Building the House 建造房屋
Dexu Xia
On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18
In 1889, the most ambitious private home construction project in the United States began. On-site manufacturing produced some 32,000 bricks a day. The work continued until the completion of George Vanderbilt II’s “summer house”—six years later. The result was the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. To this day, it remains the largest private residence in America, with 250 rooms (including 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms) consuming a staggering 178,926 square feet (16,226 square meters) of floor space.
This project, ambitious as it was, was nothing compared to the “building” intentions Jesus proclaimed to His disciples in Matthew 16. After Peter had confirmed that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v. 16), Jesus declared, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (v. 18). While theologians debate the identity of the “rock,” there’s no debate about Jesus’ intentions. He would build His church to stretch to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19–20), including people from every nation and ethnic group from around the globe (Revelation 5:9).
The cost of this building project? The sacrifice of Jesus’ own blood on the cross (Acts 20:28). As members of His “building” (Ephesians 2:21), purchased at so great a price, may we celebrate His loving sacrifice and join Him in this great mission.
How is the church to reflect Christ? What are some things that can hinder you from accurately reflecting Jesus?
Lamb of God, thank You for Your sacrifice. Enable me to celebrate You in my heart as well as with others in the family of faith.
我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他。—马太福音16章18节
在1889年，美国历来最庞大的私人豪宅兴建工程开始了。施工现场每天生产约32,000块砖头，工程一直持续到六年后，乔治 · 凡德彼尔特二世（George Vanderbilt II）的避暑庄园完工为止。这座位于北卡罗莱纳州的著名比尔特摩庄园，直到今日仍是美国最大的私人住宅，拥有250间厅房（包含35间卧室和43间浴室），占地面积广达16,226平方公尺。
这项兴建工程虽然庞大，但远远比不上耶稣在马太福音16章中，对门徒宣告的“建造工程”。在彼得宣告耶稣是“基督，是永生上帝的儿子”之后，耶稣说：“我还告诉你：‘你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他’”（马太福音16章16、18节）。虽然神学家对“磐石”指的是谁尚无定论，但对于耶稣的意愿，却毫无异议。耶稣要建造祂的教会，并延伸到地极（28章19-20节），包括来自世界各地各族各国的人（启示录5章9节）。
这建造工程的代价是什么？即耶稣在十字架上的流血牺牲（使徒行传20章28节）。基督徒都是这座“建筑”的成员（以弗所书2章21节），是被重价买赎回来的，愿我们称颂耶稣那牺牲的爱，并与祂同工，投身于这伟大的建造工程！
教会如何反映出基督的样式？有哪些事使你无法真正地反映出耶稣的样式？
来自世界各地各族各国的人在基督里成为一个身体，也互相作肢体。欢迎点击链接：
上帝的羔羊，感谢祢的牺牲，使我不仅能在心底称颂祢，也能在上帝的家中与众信徒一同敬拜祢