Lesson 5 Death; grief

Overview of the lesson:

本课概述:

What the Bible teaches us about death

圣经关于死亡的教导

New Testament lessons about death & grieving

新约关于死亡和悲伤的教导

Inviting Jesus into our grief

邀请耶稣分担我们的悲伤

How do we help the dying

我们怎样帮助垂死之人

Cremation or burial: what does the Bible say?

火葬还是土葬:圣经怎么说?

What the Bible teaches us about the death of a Christian

圣经怎样教导关于基督徒的死亡

Ecclesiastes 12:7 the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

传道书12:7尘 土 仍 归 於 地 , 灵 仍 归 於 赐 灵 的 神 .

Shortly after Adam and Eve fell into sin, God announced the greatest consequence to their sin. What was it?

亚当和夏娃坠入罪中不久,神宣布了他们的罪带来的最大的后果。这个后果是什么?

Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.“

创世纪3:19你 必 汗 流 满 面 才 得 糊 口 , 直 到 你 归 了 土 , 因 为 你 是 从 土 而 出 的 . 你 本 是 尘 土 , 仍 要 归 於 尘 土

  1. If the body returns to the ground, where does the spirit or our soul go?

如果身体归了土,我们的灵或魂将去哪里?

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Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ”Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.“

使徒行传7:59他 们 正 用 石 头 打 的 时 候 , 司 提 反 呼 吁 主 说 : 求 主 耶 稣 接 收 我 的 灵 魂 !

  1. Does God receive the spirits of all people at the moment of death?

神接受所有人在死亡那一刻的灵魂吗?

Luke 12:20 ”But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

路加12:20神 却 对 他 说 : 无 知 的 人 哪 , 今 夜 必 要 你 的 灵 魂 ; 你 所 预 备 的 要 归 谁 呢 ?

Greek word for life – ψυχ?ν, which means soul or spirit

生命一词的希腊文——ψυχ?ν, 意思是魂或灵

· The death of the wicked is usually described in the Bible by names which in themselves suggest its bitterness and dreadfulness, such as “going to one’s place,” (KJV) when referring to Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:25. Whereas the death of Christians is described by very endearing names, such as the “The gathering to their own people,” Genesis 25:8, when Abraham was buried. Or as Simeon exclaimed in Luke 2:29, now that his eyes had seen the baby Jesus, he sang, “Let your servant now depart in peace.”

在圣经中通常对恶人的死亡的描述本身暗示了他们悲惨,可怕的结局,比如在使徒行传1:25 中提到加略人犹大时称为“往自己的地方去了”,而对基督徒的死亡却予以非常亲切的描述,比如创世纪25:8,当亚伯拉罕被埋葬时,称为“归到他列祖那里,”.以及在路加2:29 中西面欢呼既然他已亲眼看见婴孩耶稣,他称颂神说 “释放仆人安然去世。”

· During the time-period between the unbeliever’s death and the return of Christ, his body goes into the grave to return to dust, just like the body of the believer; however, because his spirit is not with God, we might say that his soul is in a place of unrest and suffering, awaiting his/her trial with Jesus on Judgment Day sort of like a prisoner awaits his sentence from the judge. The sentence of eternal death cannot be overturned, but it’s just a matter of time until it takes place.

· 不信的人死后到基督再来之前,他的身体和信徒的身体一样,进入坟墓,归于尘土;然而,因为他的灵和神不在一起,我们可以说他的灵魂在一个受煎熬,不得安宁的地方,在等待末日耶稣的审判,就像一个犯人等候法官的判决。永死的判决是不能推翻的,它的执行只是一个时间问题。

· The Christian believer, however, knows by faith that he is free from the “Second death,” (Revelation 20:14), or eternal damnation because through faith in Jesus, we are already told by our Lord that we have “crossed over from death to life” the moment we believed in Jesus (John 5:24)。

