约翰福音1:29-42

愿恩惠、平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们忠心跟随他的人。阿们。

施洗约翰的出生就担负了一个重要的使命，那就是为耶稣作见证，预备他的道路，呼召人悔改，信耶稣为基督，为弥赛亚。有时候为耶稣作见证，带领人归主啊，就是重复同样的信息，告诉人耶稣是谁，为世人做了什么。施洗约翰在今天的经文中，每一次耶稣出现，都重复同样的一句福音信息，把耶稣指给人看：“看哪！神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”（约1:29,35）。整个旧约的预言和见证都是有献祭赎罪的羔羊。无论是以色列人出埃及时吃的逾越节羔羊，还是会幕以及圣殿里献祭的赎罪羔羊，处处都映射着那真正赎罪的羔羊，耶稣基督的到来，祂也是神亲自为世人预备的祭物。

这“神的羔羊”虽然是藉着以色列先知的预言和他们的献祭制度启示出来的，然而却是给全人类的。我们已经听到了约翰的话，他没有说，神的羔羊只是除去以色列人的罪，而是说“除去世人罪孽的。”耶稣基督除罪的工作是一次永远并且全面的除罪，他只一次献上为祭物，“基督献了一次永远的赎罪祭……他一次献祭，便叫那得以成圣的人永远完全”（来10:12-14）。这除去世人的罪，是单数，不仅仅是具体的、个别的罪，而是所有罪的统称，也就是一切的罪，我们也可以想到，亚当犯罪时，这个“罪是从一人入了世界”的统筹性的罪（罗5:12）。这个罪不仅仅包括人实际上行出来的罪，心思意念和行为上的罪，更是指着侵蚀人性的罪性，就是人性的败坏来说的。基督耶稣是全人类的救主，一点儿也不假。

约翰的两个门徒第二次听到约翰指着耶稣所说的话，就让他们跟着耶稣走了。至此，约翰的任务在这些门徒身上就完成了，他就继续呼召其他人来跟随耶稣。耶稣接着对跟随他的门徒们开始“门徒训练”，第一课仍然是要他们真的认识耶稣是谁，以及他为他们做什么。耶稣问他们一个问题，好的老师当然是最会问问题的老师，引导学生们学习真理。“你们要什么？”这是对所有来跟随耶稣的人所提出的挑战，因为我们许多时候都是带着错误的目的和动机，或者错误的认识来跟随耶稣的。

有时候我们想要的是远远地站着向我们发号施令的耶稣，我们自然而然地认为耶稣既然是上帝，那么他就是严厉的法官，在暗处冷漠地观察我们的一举一动、一言一行，处处记着账本。有时候，我们想要的耶稣是类似911的接线员或者出勤的消防员，只有在我们有紧急需要或者危险的时候才记得找耶稣，问题解决了，他也就回到自己的地方，跟我们日常生活没有太多关系。有时候，我们想要的耶稣只是一个道德模范，可以让我们效法的圣贤，是可以启迪我们人生智慧的导师，仅此而已。

这些门徒们给了我们一个好的榜样，他们要去到耶稣的住处。“拉比，你在哪里住？”如果你要了解一个人的本相，最好是问他的家人，看看他的家里是什么情况，说实话，我们一般不愿别人随便来家里做客，尤其是突然来访，我们总是喜欢预约好，把房子整理得干干净净、体体面面的，然后才有信心接待客人来家里。门徒们迫切想认识耶稣，神的羔羊，所以就要紧紧地跟随耶稣，要知道他的住处，要花时间跟耶稣相处。耶稣接着就邀请他们来家中做客，是立刻马上，“你们来看。”门徒们就欢喜地去“看他在哪里住，这一天便与他同住”（约1:39）。

对我们今天的基督徒来说，跟随耶稣，去到他的住处，就需要知道耶稣住在哪里。我们知道，直接来说，耶稣复活后升天，坐在无所不能的父上帝的右边。然而，我们还要知道他在地上的住所。他曾经住在马槽里，被婴儿裹布包裹躺在那里，牧羊人和博士们去拜访。他在拿撒勒村庄约瑟和马利亚家中长大。他在地上开展传道事工的时候，并没有固定的住处，有时候连枕头的地方都没有，以旷野为居所。

如今，他是住在我们所有基督徒中间，就是在我们聚会当中与我们同在。更准确地说，按照属灵的层面，他是住在圣道和圣礼当中，因为圣道和圣礼就是我们可以确实找见耶稣的地方。

约翰福音8:31“你们若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的门徒。”这里和合本翻译成“遵守”，英文翻译是Abide，与原文意思更接近，就是“居住”的意思。中文标准译本是这样翻译的：“你们如果住在我的话语中，就真是我的门徒了。”是的，我们常常聆听和遵行主的道，就是住在主的道中，也是与耶稣同住了。

