初熟果子的穗子
雷克-喬納 Rick Joyner
翻譯：Kate 2022.5.13
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處：國度禱告網

正如我們在《出埃及記》第12章中所學習的，逾越節的羔羊在獻祭前五天要被帶進屋裡。在這期間，人們要檢查它是否有缺陷，因為主的逾越節必須是沒有瑕疵的羔羊。馬太福音11:13告訴我們，"......律法說預言，到約翰為止"。這是一個關於基督，"我們的逾越節"，如何在祂被釘死之前五天進入耶路撒冷的預言。

當耶穌進入耶路撒冷時，全城的猶太人都在把逾越節的羊羔帶進房子，預備過節。在這五天裡，當所有的人都在檢查逾越節羔羊時，祭司、法利賽人和撒都該人不斷地檢查耶穌，試圖在祂身上找到缺陷，但他們無法找到。由於猶太人的一天是從晚上開始的，而耶穌是在逾越節的預備日被釘死的，所以就在耶穌死在十字架上的時候，全城的猶太人都在把刀放在他們逾越節的羔羊身上。

在《利未記》第23章中，我們還有一個儀式，是在逾越節的安息日後進行的（所有沒有工作的日子也被稱為安息日）。這被稱為 "搖一搖初熟的莊稼"。這個儀式要求 "以色列的子民"出去收集一束初熟的莊稼，在那個時候，這些莊稼剛剛開始發芽。然後把它交給祭司，祭司把它帶到耶和華面前並搖一搖它。在主被釘在十字架上的逾越節之後，就在祭司揮舞這 "初熟的莊稼"的時候，耶穌從墳墓裡出來了，這是復活的初熟果子。這 "初熟的莊稼"是對即將到來的大豐收的應許。

在以色列，只有少數人明白在那個決定性的逾越節發生在他們中間的事情的意義。甚至主的門徒似乎也沒有完全理解。然而，當我們回顧主是如何完美地履行祂的話語，總是完美地按時完成，我們可以對祂給我們的深不可測的應許充滿信心。主永遠是信實的，祂永遠是準時的。

主派祂自己的兒子為我們的罪而死，這是一個神蹟，所有的受造物肯定會永遠敬畏。祂還會給我們永生的應許，就像祂讓自己的兒子復活一樣，祂會讓我們從死裡復活，以便我們可以永遠活在祂面前，這是另一個神蹟中的神蹟。這是使我們有能力超越現世的憂慮，為來世的福音而生活的希望。正如我們在希伯來書12:1-2中所讀到的。

我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，
仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌（或作：仰望那將真道創始成終的耶穌）。他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。

正如是復活的希望和祂將獲得的榮耀使耶穌能夠忍受十字架一樣，是復活的真理賦予我們所有的犧牲，我們也可能被要求為這個福音的緣故犧牲。對復活的認識支撐並增強了每一時代的殉道者，正是因為我們看到了擺在我們面前的榮耀，我們才能夠背起我們的十字架，"每天死"。

敵人捆綁人類的最終恐懼是對死亡的恐懼。正是復活的真理打破了這種最終的綑綁，並真正使我們從這個邪惡時代的力量中獲得自由，靠著未來時代的力量生活。當我們以這種方式獲得自由時，我們不再為暫時的東西而活，而是為永恆的東西而活。這樣，我們就向這個世界死去。如果我們對世界是死的，這個世界就不能對我們做什麼。這是我們在世上能體會到的最大的自由，而敵人最害怕的正是這種自由。那些已經死了的人沒有什麼好怕的--那些已經死了的人因此會無所畏懼地支持福音的真理。他們的無畏就是對復活的不可抗拒的見證。

我們被要求過一種沒有恐懼的生活，我們被要求憑信心生活。信心的關鍵是我們對復活的信心。十字架向世人展示了上帝對我們的大愛。復活放大了它。如果上帝如此愛我們，那麼我們應該害怕誰呢？

我們將繼續研究復活，這個我們信仰的偉大根基，使我們可以活在為我們獲得的勝利中，從一切恐懼中解放出來。 


The Sheaf of the First Fruits
Rick Joyner

As we have studied in Exodus 12, the Passover Lamb was to be taken into the house five days before it was to be sacrificed. During that time the people were to examine it for any flaws because the Passover of the Lord had to be a lamb without blemish. As we are told in Matthew 11:13, "…the Law prophesied until John." This was a prophecy of how Christ, "our Passover," was to enter Jerusalem five days before He was to be crucified.

As Jesus was entering Jerusalem, Jews all over the city were taking the Passover lambs into their houses in preparation for the feast. During the five days when all of the people were examining their Passover lambs, the priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees examined Jesus continually seeking to find any flaw in Him, and they could not. Since the Jewish day begins with evening and Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation for the Passover, at the very time Jesus was dying on the cross, Jews all over the city were putting the knives to their Passover lambs.

In Leviticus 23 we have another ritual which was to be performed after the Sabbath of the Passover (all days in which there was to be no laborious work were also called Sabbaths). This was called "the waving of the sheaf of the first fruits." This ritual required the "the sons of Israel" to go out and gather a sheaf of the first fruits, which at that time of the year were just beginning to sprout. Then they delivered it to the priest who brought it before the Lord and waved it. After the Passover on which the Lord was crucified, at the very time when the priest was waving this "sheaf of the first fruits," Jesus was coming forth from the grave, the first fruits of the resurrection. This "sheaf of the first fruits" was the promise of a great harvest to come.

Only a few people in Israel understood the significance of what was happening in their midst on that fateful Passover. Even the Lord's disciples did not seem to fully comprehend it. However, as we look back at how perfectly the Lord fulfills His Word, always perfectly on time, we can have confidence in the unfathomable promises He has given to us. The Lord is always faithful, and He is always on time.

The fact that the Lord would send His own Son to die for our sins is a marvel that all of creation will certainly be in awe of for all eternity. That He would also give us the promise of eternal life, and just as He raised His own Son, He will raise us from the dead so we may ever live before Him, is another wonder of wonders. This is the hope that empowers us to live beyond the cares of this present world and for the gospel of the age to come. As we read in Hebrews 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Just as it was the hope of the resurrection and the glory that He was to receive that enabled Jesus to endure the cross, it is the truth of the resurrection that empowers all of the sacrifices that we, too, may be called to make for the sake of this gospel. The knowledge of the resurrection hassustained and empowered the martyrs of every age, and it is as we behold the glory which is set before us that we are able to take up our cross and "die daily."

The ultimate fear by which the enemy has mankind in bondage is the fear of death. It is the truth of the resurrection that breaks this ultimate bondage, and truly sets us free from the powers of this present evil age to live by the power of the age to come. As we are set free in this way, we no longer live for the things that are temporary, but for the eternal. In this way we die to this world. If we are dead to the world, there is nothing this world can do to us. This is the greatest freedom we can ever know on earth, and it is this freedom that the enemy fears more than any other. Those who are already dead have nothing to fear—those who are already dead will therefore be fearless in standing for the truth of the gospel. Their very fearlessness is an irresistible witness of the resurrection.

We are called to live a life that is free from fear, and we are called to live by faith. The linchpin of faith is our faith in the resurrection. The cross displayed for all time the great love that God has for us. The resurrection magnifies it. If God loves us this much, then whom should we fear?

We will continue to examine the resurrection, this great foundation of our faith, that we might live in the victory that was gained for us, having been liberated from every fear.