· 然而,基督徒藉着信心知道自己免于“第二次的死,”(启示录20:14) ,或永远的定罪,因为通过相信耶稣,神已经告诉我们,在我们相信耶稣的那一刻,我们“是 已 经 出 死 入 生 了 .”(约翰5:24)

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New Testament lessons about death & grieving

新约关于死亡和悲伤的教导

Luke 8:40-42, 49-56 Jairus’ daughter

路加8:40-42, 49-56

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him… 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

耶 稣 回 来 的 时 候 , 众 人 迎 接 他 , 因 为 他 们 都 等 候 他 . 41有 一 个 管 会 堂 的 , 名 叫 睚 鲁 , 来 俯 伏 在 耶 稣 脚 前 , 求 耶 稣 到 他 家 里 去 ; 42因 他 有 一 个 独 生 女 儿 , 约 有 十 二 岁 , 快 要 死 了 . 耶 稣 去 的 时 候 , 众 人 拥 挤 他 .还 说 话 的 时 候 , 有 人 从 管 会 堂 的 家 里 来 , 说 : 你 的 女 儿 死 了 , 不 要 劳 动 夫 子 . 50耶 稣 听 见 就 对 他 说 : 不 要 怕 , 只 要 信 ! 你 的 女 儿 就 必 得 救 . 51耶 稣 到 了 他 的 家 , 除 了 彼 得 、 约 翰 、 雅 各 , 和 女 儿 的 父 母 , 不 许 别 人 同 他 进 去 . 52众 人 都 为 这 女 儿 哀 哭 捶 胸 . 耶 稣 说 : 不 要 哭 . 他 不 是 死 了 , 是 睡 着 了 . 53他 们 晓 得 女 儿 已 经 死 了 , 就 嗤 笑 耶 稣 . 54耶 稣 拉 着 他 的 手 , 呼 叫 说 : 女 儿 , 起 来 罢 ! 55他 的 灵 魂 便 回 来 , 他 就 立 刻 起 来 了 . 耶 稣 吩 咐 给 他 东 西 吃 . 56他 的 父 母 惊 奇 得 很 ; 耶 稣 嘱 咐 他 们 , 不 要 把 所 作 的 事 告 诉 人 .

  1. Describe the emotions of the father, before he knew that his daughter had died? (v. 41)

描述这个父亲在知道女儿的死讯之前的情绪。(41节)

  1. Describe the similar behavior we might see today when someone is about to lose a loved one to the grave?

描述今天当某人将失去亲人时我们可能见到的相似行为?

  1. Would you say that the crowd’s reaction to the death of Jairus’ daughter was a reaction of defeat or a reaction of victory? (v. 53)

你认为众人对睚 鲁女儿的死的反应是一种失败的反应还是胜利的反应?(53节)

  1. Verse 55 tells us that the girl’s spirit “returned to her.” Where had it gone?

55节告诉我们女孩的 灵 魂 便 “回 来”. 她的灵魂曾去哪里了?

· The fact that the parents were willing to go in to the room of their daughter with Peter, James, and John teaches us that the parents may have had hope that Jesus could raise their daughter from the dead. They weren’t disappointed. However, the common reaction that pastors and teachers of the gospel receive regarding the dead is often times a “defeatist” attitude as though they might never see their loved one again! But think of the assurance that this account gives to us as Christians. Even the dead listen to the voice of Jesus. Read the following…

· 女孩的父母愿意和彼得,雅各,约翰一起进他们女儿的房间的事实告诉我们他们可能盼望耶稣能使他们的女儿从死里复活。耶稣没让他们失望。然而,牧师或传福音的老师收到的人们关于死亡的普遍反应经常是一种“失败主义”的态度,就像他们可能再也见不到亲人了!但想想这个故事给我们基督徒的信心。即使死人也听从耶稣的声音。阅读以下经文…