再有，你到谁家里做客，一般都是用餐，如果不用餐啊，说明关系还不到位，关系不熟，关系不深，一起吃喝，没有任何戒备之心，也可以说让客人更是感到好像在自己家中一样，西方不是有句话说，Relax, Make yourself at home, etc.把我这儿当你自己家一样。我们华人其实最能理解这一点，对不对。无论是家人团聚还是生意场上，你不一起吃个饭，就不算事儿，没法来往。约翰告诉我们一个细节，两个门徒到耶稣的住处几点了，“那时约有申正了”，大概就是下午4点钟，你想门徒们跟耶稣一起吃饭没有，不用说的事情。

所以啊，大家来教会聚会，不管人多人少，一定要尽量留下来吃午饭，那哪怕是匆匆忙忙的，有事儿吃完就走也行，没有时间留下来学习都可以。为什么？这个才是神的家该有的样子，作为基督徒，你不只是客人，你是神家中的人，更要跟弟兄姐妹们一起吃个饭，不能老想着，哎，教会的饭不合胃口，出去餐馆儿吃个好的吧，好不容易周末轻松一下，犒劳一下自己，或者我就喜欢一个人吃饭，人多了不享受。

你看初代教会，他们是不是常常一起擘饼聚会，这个时候一定有吃喝，也叫作爱宴。而且初代教会的圣餐礼就是发生在爱宴当中，将餐桌上的一部分饼和酒分别为圣，祝谢擘开，分给门徒们。在圣餐礼当中，主就在其中，就像当初耶稣设立圣餐的时候，他就跟门徒们坐在一起，一起吃喝逾越节宴席上的食物，待他分别祝圣圣餐礼的饼和酒之后，赐给门徒们吃喝他的身体和血。我们领圣餐的时候，也是来到主的餐桌前，与主一同吃喝。这是多么美好的画面，弟兄姐妹们。旧约中有好多这样的例子啊，除了逾越节以外，还有以色列的百姓在耶和华的山，就是西乃山，虽然这个立约的时候，山崩地裂的，必须围起来栅栏，免得百姓得罪神被击杀，但他们在立约后立马在神面前吃喝。

Exodus 24:8摩西将血洒在百姓身上，说：「你看！这是立约的血，是耶和华按这一切话与你们立约的凭据。」 9摩西、亚伦、拿答、亚比户，并以色列长老中的七十人，都上了山。10他们看见以色列的　神，他脚下仿佛有平铺的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。11他的手不加害在以色列的尊者身上。他们观看　神；他们又吃又喝。

所以我们聚会的时候，一边要带着敬畏、甚至战兢的心朝见神，仔细听主的话语，“用虔诚、敬畏的心侍奉神，因为我们的神乃是烈火”（来12:28-29）。另外一边也要把这里当成自己的家，把弟兄姐妹们当做比自己的亲人还亲，因为我们是永恒天父上帝的儿女，是与基督一同做后嗣承受产业的。这里有神的爱，有弟兄姐妹们的和睦同居，爱里就没有惧怕，而是放松享受主的同在，“爱里没有惧怕；爱既完全，就把惧怕除去”（约一4:18）。我们也要彼此相爱，“若彼此相爱，神就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了”（约一4:12）。

这样的爱不仅是在我们弟兄姐妹们中间，更会激励我们把这份爱分享给身边的人，就像安得烈去找自己的兄弟西门彼得一样，就像主耶稣要求我们来他自己的家中一样，我们也要作为他的使者，邀请其他人来他的家中，来认识他，来听他的道，来跟随他，与他一同吃喝，享受神的生命。奉圣父、圣子、圣灵的名。阿们。

Sermon on John 1:29–42

Grace and peace be yours from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, to you who faithfully follow Him. Amen.

The birth of John the Baptist carried a vital mission: to bear witness to Jesus, to prepare His way, and to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. Sometimes, witnessing for Jesus and leading people to the Lord involves repeating the same message—telling people who Jesus is and what He has done for the world. In today’s text, every time Jesus appears, John the Baptist repeats the same Gospel message, pointing people to Him: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, 36). The entire Old Testament prophecy and witness center on the lamb sacrificed for the atonement of sin. Whether it was the Passover lamb eaten by the Israelites during the Exodus, or the guilt offerings in the Tabernacle and Temple, every instance mirrored the coming of the true sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ. He is the sacrifice that God Himself prepared for the world.

Although this "Lamb of God" was revealed through the prophecies and sacrificial system of Israel, He is for all humanity. We have heard John’s words; he did not say the Lamb of God takes away only the sins of Israel, but rather “the sin of the world.” The work of Jesus Christ in removing sin is a once-for-all and comprehensive atonement. He offered Himself as a sacrifice only once: “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12–14). This "sin of the world" is singular—it refers not just to specific, individual acts of wrongdoing, but to sin as a collective whole. We are reminded that when Adam sinned, “sin came into the world through one man” (Romans 5:12). This sin includes not only the actual sins we commit in thought, word, and deed, but specifically the "sin nature" that corrupts humanity—the total depravity of our nature. It is undeniably true that Christ Jesus is the Savior of all mankind.

