人生の浮き沈み The Highs and Lows of Life

人生の浮き沈み

The Highs and Lows of Life

キリスト教徒としての約50年間を振り返ってみると、聖霊の体験、神の愛、人々が初めてイエスに出会うのを見る喜び、祈りに対する驚くべき答え、そして神の王国が前進するのを見るなど、精神的に非常に高揚した時がありました。

As I look back on my almost fifty years as a Christian, there have been times of great spiritual highs – experiences of the Holy Spirit, God’s love, the joy of seeing people encounter Jesus for the first time, amazing answers to prayer and seeing the kingdom of God advancing.

その一方で、砂漠での経験、死別、失望、失敗、誘惑、反対、健康問題、疲労といった精神的な落ち込みもありました。

On the other hand, there have also been spiritual lows – desert experiences, bereavements, disappointments, failures, temptations, opposition, health issues and exhaustion.

今日の聖句では、霊的な高揚と低迷がどのように密接に結びついているかが分かります。

In the passages for today we see how spiritual highs and lows are closely connected.

Psalm 22:1-11 ESV [1] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? [2] O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. [3] Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. [4] In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. [5] To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not [6] But I am a worm and not a shame, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. [7] All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; [8] “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” [9] Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. [10] On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. [11] Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.22.1-11.ESV

Psalm 22:1-11 ESV [1] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? [2] O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. [3] Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. [4] In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. [5] To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. [6] But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. [7] All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; [8] “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” [9] Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. [10] On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. [11] Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.22.1-11.ESV

苦しみは最終的に勝利に終わると信じること

Trust that ultimately suffering will end in victory

この詩篇は、十字架上でイエスが叫んだ「わが神、わが神、なぜわたしをお見捨てになったのですか」（1節a）の背景となっています。イエスがこの詩篇を引用したのは偶然ではありません（マタイ27:46）。

This psalm forms the background to Jesus’ cry on the cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (v.1a). It is not a coincidence that Jesus quoted this psalm (Matthew 27:46).

詩篇 22 章は、十字架と復活の預言的な背景を説明しています。私たちはそれがイエスにおいて成就したのを目にします。イエスは「すべての人に軽蔑され、民衆に蔑まれました」（6 節）。嘲られ、侮辱されました（7 節）。彼らはイエスに侮辱の言葉を投げつけ、頭を振りました（7 節 b）。「彼は主に信頼しています。主が彼を救い出してくださいますように」（8 節 a）。

Psalm 22 lays out a prophetic background to the cross and resurrection, which we see fulfilled in Jesus. He was ‘scorned by everyone, and despised by the people’ (v.6); mocked and insulted (v.7). They hurled insults at him, shaking their heads (v.7b). ‘He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him’ (v.8a).

これはイエスの苦しみを正確に描写しており（マタイ 27:31–46 参照）、それでも勝利で終わります。

This accurately describes the suffering of Jesus (see Matthew 27:31–46) and yet it ends in victory.

この詩篇のメッセージは、私たちが最も困難な状況に陥ったときに信頼することの大切さについてです（詩篇 22:4–5,9）。イエスは、人生で最も困難な状況に陥ったとき、つまり十字架にかけられ、神に見放されたときに、神が自分を救ってくれると信じました。十字架の敗北は、史上最大の勝利となったのです。

The message of the psalm is about the importance of trust at our very low points (Psalm 22:4–5,9). Jesus, at the very lowest point of his life – crucified and God forsaken – trusted in God to deliver him. The apparent defeat of the cross turned out to be the greatest victory of all time.

落ち込んでいるときは、苦しみが最後の言葉ではないことを思い出してください。イエスにおいては、神の復活と勝利が最後の言葉です。イエスを信頼し続けてください。

If you are at a low point, remember that suffering does not have the last word. In Jesus, the resurrection and the victory of God have the last word. Keep trusting him.

主よ、私があなたに叫び求めて救われた時、あなたを信頼して失望しなかった時、本当に感謝いたします。苦難の時にもあなたを信頼し続けることができるよう助けてください。

Lord, thank you so much for the times when I have cried out to you and been saved; trusted in you and not been disappointed. Help me in times of suffering to keep trusting in you.