John 5:28 Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out…

约翰福音5:28你 们 不 要 把 这 事 看 作 希 奇 . 时 候 要 到 , 凡 在 坟 墓 里 的 , 都 要 听 见 他 的 声 音 , 就 出 来 ;

Luke 7:1-10 - The Faith of the Centurion

路加7:1-10

1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

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耶 稣 对 百 姓 讲 完 了 这 一 切 的 话 , 就 进 了 迦 百 农 .2有 一 个 百 夫 长 所 宝 贵 的 仆 人 害 病 , 快 要 死 了 . 3百 夫 长 风 闻 耶 稣 的 事 , 就 托 犹 太 人 的 几 个 长 老 去 求 耶 稣 来 救 他 的 仆 人 . 4他 们 到 了 耶 稣 那 里 , 就 切 切 的 求 他 说 : 你 给 他 行 这 事 是 他 所 配 得 的 ; 5因 为 他 爱 我 们 的 百 姓 , 给 我 们 建 造 会 堂 . 6耶 稣 就 和 他 们 同 去 . 离 那 家 不 远 , 百 夫 长 托 几 个 朋 友 去 见 耶 稣 , 对 他 说 : 主 阿 ! 不 要 劳 动 ; 因 你 到 我 舍 下 , 我 不 敢 当 . 7我 也 自 以 为 不 配 去 见 你 , 只 要 你 说 一 句 话 , 我 的 仆 人 就 必 好 了 . 8因 为 我 在 人 的 权 下 , 也 有 兵 在 我 以 下 , 对 这 个 说 : 去 ! 他 就 去 ; 对 那 个 说 : 来 ! 他 就 来 ; 对 我 的 仆 人 说 : 你 作 这 事 ! 他 就 去 作 . 9耶 稣 听 见 这 话 , 就 希 奇 他 , 转 身 对 跟 随 的 众 人 说 : 我 告 诉 你 们 , 这 麽 大 的 信 心 , 就 是 在 以 色 列 中 , 我 也 没 有 遇 见 过 . 10那 托 来 的 人 回 到 百 夫 长 家 里 , 看 见 仆 人 已 经 好 了 .

  1. Why did the Centurion (a commander in the Roman army with at least 100 troops underneath him) send some elders of the Jews to Jesus?

为什么百 夫 长(手下拥有至少100兵丁的罗马指挥官)托 犹 太 人 的 几 个 长 老 去 求 耶 稣?

  1. How were the Jewish people handling the situation with the dying servant?

犹太人怎样处理快要死的仆人的情况?

  1. What might this teach us about family and friends who are watching their loved one suffer or dying, if they have little to no faith?

对几乎没有信心的家人或朋友,在眼看着他们的亲人经历痛苦或即将死去时,这个故事教导了我们什么?

  1. When the Centurion heard that Jesus was coming to his house, what was his reaction?

当百夫长听说耶稣要去他家时,他的反应是什么?

  1. Why was Jesus so impressed with this man’s faith?

耶稣为什么对这个人的信心如此惊讶?

  1. How does Jesus handle the weak in faith? (Look closely at verse 9)

耶稣怎样对待信心软弱的人?(仔细查看9节)

  1. Is this a teaching of the Law or of the Gospel, to the Jewish people?

这是向犹太人教导律法还是福音的信息?

· In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he addresses the empty understanding about the death of Christians to this Christian church who were grieving in such a way as though they had no hope at all of ever seeing their loved ones again. Read the following…

· 保罗在给帖撒罗尼迦教会的书信中,他向忧伤至极,好像没有希望再见到他们亲人的基督教会指出他们对基督徒死亡的空洞理解。阅读以下经文…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

