约翰福音［第18章］
[谁为谁而活？]

谁在维护自己？谁在成全旨意？

1. 背叛中的黑暗 vs 被捉中的光明（v.1–7）

犹大为己出卖耶稣：刚为门徒祷告完的耶稣，就被熟悉的门徒带人出卖；他为银钱、为名利、为私欲，把主交出去。耶稣明知却仍承认“我就是”：黑暗中，祂不逃避、不隐藏。祂的“我就是”，震倒人群。这是带着神性的“我就是”，是光的宣告，是荣耀的揭示。

2. 血气之勇 vs 舍己之爱（v.8–14）

彼得拔刀砍人，人以为能用暴力保护主，血气的勇气只是人性的短视。耶稣却为门徒担责，祂说“让他们走”，祂的心不在自保，而是在成全父的应许——“我没有失落一个人”。

二、人怕为主死，主甘为人活(约18:15-38)

谁在闪躲真理？谁在见证真理？

1. 三次否认 vs 不怕担当（v.15–24）

彼得怕死三次否认主，一开口就否认，软弱不是不能理解，但可悲的是明知还重演。耶稣面对审讯不退缩：明知会受打，却坚持说真话。祂是“真理”的化身，面对审问，仍勇敢为真理作见证。

2. 一错再错的人vs一直不怕的主（v.25–38）

彼得的否认成了习惯，彼拉多的妥协成了决策：明知耶稣无罪，却选择牺牲祂换取自己的安逸。耶稣回应王权与真理：祂不否认自己的身份，却解释“我的国不属这世界”，这意味着祂的王权不靠刀枪，而靠爱与真理。

三、人要祂死，祂却为人活（v.39–40）

谁该被释放？谁被钉十架？百姓要释放强盗巴拉巴，却要杀无罪的耶稣：人心何其诡诈，为了私利、偏见、愤怒，就牺牲了真正的义者。耶稣甘心走上十架：祂不是输，而是为了完成救恩使命，把无罪的自己代替有罪的我们。

总结：勇敢回应，为主而活！

我们看重的是地上短暂的成功，耶稣却看重天上永恒的旨意。我们常为自己活，耶稣却为我们死。今天，祂仍在问我们：“这杯你可愿喝？”愿我们不是一直在否认、逃避、沉默的人，而是愿意回应神旨意，勇敢说出：“主啊，我在这里。”


John 18
Who Lives for Whom?

Who is protecting themselves? Who is fulfilling the will?

1. Darkness in betrayal vs. Light in capture (v.1–7)

Judas betrayed Jesus for himself: Jesus, who had just prayed for his disciples, was betrayed by a personal disciple; he handed the Lord over for money, fame, and selfish desires. Jesus knew it but still admitted "I am": He did not escape or hide in the darkness. His "I am" shocked the crowd. This is the "I am" with divinity, the declaration of light, and the revelation of glory.

2. Fleshly courage vs. selfless love (v.8–14)

Peter drew his sword and stabbed someone. People thought they could use violence to protect the Lord. Fleshly courage is just short-sightedness of human nature. But Jesus took responsibility for his disciples. He said, "Let them go." His heart was not to protect himself, but to fulfil the Father's promise—"I have not lost anyone."

II. Man is afraid to die for the Lord, but the Lord is willing to live for man (John 18:15-38)

Who is hiding from the truth? Who is bearing witness to the truth?

1. Denial three times vs. Not afraid of responsibility (v.15–24)

Peter was afraid of death and denied the Lord three times. He denied as soon as he opened his mouth. It is understandable that he is weak, but it is sad that he repeated it even though he knew it. Jesus did not flinch in the face of interrogation: He insisted on telling the truth even though he knew he would be beaten. He is the embodiment of "truth". In the face of interrogation, he still bravely testified for the truth.

2. A person who keeps making mistakes vs. the Lord who is never afraid (v.25–38)

Peter’s denial became a habit, and Pilate’s compromise became a decision: knowing that Jesus was innocent, he chose to sacrifice Him in exchange for his own comfort. Jesus responded to the kingship and truth: He did not deny his identity but explained that “My kingdom is not of this world”, which means that His kingship does not rely on swords and guns, but on love and truth.

III. People wanted Him to die, but He lived for them (v.39–40)

Who should be released? Who was crucified? The people wanted to release the robber Barabbas, but they wanted to kill the innocent Jesus: the human heart is so deceitful that they sacrificed the true righteous for their own selfishness, prejudice, and anger. Jesus willingly went to the cross: He did not lose, but to complete the mission of salvation, replacing the sinful us with his innocent self.

Conclusion: Respond bravely and live for the Lord!

We value short-term success on earth, but Jesus values the eternal will in heaven. We often live for ourselves, but Jesus died for us. Today, He is still asking us: "Do you want to drink this cup?" May we not be people who always deny, escape, and remain silent, but be willing to respond to God's will and bravely say: "Lord, I am here."