马太福音4:12-25
愿恩惠、平安和亮光从父神和救主耶稣基督赐给所有信靠天国福音的人。阿们。
我们生活的世界是黑暗的，因为罪侵蚀了整个世界，败坏了所有的世人。虽然我们现代社会科技的进步带来了很多便捷，比如，我们几乎没有感知黑暗的机会了，到了晚上，出门到处是路灯，开车也有车灯，到哪都可以照亮前面的路，到了家里每个房间和角落都有室内的灯可以照亮，但我们人的内心并没有多少的进步和改变，罪性仍然无处不在，侵蚀着所有人的心里，甚至有时候也会体现在基督徒的身上。
如果我们察觉不到这个世界是黑暗的，那就听圣经的话语怎么说，“那坐在黑暗里的百姓……坐在死荫之地的人。”（太4:16）圣经把人类面对的黑暗等同于“死荫之地”；没有人会否认“人人都有一死”的悲催结局，但许多人仍然否认人的罪性，否认人所面对的黑暗处境。世人尝试用各种方式否认自己的罪和罪性，以为世界可以靠着我们的努力变得更美好，又或者刻意地美化丑陋的世界，不去想死亡，否认死亡，否认死后的审判，否认审判活人死人的主。
前两周上课读到一段描述非常有帮助，作者说，我们所有人都要面对死亡的威胁，但现代人大多数选择回应这个威胁的方式就是用消费、物质和娱乐转移我们的注意力，打发时间，而不是认认真真面对死亡，寻找解决死亡的路。不是这样吗？为什么这么多人都喜欢买买买，消费主义占据人的心？因为这可以让我们不去想那些我们控制不了的事情，比如死亡的威胁。
神在以色列历史当中兴起许许多多的先知传讲天国的道，叫人悔改信福音的道，最后一位先知，施洗约翰来了，“天国近了，你们要悔改。”（太3:2）这黑暗的世界容不下他，因为天国和悔改的道是藉着律法要求人认识自己的真实的黑暗处境，认识自己的罪性，认识自己若没有赦罪和拯救，就要在罪和永恒刑罚中沉沦和灭亡。没有人喜欢这样的信息，施洗约翰倒下了，因为他斥责罪，结果被不喜欢听的希律王和他妻子希罗底关进监牢，不让他继续传道，最后还砍了他的头。
但约翰的事工并没有中断，看似失败了的事工，却是忠心地完成了神差遣他要承担的使命。约翰并不是照亮黑暗的光，他来是要为光作见证的，约翰福音1章8-9说，“他不是那光，乃是要为光作见证。那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。”他倒下了，但耶稣这真光，来了，行走在人间，继续宣讲同样的信息，“天国近了，你们要悔改。”（太4:17）同样的信息包含着同样的紧迫感，“天国近了，”一方面是将来天国完全降临的日子越来越近了，另一方面天国就近在眼前。无论是耶稣在地上的时候面对面呼召人悔改，跟随他，承受天国，还是我们今天面对面向人分享福音，天国就在眼前，在主的话语和福音中显现给听道的人。
这种天国福音的紧迫感体现在接下来耶稣呼召门徒的场景中。马太在今天的经文中特别用了“立刻”这个词，用了两次。第一次，耶稣对着打鱼的西门和安得烈说，“来跟从我，我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”他们立刻舍了网，跟从了他。（太4:19-20）第二次，耶稣呼召雅各和约翰，招呼了他们，“他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从了耶稣。”（太4:22）
我们中间的慕道朋友们，你们还在等什么呢？快快跟从耶稣，撇下所有的牵绊和缠累，撇下对世界和今生的所有贪婪，因为这世界的结局只是死亡，并不能给你带来真正的平安和保障，永恒的喜乐和盼望。我们还有别的选择吗？我们还能再犹豫片刻，继续等待什么其他的奇迹吗？当你听见这天国福音的时候，就要快快悔改信从主耶稣，紧紧跟随他。
我们不要误以为，这福音的网把我们拉上岸，就会缺水死掉，想一想那洗礼的水乃是赐生命的水，那藉着耶稣基督浇灌给我们的圣灵，乃是赐生命的活水泉。我们这些被福音的网打到的鱼，乃是拉上岸作为祭物献给救主上帝，我们是脱离了深水里的食物链，挣脱了“大鱼吃小鱼”互相排挤争竞的命运。上帝要我们进入祂永生的船，耶稣基督，平安地抵达永恒的彼岸。
我们已经信了的耶稣门徒们，这“立刻”的紧迫感也是给我们的。门徒们不仅仅是立刻跟随耶稣，他们也同时担负了一个使命，就是继续这传道的事工，约翰的事工，主耶稣的事工，向世人传讲，“天国近了，你们应当悔改！”我们是已经“出黑暗，进入了奇妙的光明”（彼前2:9），也就因此，“宣扬那位召我们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。”
弟兄姐妹们，我们作基督徒久了，很容易忘记过去没有神作我们生命之主的时候，是怎样在黑暗和罪中摸爬滚打，没有盼望，以致我们对身边仍处在黑暗中的人，坐在死荫之地的人无动于衷，并不关心他们永恒的结局。我们不能如此冷淡和麻木，因为这是世人唯一的真光，可以照亮他们前面的路，可以带领人通往永生的道路。
主耶稣到了哪里就传到哪里，加利利，迦百农，西布伦和拿弗他利地界，随走随传，无论是海边的渔夫，还是路上的行人，无论是在会堂，还是在旷野，无论是“偶然”遇见，还是慕名前来寻找祂的人，耶稣都向他们传讲天国悔改的信息。“务要传道，无论得时不得时总要专心。”（提后4:2）这吩咐不仅是给提摩太和牧者的，也是给教会众弟兄姐妹们的。在家里，在学校，在工作的场合，在吃饭的餐馆等等。我们的眼睛不能只盯着打鱼的船和网，更是要随时带着天国的打鱼渔网，就是天国的福音，耶稣基督的救赎，去做救人灵魂的渔夫。神已经应许给了我们能力，圣灵已经临在我们身上，在洗礼当中膏抹了我们，叫我们“跟从耶稣，得人如得鱼”。
因着主耶稣，这真光虽然被黑暗暂时地笼罩，被罪压伤，为世人死在十字架上，但祂第三天复活了，证明了这是真光，是不能熄灭的大光。即使人不喜欢听我们教会传的使人悔改得赦的福音，但我们仍然要传，因为我们是光明的使者，“你们显在这世代中，好像明光照耀。”（腓2:15）“你们都是光明之子，都是白昼之子。”（帖前5:5）求主帮助我们，行在光中，也把这光带给身边的人，因为这真光要藉着我们反照，使我们成为见证的光，为主发光，映射到周围的人身上。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
Matthew 4:12-25
May grace, peace, and light from God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ be granted to all who trust in the Gospel of the Kingdom. Amen.
