《尤兰提亚之书》英文版自 2006 年起在全球范围内属于公共领域.
翻译: © 2015 Urantia Foundation
THE LAST SUPPER
最后晚餐
1955 179:0.1 DURING the afternoon of this Thursday, when Philip reminded the Master about the approaching Passover and inquired concerning his plans for its celebration, he had in mind the Passover supper which was due to be eaten on the evening of the next day, Friday. It was the custom to begin the preparations for the celebration of the Passover not later than noon of the preceding day. And since the Jews reckoned the day as beginning at sunset, this meant that Saturday’s Passover supper would be eaten on Friday night, sometime before the midnight hour.
2015 179:0.1 在这个周四下午期间,当菲利普提醒主关于即将到来的逾越节并询问关于他对其庆祝的计划时,他心中想的是应在第二天周五晚上要吃的逾越节晚餐。在不晚于之前一天的中午开始为逾越节的庆祝做准备是习俗。由于犹太人将一天估算为从日落开始,这意味着周六的逾越节晚餐要在周五晚上、即午夜时刻之前的某个时候吃。
1955 179:0.2 The apostles were, therefore, entirely at a loss to understand the Master’s announcement that they would celebrate the Passover one day early. They thought, at least some of them did, that he knew he would be placed under arrest before the time of the Passover supper on Friday night and was therefore calling them together for a special supper on this Thursday evening. Others thought that this was merely a special occasion which was to precede the regular Passover celebration.
2015 179:0.2 因此,使徒们完全难以理解主的宣布他们要提早一天庆祝逾越节。他们认为,至少他们中某些认为,他知道在周五晚上逾越节晚餐时间之前他将会被逮捕,因此召集他们一起在这个周四晚上吃一顿特别的晚餐。其他人则以为这只是一个先于惯常逾越节庆祝的特别场合。
1955 179:0.3 The apostles knew that Jesus had celebrated other Passovers without the lamb; they knew that he did not personally participate in any sacrificial service of the Jewish system. He had many times partaken of the paschal lamb as a guest, but always, when he was the host, no lamb was served. It would not have been a great surprise to the apostles to have seen the lamb omitted even on Passover night, and since this supper was given one day earlier, they thought nothing of its absence.
2015 179:0.3 使徒们知道耶稣未用羔羊肉庆祝其他逾越节;他们知道他并未亲身参与犹太人体系的任何祭献服务。他多次作为宾客共享过逾越节羔羊肉,不过当他是东道主时,总是不招待羔羊肉。即使在逾越节晚上看到羔羊肉被省略,对使徒们来说也不是一件极为惊奇之事,由于这场晚餐提早一天提供,他们对它的缺席也不认为有什么。
1955 179:0.4 After receiving the greetings of welcome extended by the father and mother of John Mark, the apostles went immediately to the upper chamber while Jesus lingered behind to talk with the Mark family.
2015 179:0.4 在接受了约翰·马可父母给予的欢迎问候之后,使徒们立即去到上层房间,而耶稣则留下与马可家人交谈。
1955 179:0.5 It had been understood beforehand that the Master was to celebrate this occasion alone with his twelve apostles; therefore no servants were provided to wait upon them.
2015 179:0.5 事先已知主与他的十二使徒独自庆祝这一场合;因此没有提供仆人来服侍他们。
1. THE DESIRE FOR PREFERENCE
1. 被偏爱的欲望
1955 179:1.1 When the apostles had been shown upstairs by John Mark, they beheld a large and commodious chamber, which was completely furnished for the supper, and observed that the bread, wine, water, and herbs were all in readiness on one end of the table. Except for the end on which rested the bread and wine, this long table was surrounded by thirteen reclining couches, just such as would be provided for the celebration of the Passover in a well-to-do Jewish household.
