“No Good Deed 好心沒好報 (華語)”
From March 29th, 2020
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  • 經文 / Scripture: 約翰福音 John 11:1-53
  • 語言 / Language: English & 華語
  • 講道人 / Preaching: Rev. Aline Russell
  • 司會 / Liturgist: 何麗津 Tina Su
  • 投影片 / Slides: 蔡譯瑩 Ann Tsai
  • 司琴 / Pianist: 陳之翰 Chih-Han Chen
  • 週報 / Bulletin: 周家宏 Jerry Chu
  • 翻譯 / Interpreter: 吳芃 Angela Wu, 詹佩芬 Peggy Lin, 林子凱 Kevin Lin
  • 敬拜讚美 / Praise Worship: 紀駿傑 Jay Chi、吳靜如 Niki Wu、周家宏 Jerry Chu、董宜坤 Kathryn Tung、蕭雅文 Yawen Hsiao

Weekly Bulletin Children’s Bulletin Sunday School Schedule

STLTPC online worship starts at 10 am (CDT), March 29th, 2020.

聖路易台灣基督長老教會線上主日崇拜將於 美中時間 2020年3月29日 上午10點 開始。

English 中文翻譯
[Jesus Faced Opposition for His Good Work] [耶穌面對他的善工所引起的對抗]
There is an ironic saying that is going around. 有一句諷刺的話說。
Maybe you’ve heard it too. 也許您也聽過。
It is, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.” That sure seems to be true for Jesus. 那就是“好心沒好報”。對於耶穌來說，這確實是這樣的。
Last week we talked about his healing of the man born blind. 上週，我們談到了他治癒了一個生來瞎眼的人。
After Jesus healed his eyesight, the leaders of the Pharisees dragged the poor man in and interrogated him twice! 耶穌治好了他，能看見後，法利賽人的首領將這個可憐的人拖來，審問兩次！
He told them the truth, but they ended up throwing him out of the synagogue! 他告訴他們真相，但他們最終把他趕出了會堂！
Unfortunately for him, the Pharisees had already decided that if anyone claimed Jesus was the Messiah, they would be thrown out of the synagogue. 他相當不幸，因為法利賽人已經決定，如果有人聲稱耶穌是彌賽亞，他們將被趕出會堂。
The man who used to be blind didn’t even have to go that far. 生來瞎眼的人甚至沒有說那麼多。
He only refused to agree that Jesus was a sinner. 他只是拒絕認同、耶穌是個罪人。
He simply told his story about Jesus healing him and they became enraged. 他只是敘述耶穌醫治他的故事，就惹怒了法利賽人。
The Pharisees apparently felt both threatened and insulted and told the man, “You were born entirely in sins,” and they drove him out! 法利賽人顯然感受到、被威脅、被侮辱，就告訴這男子：“你這生長在罪中的傢伙”，於是他們把他趕出去！
(John 9: 34) （約翰福音9:34）
Jesus later told his disciples that he was both the shepherd for the sheep and the gate to enter the safety of the sheepfold. 耶穌後來告訴門徒們，他既是牧羊人，又是進入平安的羊圈的柵門。
We are the sheep, of course. 當然，我們就是羊。
Like a good shepherd, he would lay down his life for his sheep, for us. 就像好牧人一樣，他會為他的羊、就是我們，犧牲自己的生命。
The leaders of the synagogue ended up trying to stone him, and chased him across the Jordan River. 會堂的領袖最後企圖用石頭砸死他，還追過約旦河。
No good deed goes unpunished! 真是好心沒好報！
But people still came out to hear Jesus speak and for healing. 但是人們仍然出來聽耶穌講話、並尋求醫治。
It is there on the edge of the wilderness that we meet him for the amazing story of John 11: the Raising of Lazarus. 我們今天跟著耶穌來到曠野的外圍，看看約翰福音11章這個令人驚奇故事：拉撒路的復活。
[The Raising of Lazarus Brought Opposition As Well] [拉撒路的復活也引起對抗]
While he was teaching and healing, Jesus got a message from a family he loved. 正當耶穌在教導與醫治的時候，耶穌從他所愛的家庭、得到一個消息。
It was from Mary and Martha, and informed him the Lazarus, their brother, was seriously ill. Mary and Martha and Lazarus were good friends to Jesus. 那是從馬利亞和馬大來的，要告訴他、她們的兄弟拉撒路患了重病。馬利亞、馬大和拉撒路都是耶穌的朋友。
Good personal friends. 很好的摯友。
