至高的洗、唯一的洗、聯合的洗

 

摘要

你必須用你的洗禮,進入基督的洗禮裡面去,以致於基督的洗禮是你的洗禮,你的洗禮是基督的洗禮。從任何角度來說,這是一個洗禮。



馬太福音3:13-17
13當下,耶穌從加利利來到約旦河,見了約翰,要受他的洗。14約翰想要攔住他,說:「我當受你的洗,你反倒上我這裡來嗎?」15耶穌回答說:「你暫且許我,因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」於是約翰許了他。16耶穌受了洗,隨即從水里上來。天忽然為他開了,他就看見上帝的靈彷彿鴿子降下,落在他身上。17從天上有聲音說:「這是我的愛子,我所喜悅的。」

因為祂(父神)是至高的講道者,祂的講道也就是最高的講稿了。這個世間沒有比祂的講稿更高的了。這是全能、永在、憐憫的上帝在講論與祂同等全能、摯愛的兒子。祂說:「這是我的愛子,我所喜悅的。」 因為所有一切都在於這位愛子。上帝做一切的事情都唯獨為了這位愛子。父神正是關於愛子而講的這篇道。所以,再沒有比這關於上帝兒子耶穌基督的講道,更高貴的講道了。……
但是,現在你會說:「哦,是的,我相信我們親愛的主耶穌基督的洗禮(是按照這麼崇高方式進行)。祂是上帝的兒子。祂應當按照這種方式被崇拜,被尊崇的。這樣威儀的上帝,理應如此被顯現出來。……
但是,這些對於我,又有什麼作用呢?基督是上帝的兒子,是天父上帝在永恆之中生的。祂由聖靈成孕,全然聖潔,是童貞女馬利亞所生真人。所以,祂受洗的時候理應如此榮耀。但是,我是一個可悲的罪人,成孕和出生都在罪中。所以,因為我的罪,我的洗禮一定不會如此榮耀?」
你不能這樣說,不能這樣想!這就如同因為你是一個罪人,你就應當輕視、鄙視你的洗禮。如同你的洗禮不同於基督的洗禮那樣輝煌。如同你拒絕接受基督的洗禮。不!你不要這樣做!這樣做沒有任何好處!相反,你不應當把你的洗禮和基督的洗禮分開。你必須用你的洗禮,進入基督的洗禮裡面去,以致於基督的洗禮是你的洗禮,你的洗禮是基督的洗禮。從任何角度來說,這是一個洗禮。
因為洗禮是洗去我們罪的洗。正如我們我們在尼西亞信經中所唱的那樣:「我承認為赦罪所立的獨一聖洗」。——馬丁路德(《關於馬太福音3:13-17節,在基督顯現日講道》1546年)(AE58:361–362)


Supreme Baptism, One Baptism, United Baptism
Matthew 3:13–17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, 「I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?」 15 But Jesus answered him, 「Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.」 Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, 「This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.」

Because He is the supreme Preacher, His sermon is accordingly the highest sermon, and no more sublime sermon has come into the world than this one, which the almighty, eternal, merciful God delivers concerning His equally omnipotent, beloved Son, saying, 「This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.」 For everything depends on the beloved Son, and everything is done for the sake of the dearly beloved Son alone; it is about Him that God the Father preaches. Therefore, there can be no more sublime sermon than this sermon about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. So, likewise, the greatest Student and Hearer of this sermon is the Holy Spirit Himself, the Third Person of the divine Majesty. These are all sublime indeed—Preacher, Sermon, and Hearer—and there can be none greater.
……
But now you may say: 「Oh, yes, I believe that the Baptism of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, was adorned and honored in this way, so that the divine Majesty Himself was present as the supreme Preacher, and the Holy Spirit as the greatest Student and Hearer, together with the host of the dear angels of God. But what help is that to me? What good does it do me? Christ is God’s Son, begotten of the Father in eternity, conceived by the Holy Spirit without sin and born true man of the Virgin Mary. That is why it was such a glorious occasion, to be sure. But I am a poor sinner, conceived and born in sin. Therefore, because of my sin, surely my Baptism will not be such a glorious occasion?」
You should by no means speak or think like this—as if, because you are a sinner, you should despise or lightly esteem your Baptism, as if it were not as glorious as Christ’s Baptism or as if you refused to accept Christ’s Baptism. No, you should not act that way; it would do no good. Rather, you should not separate your Baptism from Christ’s Baptism. You must come with your Baptism into Christ’s Baptism so that Christ’s Baptism is your Baptism and your Baptism Christ’s Baptism, in every respect one Baptism.
For Baptism is a washing in which we are cleansed from our sins, exactly as we sing in the Nicene Creed: 「I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.」 ——Martin Luther (A Sermon of Dr. Martin Luther, Delivered in Halle on the Day of Christ’s Epiphany, 1546. From Matthew 3 [:13–17], on the Baptism of Christ) (AE 58:361–362)


Photo is from pinimg.com.