our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Deep Roots
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45
The sequoia tree, one of three species of redwoods, is among the world’s largest and most enduring organisms. It can grow to 300 feet in height, weigh over 2.5 million pounds (1.1 million kg), and live for 3,000 years. But the majestic sequoia owes much of its size and longevity to what lies below the surface. A twelve- to fourteen-foot-deep matting of roots, spreading over as much as an acre of earth, firmly grounds its towering height and astonishing weight.
A redwood’s expansive root system, however, is small compared to the national history, religion, and anticipation that undergird the life of Jesus. On one occasion He told a group of religious leaders that the Scriptures they loved and trusted told His story (John 5:39). In the synagogue of Nazareth He opened the scroll of Isaiah, read a description of Israel’s Messiah, and said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
Later, after His resurrection, Jesus helped His disciples understand how the words of Moses, the prophets, and even the songs of Israel showed why it was necessary for Him to suffer, die, and rise from the dead (24:46).
What grace and grandeur—to see Jesus rooted in the history and Scriptures of a nation, and to see how extensively our own lives are rooted in our need of Him.
Father in heaven, please help us never forget that the history of Israel and the inspired words of Scripture ground us in seeing our need of Your Son.
All Scripture helps us see our need of Jesus.
往下扎根
于是耶稣开他们的心窍，使他们能明白圣经。-路加福音24章45节
红杉树是三种红木之一，也是世界上其中一种最巨大、树龄最长的植物。其高度可达90公尺，重量超过110万公斤，树龄可长达3,000年。壮丽的红杉可以如此雄伟和长寿，应归功于其根深柢固。地底下的根部盘根交错，深达3至5公尺，广逾4,000平方公尺，因此能负载高耸的树干和惊人的重量。
红杉树广袤的根茎，若与植根于耶稣生命的民族历史、宗教与盼望相比，却是小巫见大巫了。耶稣曾对一群宗教领袖说，他们深信和喜爱的圣经都是指着祂说的（约翰福音5章39节） 。祂也曾进入拿撒勒的会堂，宣读以赛亚书中描述以色列弥赛亚的经文，并且说：“今天这经应验在你们耳中了。”（路加福音4章21节）
耶稣复活以后，开启门徒的心窍，让他们明白摩西律法、先知书和诗篇所说，为什么基督必须受害，第三天从死里复活（24章46节）。
当我们看见以色列民的历史及圣经中一切的记载，都指向耶稣，也看见我们的生命是多么需要植根于祂，便会禁不住赞叹，主的恩典何其广大，祂的救赎计划何等宏伟！
天父，从以色列的历史和圣经所默示的话语，
我们知道自己多么需要祢的爱子耶稣，
求祢帮助我们不要忘记。