The message said, “Lord, look, the one you love is sick!” (John 11: 3) When he heard this, Jesus said a very peculiar thing: “This sickness will not lead to death,[] but to God’s glory,[] so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”[hS 這消息說：“主啊，你所愛的朋友病了！” （約翰福音11：3）當耶穌聽到這事，說了一句很奇怪的話：“拉撒路的病不至於死，而是要榮耀上帝，並且使上帝的兒子因此得榮耀。”
However, Lazarus DID die. 然而，拉撒路還是死了。
Two days after Jesus had gotten the word about Lazarus being sick, Jesus finally decided to go back to Bethany in Judea, where Mary and Martha and Lazarus lived. 耶穌得到關於拉撒路生病的消息後兩天，耶穌終於決定回到馬利亞，馬大和拉撒路住的地方 — 猶太的伯大尼。
The disciples were shocked and concerned about his decision, since the people there had just tried to stone him! 門徒們很震驚並擔心他的決定，因為那裡的人才要拿石頭打耶穌，！
Jesus responds with a very cryptic statement about light and darkness, but ends with saying he needs to go to “wake Lazarus up.” The disciples thought Jesus meant regular sleep, but he meant Lazarus was dead, and told them so. 耶穌用了一個不易理解、有關光與黑暗的陳述作回應，但最後說他需要去“喚醒拉撒路”。門徒們以為耶穌講的是正常的睡眠，但他是指拉撒路死了，他也這樣告訴門徒。
So Jesus was somehow aware that Lazarus was already dead, but put off leaving for two whole days! 有此可見，耶穌以某種方式意識到拉撒路已經死了，但推遲了整整兩天！
This is one of the weird things about this passage! 這是這段經文中、一個奇怪的地方！
That he would wait to go to help his good friends! 他拖延時間去幫助他的好朋友！
When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Martha went out to meet him. 當耶穌到了伯大尼後，馬大出去見他。
She confronts him pretty strongly! 她非常激動地面對他！
“If you had been here,” she says, “my brother would not have died!” Her hurt and anger are obvious. 她說：“要是你在這裡，我的弟弟就不會死！”她的哀痛和憤怒很明顯。
Could Jesus have heard that without a pang in his heart? 耶穌能聽見這件事，內心卻沒有感覺嗎？
We don’t know. 我們不知道
Martha backtracks a little by saying “ But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.” (John 11: 20-21) 馬大收斂一點、說：“但是我知道，甚至現在，無論你向上帝求甚麼，他一定賜給你。” （約翰福音11：20-21）
[Martha’s Confession of Faith] [馬大的信仰吿白]
What follows is a stunning interchange. 接下來是令人驚嘆的轉變。
Let me read that: 讓我讀一下：
23 Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will NEVER die. Do you believe this?” 23耶穌告訴她：”你的弟弟一定會復活的。“ 24馬大說：”我知道在末日他一定會復活。“ 25耶穌說：”我就是復活，就是生命。信我的人，雖然死了，仍然要活著；”
26 and the one who lives and believes in me will NEVER die. Do you believe this?” 活著信我的人一定永遠不死。你信這一切嗎？”
27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God who comes into the world.” (John 11: 23 – 27) 27馬大回答：”主啊，是的！我信你就是那要到世上來的基督，是上帝的兒子。”（約翰福音11：23 – 27)
Martha’s confession of the full identity of Jesus as Messiah and Son of God is the climax of the story, perhaps even more than Lazarus walking out of that cave! 馬大承認耶穌是彌賽亞和上帝之子的完整身份，是這故事的高潮，甚至比拉撒路走出那個洞穴還要重要！
By affirming that Jesus was the Messiah, Martha risked being thrown out of the synagogue, or worse! 馬大肯定耶穌是彌賽亞，就得冒著被趕出會堂的危險，甚至更糟！
But a very human story follows Martha’s stunning statement of faith. 但是，就在馬大、那令人驚嘆的信仰告白之後，發生了一個非常人性的故事。
She ran back to her house to get her sister Mary. 她跑回家去叫妹妹馬利亞。
She told Mary, “The teacher is here and asking for you.” (vs. 28) 她對馬利亞說：“老師來了，他叫你。” （第28節）
I don’t know whether Jesus asked for Mary of not, but Martha felt a need for her. 我不知道耶穌是否確實要找馬利亞，但馬大覺得需要她在。
Mary went and said the same exact words to Jesus. 馬利亞去了，對耶穌說了同樣的話。
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 主啊，要是你在這裏，我的弟弟就不會死.