The world we live in is dark because sin has eroded the entire world and corrupted all people. Although the technological progress of our modern society has brought much convenience—for instance, we hardly have the opportunity to perceive physical darkness anymore; at night, there are streetlights everywhere, cars have headlights to illuminate the way ahead, and every room and corner of our homes has indoor lighting—our human hearts have not made much progress or change. Sinfulness remains omnipresent, eroding the hearts of all people, and at times, it even manifests in the lives of Christians.
If we do not perceive that this world is dark, then listen to what the words of Scripture say: "the people dwelling in darkness... those dwelling in the region and shadow of death" (Matthew 4:16). Holy Scripture equates the darkness humanity faces with the "shadow of death." No one denies the tragic end that "it is appointed for man to die," yet many still deny human sinfulness and the dark situation man faces. The world attempts to deny its own sin and sinful nature in various ways, believing that the world can become better through our own efforts, or deliberately beautifying an ugly world—not thinking about death, denying death, denying the judgment after death, and denying the Lord who judges the living and the dead.
A passage I read in class during the past two weeks was very helpful. The author said that all of us must face the threat of death, but the way most modern people choose to respond to this threat is by using consumption, materialism, and entertainment to distract our attention and pass the time, rather than seriously facing death and searching for the way to resolve it. Is it not so? Why do so many people love to "shop, shop, shop," allowing consumerism to occupy their hearts? Because it allows us to avoid thinking about the things we cannot control, such as the threat of death.
Throughout the history of Israel, God raised up many prophets to preach the way of the Kingdom of Heaven, the way for people to repent and believe the Gospel. The last prophet, John the Baptist, came saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). This dark world could not tolerate him, because the way of the Kingdom and repentance uses the Law to demand that people recognize their true dark condition, their sinful nature, and the fact that without forgiveness and salvation, they will sink and perish in sin and eternal punishment. No one likes such a message. John the Baptist fell because he rebuked sin; consequently, he was imprisoned by King Herod and his wife Herodias—who did not like to hear it—to stop him from preaching, and finally, his head was cut off.