Mark 1:1-28 ESV [1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, [3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” [4] John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [6] Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down [8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am [12] The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. [14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.” [16] Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. [21] And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. [22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. [23] And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, [24] “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” [25] But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” [26] And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. [27] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” [28] And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.1.1-28.ESV

Mark 1:1-28 ESV [1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, [3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” [4] John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [6] Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” [12] The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. [14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.” [16] Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. [21] And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. [22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. [23] And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, [24] “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” [25] But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” [26] And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. [27] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” [28] And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.1.1-28.ESV

戦いと祝福を通して権威を増す

Grow in authority through the battles and blessings

ピッパと私は、1963 年にロサンゼルスで説教するビリー グラハムのビデオを見ました。その映像は白黒です。彼は聖書の公認訳から説教します。しかし、半世紀以上経った今でも、そのメッセージには力があります。何よりも印象的なのは、彼が語るときの権威です。このような権威は、イエスの至高の権威を反映しています。

Pippa and I watched a video of Billy Graham preaching in Los Angeles in 1963. The film is in black and white. He preaches from the Authorised Version of the Bible. But even after over half a century, there is power in the message. What is most striking of all is the authority with which he spoke. This kind of authority is a reflection of the supreme authority of Jesus.

この箇所から、イエスが経験した祝福と戦いにおける霊的な浮き沈みを通して、神がイエスを備えられたことがわかります。

In this passage, we see that God prepared Jesus through the spiritual highs and lows in the blessings and battles he experienced.

マルコは最も短い福音書です。イエスの行動が3週間にわたって記され、イエスの言葉が20分間記されています。最も生き生きとした福音書で、息もつかせぬ興奮の雰囲気で出来事から出来事へと駆け抜けていきます。イエス・キリストの福音を緊急に告げる福音書です。

Mark is the shortest Gospel. It covers three weeks of Jesus’ actions and twenty minutes of his words. It is the liveliest Gospel; it races from event to event with an air of breathless excitement. It is the urgent announcement of the good news of Jesus Christ.

マルコのお気に入りの言葉は「すぐに」です。イエスはプレッシャーのかかる人生についてすべて知っていました。彼は霊的な高揚と低迷の両方を経験しました。洗礼のとき、イエスは大きな霊的な高揚を経験しました。彼は幻を見ました：「彼は天が裂けているのを見た」（10b節）。彼は聖霊を経験しました：「聖霊が鳩のように彼の上に下った」（10b節）。彼は神の声を聞きました：「天から声がした」（11a節）。彼は子としての保証を受けました：「あなたは私の子です」（11b節）。彼は心の底から神が彼を愛しているのを知っていました：「…私は彼を愛している」（11c節）。彼は神の喜びを楽しみました：「私はあなたを喜ばせている」（11d節）。

Mark’s favourite word is ‘immediately’. Jesus knew all about a pressurised life. He experienced both spiritual highs and lows. At his baptism Jesus experienced a great spiritual high. He saw a vision: ‘He saw heaven being torn open’ (v.10b). He experienced the Holy Spirit: ‘The Spirit descending on him like a dove’ (v.10b). He heard God’s voice: ‘A voice came from heaven’ (v.11a). He received an assurance of sonship: ‘You are my Son’ (v.11b). He knew deep down God’s love for him: ‘… whom I love’ (v.11c). He enjoyed God’s pleasure: ‘With you I am well pleased’ (v.11d).

そこからイエスは砂漠で霊的に落ち込み、40日間サタンの誘惑を受けました（12節）。

From there he went straight into a spiritual low out in the desert where he was tempted by Satan for forty days (v.12).

素晴らしい霊的体験の後に起こる霊的攻撃に驚かないでください。私たちは常にこのことについて人々に警告するようにしています。たとえば、アルファ ウィークエンド¹ で聖霊に満たされ、神の愛を深く確信し、自分が神の子であることを知ったとしたら、その後にしばしば起こる疑念や誘惑という形の攻撃に驚かないでください。

Do not be surprised by the spiritual attack that follows great spiritual experiences. We always try to warn people about this. If, for example, on the Alpha Weekend¹, you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving a deep assurance of God’s love for you and knowing that you are a child of God, do not be surprised by the attacks – in the form of doubts and temptations – that often follow.

私自身の人生を振り返ってみると、当時はこうした試練の時期が非常に苦痛に思えたにもかかわらず、今ではそれが将来に向けての準備としてどれほど重要であったかが分かります。

As I look back on my own life, I can see that, although these times of testing seemed very painful at the time, I now recognise how significant they were in preparing me for what lay ahead.

