Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
The Religion of Israel
Text: John 11: 49-50
THE RELIGION OF ISRAEL
God was the One who gave to Israel their religion. The following tenets were to be borne in mind.
1. They would worship God alone.
2. They would worship in:
a. A Tabernacle (a temporary structure was constructed in the days of Moses; Exodus 25-31)
b. A Temple (a permanent structure that was constructed in the days of King Solomon; 2 Chronicles 1-7)
3. The Family of Levi
a. Some of them would be priests. One of them would become the High Priest.
The family of Aaron was blessed with being called “priests”.
b. The other members of Levi’s family would be called “Levites”. They would assist the priests in the Tabernacle or Temple worship.
4. Israel was given the Scriptures
a. These were written by Moses, scribes and prophets.
b. These would teach the people how to relate to God in obedience.
THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE DAYS OF JESUS
The High Priest in the days of Jesus did not come from the family line of Aaron. They were appointed to their office with the approval of the Roman emperor.
“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
John 11:49-50
1. “Caiaphas, being high priest that year”
a. He was fulfilling his role as the head of the Jewish faith.
b. His evaluation of how to deal with Jesus was different.
2. His words to the priests was not gentle
a. “You know nothing at all”
b. He felt that the chief priests were not coming up with good answers (John 11:47-48).
c. He suggested that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the people.
d. Than the whole nation of Israel should perish if the Romans decided to attack them.
e. These words were said because they feared that Jesus would lead an uprising against Rome; and thus, the Romans would retaliate and destroy their nation.
经文：约翰福音 11：49-50
以色列的信仰
给予以色列信仰的是上帝。我们得记住以下的信条。
1. 他们只会崇拜上帝
2. 他们会在以下的地点崇拜上帝：
a. 帐幕里 （摩西时期所建的一座临时建筑；《出埃及记 25-31》）
b. 殿里 （所罗门王时期所见的永久建筑；《历代志下 1-7》）
3. 利未家族
a. 利未家族当中有些会是察司。其中一位会成为大察司。亚伦家族备受赐福称为“察司”。
b. 利未家族其他成员被称为“利未人”。他们会在帐幕里或殿里的崇拜协助察司们。
4. 赐给以色列的圣经
a. 圣经是摩西、文士与先知所写的
b. 他们会教导人民如何以孝敬心与上帝联系
耶稣时期的大察司
耶稣时期的大察司并不是出自于亚伦的后裔。他们是收到罗马皇帝的认可而被聘任做大察司。
“内中有一个人名叫该亚法，本年做大祭司，对他们说：‘你们不知道什么。独不想一个人替百姓死，免得通国灭亡，就是你们的益处。’”
《约翰福音 11：49-50》