When two of John’s disciples heard him speak of Jesus a second time, they followed Him. At this point, John’s task regarding these disciples was complete, and he continued calling others to follow Jesus. Jesus then began "discipleship training" with those following Him. The first lesson was for them to truly recognize who He is and what He does for them. Jesus asked them a question—for a good teacher is one who knows how to ask questions to guide students into the truth: “What are you seeking?” This is a challenge posed to everyone who follows Jesus, because we often follow Him with the wrong purposes, motives, or understandings.

Sometimes we want a Jesus who stands far off, barking orders at us; we naturally assume that since Jesus is God, He must be a stern judge, coldly observing our every move and word from the shadows, keeping a ledger. Sometimes we want a Jesus who is like a 911 operator or a first responder—we only remember to look for Him in times of emergency or danger, and once the problem is solved, He returns to His place, having little to do with our daily lives. Sometimes we want a Jesus who is merely a moral example, a sage to emulate, or a mentor who inspires us with life wisdom—and nothing more.

These disciples set a good example for us: they wanted to go where Jesus was staying. “Rabbi... where are you staying?” If you want to know who a person truly is, it is best to ask their family or see how they live at home. To be honest, we usually don't like people dropping by unannounced; we prefer to make appointments, tidy up the house, and make it look respectable before we feel confident hosting. The disciples were desperate to know Jesus, the Lamb of God, so they followed Him closely. They wanted to know His dwelling place and spend time with Him. Jesus immediately invited them: “Come and you will see.” The disciples joyfully went and “saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day” (John 1:39).

For Christians today, following Jesus to His dwelling place requires knowing where He lives. We know that, directly speaking, after His resurrection and ascension, Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. However, we must also know His dwelling place on earth. He once lived in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths, where shepherds and magi visited Him. He grew up in the home of Joseph and Mary in the village of Nazareth. During His earthly ministry, He had no fixed residence, sometimes having nowhere to lay His head, dwelling in the wilderness.

Today, He dwells among all Christians—He is with us in our gatherings. More precisely, on a spiritual level, He dwells in the Word and the Sacraments, for the Word and Sacraments are the places where we can surely find Jesus.

In John 8:31, Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” The word "abide" (often translated as "remain" or "stay") literally means to dwell. If we constantly hear and follow the Lord’s Word, we are dwelling in His Word, and thus dwelling with Jesus.

Furthermore, when you visit someone’s home, you usually share a meal. If there is no meal, it suggests the relationship hasn't reached a certain depth. Eating and drinking together without reservation makes a guest feel at home. In the West, there is the saying, "Make yourself at home." We Chinese understand this well. Whether it is a family reunion or a business deal, if you don't share a meal, the connection isn't fully established. John gives us a detail: what time was it when the disciples went to Jesus’ place? “It was about the tenth hour”—roughly 4:00 PM. It goes without saying that the disciples ate with Jesus.

Therefore, when we gather at church, regardless of the size of the crowd, we should try our best to stay for lunch. Even if it is brief, or even if you can't stay for the study afterwards, stay to eat. Why? This is how the Household of God should look. As a Christian, you are not just a guest; you are a member of God’s household. You should eat with your brothers and sisters. Don't always think, "The church food doesn't suit my taste, I'll go to a restaurant," or "I just prefer to eat alone."

Look at the early church: they frequently met for the breaking of bread, which included a meal called the "Agape Feast" (Love Feast). In the early church, the Lord’s Supper took place within this meal. A portion of the bread and wine on the table was consecrated, blessed, broken, and given to the disciples. In the Eucharist, the Lord is present. Just as when Jesus instituted the Supper, He sat with His disciples and ate the Passover meal; then He consecrated the bread and wine to give them His Body and Blood to eat and drink. When we receive Holy Communion, we come to the Lord’s table to eat and drink with Him. What a beautiful picture! There are many such examples in the Old Testament. Beyond the Passover, when the elders of Israel were on Mount Sinai—even though the mountain was trembling and fenced off—after the covenant was made, they ate and drank in God's presence.

Exodus 24:8–11: "And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, 'Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.' Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel... they beheld God, and ate and drank."

So, when we gather, we should approach God with reverence and even trembling, listening carefully to His Word: “let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28–29). On the other hand, we should treat this place as our home and our brothers and sisters as closer than relatives, for we are children of the eternal Father and fellow heirs with Christ. Here is the love of God and the unity of the brethren. In love, there is no fear, but a relaxed enjoyment of the Lord’s presence: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). We must love one another: “if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12).

Such love exists not only among us but inspires us to share this love with those around us—just as Andrew went to find his brother Simon Peter. Just as the Lord invited us into His home, we act as His ambassadors, inviting others to His house to know Him, hear His Word, follow Him, and eat and drink with Him, enjoying the life of God.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.