これはすべて神の計画の一部です。イエスを荒野に導き（12節）、サタンの誘惑を受けさせたのは（13節）、聖霊でした。ある意味では、「荒野」での時間と激しい誘惑は、それが本当に真実であることを保証しています。聖霊の経験は現実ですが、同時に霊的な戦いと試練は激しいものとなるかもしれません。

This is all part of God’s economy – it was ‘the Spirit’ who led Jesus into the desert (v.12) to ‘be tempted by Satan’ (v.13). In some ways, the ‘desert’ times and fierce temptations give an assurance that it really is true. The experience of the Holy Spirit is real but at the same time the spiritual battle and testing may be intense.

イエスは、この試練の期間から、並外れた権威を持って現れました。

Jesus emerged from this period of testing with an extraordinary authority:

伝道の権威

イエスは福音を説き、人々に従わせました。あなたの最優先事項は、イエスとの関係を育むことです。

Authority to evangelise

Jesus preached the gospel and called people to follow him. Your number one priority is to cultivate a relationship with Jesus.

指導する権威 イエスは、ある人が仕事を辞めて王国のために直接働くことを望んだとき、その人のところへ行って尋ねました（17、20節）。最初の弟子たちの生活は、魚を中心としたものから、人間を中心としたものへと完全に変わりました。

Authority to lead When Jesus wanted someone to leave their job and work directly for the kingdom, he went up to them and asked (vv.17,20). The earliest disciples’ lives were changed completely from being centred on fish to being centred on people.

教える権威

人々はイエスの教えに驚きました。なぜならイエスは「権威ある者のように教えられた」からです（22節）。人々は皆とても驚いて、互いに尋ねました。「これは何だ。新しい教えだ。しかも権威ある教えだ！」（27節）。

Authority to teach

People were amazed at Jesus’ teaching because ‘he taught them as one who had authority’ (v.22). All the people were so astonished that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority!’ (v.27).

癒す権威

イエスは悪霊に取り憑かれた男を癒します。イエスは悪霊に「彼から出て行け」と言う権威を持っています（25節）。人々はイエスの教えだけでなく、イエスが「悪霊に命令を下すと悪霊は従う」というやり方にも驚きます（27節）。

Authority to heal

Jesus heals the man possessed by an evil spirit. He has authority to say to the evil spirit, ‘Come out of him!’ (v.25). People are amazed not only at his teaching, but also at the way in which he ‘gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him’ (v.27).

あなたがどんな状況にあっても、神があなたを準備し、あなたに命じていることが何であれ、それを実行する権限を増大させてくださっていることを信じてください。

Whatever you are going through, believe that God is preparing you and giving you an increasing authority for whatever it is that he is calling you to do.

再び聖霊で満たして下さるよう神にお願いしてください。神があなたを喜んで見ておられることを知ってください。「あなたはわたしの愛する子、わたしはあなたを喜ぶ。」 (11節) という神の声に耳を傾けてください。

Ask him to fill you again with the Holy Spirit. Know that God looks at you with pleasure. Listen to his voice saying to you, ‘You are my [child], whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ (v.11).

出エジプト記 17:1–18:27

Exodus 17:1–18:27

出エジプト記 17:1 新共同訳 [1] 主の命令により、イスラエルの人々の共同体全体は、シンの荒れ野を出発し、旅程に従って進み、レフィディムに宿営したが、そこには民の飲み水がなかった。 https://bible.com/bible/1819/exo.17.1.%E6%96%B0%E5%85%B1%E5%90%8C%E8%A8%B3

祈り、行動して、低迷を高揚に変えましょう

Pray and act to turn the lows into highs

モーセは精神的に非常に落ち込んだ時期がありました。民は「モーセと言い争った」（17:2）、「不平を言った」（3節）、「石で打ち殺そうとした」（4節）、「アマレク人が来て攻撃した」（8節）のです。しかし、神はその落ち込みを高揚に変えました。どのようにでしょうか。

Moses had moments of great spiritual lows. The people ‘quarrelled with Moses’ (17:2); they ‘grumbled’ (v.3); they were ‘almost ready to stone [him]’ (v.4); the ‘Amalekites came and attacked’ them (v.8). Yet God turned the lows into highs. How?

互いに支え合い、励まし合う

まず、モーセは自分のために祈りました。「主に叫んで言った。『私は何をすべきでしょうか…』[すると]主は答えられました」（4～5節）。次に、モーセはヨシュアと民のために執り成しをしました。「モーセが手を上げている間はイスラエル人が勝ち、手を下げるとアマレク人が勝った」（11節）。

Support and encourage one another

First, Moses prayed for himself. He ‘cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do…?”[and] the Lord answered’ (vv.4–5). Second, he interceded for Joshua and the people: ‘As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning’ (v.11).