帖撒罗尼迦前书4:13-18论 到 睡 了 的 人 , 我 们 不 愿 意 弟 兄 们 不 知 道 , 恐 怕 你 们 忧 伤 , 像 那 些 没 有 指 望 的 人 一 样 . 14我 们 若 信 耶 稣 死 而 复 活 了 , 那 已 经 在 耶 稣 里 睡 了 的 人 , 神 也 必 将 他 与 耶 稣 一 同 带 来 . 15我 们 现 在 照 主 的 话 告 诉 你 们 一 件 事 : 我 们 这 活 着 还 存 留 到 主 降 临 的 人 , 断 不 能 在 那 已 经 睡 了 的 人 之 先 . 16因 为 主 必 亲 自 从 天 降 临 , 有 呼 叫 的 声 音 和 天 使 长 的 声 音 , 又 有 神 的 号 吹 响 ; 那 在 基 督 里 死 了 的 人 必 先 复 活 . 17以 後 我 们 这 活 着 还 存 留 的 人 必 和 他 们 一 同 被 提 到 云 里 , 在 空 中 与 主 相 遇 . 这 样 , 我 们 就 要 和 主 永 远 同 在 . 18所 以 , 你 们 当 用 这 些 话 彼 此 劝 慰 .

· Paul assures the Christians of this church that those who die before us are not at a disadvantage from us who are still alive waiting for the Lord to return. In fact, we might even be so bold, as Christians, to say that those who precede us in death are at a greater advantage than us who are still alive. Read the following…

· 保罗确告教会的信徒:那些在我们之前死去的人不比我们这些活着还在等待主再来的人不好,实际上我们作为基督徒,可以大胆地说,那些在我们之前死的基督徒大大好过我们仍然活着的人。阅读以下经文…

Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

腓立比书1:21-23因 我 活 着 就 是 基 督 , 我 死 了 就 有 益 处 . 22但 我 在 肉 身 活 着 , 若 成 就 我 工 夫 的 果 子 , 我 就 不 知 道 该 挑 选 甚 麽 . 23我 正 在 两 难 之 间 ,因 我 活 着 就 是 基 督 , 我 死 了 就 有 益 处 . 22但 我 在 肉 身 活 着 , 若 成 就 我 工 夫 的 果 子 , 我 就 不 知 道 该 挑 选 甚 麽 . 23我 正 在 两 难 之 间 , 情 愿 离 世 与 基 督 同 在 , 因 为 这 是 好 得 无 比 的

  1. Why do you think Paul states that “It is better by far” to depart this life?

你认为保罗为什么说离世“ 是 好 得 无 比 的”?

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Luke 23:40-43 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

路加23:40-43那 一 个 就 应 声 责 备 他 , 说 : 你 既 是 一 样 受 刑 的 , 还 不 怕 神 麽 ? 41我 们 是 应 该 的 , 因 我 们 所 受 的 与 我 们 所 做 的 相 称 , 但 这 个 人 没 有 做 过 一 件 不 好 的 事 . 42就 说 : 耶 稣 阿 , 你 得 国 降 临 的 时 候 , 求 你 记 念 我 ! 43耶 稣 对 他 说 : 我 实 在 告 诉 你 , 今 日 你 要 同 我 在 乐 园 里 了 .

  1. What was Jesus’ promise to the thief dying next to him?

耶稣对他旁边的将被处死的贼的应许是什么?

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

哥林多后书5:6-8所 以 , 我 们 时 常 坦 然 无 惧 , 并 且 晓 得 我 们 住 在 身 内 , 便 与 主 相 离 . 7因 我 们 行 事 为 人 是 凭 着 信 心 , 不 是 凭 着 眼 见 . 8我 们 坦 然 无 惧 , 是 更 愿 意 离 开 身 体 与 主 同 住 .

  1. Why does Paul say that as long as we are “at home in the body we are away from the Lord?”

保罗为什么说尽管我们是“住 在 身 内 , 便 与 主 相 离?”

  1. Why does he “prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord?”

他为什么“更 愿 意 离 开 身 体 与 主 同 住?”

· When a Christian is dealing with the dying or the grieving, he or she may be dealing with a person who has a firm faith, in which case we mourn with them and also rejoice with them in their victory.