2015 179:1.1 当使徒们被约翰·马可领到楼上时,他们看到了一个为晚餐彻底配备好了的大而宽敞的房间,并观察到饼、酒、水和苦菜都准备好了,放在桌子的一端。除了搁置饼和水的一端,这个长桌子被十三张可躺的长椅所环绕,正如一个富裕犹太家庭为庆祝逾越节所提供的一样。
1955 179:1.2 As the twelve entered this upper chamber, they noticed, just inside the door, the pitchers of water, the basins, and towels for laving their dusty feet; and since no servant had been provided to render this service, the apostles began to look at one another as soon as John Mark had left them, and each began to think within himself, Who shall wash our feet? And each likewise thought that it would not be he who would thus seem to act as the servant of the others.
2015 179:1.2 当十二人进入这个上层的房间,他们注意到,就在门内有用于冲洗他们布满灰尘双脚所用的水罐、木盆和毛巾;由于没有提供仆人来做出这一服务,使徒们在约翰·马可一离开他们之后就开始看向彼此,每个人开始心里思考,谁将会洗我们的脚?每个人同样认为将不会是这样看起来担当他人仆人的他。
1955 179:1.3 As they stood there, debating in their hearts, they surveyed the seating arrangement of the table, taking note of the higher divan of the host with one couch on the right and eleven arranged around the table on up to opposite this second seat of honor on the host’s right.
2015 179:1.3 当他们站在那儿在其心中仔细考虑时,他们审视这张桌子的座位安排,注意到东道主的更高长椅右边有一长椅,十一张长椅被沿着桌子周围继续安排,直到与东道主右边的这第二个座位相对。
1955 179:1.4 They expected the Master to arrive any moment, but they were in a quandary as to whether they should seat themselves or await his coming and depend on him to assign them their places. While they hesitated, Judas stepped over to the seat of honor, at the left of the host, and signified that he intended there to recline as the preferred guest. This act of Judas immediately stirred up a heated dispute among the other apostles. Judas had no sooner seized the seat of honor than John Zebedee laid claim to the next preferred seat, the one on the right of the host. Simon Peter was so enraged at this assumption of choice positions by Judas and John that, as the other angry apostles looked on, he marched clear around the table and took his place on the lowest couch, the end of the seating order and just opposite to that chosen by John Zebedee. Since others had seized the high seats, Peter thought to choose the lowest, and he did this, not merely in protest against the unseemly pride of his brethren, but with the hope that Jesus, when he should come and see him in the place of least honor, would call him up to a higher one, thus displacing one who had presumed to honor himself.
2015 179:1.4 他们期待主随时到来,不过就他们是否应自己就座还是等待他到来并依赖他给他们指定他们的位子而言,他们左右为难。当他们犹豫时,犹大走到东道主左边的荣誉座位,暗示他想要在那儿斜倚作为偏爱的宾客。犹大的这一行为立即在其他使徒中间激起了激烈的争论。犹大刚抓住了荣誉座位,约翰·西庇太就占据了下一个偏爱的座位,东道主的右边座位。西蒙·彼得被犹大和约翰的这一选择位置的篡夺所激怒,以致当其他愤怒的使徒旁观时,他绕着桌子大步行进并就座于最低的长椅、即就座顺序的结尾并正对约翰·西庇太所选的那个座位。由于其他人已经抓住了高的座位,彼得想选最低的,他这样做了,不只抗议他兄弟们不体面的骄傲,还怀着以下的希望,既当耶稣到来并看到他处于最少荣誉的位置上时,他会叫他去一个更高的位子上,由此取代那个擅自给自己荣誉的人。[1]
1955 179:1.5 With the highest and the lowest positions thus occupied, the rest of the apostles chose places, some near Judas and some near Peter, until all were located. They were seated about the U-shaped table on these reclining divans in the following order: on the right of the Master, John; on the left, Judas, Simon Zelotes, Matthew, James Zebedee, Andrew, the Alpheus twins, Philip, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Simon Peter.
