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约翰福音生命读经 · 第25篇

生命的结果与繁增（一）

Life’s Issue and Multiplication (1)
1在本篇信息中，我们来看约翰福音另一个主要的分段。我们已经看见，约翰福音包括两个段落：永远的话成为肉体，来将神带进人里面；（约一～十三；）以及耶稣被钉十架，基督复活，去豫备道路将人带进神里，且成为灵，来住在并活在信徒里面，以建造神的居所。（约十四～二一。）我们已讲过第一大段的前三个分段：生命与建造的引言；（约一1～51；）生命的原则与生命的目的；（约二1～22；）以及生命应付人各种情况的需要。（约二23～十一57。）生命的原则是变死亡为生命；（约二1～；）生命的目的是建造神的家。（约二12～22。）从三章开始，我们看见了九个事例，说明作生命的基督如何能应付人类各种的需要，好完成神的定旨。这把我们带到十一章的末了。以后，在十二章，这福音书启示基督作人生命的结果，就是产生召会。召会，那筵宴之家，是主可得安息并满足之处。基督作人生命的结果就是召会。那么生命的繁增是甚么?在十二章我们看见一个小型召会。她在人数、大小、生命的成长上，都是小的。这个召会如何才能繁增呢?乃是藉著生命的繁增。生命的结果是产生召会，生命的繁增乃是使召会在大小、人数和生命的成长上得著加增。
1In this message we come to another major subsection in the Gospel of John. We have seen that this Gospel is composed of two sections: the eternal Word incarnated coming to bring God into man (chs. 1—13), and Jesus crucified and Christ resurrected going to prepare the way to bring man into God, and as the Spirit coming to abide and live in the believers for the building of God’s habitation (chs. 14 — 21). We have already covered the first three subsections of the first main section: an introduction to life and building (1:1-51); life’spr i nciple and life’s purpose (2:1-22); and life meeting the need of man’se very case (2:23—11:57). The principle of life is to change death into life (2:1-11), and the purpose of life is to build the house of God (2:12-22). Beginning with chapter three, we see 11 nine cases which illustrate how Christ as life can meet mankind’s every need for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. This brings us to the end of chapter eleven. After this, in chapter twelve, this Gospel reveals the issue of Christ being life to man: the producing of the church. The church, a house of feasting, is the place where the Lord can rest and obtain His satisfaction. The issue of Christ being life to man is the church. What then is life’s multiplication? In chapter twelve we see a small church. It is small in number, in size, and in the growth of life. How can this church be multiplied? It is by the multiplication of life. The issue of life is to produce the church, and the multiplication of life is to increase the church in size, in number, and in the growth of life.
壹 生命的结果
I. LIFE’S ISSUE
2十二章是独立的，不是前九个事例的延续，乃是这些事例的总结。这九个事例的总结就是：基督作生命，结果产生了召会。在十二章一至十一节，我们看见生命的结果，就是召会。
2Chapter twelve stands alone. It is not the continuation of the nine foregoing cases; it is the conclusion of all of them. The conclusion of the nine cases is that Christ as life issues in the church. In 12:1-11 we see life’s issue, which is the church
一 筵宴之家
A. A House of Feasting
3在十一章，主使拉撒路从死人中复活，这复活所产生的结果就是召会生活。我们原先都是死人，主来使我们复活。在祂使我们复活之后，我们就成了召会。所以，在十一章我们看见拉撒路复活了；在十二章我们看见复活的人成了主能安息和满足之处。这就是召会。现在我们需要将召会看作筵宴之家。
3In chapter eleven the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead. That resurrection issued in the church life. We all were dead persons. Then the Lord came in to resurrect us. After He resurrected us, we became the church. Thus, in chapter eleven we see Lazarus resurrected and in chapter twelve we see that the resurrected person becomes the very place where the Lord can find rest and satisfaction. This is the church. Now we need to consider the church as the house of feasting.