Mary was weeping. 馬利亞在哭。
So were the people who came with her. 跟她一起來的人也是如此。
Jesus saw a woman he loved as a dear friend sobbing her eyes out, and the people who followed her were also weeping. 耶穌看到他愛的女人、摯親的朋友馬利亞、哭泣著，跟她一起來的人也在哭泣。
Their grief was intense. 他們極為悲痛。
Both Martha and Mary expressed the faith that Jesus COULD have healed their brother, but the response of Jesus was different than his response to Martha. 馬大和馬利亞都表示、相信耶穌可以治愈她們的弟弟，但是耶穌的反應對她和對馬大的反應並不相同。
Rather than the kind of theological interchange he had with Martha, we read that Jesus “ was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed.” (vs. 33) His response is emotional, mirroring the emotional state of Mary. 不但沒有像對馬大一樣，有神學的交通，反而我們讀到耶穌“心裏非常悲傷，深深地激動”。 （第33節）他的回應是有情緒的，正反映出馬利亞的情緒。
[The Reactions of Jesus Are Puzzling] [耶穌的反應令人困惑]
Both of these interactions with Jesus are troubling, at least to me. 至少對我來說，這兩種與耶穌的互動、都令人困擾。
Why would he wait 2 days after he KNEW Lazarus was dead to go. 為什麼他要等拉撒路死後兩天、才走。
And why would he require that Martha have a complex theological interchange with him when he first meets her, knowing what he knew? 為什麼他一見到馬大時，要與她進行複雜的神學交流呢？
With Mary, it is totally different. 對馬利亞雅就完全不同。
She asks him the same question, but his response is one of empathy, of compassion. 馬利亞問耶穌同樣的問題，但他的回應卻是有同理心，有憐憫。
We read that Jesus actually WEPT! 我們讀到耶穌實際上哭了！
And that is puzzling too! 那也令人困惑！
If Jesus knew from the beginning that Lazarus was going to die and that he was going to bring him back to life, why did he weep? 如果耶穌從一開始就知道拉撒路將要死，並且將要使他復活，他為什麼哭泣？
Well, one answer could be that, until he saw Mary and the others crying, he didn’t really know – in an experiential sense – the true impact of such a loss. 好吧，一個可能的答案是，在他看到馬利亞和其他人哭泣之前，從經驗的角度來看，他真的不知道失去親人的影響有多大。
Did Jesus actually learn something new from this event? 耶穌真的從這件事學到什麼嗎？
Something he could only have learned by being human like we are? 他會有像我們人一樣、只有透過學習才能了解的事嗎？
Or does Jesus, and by extension God, always feel with us in such a way, even when he knows that eventually everything will be fine for us – and it will also be fine eventually for starving children and for people in war zones losing loved ones, possessions, and parts of their bodies. 還是耶穌，作為神，總是體會我們所感受的，即使祂知道我們最終一切將平安無事—即使是挨餓的孩子、在戰區失去親人、財物、或是截肢的人，最終也將平安無事。
It is an intriguing question. 這是一個令人好奇的問題。
The gospel of John is the most “theological” of our 4 gospels. 約翰福音是我們四本福音書中最有“神學思想的”。
And its theology has been adopted by most of the church around the world. 他的神學思想已被世界上、大多數的教會採用。
In some ways, it ties everything up neatly, but this is one story that leaves us with some questions. 在某些方面，它把所有內容整理地很好，但是這個故事，使我們有些疑問。
[What Does This Story Teach Us?] [這個故事教給我們什麼功課？]
So how does this story instruct and support our faith? 那麼，這個故事如何教導和支持我們的信仰？
Well, first of all is the obvious. 好吧，首先是顯而易見的。
We believe Jesus rose from the dead, but what about the rest of us? 我們相信耶穌從死裡復活了，但是我們其餘的人呢？
Will we be raised from the dead too? 我們也會從死裡復活嗎？