2015 179:1.5 随着最高和最低的位置被占,其余使徒选择了位子,一些靠近犹大,一些靠近彼得,直到所有人都就座了。他们按如下顺序就座于这一U形桌子周围的这些可躺长椅上:在主的右边,约翰;在左边,犹大,奋锐党人西蒙,马太,詹姆斯·西庇太,安德鲁,阿尔斐孪生兄弟,菲利普,纳撒尼尔,多玛斯和西蒙·彼得。
1955 179:1.6 They are gathered together to celebrate, at least in spirit, an institution which antedated even Moses and referred to the times when their fathers were slaves in Egypt. This supper is their last rendezvous with Jesus, and even in such a solemn setting, under the leadership of Judas the apostles are led once more to give way to their old predilection for honor, preference, and personal exaltation.
2015 179:1.6 他们被聚到一起,至少在精神上来庆祝一个甚至先于摩西、涉及他们父辈在埃及为奴时期的习俗。这一晚餐是他们与耶稣的最后会集之地,甚至在这种庄严的设置下,在犹大带领下,使徒们被再次引向让位于他们对荣誉、偏爱和个人提拔的旧有嗜好。
1955 179:1.8 They were now ready to begin the supper, except that their feet were still unwashed, and they were in anything but a pleasant frame of mind. When the Master arrived, they were still engaged in making uncomplimentary remarks about one another, to say nothing of the thoughts of some who had sufficient emotional control to refrain from publicly expressing their feelings.
2015 179:1.8 他们此时准备好开始晚餐,除了他们的双脚还未洗以外,他们一点儿也不心情愉快。当主抵达时,他们仍忙于就彼此做出贬损的评论,更不用说那些有足够情绪控制来避免公开表达他们感受之人的想法了。
2. BEGINNING THE SUPPER
2. 开始晚餐
1955 179:2.1 For a few moments after the Master had gone to his place, not a word was spoken. Jesus looked them all over and, relieving the tension with a smile, said: “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you. I wanted to eat with you once more before I suffered, and realizing that my hour has come, I arranged to have this supper with you tonight, for, as concerns the morrow, we are all in the hands of the Father, whose will I have come to execute. I shall not again eat with you until you sit down with me in the kingdom which my Father will give me when I have finished that for which he sent me into this world.”
1955 179:2.2 After the wine and the water had been mixed, they brought the cup to Jesus, who, when he had received it from the hand of Thaddeus, held it while he offered thanks. And when he had finished offering thanks, he said: “Take this cup and divide it among yourselves and, when you partake of it, realize that I shall not again drink with you the fruit of the vine since this is our last supper. When we sit down again in this manner, it will be in the kingdom to come.”
1955 179:2.3 Jesus began thus to talk to his apostles because he knew that his hour had come. He understood that the time had come when he was to return to the Father, and that his work on earth was almost finished. The Master knew he had revealed the Father’s love on earth and had shown forth his mercy to mankind, and that he had completed that for which he came into the world, even to the receiving of all power and authority in heaven and on earth. Likewise, he knew Judas Iscariot had fully made up his mind to deliver him that night into the hands of his enemies. He fully realized that this traitorous betrayal was the work of Judas, but that it also pleased Lucifer, Satan, and Caligastia the prince of darkness. But he feared none of those who sought his spiritual overthrow any more than he feared those who sought to accomplish his physical death. The Master had but one anxiety, and that was for the safety and salvation of his chosen followers. And so, with the full knowledge that the Father had put all things under his authority, the Master now prepared to enact the parable of brotherly love.