1 在宗教之外
1. Outside of Religion
4这筵宴之家乃是在宗教之外；既不在圣城耶路撒冷，也不在圣殿，乃在伯大尼的小屋里，在耶路撒冷和宗教以外。
4This house of feasting is outside of religion. It was not in Jerusalem, the holy city, or in the holy temple. It was in a little house in Bethany, outside of Jerusalem and outside of religion
5主作人的生命，应付他们一切的需要，因此被犹太教所弃绝。犹太教看见主作了各种人的生命，就无法容忍。所以热心宗教的人弃绝了作生命的主。这个弃绝开始于五章，（约五，18，）在十章达到高潮。（约十31，39。）在十一章，犹太宗教徒因为主使拉撒路从死人中复活，甚至商议如何将祂置于死地。（约十一53，57。）犹太首领为著同样的缘故，还阴谋要杀拉撒路。（约十二10。）这表明宗教多么反对作生命的主。牠不但逼迫主，也想要毁灭那些有分于主作生命的人。宗教总是否认并且弃绝作生命的主。我们读约翰福音的时候，必须看见宗教和作生命的基督之间的不同。主耶稣成为肉体来到地上，不是要作宗教首领，乃是要进入人里面作人的生命。从三章第一个重生的事例起，到十一章最后一个复活的事例，主所作的一切都是将自己作生命摆在那些在犹太宗教之外的人跟前。我们若从生命以外的观点看宗教，（包括基督教在内，）我们就很容易受骗而被错引，因为宗教教导人怎样认识神，敬拜神，甚至教导人读圣经。看起来宗教并没有甚么不好。然而，主若怜悯我们，祂的灵若开我们的眼睛，我们就会看见，神在宇宙中所作的，并不是仅仅使人敬拜祂或事奉祂。在这世代中，神的愿望和心意乃是在子里，凭著祂的灵，并藉著祂的话，进到人里面，作人的生命，使人可以凭祂活著。这和宗教迥然不同，也与宗教观念完全相反。主来作人的生命时，祂被犹太宗教弃绝了。连续多少世纪以来，祂不断被宗教弃绝。无论是天主教或更正教，只要是宗教，都不会也不能单纯的接受主作生命。在接受主作生命这件事上，天主教和更正教都是人莫大的阻挠，正如主在地上时的犹太宗教一样。（直到今日，犹太教还是这样。）所以，我们必须儆醒并提防任何一种宗教，不然就可能被带入歧途。
5The Lord being life to people to meet all of their needs brought about His rejection by the Jewish religion. Judaism could not tolerate seeing the Lord being life to so many kinds of people. So the religious ones rejected the Lord as life. This rejection began in chapter five (vv. 16, 18) and reached its climax in 16 chapter ten (vv. 31, 39). In chapter eleven the Jewish religionists even held a council on how to put the Lord to death because He had raised Lazarus from the dead (11:53, 57). The Jewish leaders also plotted to put Lazarus to death for the same reason (12:10). This shows how much religion is against the Lord as life. It not only persecuted the Lord, but also tried to destroy those who participated in the Lord as life. Religion always renounces and rejects the Lord as life. As we study the Gospel of John, we must see the difference between religion and Christ as life. The Lord Jesus came to earth in His incarnation not to be a religious leader but to come into man and to be man’s life. From the first case of regeneration in chapter three to the last case of resurrection in chapter eleven, all that the Lord did was to present Himself as life to people outside of the Jewish religion. If we look at religion, including Christianity, from a viewpoint other than that of life, we shall be easily cheated and misled, for religion teaches people how to know God and worship Him. It even teaches the Bible. It seems that there is nothing bad about it. However, if the Lord has mercy on us and if His Spirit opens our eyes, we shall see that what God is doing in the universe is not merely to make people worship Him or serve Him. In this age God’s desire and intention is to come into man in the Son, by His Spirit, and through His Word to be man’s life that man might live by Him. This is absolutely different from religion and altogether contrary to the religious concept. When the Lord came as life to man, He was rejected by the Jewish religion. Throughout all the succeeding centuries, He has been continually rejected by religion. Whether that religion is Catholicism or Protestantism, as long as it is a religion it will not and cannot purely take the Lord as life. In this matter of taking the Lord as life, both the religion of Catholicism and the religion of Protestantism have been great frustrations to people, just as the religion of Judaism was in the Lord’s time and still is today. Therefore, we must be aware and alert concerning any kind of religion. If not, we might be led astray.
2 主和信祂之人筵宴、安息并满足的地方
2. A Place for Feasting, Rest, and Satisfaction for the Lord and His Believers
6主被犹太教弃绝是消极的结果，但主作人的生命也带来积极的结果－那就是主在被弃绝中得著一个家，就是祂能安息、筵宴、安居并满足之处。在十二章，我们看见主已经从弃绝祂的宗教中出来，向他们隐藏了，并且进了伯大尼一个犹太信徒的家里。祂使自己成为信祂之人复活的生命，藉此找到了一个家。这家可视为祂召会的小影。一面，祂被犹太教所弃绝，祂也放弃了犹太教；另一面，祂得著了一个能住留并安息的家。祂有了能坐席并得满足的地方。先前，主『没有枕头的地方。』（太八20。）但现在，在祂使拉撒路从死人中复活之后，祂得著了一个可以安息并坐席之处。在犹太教弃绝了祂之后，祂就不愿再留在耶路撒冷。祂总是离开，到伯大尼去住宿。（太二一17～18。）在那里祂不但能住宿并安息，也能坐席并得著满足。按照属灵的意义，这表征祂从旧约的犹太宗教完全分别出来，从那时起祂就一直住在召会中，以召会为家，在其中祂能安息、坐席并得著满足。在外表上，那小屋没有甚么吸引人的地方；但在里面，却充满了筵宴、安息和满足。不只主耶稣在坐席并安息，那里的每一个人都是如此。在召会生活中必须就是这样。你从外表看召会生活，没有甚么是吸引人的，她的建筑、椅子，好像没有一样是上好的。外表看来，可能样样都很差；然而，里面却样样都是宝贵、甘甜又可爱的。我们有甜美的感觉，我们是与主同在的，主也是与我们同在的。祂和我们，我们和祂一同坐席。我们与祂都得了安息。人人都安息，人人都满足。这就是召会生活。
6The rejection of the Lord by Judaism was a negative issue. But there was also a positive issue brought forth by the Lord’s being life to people—a home for Him in His rejection, a place where He could rest, feast, dwell, and be satisfied. In chapter twelve we see that the Lord has come out and has hidden Himself from the religion that rejected Him and has come into a home of His Jewish believers in Bethany. By making Himself the resurrection life to His believers, He found a home. This home may be considered a shadow of His church. On the one hand, He was rejected by Judaism and gave it up; on the other hand, He obtained a home where He could stay and rest. He had a place where He could feast and be satisfied. Formerly, the Lord had “nowhere that He may lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). But now, after raising Lazarus from the dead, He obtained a place for