· 当基督徒面对垂死的人或悲痛的人时,他或她也许面对的是一个有坚定信心的人,在这种情况下,我们和他们一同悲伤,也为他们的胜利一同欢喜。

· When a Christian is dealing with the weak in faith, we might get anything from doubt, to skepticism, to anger, or even to blame of God or other people like the doctor for the sickness or the death. In this case, we go back to the Scripture to remind them of the victory of the Christian at death, not the defeat – and we may have to even chastise (gently correct) them for their lack of spiritual maturity when it comes to the death of God’s children.

· 当基督徒面对信心软弱的人时,我们可能会看到怀疑,质疑,愤怒,甚至埋怨神或其他人,比如将疾病和死亡归因于医生。在这种情况下,我们回到圣经去提醒他们,死亡对于基督徒是得胜,不是失败——当提到神的孩子的死亡问题上,我们甚至可以对他们缺乏成熟的灵命加以劝诫(温和地纠正)。

What Martin Luther says…

马丁路德说…

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“Scripture has a lovely manner of speaking of death and the deceased. Scripture does not call it death, but a sleep. We must henceforth learn a new speech and language in speaking of death and the grave… That is not a human, earthly language, but a divine, celestial language. For the like you find in none of the books of all the learned and wise on earth…But among Christians this should be a familiar, common, and current speech. We must learn to scrape our tongue.”

“It is divine truth that Abraham [after death] lives with God, serves Him, and also rules with him. But what sort of life that is, whether he be asleep or awake, that is another question. How the soul rests, we are not to know; it is certain, however, that it lives.”

“圣经以一种可爱的方法称呼死亡和去世的人。圣经称之为睡了而不是死了。我们应该从此以后学会一种新的表达死亡和坟墓的语言…它不是人类,属世的语言,而是一种神圣,天国的语言。你在世上任何学者或智者的书上无法找到同样的语言…但在基督徒中间,这应该是熟悉,普遍,和通用的语言。我们必须学会洁净我们的语言。”

“亚伯拉罕(死后)与神同住,侍奉神,也和他一起掌权,这是神圣的事实。但那是怎样的生活呢?他是睡或是醒?这是另一个问题。灵魂怎样安息,我们并不知道;然而,它肯定是活的。”

Inviting Jesus into our grief

邀请耶稣分担我们的悲伤

John 11:17-37

约翰福音 11:17-37

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went Out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, theclip-image012 Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 28 And after she had said this,

