2016年3月24日
壓榨橄欖 The Olive Press
读经: 馬可福音14章32-39節
Reading: Mark 14:32-39
他們來到一個地方，名叫客西馬尼。-馬可福音14章32節
They went to a place called Gethsemane.- Mark 14:32
全年读经: 約書亞記16-18章;路加福音2章1-24節
Bible in a Year: Joshua 16–18; Luke 2:1-24
若你來到加利利海附近的迦百農，你會看到那裡展示著一些用來壓榨橄欖油的古老器具。榨油機是由一個底座和一個砂輪組成，都是用沉重的玄武岩製成，底座大而圓，並在中央有一個凹槽。人們將橄欖放在凹槽裡，用砂輪輾過便能榨出橄欖油。
在耶穌受死的前一晚，祂來到可以俯瞰耶路撒冷城的橄欖山上。祂在那稱為客西馬尼的園子裡向天父禱告，因為祂知道前面的道路極其痛苦。
「客西馬尼」是指「壓榨橄欖油的地方」，這個名字貼切地描述了基督為我們背負罪擔的痛苦掙扎。在那裡，「耶穌極其傷痛，禱告更加懇切，汗珠如大血點滴在地上」（路加福音22章44節） 。
上帝的兒子耶穌為了「除去世人罪孽」（約翰福音1章29節） 、恢復我們與父上帝破碎的關係而受苦、受死。「祂誠然擔當我們的憂患，背負我們的痛苦；……祂為我們的過犯受害，為我們的罪孽壓傷。因祂受的刑罰，我們得平安；因祂受的鞭傷，我們得醫治」（以賽亞書53章4-5節） 。
我們的心以敬拜和感謝向上帝歡呼。
天父，幫助我體會祢的愛子為我承受的苦難，
幫助我對祢深刻的愛心存感謝。祢的愛如此深厚，
竟讓基督為我的過犯被壓傷，成為我的拯救。
我罪蒙赦免，今喜得釋放，都因救主耶穌為我受傷。
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If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. The olives were placed in this trough, and then the wheel, also made from heavy stone, was rolled over the olives to extract the oil.
On the night before His death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. There, in the garden called Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, knowing what lay ahead of Him.
By His wounds we are healed.
The word Gethsemane means "place of the olive press"—and that perfectly describes those first crushing hours of Christ's suffering on our behalf. There, "in anguish, he prayed . . . and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44).
Jesus the Son suffered and died to take away "the sin of the world" (John 1:29) and restore our broken relationship with God the Father. "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering . . . . He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isa. 53:4-5).
Our hearts cry out in worship and gratitude.
Father, help me understand what Your Son endured for me. Help me appreciate the depths of love that would allow my Lord and Christ to be crushed for my wrongs and my rescue.
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free—all because Jesus was wounded for me. W. G. Ovens