在21世紀宣揚十字架和空墳墓 Proclaim the Cross and the Empty Tomb in 21st Century

〈在21世紀宣揚十字架和空墳墓〉

        《使徒行傳》中，彼得第一場講道的對象是「猶太人和所有住在耶路撒冷的人」（徒2:14）。彼得形容，耶穌的死亡、復活和升天是人人皆知的公眾事件。他振振有詞，指責他們聯手將耶穌釘上十字架。換言之，對彼得而言，誰把耶穌釘上十字架？是猶大？是猶太人領袖？是彼拉多？是羅馬兵丁？通通都是！所有耳聞目見耶穌的人，包括彼得在內，都將祂釘上十字架（徒2:23）！謀殺否定了別人的生命，使他人消失於人世，所以謀殺是極端的拒絕。這樣看來，把耶穌釘上十字架的人，都是拒絕耶穌的人。然而，父神親自為祂的愛子平反，使祂復活升天，坐在父神的右邊，並將審判世人的權柄交予神子。於是，耶穌以受害者的身份被處死，但以審判者的身份回歸。

        自從罪惡進入世界，人類就彼此傷害。自出生以來，我們常常被個人、群體或社會制度傷害。但是，到了能選擇的年紀，我們就會發現，雖然我們曾經無辜受害，但是我們也曾經傷害別人。唯有耶穌是純粹無辜的受害者。祂不曾犯罪，卻被世人拒絕。於是，基督受害，意味著祂能認同我們的苦難，肯定我們無辜。基督復活，意味著祂指控世人有罪，否定我們有義。世人必須靠近祂的十字架和空墳墓，才認識到自己的真面目：我們既是受害者，同時也是別人的加害者。

        在21世紀，我們傳揚怎樣的十字架信息？教會邀請世人靠近十字架，認識祂是能體恤我們的主。每一個被人出賣，被群體排斥，被社會制度拒絕，被罪惡折磨的人，耶穌都能體恤。教會作為基督的身體，我們奉差遣安慰一切受傷的人，例如被親人出賣的家庭成員、因膚色而被排斥的民族，未能得到社會保障的弱勢人士，以及因為戰爭無辜受折磨的人。事實上，所有人都是受害者，因為我們是不義的人，又活在不義的世界當中。

        在21世紀，我們傳揚怎樣的空墳墓信息？教會邀請世人靠近空墳墓，認識在基督面前，我們沒有一人完全清白無辜，唯有基督才有權柄審判。今天，許多人認為認為只要我受苦，我就是對的。恐怖主義者、部份民權運動者，甚至發動軍事戰爭的國家也是如此。受害者為了伸張正義，往往不合比例地逼害加害者，於是受害者成為更邪惡的加害者。空墳墓指證我們的不是。耶穌以審判者的身份復活，但是他要到二次再來的時候才判刑。現在是祂寬容憐憫的日子，教會要在大而可畏的日子未到之前，宣揚神的寬恕。

        當福音臨到世界，它肯定我們的苦難，卻否定我們有義。教會一方面常常躬身自省，另一方面並帶領世界悔改。從個人的層面，我們關心受苦的人，邀請他們回轉歸向神。從世界的層面，我們呼籲世界正視21世紀人類的虛妄，包括氣候暖化、#Me Too運動、恐怖主義、核威懾、主權國家的戰爭等。

Proclaim the Cross and the Empty Tomb in 21st Century

        In the book of Acts, Peter’s first sermon was addressed to the Jews and all who live in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14). Peter assumed that the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is a public event. He plausibly accused the public as they jointly crucified Jesus. In other words, for Peter, who crucified Jesus? Judas? Jewish leaders? Pilates? Roman soldiers? All of the above! All who heard and saw Jesus, including Peter himself, crucified Jesus (Acts 2:23)! Murder is a denial to people’s lives and make them absence from the world. Therefore, murder is extreme rejection. In this sense, those who nailed Jesus to the cross were those who rejected Jesus. However, Father God vindicated His beloved Son. He raised Jesus to heaven. He let Jesus sit at the right hand of Him. He gave Jesus the authority to judge the world. So, Jesus was put to death as a victim, but returned to us as the Judge. 

        Since birth, we are often offended by individuals, communities and social system. However, when we old enough to decide, we find that we are not mere innocent victims, but also offenders to someone. Only Jesus alone is the mere innocent victim. He did not sin but He was rejected by the world. The suffering of Christ means that He can understand and affirm our innocence. The resurrection of Christ means that He testifies against the sin of the world and denies our righteousness. The world needs to approach to His cross and empty tomb to realize the truth: we are both victims and offenders.

        What is the message of the cross in 21st century? The church invites the world to come to the cross and know him as sympathetic Lord. Jesus sympathizes with all who was betrayed by individuals, excluded by the communities, rejected by the social system and tortured by sins. As the body of Christ, the church is sent to the world to comfort all who are wounded, such as those who was betrayed by their beloved family members, those who was excluded due to their skin color, those who was rejected by the social security, and those was are innocently tortured because of war. In fact, all people are victims because we are unrighteous people who live in an unrighteous world.

        What is the message of the empty tomb in 21st century? The church invites the world to come to the empty tomb and realize that none of us is completely innocent before Christ and only Christ has the authority to judge. Today, many people think that as long as we suffer, we are right. So do terrorists, some civil rights activists and even waging war countries. In the name of justice, victims often offend the offenders disproportionately. The victims then become more evil than the offenders. The empty tomb testifies against us. Jesus was resurrected as the Judge but the final judgement will not happen until His Second Coming. Now is the day of His forbearance and mercy. The church has to proclaim God’s forgiveness before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.

        When the Gospel came to the world, it affirms our suffering but denies our righteousness. On the one hand, the church should continuously introspects herself. On the other hand, the church should urge the world to repent. In personal level, we care for those who are suffering and invite them to return to compassionate God. In global level, we call the world to repent from the self-deceits of mankind in the 21st century, including climate warming, the #MeToo movement, terrorism, nuclear deterrence, the war against sovereign states, and others.