she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

耶 稣 到 了 , 就 知 道 拉 撒 路 在 坟 墓 里 已 经 四 天 了 . 18伯 大 尼 离 耶 路 撒 冷 不 远 , 约 有 六 里 路 . 19有 好 些 犹 太 人 来 看 马 大 和 马 利 亚 , 要 为 他 们 的 兄 弟 安 慰 他 们 . 20马 大 听 见 耶 稣 来 了 , 就 出 去 迎 接 他 ; 马 利 亚 却 仍 然 坐 在 家 里 . 21马 大 对 耶 稣 说 : 主 阿 , 你 若 早 在 这 里 , 我 兄 弟 必 不 死 . 22就 是 现 在 , 我 也 知 道 , 你 无 论 向 神 求 甚 麽 , 神 也 必 赐 给 你 . 23耶 稣 说 : 你 兄 弟 必 然 复 活 . 24马 大 说 : 我 知 道 在 末 日 复 活 的 时 候 , 他 必 复 活 . 25耶 稣 对 他 说 : 复 活 在 我 , 生 命 也 在 我 . 信 我 的 人 虽 然 死 了 , 也 必 复 活 , 26凡 活 着 信 我 的 人 必 永 远 不 死 . 你 信 这 话 麽 ? 27马 大 说 : 主 阿 , 是 的 , 我 信 你 是 基 督 , 是 神 的 儿 子 , 就 是 那 要 临 到 世 界 的 .28马 大 说 了 这 话 , 就 回 去 暗 暗 的 叫 他 妹 子 马 利 亚 , 说 : 夫 子 来 了 , 叫 你 . 29马 利 亚 听 见 了 , 就 急 忙 起 来 , 到 耶 稣 那 里 去 .30那 时 , 耶 稣 还 没 有 进 村 子 , 仍 在 马 大 迎 接 他 的 地 方 . 31那 些 同 马 利 亚 在 家 里 安 慰 他 的 犹 太 人 , 见 他 急 忙 起 来 出 去 , 就 跟 着 他 , 以 为 他 要 往 坟 墓 那 里 去 哭 . 32马 利 亚 到 了 耶 稣 那 里 , 看 见 他 , 就 俯 伏 在 他 脚 前 , 说 : 主 阿 , 你 若 早 在 这 里 , 我 兄 弟 必 不 死 . 33耶 稣 看 见 他 哭 , 并 看 见 与 他 同 来 的 犹 太 人 也 哭 , 就 心 里 悲 叹 , 又 甚 忧 愁 , 34便 说 : 你 们 把 他 安 放 在 那 里 ? 他 们 回 答 说 : 请 主 来 看 . 35耶 稣 哭 了 . 36犹 太 人 就 说 : 你 看 他 爱 这 人 是 何 等 恳 切 . 37其 中 有 人 说 : 他 既 然 开 了 瞎 子 的 眼 睛 , 岂 不 能 叫 这 人 不 死 麽 ?

  1. How does this lesson teach us to invite Jesus into our grief? (Consider verse 35)

这段经文怎样教导我们邀请耶稣分担我们的悲伤?(思考35节)

In our Christian worship book, our order of service for a Christian funeral begins with a greeting and a prayer to those who are mourning the loss of a Christian loved one…

在我们基督徒的礼拜书籍中,基督徒的葬礼仪式是以向那些失去一位挚爱而悲恸的人们致以安慰和祷告作为开始。

GREETING AND PRAYER

问候和祷告

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

牧师:奉圣父,圣子,圣灵的名义祷告。阿门。

We have come together to seek God’s comfort in our sorrow and to rejoice in the promise of the resurrection. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

我们聚集在此,在悲伤中寻求神的安慰,并在他复活的应许中欢喜。恩典和平安来自我们的父神和主耶稣基督,他说:“凡 劳 苦 担 重 担 的 人 可 以 到 我 这 里 来 , 我 就 使 你 们 得 安 息 .”

Let us pray.

让我们祷告

Lord Jesus, you wept at the grave of your friend Lazarus, and you consoled Mary and Martha in their distress. Draw near to us who mourn for ———- (name of the deceased), and dry the tears of all who weep. Calm our troubled hearts, dispel our doubts and fears, and lead us to praise you for having brought him/her to faith. In your rising from the dead, you conquered death and opened the gates to eternal life. Strengthen us with your Word, and lead us through this earthly life until at last we are united with you and all the saints in glory everlasting. Amen.

主耶稣,您在您的朋友拉撒路的坟墓前流泪,您安慰悲痛的马利亚和马大。请您到我们跟前来,我们在哀悼———-(去世的人的名字),请擦干哭者的眼泪。让我们困扰的心平静,驱散我们的疑惑和恐惧,带领我们赞美您使他/她归信。因为您从死里复活,您战胜死亡,并打开永生之门。请以您的话语坚固我们,引领我们走过此生直到我们最后在永恒的荣耀中与您和所有圣徒联合。阿门。

· When Christians invite Jesus to share their grief with them, they invite him with the confidence that not only does he hear their prayer, but he truly does experience with us the pain that we are going through. Read the following…

当基督徒邀请邀请耶稣分担他们的悲伤时,他们怀着信心邀请他,相信他不仅垂听他们的祷告,而且真正体验他们将经历的悲痛。阅读以下经文…

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Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