resting and feasting. After the Jewish religion had rejected Him, He was no longer willing to stay in Jerusalem. He always went away to stay in Bethany (Matt. 21:17-18). There He could not only stay and rest but also feast and be satisfied. This spiritually signifies that He was absolutely separated from the Jewish religion of the Old Testament and was and still is dwelling in the church as His home wherein He can rest, feast, and be satisfied. Although there was nothing outwardly attractive about that little house, inwardly it was filled with feasting, resting, and satisfaction. Not only the Lord Jesus was feasting and resting, but so was everyone else who was there. It must be this way in the church life. When you look at the church life outwardly, nothing is attractive. Neither the building nor the chairs nor anything may seem to be very good. Outwardly, everything may be poor; inwardly, however, everything is precious, sweet, and dear. We have the sweet sensation that we are with the Lord and that the Lord is with us. He is feasting with us and we are feasting with Him. Both He and we are resting. Everyone is at rest and everyone is satisfied. This is the church life
二 召会生活的小影
B. A Miniature of the Church Life
1 由复活的生命所产生
1. Produced by the Resurrection Life
7现在让我们看约翰十二章，关于召会生活小影的几个点。第一，是由复活的生命所产生的。拉撒路在场就表明了召会是由复活的生命所产生的。召会并不是藉著人的组织、智慧、工作或教训产生的，乃是藉著复活的生命产生的。在伯大尼主完成了祂最后一件神迹－使拉撒路从死人中复活。所以，伯大尼是主使死人复活的地方。那里的信徒是由主复活的生命所产生的。这正是召会的所在－那作复活生命的主使人从死里复活之处。我们原先都是死的，因为我们从前都死在罪中，（西二13，）但主已经使我们从死人中复活，使我们活过来，并且重生了我们。这事的结果，就是我们这些分享祂复活生命的人，成了召会。召会就是主复活生命的产物。在天然的生命里，没有召会。惟有藉著主复活的生命，召会才能产生出来。这样一个在复活生命里的召会，是主和我们能寻得安息和满足的地方，也是我们和主能一同坐席的地方。
7Let us now consider several points concerning the miniature of the church life found in John 12. Firstly, it was produced by resurrection life. Lazarus was present as a sign that the church is produced by resurrection life. The church does not come into being by man’s organization, man’s wisdom, man’s work, or man’s teaching. It comes into being by resurrection life. Bethany was the place where the Lord accomplished His last sign — the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Therefore, Bethany is the place where the Lord raised up the dead. The believers there issued from the Lord’s resurrection life. This is exactly where the church is—in the place of resurrection where the Lord as resurrection life raises people from the dead. Originally, we were dead, for we were dead in sins (Col. 2:13). But the Lord has raised us up from the dead; He has quickened and regenerated us. The issue of this is that we who have shared in His resurrection life have become the church. The church is the produce of the Lord’s resurrection life. In the natural life there is no church. The church can come into being only through the Lord’s resurrection life. Such a church in resurrection life is the place where the Lord can find rest and satisfaction with us and where we can feast with the Lord.
2 由蒙洁净的罪人所组成
2. Composed of Cleansed Sinners
8召会是由患痲疯的西门所代表之蒙洁净的罪人所组成的。（可十四3。）我年轻时，以为他们在伯大尼与主一同坐席的屋子是拉撒路的家。至终我明白了，那不是拉撒路的家，乃是那被主治好的痲疯病人的家。按马可十四章三节，约翰十二章二节所题到的筵席是在患麻疯的西门家中为主豫备的。那蒙洁净的痲疯病人西门的家，成了召会聚会的地方。这是很有意义的。一面，我们从前都是死人；另一面，我们从前都是患痲疯的。原先，召会中的成员都是死的，也是患麻疯的（有罪的）。就一面说，我们和拉撒路一样，是死而复活的人；就另一面说，我们和西门一样，是患痲疯而蒙了洁净的人。阿利路亚，主已经使我们从死人中复活，也洁净了我们的痲疯，就是我们的罪！现在我们所在之处成了召会聚会的地方。
8The church is composed of cleansed sinners as represented by Simon the leper (Mark 14:3). When I was young, I thought that the house there in Bethany where they were feasting with the Lord was the home of Lazarus. Eventually I learned that it was not the home of Lazarus, but the house of a leper who must have been healed by the Lord. According to Mark 14:3 the feast mentioned in John 12:2 was prepared for the Lord in the house of a leper named Simon. The house of Simon, a cleansed leper, became the meeting place of the church. This is very meaningful. On the one hand, we all were dead; on the other hand, we all were lepers. Originally, the members of the church were both dead and leprous (sinful) people. In a sense we, like Lazarus, were dead and have been resurrected. In another sense we, like Simon, were contaminated lepers and have been cleansed. Hallelujah, the Lord has raised us from the dead and cleansed us from our leprosy, our sins! Now where we are becomes the meeting place of the church
9为主所豫备的筵席设在患痲疯的西门家中，而约翰十二章却未题西门作了甚么，这是非常希奇的。那筵席是在西门家中豫备的，但一切事情都是两位姊妹和一位弟兄作的。在伯大尼一个患痲疯的人家里，一切事情却是由马大、马利亚和拉撒路作的。召会虽是主点活并重生死人，且洁净痲疯患者的地方，但召会中的服事却不是痲疯患者所担任的。这就是约翰十二章中西门未参加服事这事实背后的意义。
9It is very strange that the place where the feast was prepared for the Lord was in the home of Simon the leper, yet John 12 is silent about Simon’s doing anything. The feast was prepared in Simon’sho use, but everything was done by two sisters and one brother. In Bethany, in the house of a leper, everything was done by Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Although the church is the place where the Lord quickens and regenerates the dead and cleanses the lepers, the service in the church is not done by the lepers. This is the meaning behind the fact that Simon was absent from serving in John 12.