The gospel of Luke has Jesus raising 2 people from the dead, but the gospel of John has only 1, and that one is Lazarus. 在路加福音裡，耶穌讓2個人從死裡復活，但約翰福音裡只有1個人，那就是拉撒路。
The raising of Lazarus is unique in that it is the only story where the gospel writer goes to some lengths to convince the reader that Lazarus is REALLY dead. 這裡描述拉撒路的復活是很特別的。因為這是唯一一個、福音書的作者用一些篇幅來說服讀者、拉撒路真的死了的故事。
Lazarus was in the tomb for 4 days! 拉撒路在墳墓裡待了4天！
The son of the widow of Nain not yet buried. 拿因城寡婦的兒子尚未埋葬。
Jesus encountered the widow during the funeral and felt sympathy for her. 耶穌在葬禮上遇見了寡婦，就憐憫她。
He raised him from death right then and there. 他馬上在那裡、叫他從死裡復活。
In the case of the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the girl had just died when Jesus arrived at her house. 以睚魯的女兒復活為例，女孩才在耶穌到達她的家時死了。
If you are a skeptic, you could say that these two people might not really have been dead. 如果您是一個疑慮極深的人，您可以說這兩個人可能真的沒有死。
But Lazarus had been dead 4 days, and had been bound up and sealed in a cave. 但是拉撒路死了四天，被包裹後，安放在一個山洞裡。
The blessing of this story is that it lends itself to supporting our belief in life after death – for US. 這個故事的好處在於，它有助於支持死後的生命的信念 —對我們來說。
The interchange with Martha does the same thing, and shows us that Jesus Christ, Son of God, Messiah, has the power of God over life and death even during our lives. 與馬大的交通也一樣，向我們顯現了耶穌基督、神的兒子、彌賽亞，即使在我們還活著的時候，有上帝的能力、勝過生命和死亡。
His weeping with Mary shows that he suffers with us in our pain and grief. 他與馬利亞同哀哭，表明他與我們一同經歷痛苦和悲傷。
The story doesn’t, unfortunately, explain why some of our loved ones die unexpectedly or after a long illness despite our repeated and earnest prayers. 不幸的是，這個故事並不能解釋、為什麼我們反覆、誠摯的禱告，親人還是會死於長期的病痛、或意外。
I don’t think any of us expect to be raised from the dead they way Lazarus was. 我不認為我們有人希望像拉撒路那樣從死裡復活。
But his story reassures us that we and our loved ones live always in God’s hands, both in this life and the next. 但是他的故事再次向我們保證，無論今生還是死後，我們和親人始終活在上帝的手中。
We can wish we had a record of what Lazarus said about the experience! 我們希望我們能記錄下拉撒路對這次經歷的見證！
We would like to know what it was like for him! 我們想知道他當時的情況！
At least I would. 至少我會。
However, he does appear in the very next chapter of the gospel, chapter 12. 但是，他確實出現在約翰福音的下一章，第十二章中。
Martha has prepared a dinner in honor of Jesus and Lazarus is at the table, enjoying a good meal with his family and friends. 馬大為了向耶穌致意，準備了晚餐，拉撒路也在桌旁，與家人和朋友一起享用美食。
[The Raising of Lazarus Causes Trouble for Jesus] [拉撒路的複活給耶穌帶來麻煩]
When Jesus raised Lazarus, many of those who witnessed it believed in Jesus and who he is. 耶穌使拉撒路復活時，許多的見證人都相信耶穌是誰。
But some stole away and reported to the Pharisees, who then took the story to the chief priest and the council. 但是有些人偷跑去說給法利賽人聽，法利賽人隨後將這個故事告訴祭司長們。
In apparent HORROR, they said, “What are we doing? 他們很驚恐地說：“「我們該怎麼辦呢？
For this man is performing many miraculous signs. 這個人行了這許多神蹟。
48 If we allow him to go on in this way,[ everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.” (John 11: 47 – 48) 48 要是讓他這樣搞下去，大家都信了他，羅馬人會來擄掠我們的聖殿和民族的！」” （約翰福音11：47 – 48）
