1. Hello, listening friends,
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. It is a delight for us to know that you’ve tune in to listen to this broadcast
很高兴知道你们收听我们的广播。
3. Today we’re going to commence a new series of messages
今天我们开始一系列新的信息，
4. It has to do with the seven signs of miracles from the gospel of John
取自约翰福音的七个标记，或可说是七个神迹，
5. I hope that you will follow with us in the scripture from the gospel of John.
希望你能跟我们一起来查考约翰福音。
6. The word "miracle" has been used and abused so often in recent times.
如今谁都可以来随便使用，甚至滥用”神迹”这个词。
7. In some circles... “miracle” is used to define anything and everything.
有些人，不论发生任何事，都套上”神迹”二字。
8. In other circles... “miracles” became identical with magic and trickery.
有些人把”神迹”与魔术和欺诈混为一谈，
9. Yet, in other circles, “miracles” are viewed with skepticism.
但又有些人对”神迹”表示怀疑。
10. In fact, I know about a skeptical Sunday school teacher who was teaching a group of sixth graders.
事实上，我认识一位对”神迹”抱怀疑态度的主日学教师，他教一班六年级的学生。
11. He said to these bright and discerning children:
他对这群聪明活泼，明辨是非的孩子说：
12. “When Moses lead the Israelites through the Red Sea, it wasn’t a real sea at all.”
“当摩西带领以色列人过红海时，那时的红海根本不是真正的大海，”
13. Then the teacher continued;
老师接着说：
14. "Actually, Moses and the Israelites walked across a two-inch-deep marsh called the Red Sea."
“其实，摩西和以色列人只不过是走过两吋深的沼泽地带，那就是红海。”
15. At that point one of these bright sixth grade students spoke out:
一个机灵的孩子立刻回应说：
16. ‘WOW! Then it must have been a real miracle when God drowned the Pharaoh’s whole army in a little puddle of water!’
“哇！当神把法老王全军淹死在这么浅的小水潭里，那才是真正的神迹呢！”
17. The scripture tells us that a miracle takes place... when God's power intervenes in the natural world... with supernatural power.
圣经告诉我们，当一个神迹出现时，也就是神以一种超自然的力量，介入了自然的世界。
18. The Lord Jesus demonstrated again and again that as God in human flesh... His miracles were foolproof.
耶稣基督是神成为人来到世上，在在的显示出，祂所行的神迹，决不是骗人的把戏。
19. They were instantaneous...
是即时见效的，
20. and they had a 100% success rate.
是百分之百成功的。
21. Miracles were Jesus' demonstration of His power over nature...and over demons.
神迹证明了耶稣的大能，是胜过大自然和邪灵的。
22. Miracles were Jesus' demonstration of His power over diseases ... and over death.
神迹证明了耶稣的大能，胜过疾病和死亡的。
23. Miracles were Jesus' demonstration of His amazing... and astounding power as God incarnate.
神迹更证明了耶稣具有奇异而令人震惊的能力，因为耶稣就是神以肉身显现。
24. And that is why John... the disciple whom Jesus loved... uses a special word for describing Jesus' miracles.
这就是约翰，这位耶稣所喜爱的门徒，何以选用一个特别的词语，来形容耶稣的神迹。
25. He uses the word SIMION or a "sign".
他使用希腊文SIMION 这个字，也就是“标记”的意思。
26. As far as John was concerned...
可见约翰认为，
27. Jesus' miracles were a definite sign...
耶稣的神迹就是一个明确的标记，
28. and clear indications of who Jesus is.