3 外面是贫穷困苦的
3. Outwardly Poor and Afflicted
10伯大尼的意思是贫穷之家或困苦之家。外表看来，召会也许是贫穷的、困苦的。地上的召会也许在物质上不富有，但她在主面前、在对主的享受上该是富足的。召会以外的人总会轻视召会，说她是贫穷且满了困苦的。他们没有灵来领会，我们在享受主对我们的一切所是上是何等丰富。
10Bethany means house of the poor or house of affliction. Outwardly, the church may be poor and afflicted. The church on earth may not be rich in material things; it should be rich with the enjoyment of the Lord in His presence. The outward people will always look down on the church, saying that it is poor and full of affliction. They do not have a spirit to realize how rich we are in the enjoyment of all that the Lord is to us
4 里面是在主的同在中与主同筵
4. Inwardly Feasting in and with the Presence of the Lord
11在里面，召会生活是在主的同在中与主同筵的生活。（约十二2。）主来到那家，那里有祂的同在。在召会生活中，我们所需要的第一件事就是主的同在。我们所处的地位与情况必须是让主能来与我们同在的。祂的同在对召会生活非常重要，召会生活绝对有赖于主的同在。没有主的同在，召会生活就是虚空的。在里面，召会生活是个筵席。在召会生活中该一直有筵席，让主自己能享受，也能与祂子民一同享受。乃是在召会中，主才有安息、享受和满足。在这里，一直有筵席为主和祂的子民豫备，不但主自己享受，所有与祂同在的人也享受。召会是主能与祂的子民一同享受的地方，也是祂子民能享受祂同在的地方。召会是主和祂的子民聚在一起，彼此一同坐席，也彼此享受的所在。局外人是不能领会这事的。局外人不知道我们在召会生活中作甚么。二十多年前我还在台北的时候，一位丹麦籍的女传教士来和我长谈，问到召会的事。她受召会吸引，但由于谣言，还有一些问题。我对她说，『姊妹，即使我跟你谈几天，你还是不能领会我们在这里作甚么。你要领会我们在作甚么，最好的办法，也是惟一的办法，就是来这里住上两年半。在这段期间，不要上别处去，也不要作甚么工，只要日夜与姊妹们在一起，参加每个聚会。你必须参加所有的聚会－大聚会、小聚会、家聚会和会所的聚会。不要错过一次聚会。此外，你必须阅读我们所出版的一切书刊，总共有二百多种。你若住上两年半，参加所有的聚会，读完所有的书刊，我能保证你会完全清楚。亲爱的姊妹，你肯付这代价么?』她立刻回答说，『我就照你的话去作。』她将自己的家锁起来，搬进姊妹之家。她真的遵守了我的话。她别的地方都不去，只跟姊妹们在一起，参加了所有的聚会，阅读了大部分的中文书刊。在不到两年半的时间内－或许不过几个月之久－她来找我，并且说，『李弟兄，赞美主。我现在清楚我们在这里作甚么了。』她不是说『你们』在这里作甚么；乃是说『我们』在这里作甚么。她又说，『从今天起，没有任何东西会使我离开召会了。』她在那里又过了许久才回丹麦。在那里她经历了好些难处，但都没有使她离开召会。当人从外表看召会，他们看见一样东西；在他们眼中，这或许是黑色的。（喻指会幕外面的海狗皮－译注。）然而，你若进入召会里面，那就完全
11Inwardly, the church life is a life of feasting in and with the presence of the Lord (12:2). The Lord came to that house and His presence was there. In the church life, the first thing we need is the Lord’s presence. We must be a people in such a position and with such a condition that the Lord can come and be with us. His presence means very much to the church life. The church life is a life that absolutely depends upon the Lord’s presence. Without the Lord’s presence, the church life is empty. Inwardly, the church life is a feast. In the church life there should always be a feast that the Lord Himself can enjoy and that His people can enjoy with Him. It is in the church that the Lord has rest, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Here there is always a feast prepared for the Lord and His people. Not only the Lord Himself enjoys it, but all the people who are with Him enjoy it as well. The church is a place where the Lord Himself can enjoy being with His people and where His people can enjoy being with Him. The church is a place where the Lord and His people come together to feast with one another and to enjoy one another. No outsiders can understand this. No outsiders know what we are doing in the church life. More than twenty years ago, when I was still in Taipei, a Danish lady missionary came to have a long talk with me, asking about the church. She was attracted to the church but still had some problems due to the rumors. I said to her, “Sister, even if I would talk to you for days, you still could not understand what we are doing here. The best way and the only way for you to understand what we are doing is to come here and stay for two and a half years. Within this period of time, do not visit any other place and do not do any work. Simply stay with the sisters day and night and attend every meeting. You must attend all the meetings—big meetings, small meetings, home meetings, and hall meetings. Don’t miss one meeting. In addition, you must read all the books that we have put out, more than two hundred of them. If you stay