2015 179:2.3 耶稣由此开始与他的使徒们交谈,因为他知道他的时刻已经到来了。他理解他要回到父那儿的时刻已经到来了,他在世上的工作已经几近完成了。主知道他已在世上启示了父的爱,并展示了他对人类的仁慈,他已经完成了他来到这个世界要做的那一切,乃至天上地下的所有权能和权威的接收。同样,他知道犹大·以斯加略已经全然下定决心要将他在那晚交到他敌人的手中。他全然意识到这一背信弃义的背叛是犹大的杰作,不过那也令路西法、撒旦和黑暗君王卡里迦夏高兴。不过他并不惧怕那些寻求他灵性倾覆的任何一个,就像他不惧怕那些寻求完成他肉体死亡的人一样。主只有一个忧虑,那是为了他选定追随者们的安全和拯救。因此,带着父已将所有事情都置于他权威之下的全然认知,主此时准备好要演绎兄弟之爱的寓言。[5][6]
3. WASHING THE APOSTLES’ FEET
3. 为使徒们洗脚
1955 179:3.1 After drinking the first cup of the Passover, it was the Jewish custom for the host to arise from the table and wash his hands. Later on in the meal and after the second cup, all of the guests likewise rose up and washed their hands. Since the apostles knew that their Master never observed these rites of ceremonial hand washing, they were very curious to know what he intended to do when, after they had partaken of this first cup, he arose from the table and silently made his way over to near the door, where the water pitchers, basins, and towels had been placed. And their curiosity grew into astonishment as they saw the Master remove his outer garment, gird himself with a towel, and begin to pour water into one of the foot basins. Imagine the amazement of these twelve men, who had so recently refused to wash one another’s feet, and who had engaged in such unseemly disputes about positions of honor at the table, when they saw him make his way around the unoccupied end of the table to the lowest seat of the feast, where Simon Peter reclined, and, kneeling down in the attitude of a servant, make ready to wash Simon’s feet. As the Master knelt, all twelve arose as one man to their feet; even the traitorous Judas so far forgot his infamy for a moment as to arise with his fellow apostles in this expression of surprise, respect, and utter amazement.
2015 179:3.1 在饮完逾越节的第一杯酒之后,东道主要从桌边站起来洗他的双手,这是犹太人的习俗。后来在这顿饭的第二杯酒之后,所有宾客同样要起来洗他们的双手。由于使徒们知道他们的主从未遵守这些礼仪性洗手的仪式,他们非常好奇想知道他想要做什么,这时,在他们共享了这第一杯酒之后,他从桌边起身默默走向门边放置水罐、木盆和毛巾的地方。当他们看到主脱去外衣,在自己身上佩了一条毛巾,并开始将水倒入一个脚盆中时,他们的好奇变成了惊讶。想象一下这十二人的惊愕,他们如此新近地拒绝了洗彼此的双脚,并忙于有关桌边荣誉位置的如此不体面争论,这时他们看到他沿着桌子未被占据的一端走向筵席最低的座位,西蒙·彼得斜靠在那儿,他以仆人的姿态跪下,准备好洗西蒙的双脚。当主跪下时,所有十二人如同一个人般一齐起身;甚至背信弃义的犹大到这时为止也忘记了他的恶行一小会儿,来怀着这种充满惊奇、尊敬和彻底惊愕的表情,与他的同伴使徒们一同起身。[7]
1955 179:3.2 There stood Simon Peter, looking down into the upturned face of his Master. Jesus said nothing; it was not necessary that he should speak. His attitude plainly revealed that he was minded to wash Simon Peter’s feet. Notwithstanding his frailties of the flesh, Peter loved the Master. This Galilean fisherman was the first human being wholeheartedly to believe in the divinity of Jesus and to make full and public confession of that belief. And Peter had never since really doubted the divine nature of the Master. Since Peter so revered and honored Jesus in his heart, it was not strange that his soul resented the thought of Jesus’ kneeling there before him in the attitude of a menial servant and proposing to wash his feet as would a slave. When Peter presently collected his wits sufficiently to address the Master, he spoke the heart feelings of all his fellow apostles.
1955 179:3.3 After a few moments of this great embarrassment, Peter said, “Master, do you really mean to wash my feet?” And then, looking up into Peter’s face, Jesus said: “You may not fully understand what I am about to do, but hereafter you will know the meaning of all these things.” Then Simon Peter, drawing a long breath, said, “Master, you shall never wash my feet!” And each of the apostles nodded their approval of Peter’s firm declaration of refusal to allow Jesus thus to humble himself before them.
1955 179:3.4 The dramatic appeal of this unusual scene at first touched the heart of even Judas Iscariot; but when his vainglorious intellect passed judgment upon the spectacle, he concluded that this gesture of humility was just one more episode which conclusively proved that Jesus would never qualify as Israel’s deliverer, and that he had made no mistake in the decision to desert the Master’s cause.
