【读圣经学英语】弯下腰来，在地上写字

约翰福音-John 8 章 6~10节

8:6	他们说这话，是要试诱耶稣，好得着把柄告祂。耶稣却弯下腰来，用指头在地上写字。 But they said this to tempt Him, so that they might have reason to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the ground.
8:7	他们还是不住的问祂，耶稣就直起腰来，对他们说，你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就先拿石头打她。 But when they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
8:8	于是又弯下腰来，在地上写字。 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
8:9	他们听见了，就从老的开始，一个一个的出去了；只剩下耶稣一人，还有那妇人仍然站在当中。 And when they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the older ones. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman stood where she was, in the midst.
8:10	耶稣就直起腰来，对她说，妇人，那些人在那里？没有人定你的罪么？ And Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?
亮光

回答问题最智慧的办法就是不回答，或以后回答，或慢慢回答。主对他们的问题起初的反应是不立即回答。我们也必须学习这个智慧。当人问你一个紧迫的问题时，你必须向主学习。祂只弯下腰来，在地上写字。沉默使人冷静下来，就像冷水使滚水凉下来一样。当主弯下腰来写字，祂就使情况冷静下来。同时，因着将激烈的情况冷静下来，那有罪的妇人就得了安慰。我相信主耶稣弯下腰来，在地上写字，藉此向那些宗教徒指明，不该太骄傲，必须谦卑一点。他们必须领悟，他们和那妇人同样的有罪。

当主弯下腰来，在地上写字时，每一个人都注视祂。然后主直起腰来，并且说，『你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就先拿石头打她。』（约八7。）主似乎在说，『你们可以用石头将她打死，但必须有人带头。在这件事上，除了那没有罪的人以外，没有人有资格带头。让你们中间没有罪的人先向她扔石头吧。』这话刺透了他们的良心。我相信在主说这些话之前，当祂还在地上写字时，他们的良心就被摸着了。那些宗教徒怎么办？他们就从老的开始，一个一个的出去了。（约八9。）老的最聪明，先走了。他们知道自己没有资格带头拿石头打死那妇人，但他们有资格带头开溜，所有年轻的都跟着他们走了。

Enlightenment:

The wisest way to answer a question is not to answer, to answer later on, or to answer slowly. The Lord’s first reaction to their question was not to answer it quickly. We also must learn this wisdom. When people come to you with an urgent question, you must learn from the Lord. He simply stooped to write on the ground. Silence cools people down, like cold water cools boiling water. When the Lord stooped to write, He was cooling down the situation. At the same time, by cooling down the hot situation, the sinful woman was comforted. I believe that by stooping to write on the ground the Lord Jesus was indicating to the religionists that they should not be so proud, that they had to humble themselves a little. They had to realize that they were as sinful as that woman.

Everyone was staring at the Lord as He stooped to write on the ground. Then the Lord stood up and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (8:7). The Lord seemed to be saying, “You may stone her to death, but someone must take the lead. No one is qualified to take the lead in this except the one who is without sin. Let the one who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” This word pierced their conscience. I believe that even before the Lord spoke these words, while He was still writing on the ground, their conscience was touched. What did the religionists do? Beginning with the older ones and up until the youngest, they went out one by one (8:9). The oldest, being the wisest, went away first. They knew that they were not qualified to take the lead in stoning the woman to death. But they were qualified to take the lead to run away. All the younger ones followed them.