two and a half years, attend all the meetings, read through all the books, I can assure you that you will be more than clear. Dear sister, will you pay the price?” Immediately she replied, “At your word I will do it.” She closed her home and moved into the sisters’ house. She truly kept my word. She did not go anywhere else. She just stayed with the sisters, attended all the meetings, and read most of the books in Chinese. In a period of time that was much shorter than two and a half years—it might have been only a few months—she came to me and said, “Brother Lee, praise the Lord. Now I am clear what we are doing here.” She did not say, “What you are doing here”; she said, “I am now clear what we are doing here.” She also said, “From today on, nothing can take me out of the church.” She remained there a good length of time and then returned to Denmark. She has passed through many hardships there, but nothing has taken her out of the church. When people look at the church outwardly, they see one thing. It may appear black in their eyes. However, when you get into the church inwardly, it is absolutely different. It is golden yellow
12不同了，那是金黄色的。
125. Having More Sisters Than Brothers
5 姊妹比弟兄多
13就像在伯大尼一样，在召会里，最好是姊妹比弟兄多。（约十二～3。）每当召会中姊妹的人数少于弟兄的人数，召会就不会很活。活的召会需要有较多的姊妹，越多越好。你若看见姊妹多于弟兄的光景，就会看见那召会是活的。但当姊妹少于弟兄，那召会就不会很活。
13As it was there in Bethany, it is better for a church to have more sisters than brothers (12:2-3). Whenever the number of sisters in a church is smaller than2 the number of brothers, that church may not be so living. A living church needs to have more sisters, the more the better. If you look into a situation where the number of sisters is greater than the number of brothers, you will find that that church is living. But when the sisters are fewer in number than the brothers, that church will not be so living.
6 各有不同的功用
6. With Different Functions
服事
a. Serving
14在召会生活中有不同的功用。在召会事奉中有三类功用，由这家的三个人所代表。首先是马大所代表，服事的功用。（约十二2。）历代以来，马大受了不公平的待遇。历世历代，基督徒都轻看了她。不要定罪马大，定罪她是不公平的。我们不该认为马大不行，因为这一章明说『马大伺候。』这是非常美好的，因为在召会的事奉中，召会的事务必须料理。没有马大，谁来管我们吃的事情？我们需要她豫备食物。我欣赏马大的服事。我们都必须改变我们对她的观念，不该轻看她。我们该鼓励姊妹作马大。或许你们姊妹仍相当属灵，也很宗教，但我是十分实际的。我不要那样的属灵。假定所有的姊妹都是马利亚，都很属灵的静静坐著，谁来豫备饭食呢?我们必须有一些殷勤、能干、主动、活的、并实际的马大。我们虽然是属灵的，但我们还必须实际的服事。在那个家里，马大的服事是必需的。照样，在召会事奉中，首要的功用是办事，是照料一些实际的事务。
14In the church life there are different functions. There are three kinds of functions in the service of the church represented by the three persons in the house. Firstly is the serving function represented by Martha (12:2). Throughout all the centuries, Martha has been treated unfairly. Throughout history, Christians have looked down on her. Do not condemn Martha. It is unfair to condemn her. We should not think that Martha is no good, for this chapter says that Martha served. This is very good, for, in the church service, the business affairs of the church must be taken care of. How could we have the food taken care of without Martha? We need her to prepare the food. I appreciate Martha’s service. We all must change our concept about her and not look down on her. We should encourage the sisters to be Marthas. Perhaps you sisters are still quite spiritual and religious, but I am rather practical. I do not want to be that spiritual. Suppose all the sisters are Marys sitting there quietly being spiritual. Who is going to prepare the meal? We must have some Marthas who are diligent, capable, active, living, and practical. Although we are spiritual, we must still serve practically. Martha’s service was needed in that house. Likewise, in the church service, the first function needed is to serve by doing certain things, by taking care of certain practical affairs.