2015 179:3.4 这一不同寻常场面的这一引人注目诉求,起初甚至打动了犹大·以斯加略的心;不过,当他极度自负的智力对这一场面做出判断时,他断定这种谦卑的姿态就是又一个决定性地证明耶稣永不会具有资格成为以色列的拯救者的插曲,他在遗弃主的事业的决定上没有做错。
1955 179:3.5 As they all stood there in breathless amazement, Jesus said: “Peter, I declare that, if I do not wash your feet, you will have no part with me in that which I am about to perform.” When Peter heard this declaration, coupled with the fact that Jesus continued kneeling there at his feet, he made one of those decisions of blind acquiescence in compliance with the wish of one whom he respected and loved. As it began to dawn on Simon Peter that there was attached to this proposed enactment of service some signification that determined one’s future connection with the Master’s work, he not only became reconciled to the thought of allowing Jesus to wash his feet but, in his characteristic and impetuous manner, said: “Then, Master, wash not my feet only but also my hands and my head.”
1955 179:3.6 As the Master made ready to begin washing Peter’s feet, he said: “He who is already clean needs only to have his feet washed. You who sit with me tonight are clean—but not all. But the dust of your feet should have been washed away before you sat down at meat with me. And besides, I would perform this service for you as a parable to illustrate the meaning of a new commandment which I will presently give you.”
1955 179:3.7 In like manner the Master went around the table, in silence, washing the feet of his twelve apostles, not even passing by Judas. When Jesus had finished washing the feet of the twelve, he donned his cloak, returned to his place as host, and after looking over his bewildered apostles, said:
1955 179:3.8 “Do you really understand what I have done to you? You call me Master, and you say well, for so I am. If, then, the Master has washed your feet, why was it that you were unwilling to wash one another’s feet? What lesson should you learn from this parable in which the Master so willingly does that service which his brethren were unwilling to do for one another? Verily, verily, I say to you: A servant is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than he who sends him. You have seen the way of service in my life among you, and blessed are you who will have the gracious courage so to serve. But why are you so slow to learn that the secret of greatness in the spiritual kingdom is not like the methods of power in the material world?
1955 179:3.9 “When I came into this chamber tonight, you were not content proudly to refuse to wash one another’s feet, but you must also fall to disputing among yourselves as to who should have the places of honor at my table. Such honors the Pharisees and the children of this world seek, but it should not be so among the ambassadors of the heavenly kingdom. Do you not know that there can be no place of preferment at my table? Do you not understand that I love each of you as I do the others? Do you not know that the place nearest me, as men regard such honors, can mean nothing concerning your standing in the kingdom of heaven? You know that the kings of the gentiles have lordship over their subjects, while those who exercise this authority are sometimes called benefactors. But it shall not be so in the kingdom of heaven. He who would be great among you, let him become as the younger; while he who would be chief, let him become as one who serves. Who is the greater, he who sits at meat, or he who serves? Is it not commonly regarded that he who sits at meat is the greater? But you will observe that I am among you as one who serves. If you are willing to become fellow servants with me in doing the Father’s will, in the kingdom to come you shall sit with me in power, still doing the Father’s will in future glory.”
2015 179:3.9 “当我今晚进入这个房间时,你们不仅不满足于傲慢地拒绝洗彼此的双脚,而且你们还一定要就谁应在我的桌边拥有荣誉的位子而陷入彼此争论。法利赛人和这个世界的孩子们寻求这种荣誉,不过在天国的使者中间却不应如此。你们难道不知道在我的桌边不可能有任何偏爱的位子吗?难道你们不理解我像爱其他人一样爱你们每个人吗?你们难道不知道,最靠近我的位子,如人们所视的这种荣誉,就你们在天国中的地位而言可能毫无意义吗?你们知道外邦人的国王对他们的国民拥有统治权,而那些实施这一权威的人时常被称为恩主。不过在天国中却并非如此。在你们中间想要为大者,让他变得像更年小的;想要成为首领,让他成为服务者。谁更大,坐席的还是服务的?人们难道不通常以为坐席的更大吗?不过你们会观察到我作为服务者在你们中间。若你们愿意与我一起在履行父的意志上成为同伴仆人,在即将到来的王国中你们必怀着权能与我同坐,在未来的荣耀中仍履行父的意志。”[15][16][17]
1955 179:3.10 When Jesus had finished speaking, the Alpheus twins brought on the bread and wine, with the bitter herbs and the paste of dried fruits, for the next course of the Last Supper.