希伯来书4:14-16 我们既 然 有 一 位 已 经 升 入 高 天 尊 荣 的 大 祭 司 , 就 是 神 的 儿 子 耶 稣 , 便 当 持 定 所 承 认 的 道 . 15因 我 们 的 大 祭 司 并 非 不 能 体 恤 我 们 的 软 弱 . 他 也 曾 凡 事 受 过 试 探 , 与 我 们 一 样 , 只 是 他 没 有 犯 罪 . 16所 以 , 我 们 只 管 坦 然 无 惧 的 来 到 施 恩 的 宝 座 前 , 为 要 得 怜 恤 , 蒙 恩 惠 , 作 随 时 的 帮 助 .

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Cremation or burial 火葬还是土葬

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

加拉太书5:1 基 督 释 放 了 我 们 , 叫 我 们 得 以 自 由 . 所 以 要 站 立 得 稳 , 不 要 再 被 奴 仆 的 轭 挟 制 .

· A bodily burial versus having your body cremated and placed in an urn or having your body cremated and spread amongst the ocean waters – the Bible is silent on the issue. And clip image017 4whenever something is neither commanded nor forbidden by God, we call it Christian freedom or a Matter of Indifference as our forefathers stated it.

· 是土葬,还是将身体焚化后放在骨灰盒或是焚化后撒在大海里——圣经对此没有交代。对神既没命令做也没禁止的事情,我们称为基督徒的自主权或像先辈们所说的无对错(中性)之事。

· However, like everything else in life, where there is freedom there is also the danger of a trap that Satan sets for us. If a person is wrongly motivated by a cremation, that is to say, trying to escape the judgment of their body on the Last Day, not only doesn’t God approve of such motivation, but the person won’t be able to escape God’s judgment, either. For he who created the heavens and the earth can also reassemble the remains of the cremated even if they are spread across the ocean floor!

· 然而,就像生活中的其他事情,哪里有自由,哪里就有撒旦为我们设的危险陷阱。如果通过火葬使人有错误的动机,就是说,企图逃脱末日对身体的审判,不仅神不同意这样的动机,而且这个人也无法逃脱神的审判。因为即使火葬的人的骨灰撒遍海底,创造天地的神也能把其残余聚集起来。

· As we prayerfully consider our own burial, we can certainly look to the example of the Old Testament and see how important it was that loved ones were buried next to each other, almost as if they wanted their loved ones to be the first ones that they saw after seeing Jesus rise them from the dead. Read the following…

· 当我们虔诚地考虑我们的埋葬方式时,我们无疑可以参考旧约中的例子并看到把所爱的人埋葬在一起多么重要,就像他们在见到耶稣使他们从死里复活后首先想要见到的人是他们所爱的人一样。阅读以下经文…

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Genesis 49:29-33 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

创世纪49:29-33他 又 嘱 咐 他 们 说 : 我 将 要 归 到 我 列 祖 ( 原 文 作 本 民 ) 那 里 , 你 们 要 将 我 葬 在 赫 人 以 弗 仑 田 间 的 洞 里 , 与 我 祖 我 父 在 一 处 , 30就 是 在 迦 南 地 幔 利 前 、 麦 比 拉 田 间 的 洞 ; 那 洞 和 田 是 亚 伯 拉 罕 向 赫 人 以 弗 仑 买 来 为 业 , 作 坟 地 的 . 31他 们 在 那 里 葬 了 亚 伯 拉 罕 和 他 妻 撒 拉 , 又 在 那 里 葬 了 以 撒 和 他 的 妻 子 利 百 加 ; 我 也 在 那 里 葬 了 利 亚 . 32那 块 田 和 田 间 的 洞 原 是 向 赫 人 买 的 . 33雅 各 嘱 咐 众 子 已 毕 , 就 把 脚 收 在 床 上 , 气 绝 而 死 , 归 到 列 祖 ( 原 文 作 本 民 ) 那 里 去 了 .