作见证
b. Testifying
15在召会的服事中，第二类功用由拉撒路所代表。拉撒路似乎没有作甚么，他只是坐在那里和主同席吃饭。但我们必须记得，拉撒路是复活生命活的见证。他不是藉著作甚么事来见证，乃是藉著活在复活的生命中来见证。他的见证并不在劳苦或工作，乃在享受复活的生命。他是主复活生命之大能的见证人。他在那里，那里就有复活生命的见证。马大的服事是美好的，但并不吸引人。吸引人的是拉撒路的见证。这不是说马大的服事不好，不需要，因为有些事情是必须料理的。连拉撒路也必须由马大伺候。所以，我们必须知道，即使有了美好的生命见证，我们仍需要马大的服事。不然，我们就没有东西可吃。
15The second kind of function in the service of the church is represented by Lazarus. It appears as if Lazarus did nothing. He just sat there at the table with the Lord, enjoying the feast with Him. But we must remember that Lazarus was the living testimony of the resurrection life. He did not testify by doing but by living in the resurrection life. His testimony was not in labor or in works; it was in the enjoyment of the resurrection life. He was a witness to the power of the Lord’s resurrection life. Wherever he was, the testimony of resurrection life was there. Martha’s service was good, but it did not attract people. It was the testimony of Lazarus that attracted them. This does not mean that Martha’s service was not good and was not needed, for certain things had to be taken care of. Even Lazarus had to be served by Martha. Therefore, we must realize that even when we have a good testimony of life, we still need the service of Martha. Otherwise, we will have nothing to eat
16召会中的第二类功用是生命的见证。这种见证不是作出来的，乃是活出来的。那不是一种工作，乃是一种生命。这不是藉劳苦，乃是藉享受主。这使人感受到复活的大能，复活生命的显出，以及对主这生命的享受。主能使死人变得这么活，并且使他们与祂同席，这是一个有力的见证。在召会中必须有这样一种活的见证，这样一种生命的功用。不但要有实际事务的服事，也要有生命的职事。马大的服事是必需的，但拉撒路的职事更是不可少的。
16The second kind of function in the church is the testimony of life. It is not by doing but by living. It is not a kind of work; it is a kind of life. It is not by laboring; it is by enjoying the Lord. It gives people the feeling of resurrection power, the manifestation of resurrection life, and the enjoyment of the Lord as life. This is a strong testimony that the Lord can make dead persons so living and enable them to feast with Him. In the church there must be such a living testimony, such a function of life. There must be not only the service of practical affairs but also the ministry of life. Martha’s service is necessary, but Lazarus’s ministry i seven more necessary.
爱主
c. Loving
17马利亚代表第三类功用。（约十二2～。）她代表那些非常爱主的人，将他们所持有最宝贵的东西倾倒在主身上。他们爱主到一个地步，将上好的给主。这正是马利亚所作的。她将极贵重的香膏倒在主的脚上，又用自己的头发去擦祂的脚。在她心中，没有甚么东西像主这样亲爱、这样宝贵、这样贵重了。她，以及很多像她一样的人，都用他们上好的来爱主。在她的估价之下，主比任何东西都更有价值、更可爱。在她看来，主是最宝贵、最贵重的。
17Mary represents the third kind of function (12:2-3). She represents the dear ones who love the Lord very 3 much and who pour out what they hold most precious upon the Lord. They love the Lord so much that they give the best to the Lord. This is what Mary did. She poured the costly ointment upon the feet of the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. In her heart nothing was so dear, so precious, and so costly as the Lord. She, along with many others like her, loved the Lord with the best she had. Her estimate of the Lord was that He was more valuable and lovable than anything else. For her, the Lord was the most precious and the most costly One.
18马利亚将贵重的香膏倒在主耶稣身上，是正当召会生活的标记。虽然你晓得马利亚用上好的香膏抹主耶稣，但你可能还不知道这就是召会生活的标记。召会生活的主要特征就是用我们上好的爱来膏主。召会生活主要的彰显和特征，乃是将我们的香膏倒在祂身上。召会在这里被比喻为屋子，香膏倒在主耶稣身上，屋里就满了香甜的气味，悦人的气味。这应该是地方召会主要的彰显。你进入地方召会，首先应该闻到倾倒在主耶稣身上的爱的香膏。马利亚不但爱主，她也将她上好的倾倒在主身上，这成为正当召会生活的标记。在正当的召会生活中，我们都必须爱主到这种程度。所以，我们有三类的功用：服事、见证和爱。我们有服事、见证和倾倒在主身上的爱。这三样东西必须在召会生活中见到。每逢人来到我们这里，他们必须晓得，我们中间有为主的服事、对主的见证、和倾倒在主身上的爱。这三样是必须有的。我们必须一直有服事。我们更必须有见证，见证主是我们复活的生命；在这一面的见证，无需我们劳苦。我们只需要复活的生命。我们与祂一同复活之后，就不必劳苦。我们只要和祂同坐，和祂同行，和祂同享筵席。这是召会必须有的又真又活的见证，这也是主的彰显。此外，我们对主必须表示绝对的爱。人进到我们中间，就该说，『哦，这些人不惜任何代价来爱主。他们在爱主的事上，肯付任何代价。在他们心中，没有甚么东西像主自己这样贵重、这样有价值、这样可爱、这样宝贵了。』我们必须给人这样的印象。