2015 179:3.10 当耶稣说完,阿尔斐孪生兄弟端上了饼和酒,伴有苦菜和干果酱,作为最后晚餐的接下一道菜。
4. LAST WORDS TO THE BETRAYER
4. 对背叛者的最后话语
1955 179:4.1 For some minutes the apostles ate in silence, but under the influence of the Master’s cheerful demeanor they were soon drawn into conversation, and ere long the meal was proceeding as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred to interfere with the good cheer and social accord of this extraordinary occasion. After some time had elapsed, in about the middle of this second course of the meal, Jesus, looking them over, said: “I have told you how much I desired to have this supper with you, and knowing how the evil forces of darkness have conspired to bring about the death of the Son of Man, I determined to eat this supper with you in this secret chamber and a day in advance of the Passover since I will not be with you by this time tomorrow night. I have repeatedly told you that I must return to the Father. Now has my hour come, but it was not required that one of you should betray me into the hands of my enemies.”
1955 179:4.2 When the twelve heard this, having already been robbed of much of their self-assertiveness and self-confidence by the parable of the feet washing and the Master’s subsequent discourse, they began to look at one another while in disconcerted tones they hesitatingly inquired, “Is it I?” And when they had all so inquired, Jesus said: “While it is necessary that I go to the Father, it was not required that one of you should become a traitor to fulfill the Father’s will. This is the coming to fruit of the concealed evil in the heart of one who failed to love the truth with his whole soul. How deceitful is the intellectual pride that precedes the spiritual downfall! My friend of many years, who even now eats my bread, will be willing to betray me, even as he now dips his hand with me in the dish.”
1955 179:4.3 And when Jesus had thus spoken, they all began again to ask, “Is it I?” And as Judas, sitting on the left of his Master, again asked, “Is it I?” Jesus, dipping the bread in the dish of herbs, handed it to Judas, saying, “You have said.” But the others did not hear Jesus speak to Judas. John, who reclined on Jesus’ right hand, leaned over and asked the Master: “Who is it? We should know who it is that has proved untrue to his trust.” Jesus answered: “Already have I told you, even he to whom I gave the sop.” But it was so natural for the host to give a sop to the one who sat next to him on the left that none of them took notice of this, even though the Master had so plainly spoken. But Judas was painfully conscious of the meaning of the Master’s words associated with his act, and he became fearful lest his brethren were likewise now aware that he was the betrayer.
1955 179:4.5 Jesus brought their whisperings to an end by saying: “I sorrow that this evil should have come to pass and hoped even up to this hour that the power of truth might triumph over the deceptions of evil, but such victories are not won without the faith of the sincere love of truth. I would not have told you these things at this, our last supper, but I desire to warn you of these sorrows and so prepare you for what is now upon us. I have told you of this because I desire that you should recall, after I have gone, that I knew about all these evil plottings, and that I forewarned you of my betrayal. And I do all this only that you may be strengthened for the temptations and trials which are just ahead.”
1955 179:4.6 When Jesus had thus spoken, leaning over toward Judas, he said: “What you have decided to do, do quickly.” And when Judas heard these words, he arose from the table and hastily left the room, going out into the night to do what he had set his mind to accomplish. When the other apostles saw Judas hasten off after Jesus had spoken to him, they thought he had gone to procure something additional for the supper or to do some other errand for the Master since they supposed he still carried the bag.