指出耶稣是谁。
29. As far as John was concerned...
对约翰而言，
30. Jesus' miracles were the sign that He is the Messiah and Divine Son of God.
耶稣的神迹标志着祂就是弥赛亚，祂的确是神的儿子。
31. John tells us again and again that:
约翰一再告诉我们，
32. The disciples saw and believed.
耶稣的门徒看见了，并且相信了。
33. The crowd stood in amazement and believed.
群众稀奇地站立在那儿，也相信了。
34. According to John’s gospel... these signs were given so that YOU may believe.
根据约翰福音记载，神把这些标记显示给你，是让你相信。
35. John records seven of these simions or "signs" in his Gospel.
约翰福音记载了其中七个标记，也就是七个神迹。
36. Today we are going to begin a series of messages about these seven signs in the Gospel of John.
今天我们就要开始一个福音信息的系列，关于约翰福音中的七个神迹或标记。
37. Each of these seven signs provide us with a deep spiritual truth.
这七个神迹都包含着深奥的属灵真理。
38. They show us our inadequacy... and Jesus' all sufficiency.
它们显示出人的有限，和耶稣的丰富。
39. They show us our inability to cope... and God's provision.
它们显示出人的无能为力，和神充足的供应。
40. Thus, in changing water in to wine...
所以，当祂把水变为酒时，
41. In healing of the sick…
当祂医病赶鬼时，
42. Jesus defeated our crippling disabilities.
耶稣胜过了人的有限和残缺。
43. In the feeding of the multitudes...
当祂给几千人吃饱时，
44. Jesus demonstrated His inexhaustible resources in the face of our barrenness.
显明了当我们身处贫乏时，耶稣是取之不尽的源头。
45. In walking on the water...
当祂在水面行走时，
46. Jesus contrasted our helplessness in the face of the awesome forces of nature... and His mastery over it.
耶稣从大自然的力量及祂掌管宇宙的主权，比对出我们的无助。
47. In the opening of the eyes of the blind man...
当祂医好盲人时，
48. Jesus revealed our natural blindness... and Himself as the light of the world.
耶稣显示出我们是盲目的，但祂是世界之光。
49. In the raising of the dead...
当祂使死人复活时，
50. we see our defeat by death... and Jesus' victory over death.
我们才明白，人被死亡击败，祂却战胜死亡。
51. Each miracle has significance and a meaning.
每个神迹都有其重要性及意义。
52. Each miracle is intended to point us to God... and God's provision in Jesus Christ.
每个神迹都指引我们归向神，以及祂在耶稣里给我们的供应。
53. Each miracle is to the glory of God.
每个神迹都彰显出神的荣耀。
54. Each miracle has spiritual meaning.
每个神迹都具有属灵的意义。
55. Each miracle conveys to us some deeper Biblical principle.
每个神迹都传达更深奥的圣经原则。
56. So, in today's message from the miracle of changing the water into wine... we see a sign.
因此，从今天所讲的耶稣变水为酒的神迹，我们看见一个标记。
57. This sign is for the life-giving power of Christ against the ritualism of Judaism.
这标记指出，基督赐生命的大能，超越了犹太教的礼仪主义，
58. It signifies that there is a transforming power with Jesus.
并强调耶稣具有改变的能力。
59. Jesus changes the water of Christ-less religion... into the richness and fullness of His grace.
耶稣将缺少了基督的宗教，改变为神那丰富而圆满的恩惠。
60. Jesus changes the water of uncertainty and legalism... into the wine of liberty and eternal life.
耶稣将怀疑和律法主义，改变为真自由和永生。
61. Jesus changes the water of the imperfection of the law... into the wine of the perfect gospel of good news.
耶稣将有缺陷的律法，改变为完美的福音。
62. Jesus changes the water of the dreariness and the drudgery of everyday life... into the wine of His joy and contentment.
耶稣将日复一日枯燥无味的作息，改变为真实的喜乐和满足。
63. Turn with me to John 2:1-10,
请翻开约翰福音2:1-10，
64. The story is familiar to many of us.
这是一个耳熟能详的故事。
65. Jesus had just begun His public ministry.
耶稣刚开始出来传道，
66. He goes to a wedding of someone presumably related to Mary, his mother.
祂参加了一个婚宴，这家人很可能是祂母亲马利亚所认识的。
67. Some traditions say that Mary was a sister of the bridegroom's mother.
更有人说，新郎的母亲可能是马利亚的姊妹。
68. If that is the case, that explains Mary's deep concern for saving this poor family from the embarrassment and the shame of not having enough wine.
若真是这样，难怪马利亚为主人着急，担心他们因为预备的酒不够而失礼蒙羞。
69. In the Ancient times... there was a strong element of reciprocity about weddings.
按照古代的习俗，结亲的双方必须门当户对，礼尚往来。
70. Also certain legal action could be taken by the father of the bride... if her groom and his father did not provide proper festivities.
如果新郎和他的父亲在婚宴上准备不周，新娘的父亲甚至可以采取法律行动。
71. You have to understand this kind of wedding to understand the intensity of this situation.
你必须明了当时有关婚礼习俗的背景，才能明白这次事件的严重性。
72. Before the marriage can take place... a betrothal ceremony has to take place.
在正式结婚之前，要先举行订婚礼，
73. This is a lot more than just an engagement party.
而且不仅仅是一场宴会而已，
74. This is a contractual and solemn pledging of the couple to each other.
这是一对新人极其庄严地互许终身，订下婚约。
75. The betrothal ceremony was so binding that to break it... would be the equivalent of divorce proceedings.
订婚礼具有绝对的约束力，如果中途违约，和离婚同样严重。
76. At the conclusion of the betrothal period, which is negotiated by the parents... marriage takes place.
当双方家长谈妥了所有条件后，订婚礼结束，紧接着就举行结婚典礼。
77. On the wedding night... the bridegroom and all of his male friends make their way in a procession to the bride's house.