18Mary’s pouring the precious ointment upon the Lord Jesus is a sign of the proper church life. Although you may realize that Mary anointed the Lord Jesus with the best ointment, perhaps you have not seen that this is a sign of the church life. The main characteristic of the church life is anointing the Lord with our best love. The main expression, aspect, and characteristic of the church life is that we pour out our ointment upon Him. The church here is likened to a house that is filled with the preciousness, the sweetness, and the pleasantness of the aroma of the ointment poured out upon the Lord Jesus. This ought to be the main expression of a local church. When you come into a local church, the first thing that you should smell is the loving ointment poured out upon the Lord Jesus. It is not simply that Mary loved the Lord, but that she poured out her best upon the Lord, and this becomes a sign of the proper church life. In the proper church life we all must love the Lord to such an extent. Therefore, we have three kinds of functions: serving, testifying, and loving. We have the service, the testimony, and the love poured out upon the Lord. These three items must be found in the church life. Whenever people come to us, they must realize that among us are the service for the Lord, the testimony of the Lord, and the love poured out upon the Lord. These three items are a must. We must have the service, serving all the time. Even more, we must have the testimony, testifying that the Lord is the resurrection life to us. There is no need for us to labor in this aspect of the testimony. We simply need resurrection life. After we have been resurrected with Him, it is unnecessary for us to labor. We simply sit with Him, go along with Him, and enjoy the feast with Him. This is the real, living testimony that the church must have, and this is the very expression of the Lord. Moreover, we must also have the absolute love shown to the Lord. When people come into our midst, they should say, “Oh, these people love the Lord at any cost. They will pay any price in loving the Lord. In their hearts nothing is so costly, so valuable, so lovable, and so precious as the Lord Himself.” We must give people this kind of impression.
19我们都必须作召会中三角的肢体，我们必须有三个角。过去我听见一些姊妹对我说，『弟兄，我不是马大。因著主的怜悯，我只是小小的马利亚。』有一次，一位很活的弟兄对我说，『弟兄，召会中有些人是马大，只有少数人是拉撒路。因著主的怜悯，我就是拉撒路。我甚么也不能作，我只是坐在这里见证主耶稣。』我不信他是真的拉撒路。我们都必须又是马大，又是拉撒路，又是马利亚。当有人问你叫甚么名字，你该回答说，『我的名字是马大拉撒路马利亚。』这是我们众人当有的名字。我再说一遍，在召会生活中，至少必须有三样东西：对主殷勤的服事、主复活生命活的见证、以及倾倒在主身上绝对的爱。我们若真正实行召会生活，就必须有服事，有见证，有对主的爱。我们都必须是马大、拉撒路及马利亚。这样一个召会是主作我们生命的结果。十二章是十一章的结果。这种服事、见证和爱，出自主作我们复活的生命。有这些功用，就有真正的召会生活。在真正的召会生活中，该摆上对主的服事，给人看见主的见证，并倾倒出对主的爱。在这里我们能与别的圣徒一起享受主，主自己也能满意的居住、安息并坐席。这是主身体真正的彰显，这身体乃是盛装主并彰显主的器皿。
19We all must be a triangular member of the church. We must have three corners. In the past I heard some sisters say to me, “Brother, I am not a Martha. By the Lord’s mercy, I am just a little Mary.” Once a brother who was very living said to me, “Brother, in the church some are Marthas and only a very few are a Lazarus. By the Lord’s mercy, I am just a Lazarus. I can do nothing. I just sit here testifying of the Lord Jesus.” I doubt that he was a real Lazarus. We all must be Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. When someone asks you your name, you should reply, “My name is Martha-Lazarus-Mary.” This is the proper name for us all to have. Again I say that in the church life there must be at least three items: the diligent service for the Lord, the living testimony of the resurrection life of the Lord, and the absolute love poured out upon the Lord. If we are truly practicing the church life, we must have the service, the testimony, and the love toward the Lord. We all must be Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. Such a church is the result and issue of the Lord being life to us. Chapter twelve is the issue of chapter eleven. This kind of service, testimony, and love comes out of the Lord being resurrection life to us. With these functions, there is the genuine church life. In the real church life, the service to the Lord is rendered, the testimony of the Lord is seen, and the love toward the Lord is poured out. Here we can enjoy the Lord with other saints, and the Lord Himself can dwell, rest, and feast in satisfaction. This is the real expression of the Body of the Lord, which is a vessel to contain the Lord and to express Him.