1955 179:4.7 Jesus now knew that nothing could be done to keep Judas from turning traitor. He started with twelve—now he had eleven. He chose six of these apostles, and though Judas was among those nominated by his first-chosen apostles, still the Master accepted him and had, up to this very hour, done everything possible to sanctify and save him, even as he had wrought for the peace and salvation of the others.
2015 179:4.7 耶稣此时知道无法再做什么来阻止犹大变成叛徒了。他与十二人一起开始 -- 此时他有十一人。他选定了这些使徒中的六个,尽管犹大位列由他最先选定使者所提名的那些人中间,主仍接受了他,并直到这一时刻做了尽可能每件事来圣化和拯救他,正如他为其他人的平安和救赎所做的一样。
1955 179:4.8 This supper, with its tender episodes and softening touches, was Jesus’ last appeal to the deserting Judas, but it was of no avail. Warning, even when administered in the most tactful manner and conveyed in the most kindly spirit, as a rule, only intensifies hatred and fires the evil determination to carry out to the full one’s own selfish projects, when love is once really dead.
2015 179:4.8 这次晚餐伴随其温柔的插曲和软化的触碰,是耶稣对正在背离的犹大的最后诉求,不过它没有用。当爱一旦真的死去,警告,甚至在以最得体的方式实施、以最亲切的精神传达时,一般来说只会加剧仇恨并点燃邪恶决心去全面执行一个人自己的自私计划。
5. ESTABLISHING THE REMEMBRANCE SUPPER
5. 建立纪念晚餐
1955 179:5.1 As they brought Jesus the third cup of wine, the “cup of blessing,” he arose from the couch and, taking the cup in his hands, blessed it, saying: “Take this cup, all of you, and drink of it. This shall be the cup of my remembrance. This is the cup of the blessing of a new dispensation of grace and truth. This shall be to you the emblem of the bestowal and ministry of the divine Spirit of Truth. And I will not again drink this cup with you until I drink in new form with you in the Father’s eternal kingdom.”
1955 179:5.2 The apostles all sensed that something out of the ordinary was transpiring as they drank of this cup of blessing in profound reverence and perfect silence. The old Passover commemorated the emergence of their fathers from a state of racial slavery into individual freedom; now the Master was instituting a new remembrance supper as a symbol of the new dispensation wherein the enslaved individual emerges from the bondage of ceremonialism and selfishness into the spiritual joy of the brotherhood and fellowship of the liberated faith sons of the living God.
2015 179:5.2 当使徒们怀着深刻的敬畏和完美的缄默饮了这杯祝福之酒,他们都感觉到某种不同寻常之事正在发生。旧有的逾越节纪念他们父辈摆脱种族奴役状态而进入个人自由;此时主正在建立一种新的纪念晚餐,作为新天命时代的一种象征,受奴役的个人在其中从讲究仪式和自私的束缚摆脱而进入永活之神解放了的忠信子民们兄弟情谊和友伴身份的灵性喜悦之中。
1955 179:5.3 When they had finished drinking this new cup of remembrance, the Master took up the bread and, after giving thanks, broke it in pieces and, directing them to pass it around, said: “Take this bread of remembrance and eat it. I have told you that I am the bread of life. And this bread of life is the united life of the Father and the Son in one gift. The word of the Father, as revealed in the Son, is indeed the bread of life.” When they had partaken of the bread of remembrance, the symbol of the living word of truth incarnated in the likeness of mortal flesh, they all sat down.
1955 179:5.4 In instituting this remembrance supper, the Master, as was always his habit, resorted to parables and symbols. He employed symbols because he wanted to teach certain great spiritual truths in such a manner as to make it difficult for his successors to attach precise interpretations and definite meanings to his words. In this way he sought to prevent successive generations from crystallizing his teaching and binding down his spiritual meanings by the dead chains of tradition and dogma. In the establishment of the only ceremony or sacrament associated with his whole life mission, Jesus took great pains to suggest his meanings rather than to commit himself to precise definitions. He did not wish to destroy the individual’s concept of divine communion by establishing a precise form; neither did he desire to limit the believer’s spiritual imagination by formally cramping it. He rather sought to set man’s reborn soul free upon the joyous wings of a new and living spiritual liberty.
