:49-50). The following verse says, “Now this he did not say from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather into one the children of God who have been scattered abroad” (11:51-52). The phrase “gather into one the children of God” mentioned here implies that not only the death but also the resurrection life of the Lord is for the building up of God’s children. What does all this mean? It simply means that the resurrection life will raise up a situation through which God’s scattered people may be gathered together in order to be built up for God’s dwelling on earth. Religion’s conspiracy helps in the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
二 藉著主的死和复活生命，聚集神的儿女
B. The Gathering of God’s Children through the Death and Resurrection Life of the Lord
14我再说，拉撒路的死是神所提供的机会，叫复活的生命得著显出。复活的生命需要死，好叫复活的生命和大能得以彰显。这复活大能的显出，在反对者中间导致一个反应，于是他们共谋要杀害主耶稣。就在他们商议时，说出了一个豫言。这指明反对主之宗教的阴谋，实际上被神用来完成祂的定旨，有助于聚集神四散的子民，为著神的建造。因此绝不要因著你所在地方召会的情形失望。在你的召会中若有艰难的局面，要为此赞美神。这必是祂的豫备。祂要有一些作为，因此就激起宗教的反对。反对者甚至想要杀害你。但是不要作难。神要用那阴谋，将祂四散的子民聚集归一，为著祂的建造。我愿你们对这个事实能有深刻印象。只要我们在主的恢复里，只要我们有基督的复活，就不管我们中间的情形怎样，或者环境中有甚么阴谋反对我们，神永远的定旨至终必要得成全。神四散的子民要为著神的建造而聚集。一切消极的事物－死亡与反对，都要成为神永远定旨的仆役，促进神定旨的完成。我们在山顶上，洪水在我们脚下。切不要作难！只要你在地方召会中，只要你有基督作你复活的大能，只要你在这流中，并有这见证，就不论里面有甚么死亡的光景，外面有甚么反对，你都可以心安。宗教的反对，那想要杀害你的阴谋，反要完成神永远的定旨。
14I say once again that the death of Lazarus was provided by God as an opportunity for resurrection life to be manifested. Resurrection life needs death in order that resurrection life and power might be expressed. This manifestation of resurrection power caused a reaction among the opposers, who then conspired to kill the Lord Jesus. As part of their consideration, a prophecy was uttered. This indicates that the conspiracy among the opposing religion actually serves to fulfill God’s purpose. It helps to gather all the scattered people of God for God’s building. Therefore, never be disappointed by the situation in your local church. If there is a difficult situation in your church, praise God for it. It must be His provision. He will do something and then the opposition of religion will be stirred up. The opposers may even try to kill you. But do not be troubled. That very conspiracy will be used by God to gather His scattered people together for His building. I want to impress you with the fact that as long as we are in the Lord’s recovery and as long as we have the resurrection of Christ, regardless of the situation among us or the conspiracy in the environment against us, God’s eternal purpose will eventually be fulfilled. There will be a gathering of God’s scattered people for God’s building. All the negative things—the death and the opposition—will be the servants of God’s eternal purpose. They will further the fulfillment, the accomplishment, of God’s purpose. We are on the mountaintop, and the flood waters are under our feet. Do not be troubled. As long as you are in the local church, as long as you have Christ as your resurrection power, and as long as you are in this flow and have this testimony, you may be at peace regardless of the death condition inwardly or the opposition outwardly. The opposition of religion, the conspiracy that plans to kill or terminate you, will carry out God’s eternal purpose
15这就是这章的启示。约翰十一章不仅是一个复活的故事，乃是一个完整的启示，叫人看见，只要我们有主同在，并有复活的生命，来为著神的定旨，那么所发生的每件事都是为著完成神的定旨。因此我们可以说，『主，你若要给我们死亡的局面，就请给罢！我们乐于有这种情形。让一些拉撒路弟兄死罢，那时你复活的大能就要得著彰显。你要在复活里作工，那会引起反对；但那反对要将你四散的儿女棸集起来，为著你的建造。』这些事正在美国发生。赞美主！为著祂复活的大能赞美祂！为著祂主宰的聚集赞美祂！祂正在叫死人起来，祂也正在聚集祂的子民，为著祂那美妙的建造！
15This is the revelation in this chapter. John 11 is not merely a story of resurrection. It is a complete revelation that discloses that as long as we are with the Lord and with the resurrection life for God’s purpose, everything that transpires is for the fulfillment of His purpose. Thus we may say, “Lord, if You want to give us a death situation, please do it. We are happy with it. Let some Lazarus brothers die. Then Your resurrection power will be manifested. You will do a work in resurrection that will arouse the opposition, and that opposition will gather together the scattered children of God for God’s building.” These things are happening in this country. Praise the Lord! Praise Him for His resurrecting power. Praise the Lord for His sovereign gathering. He is raising the dead and He is gathering His people together for His wonderful building!