互いに支え合い、励まし合う

まず、モーセは自分のために祈りました。「主に叫んで言った。『私は何をすべきでしょうか…』[すると]主は答えられました」（4～5節）。次に、ヨシュアと民のために執り成しをしました。『モーセが手を上げている間はイスラエル人が勝ち、手を下げるとアマレク人が勝った』（11節）。

『モーセの手が疲れたとき…アロンとフルが彼の手を支えた。一人は片側、一人は反対側で…ヨシュアは剣でアマレク軍を打ち負かした…『主の御座に向かって手が上げられたからである』』（12～13、16節）。

この一節は、執り成しの祈りの力と必要性を思い起こさせます。また、疲れているときに互いに与えることができる愛情深い支えと励ましの大切さも思い起こさせます。

Support and encourage one another

First, Moses prayed for himself. He ‘cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do…?”[and] the Lord answered’ (vv.4–5). Second, he interceded for Joshua and the people: ‘As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning’ (v.11).

‘When Moses’ hands grew tired… Aaron and Hur held up his hands – one on one side and one on the other… So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword… “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord”’ (vv.12–13,16).

This passage reminds us of the power and necessity of intercessory prayer. It also reminds us of the importance of the loving support and encouragement that we can give to one another when we are weary.

委任の仕方を学ぶ

モーセの義父エテロはモーセに素晴らしいアドバイスを与えました (18:19)。彼は、委任しなければ疲れ果ててしまうと指摘しました。「その仕事はあなたには重すぎる。あなた一人ではこなせない」(18b 節)。モーセは義父の言うことに耳を傾けるほど謙虚で賢明でした。

すべてを自分でやろうとするのは「良くない」(17 節)。それは悪いリーダーシップの形であり、疲れ果ててしまいます。「あなたは燃え尽きてしまう」(18 節、MSG)。また、他の人の才能、時間、能力を十分に活用できないことにもなります。彼らはイライラするでしょうし、あなたもイライラするでしょう。

しかし、委任だけでは問題は解決しません。私たちには適切なリーダーが必要です。間違った人に委任すると、どんなに細かく管理しても問題は解決しません。適切なリーダーがいれば、彼らを信頼し、解放し、権限を与えることができます。

エテロのアドバイスに従ってください。リーダーを選んだり任命したりするときは、少なくとも次の 3 つの基準に従ってください。まず、有能な人を選んでください (21a 節)。委任するときに自信を持つためには、有能な人が必要です。次に、霊性に基づいてリーダーを選んでください。つまり、「神を畏れる」人です (21b 節)。3 つ目の基準は人格です。「信頼できる」人 (21c 節)、つまり忠実で、思慮深く、信頼できる人が必要です。

Follow Jethro’s advice. Use, at least, these three criteria when selecting and appointing leaders. First, choose capable people (v.21a). You need people of ability in order to have confidence as you delegate. Second, choose leaders on the basis of their spirituality – those who ‘fear God’ (v.21b). The third criterion was character. You need people who are ‘trustworthy’ (v.21c) – loyal, discreet and reliable.

モーセはリーダーたちにさまざまな責任を与えました（「千人、百人、五十人、十人」、21c節）。おそらく彼らの能力に応じて与えられたのでしょう。彼は意思決定の一定量を委任しましたが、すべてを委任したわけではありません。簡単な決定は委任しましたが、難しい決定は委任しませんでした（26節）。その結果、モーセは「緊張に耐え」ることができ、人々は「満足して」家に帰りました（23節）。

Moses gave leaders a variety of responsibilities (‘thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens’, v.21c), presumably depending on their ability. He delegated a certain amount of the decision making but not all. The simple decisions were delegated but not the difficult ones (v.26). The result was that Moses was able ‘to stand the strain’ and the people went home ‘satisfied’ (v.23).

主よ、あなたとの関係を最優先にし、人生の良い時も悪い時も、あなたの近くにいられるように助けてください。

Lord, help me to make my relationship with you my number one priority and, through the highs and lows of life, to stay close to you.

ピッパはこう付け加えます

出エジプト記 18:9–19

出エジプト記 18 章では、エテロがいかに良い義父であったかがわかります。彼はモーセの成功を喜び、問題があるとわかると助言を与えます。

Pippa Adds

Exodus 18:9–19

In Exodus 18, we see what a good father-in-law Jethro was. He rejoices over Moses’ successes and he offers advice where he sees there are problems.