But John's ministry was not interrupted. What appeared to be a failed ministry was, in fact, the faithful completion of the mission God sent him to undertake. John was not the Light that illuminates the darkness; he came to bear witness to the Light. John 1:8-9 says, "He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." He fell, but Jesus, the True Light, came, walking among men, continuing to proclaim the same message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). The same message contains the same sense of urgency: "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." On one hand, the day when the Kingdom of Heaven fully descends is drawing nearer; on the other hand, the Kingdom is right before our eyes. Whether it was when Jesus was on earth calling people face-to-face to repent, follow Him, and inherit the Kingdom, or whether it is today as we share the Gospel face-to-face with others, the Kingdom is right before us, manifested to those who hear the Word through the Lord’s Word and the Gospel.
This urgency of the Gospel of the Kingdom is reflected in the scene that follows where Jesus calls the disciples. In today's text, Matthew specifically uses the word "immediately" twice. First, Jesus said to Simon and Andrew as they were fishing, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:19-20). Second, Jesus called James and John; He called them, and "immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him" (Matthew 4:22).
To the seekers among us: what are you waiting for? Quickly follow Jesus. Leave behind all entanglements and burdens; leave behind all greed for the world and this life, because the end of this world is only death—it cannot bring you true peace, security, eternal joy, or hope. Do we have any other choice? Can we afford to hesitate for another moment, waiting for some other miracle? When you hear this Gospel of the Kingdom, you must quickly repent, believe in the Lord Jesus, and follow Him closely.
We must not mistakenly think that if this "Gospel net" pulls us ashore, we will die from lack of water. Consider that the water of Baptism is the water of life; the Holy Spirit poured out upon us through Jesus Christ is the fountain of living water that gives life. We fish, caught by the Gospel net, are pulled ashore to be offered as sacrifices to God our Savior. We have escaped the food chain of the deep waters; we have broken free from the fate of "big fish eating little fish" and mutual exclusion and competition. God wants us to enter His ship of eternal life, Jesus Christ, to arrive safely at the eternal shore.
To those of us who are already disciples of Jesus: this sense of "immediate" urgency is also for us. The disciples did not only immediately follow Jesus; they also simultaneously took on a mission—to continue this ministry of preaching, the ministry of John, the ministry of the Lord Jesus, proclaiming to the world: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" We are those who have been called "out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9), and therefore, we "proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Brothers and sisters, when we have been Christians for a long time, it is easy to forget how we used to struggle in darkness and sin without God as the Lord of our lives, having no hope. This forgetfulness can lead us to be indifferent toward those around us who are still in darkness, those "dwelling in the region and shadow of death," not caring about their eternal destination. We must not be so cold and numb, for this is the only True Light for the world that can illuminate the path before them and lead them to the way of eternal life.
Wherever the Lord Jesus went, He preached—Galilee, Capernaum, the region of Zebulun and Naphtali—preaching as He went. Whether to fishermen by the sea or travelers on the road, whether in the synagogues or in the wilderness, whether meeting people "by chance" or those who came seeking Him by reputation, Jesus preached to them the message of the Kingdom and repentance. "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). This command is not only for Timothy and pastors but for all brothers and sisters in the church. At home, at school, in the workplace, in restaurants, and so on. Our eyes must not only be fixed on the "fishing boats and nets" of this world; rather, we must always carry the fishing net of the Kingdom—the Gospel of the Kingdom, the redemption of Jesus Christ—to be fishers of souls. God has already promised us power; the Holy Spirit has already come upon us and anointed us in Baptism, calling us to "follow Jesus and become fishers of men."
Because of the Lord Jesus, though this True Light was temporarily overcome by darkness, bruised by sin, and died on the cross for the world, He rose again on the third day, proving that this is the True Light—a great Light that cannot be extinguished. Even if people do not like to hear the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness preached by our church, we must still preach it, for we are messengers of light: "you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). "For you are all children of light, children of the day" (1 Thessalonians 5:5). May the Lord help us to walk in the light and to bring this light to those around us, for this True Light is to be reflected through us, making us a witnessing light that shines for the Lord and reflects upon those around us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.