2016年1月13日
天堂之門 Gates of Paradise
读经: 約翰福音10章1-9節
Reading: John 10:1-9
我就是門,凡從我進來的,必然得救。-約翰福音10章9節
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. - John 10:9
全年读经: 創世記31-32章;馬太福音9章18-38節
Bible in a Year: Genesis 31–32; Matthew 9: 18-38
義大利雕刻家洛倫佐·吉貝爾蒂(Lorenzo Ghiberti,1378-1455年)花了許多年的時間,在義大利佛羅倫斯大教堂的銅門上雕刻了耶穌的生平。這些嵌在銅門上的浮雕生動感人,令人讚嘆,米開朗基羅稱之為「天堂之門」。
每天都有許多訪客進出這些堪稱藝術珍寶的門,也知道了耶穌的事蹟。耶穌說:「我就是門,凡從我進來的,必然得救」 (約翰福音10章9節) 。在耶穌被釘十字架前一天晚上,祂對門徒說:「我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉著我,沒有人能到父那裡去」 (14章6節) 。幾個小時之後,耶穌就對旁邊一個被釘在十字架上的罪犯說:「今日你要同我在樂園裡了。」(路加福音23章43節)
數星期之後,使徒彼得對那些曾呼喊要釘死耶穌的人,大膽地宣講:「在天下人間,沒有賜下別的名,我們可以靠著得救」(使徒行傳4章12節) 。幾年之後,使徒保羅寫道:「在上帝和人中間,只有一位中保,乃是降世為人的基督耶穌。」(提摩太前書2章5節)
唯有透過救主耶穌,我們才能找到天堂之門。祂賜下永恆的生命給相信並接受祂的人!來享受救恩的喜樂吧!
因為我有罪,我需要一位中保。
感謝祢,主耶穌,因為祢的受死與復活,
使我得以來到天父面前,我永遠心存感恩。
耶穌為我們死,把祂的平安賜給我們。
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Italian artist Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378–1455) spent years skillfully crafting images of Jesus' life into the bronze doors of Italy's Florence Baptistery. These bronze reliefs were so moving that Michelangelo called them the Gates of Paradise.
As an artistic treasure, the doors greet visitors with echoes of the gospel story. It was Jesus who said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved" (John 10:9). On the night before His crucifixion, He told His disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (14:6). Within a few hours Jesus would say to one of the criminals being crucified at His side, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
The apostle Peter a few weeks later boldly proclaimed to those who had called for Jesus' death that "there is no other name under heaven . . . by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Years later, the apostle Paul wrote that there is only one mediator between God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).
The gates of paradise are found in the Savior who offers everlasting life to all who believe and come to Him. Enter into the joy of His salvation.
I needed a mediator because of my sin. Thank You, Jesus, for being the way to the Father by Your death and resurrection. I will be forever grateful.
Jesus died in our place to give us His peace.