在婚礼之夜，新郎和他的朋友列队往新娘家迎亲。
78. This would often take place at night... so their procession was a spectacular torch light procession.
因为在夜间，迎亲的队伍高举火炬进行，是十分壮观的。
79. The bridegroom knocks at the door of the bride's house.
新郎来到新娘家门口亲自敲门，
80. When the door is opened, the groom makes certain promises to the father of the bride.
当门打开时，新郎必须向岳父许下诺言。
81. Then the bridegroom and the bride join in the procession back to the groom's house where the wedding takes place.
然后，接新娘和迎亲队伍一起回家举行婚礼。
82. The wedding festivities were not just a simple dinner or a banquet.
婚宴和一般的饭局及餐会大不相同。
83. Some wedding feasts would last as long as a week, or even longer!
结婚的筵席有时长达一星期，甚至更长些。
84. Sometime before the end of this particular wedding feast... the wine ran out...
在耶稣这次所参加的婚宴里，席到中途，酒竟然喝完了。
85. Presumably two, or three or four days into the feast.
那时很可能是婚宴的第二，第三或第四天。
86. Running out of beverage in the middle of your festivities means that you are too poor to adequately provide for your wedding.
在筵席中途，饮料就用尽了，表示这家人经济拮据，无力负担婚宴的开支。
87. That is a cause for permanent shame and embarrassment.
这是终生的耻辱啊！
88. This could cause the father of the bride to sue the groom for not fully discharging his duty of hospitality.
新娘的父亲更可因此控诉新郎，未尽款待宾客的责任。
89. In most current cultures... if something like this happened...
如果在现代发生这情况，
90. We would go out and talk about the bride's father behind his back and say how cheap a host he was... and that would be it.
大不了在新娘父亲背后批评主人家太吝啬，不懂待客之道。
91. Back then, it was a bit more serious than that.
但在那个时代，事情就严重多了。
92. I want to say something here as an aside before I get to my message.
在未讲今天主要的信息之前，我想说句题外话。
93. Some people try to use this passage as an excuse for consuming an inordinate amount of alcohol.
有些人故意引用这段圣经，作为自己酗酒的托辞。
94. That is wrong.
这是错误的。
95. Most scholars argue that the wine in those days... was so mixed with water that it had no more than 2 or 3% alcohol content.
大多数学者指出，当时所饮用的酒都调入了大量水分，实际含酒精量只有百分之二到三而已。
96. That is why Leviticus 10:9 makes the distinction between wine... and strong drink.
这也就是利未记十章九节所提到的，清酒与浓酒的分别。
97. The mixture was 3 parts water... and 1 part wine.
通常都是照三分水一分酒的比例调和的。
98. In other words, you would have to drink about 22 glasses of this kind of wine... to get the same effect of two alcoholic drinks.
换句话说，要喝22杯那时的淡酒，才等于2杯今天的烈酒的浓度。
99. So, no one can use this passage as an excuse for using alcohol.
所以，引用这段经文作为喜好喝酒的借口是站不住脚的。
100. Now, back to my message.
好，现在言归正传。
101. Up to this point in His life, Jesus performed no miracles.
耶稣平生直到这一刻，未曾行过一件神迹，
102. This was His first.
这是祂的第一件神迹。
103. But Mary knew who He was
但马利亚知道祂是谁，
104. Mary knew what the angel told her before His birth.
当耶稣诞生之前，天使就告诉了马利亚。
105. Mary knew that she conceived Him while she was still a virgin.
马利亚很清楚自己是童贞女怀孕生下耶稣的，
106. So, she asks if He would supernaturally intervene.
所以这时，她来求耶稣以超凡的能力介入此事。
107. She asks Him to save these folks from having a permanent scar in the community.
她求耶稣为这家人解围，免得他们遭受永难磨灭的伤害。
108. By the way, when Jesus calls Mary his mother "woman" in verse 4.
顺带题一下，当耶稣称呼祂的母亲马利亚为”妇人”时，
109. this is not rudeness
这并非不敬，
110. this is a term of endearment of that time.
而是当时的用语，表示亲昵。
111. And so, Mary asks the servants to do whatever He tells them.
因此，马利亚告诉那些仆人，要遵照耶稣的吩咐去做。
112. Jesus asks the servants to fill the 6 jars with water.
于是耶稣吩咐他们，把六口缸装满水，
113. These jars of water were used in the ritual of purification.
这些水缸原是为当时洁净的礼仪用的。
114. And when they were filled to the brim...
当水加满时，
115. Jesus changed the water into wine, and then they served it to the guests.
耶稣已将水变为酒，仆人就用这酒款待宾客。
116. I want you to tune in next time, and I will tell you the spiritual significance
在下次节目中，我将谈到这件神迹重要的属灵意义。
117. My listening friends, it is very important that you tune in so that you get the full understanding of this miracle
所以，亲爱的朋友，一定要收听，免得你失去了全面明了这神迹意义的机会。
118. Because I am going to tell you some things that you might never expect to hear about this miracle
因为我将告诉你一些有关这神迹的事，可能是出乎你意料之外的。
119. Until then I wish you Gods’ riches blessing.
愿神大大赐。