7 被虚假的人所玷污
7. Spotted by the False One
20然而，在这里所描绘的召会生活这幅图画中，有些消极的东西，就是犹大的污点。（约十二4。）甚至在主耶稣所拣选的十二个使徒中，还有犹大，他是一个污点。历世历代，召会中总有污点。荣耀的召会生活总是被虚假的人所玷污。不过，我们足堪自慰的是，甚至在主耶稣自己直接建立的小小召会中，也有这样一个污点。
20However, in the picture of the church life portrayed here, there is something negative—the black spot of Judas (12:4). Even among the twelve apostles chosen by the Lord Jesus, there was Judas, who was a black spot. Throughout all the centuries, there has always been a black spot in the churches. The glorious church life is always spotted by some false one. Nevertheless, it is quite comforting that even in the little church established directly by the Lord Jesus Himself, there was such a black spot
21犹大爱钱，他爱钱远过于爱主。所以他不欣赏马利亚为主所作的。他认为那是枉费。他假装关心穷人，其实那并不真实，他只在意钱。在召会生活中几乎总有这样的污点。玛门，那恶者的化身，是主真正的仇敌。胜不过玛门的事例，常常在召会生活中见到。犹大爱玛门，给撒但机会进入他里面，掌握了他。（约十三2。）他不但不爱主，反而出卖了主！这事在召会生活中常常一再发生，真是可耻。
21Judas cared for money; he loved money much more than he loved the Lord. Therefore, he did not appreciate what Mary did to the Lord. He thought that it was a waste. Judas pretended that he cared for the poor. Actually that was not true. He cared only for money. In the church life there is almost always such a black spot. Mammon, the embodiment of the evil one, is the real rival of the Lord. The failure to overcome mammon is so often seen in the church life. Judas’s love of mammon gave Satan the ground to enter into him and take him over (13:2). Instead of loving the Lord, he betrayed Him! It is a shame that this is often repeated in the church life
8 受宗教的逼迫
8. Persecuted by Religion
22召会生活也受宗教的逼迫。犹太教的祭司商议要杀拉撒路，（约十二，）因他见证了主复活的大能。他是主复活大能一个鲜明有力的见证。这激起了热心宗教之人的仇恨与逼迫。今天也是如此。主作我们生命的见证，在我们身上显得越强，就越激起热心宗教的人对我们的怒气。
22The church life is persecuted by religion. The Jewish priests took counsel that they might kill Lazarus (12:10) who testified to the resurrection power of the 10 Lord. He was an evident and strong testimony of the Lord’s resurrection power. This stirred up the religious people’s hatred and persecution. It is the same today. The stronger we are in bearing testimony of the Lord as life to us, the more the religious people will be provoked to anger with us.
9 试验并暴露人
9. Being a Test and Exposing People
23召会生活乃是一个试验。（约十二6，10。）牠暴露人，显明人的心在那里，以及人对主的态度如何。没有召会，人对主的心和对主的态度绝不会被暴露。只要有召会，每一件事都会表面化。你所在的地方若没有召会，人对主的心和态度就会被隐蔽。然而，在召会生活中，每个人的心都被暴露。召会暴露人心对主的隐藏思想。
23The church life is a test. It exposes people (12:6, 10). It exposes where a person’she art is and what his attitude is toward the Lord. Without the church people’she art and attitude toward the Lord could never be exposed. As long as there is a church, everything comes to the surface. If there were no church in your locality, the hearts and the attitudes of men toward the Lord would be hidden and concealed. However, in the church life every man’she art is exposed. The church exposes the hidden thoughts of man’she art concerning the Lord
10 带进许多信徒
10. Bringing In Many Believers
24在十一节，我们看见好些人因拉撒路的见证相信了。召会活的见证总是使人信入主，并将人带进召会生活。召会的扩增必须靠召会活的见证，而不只靠传福音。使召会扩增最好的一种传福音，就是我们经历主作生命的活的见证。当我们想到召会生活的各方面，我们说伯大尼的家是召会的小影，一点也不为过。我们在那里实在看见了召会生活。
24In verse 11 we see that many believed because of the testimony of Lazarus. The living testimony of the church always causes people to believe in the Lord and brings people into the church life. The increase of the church must depend upon the church’s living testimony, not only upon the preaching of the gospel. The best preaching of the gospel that makes the church to increase is our living testimony of experiencing the Lord as our life. When we consider all of these aspects of the church life, it is not too much to say that the house at Bethany was an early figure of the church. We do see the church life there.
三 主是人的试验
C. The Lord Being a Test to People
25不但召会是人的试验和暴露，主自己也是祂周围所有人的试验。祭司长和法利赛人图谋杀害祂。（约十一47，53，57。）我们在患痲疯的西门身上看见不同的态度，因为他豫备自己的家给主使用。（太二六6。）马大伺候祂，拉撒路为祂作见证，马利亚爱祂，犹大将要出卖祂。还有许多人信入祂。各人对同一位耶稣表现了不同的态度。你在那里?（你想要杀害祂，还是在伺候祂、为祂作见证、爱祂、或被诱惑要出卖祂?）你不可能是中立的，你必须有所作为。主在祂的召会中，是祂周围每个人的试验。
25Not only is the church a test and an exposure of people, but the Lord Himself is a test to all the people around Him. The chief priests and the Pharisees conspired to kill Him (11:47, 53, 57). We see a different attitude in Simon the leper, for he prepared the house for Him (Matt. 26:6). Martha served Him, Lazarus testified of Him, Mary loved Him, and Judas was about to betray Him. Many others believed in Him. All of these varying attitudes were shown toward the same Jesus. Where are you? (Are you trying to kill Him, or are you serving Him, testifying of Him, loving Him, or being seduced to betray Him?) You can never be neutral. You must do something. The very Lord in His church is a test to everyone around Him