2015 179:5.4 在建立这一纪念晚餐过程中,主正如他一贯的习惯一样,诉诸于寓言和象征。他采用象征,因为他想要以这样一种方式教导某些伟大的灵性真理,从而使他的继承者们很难将精准的阐释和明确的意涵附加到他的话语中。以此方式他寻求防止相继世代用传统和教条的僵死锁链具化他的教导并捆绑他的灵性意涵。在建立与他毕生使命相关联的唯一典礼或圣礼的过程中,耶稣煞费苦心去暗示他的意涵,而非让自己致力于精确的定义。他不希望通过建立一种精确的形式来毁灭个人的神性交流概念;他也不希望通过正式约束信奉者的灵性想象力而限制它。他宁愿寻求将个人的重生灵魂释放到充满一种崭新鲜活灵性自由的欢乐双翼之上。
1955 179:5.5 Notwithstanding the Master’s effort thus to establish this new sacrament of the remembrance, those who followed after him in the intervening centuries saw to it that his express desire was effectively thwarted in that his simple spiritual symbolism of that last night in the flesh has been reduced to precise interpretations and subjected to the almost mathematical precision of a set formula. Of all Jesus’ teachings none have become more tradition-standardized.
2015 179:5.5 尽管有主以此方式建立这一崭新纪念圣礼的努力,但那些在期间世纪中追随他的人细致遵守它,以致他明确的愿望被有效地挫败了,因为他在肉身中那最后一晚的简单灵性象征意义已被减至对一个固定公式的精准阐释,以及受制于其几近数学性的精准。在耶稣的所有教导中没有其他比这变得更被传统所标准化了。
1955 179:5.6 This supper of remembrance, when it is partaken of by those who are Son-believing and God-knowing, does not need to have associated with its symbolism any of man’s puerile misinterpretations regarding the meaning of the divine presence, for upon all such occasions the Master is really present. The remembrance supper is the believer’s symbolic rendezvous with Michael. When you become thus spirit-conscious, the Son is actually present, and his spirit fraternizes with the indwelling fragment of his Father.
2015 179:5.6 这一纪念晚餐,当它被那些信奉子并知晓神的人所共享时,不需要将任何人类有关神性临在意涵的幼稚误释与它的象征意义关联起来,因为在所有这类场合,主是真正临在的。纪念晚餐是信奉者与迈克尔的象征性会集之所。当你们由此变得具有属灵意识,子是实际临在的,他的灵与他的父之内驻片段彼此友善。
1955 179:5.7 After they had engaged in meditation for a few moments, Jesus continued speaking: “When you do these things, recall the life I have lived on earth among you and rejoice that I am to continue to live on earth with you and to serve through you. As individuals, contend not among yourselves as to who shall be greatest. Be you all as brethren. And when the kingdom grows to embrace large groups of believers, likewise should you refrain from contending for greatness or seeking preferment between such groups.”
1955 179:5.8 And this mighty occasion took place in the upper chamber of a friend. There was nothing of sacred form or of ceremonial consecration about either the supper or the building. The remembrance supper was established without ecclesiastical sanction.
2015 179:5.8 这一重大场合就发生在一个朋友的上层房间中,没有任何关于晚餐或是建筑的神圣仪式或典礼祭献。纪念晚餐没有教会的批准而建立。
1955 179:5.9 When Jesus had thus established the supper of the remembrance, he said to the eleven: “And as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me. And when you do remember me, first look back upon my life in the flesh, recall that I was once with you, and then, by faith, discern that you shall all sometime sup with me in the Father’s eternal kingdom. This is the new Passover which I leave with you, even the memory of my bestowal life, the word of eternal truth; and of my love for you, the outpouring of my Spirit of Truth upon all flesh.”
1955 179:5.10 And they ended this celebration of the old but bloodless Passover in connection with the inauguration of the new supper of the remembrance, by singing, all together, the one hundred and eighteenth Psalm.