Then we read, “From that day, they planned together to kill him.” (vs. 53) 然後我們讀到：“從那時候開始，猶太人的領袖們計劃殺害耶穌。” （第53節）
In chapter 12, after seeing Lazarus alive and well, they decided to kill him as well. 在第十二章中，在看到拉撒路活得很好之後，他們決定也要殺了他。
No good deed goes unpunished. 真是好心沒好報。
It is an unfortunate fact of human nature that people in power can become addicted to that power. 這是人性的不幸事實。就是當權者會上癮。
The power can become so important to them that they are willing to sacrifice even their highest values to hold onto it. 權力對他們而言變得如此重要，以至於他們甚至願付出最大的代價、好繼續擁有它。
And sometimes to sacrifice other people as well. 有時也要犧牲別人。
However, God’s power was, and always will be, greater. 但是，神的能力是更大的。過去是如此，而且將永遠是如此。
Jesus was criticized, harassed, whipped, abandoned, and crucified! 耶穌被批評、騷擾、鞭打、拋棄、和釘在十字架上！
And all he did was teach and heal and love and raise a man from the dead. 他所做的只是教導、醫治、愛護、並使人從死裡復活。
But the worldly powers did not have the last word. 但世上的權力並沒有贏面。
Jesus himself came out of the tomb and now lives eternally with us as our Lord and Savior. 耶穌自己從墳墓裡出來，現在與我們永遠生活在一起，作為我們的主和救主。
[What About Us?] [那我們呢？]
One thing we learn from this story is that, like Jesus, our good deeds may not be appreciated by everyone. 我們從這個故事中學到的一件事是，就像耶穌一樣，我們的善行可能不會得到所有人的讚賞。
We too might face criticism and rejection. 我們也可能面臨批評和拒絕。
Sometimes we might deserve it. 有時可能是我們該得的。
If we are prayerfully trying to walk with God, hopefully those times are few. 如果我們祈求，試著與上帝同行，希望那樣的機會就會很少。
But no matter what, we can be confident that, as Paul says in Romans 8, “28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (vs. 28) 但是無論如何，我們可以確信，就像保羅在羅馬書8章中所說的那樣：“ 28 我們知道，上帝使萬事互相效力，叫愛上帝的人─就是他按照自己的旨意呼召的人都得益處” （第28節）
This does NOT mean that bad things don’t happen to good people. 這並不意味著壞事不會發生在好人身上。
It means that whatever happens, we can trust God through it, and God will somehow make it serve God’s purposes for us and for the world, just as God uses the crucifixion. 這意味著無論發生什麼事，我們都可以信靠上帝來渡過，而上帝會以某種方式使它成就神為我們和為全世界預備的旨意，就像神預備耶穌的十字架一樣。
This is a difficult thing to hold onto today, with the fear of Covid 19 dominating our lives. 由於對於新冠狀病毒的恐懼、支配著我們的生活，這是今天很難持守的事情。
However, the wonderful work of your leaders to continue the work of this church even in difficult circumstances is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working powerfully through us, and within other churches here and around the world. 然而，即使在困難的環境中，你們的長執、教師繼續在教會工作上美好的事奉，也證明了聖靈正透過我們、以及在世界各地的其他教會中、大大地作工。
We are connecting with one another in beautiful new ways, and the Holy Spirit is more obvious than ever! 我們正以美麗的新方式彼此聯繫，聖靈也比以往任何時候、都更加顯明！
Suffering will continue, but hopefully, God’s people will continue to support others both within and outside their communities of faith. 苦難將繼續，但也希望上帝的子民將繼續支持、在信仰裡與信仰外的人。
Let us continue to pray for God’s help, strength, and guidance not just for ourselves, but for all. 讓我們繼續祈求上帝的幫助、力量、和指引，不僅為我們自己，也為所有人。
Thanks be to God. 感謝上帝。
Amen. 阿們