轉眼,復活節又至。
慶祝復活,當然是因為之前有死亡。
聖經詮釋人的死亡,並非如眾所周知的,只是氣息滅沒,肉身失去作用。
而是著重於人與上帝的關係破裂,與完美的原創者失去關聯,以致動機、心思、意志、想望、情感的作用都不再完整,呈現出言語行為,人際關係上無法活出祂的心意,達成祂創造時託付的使命。
也因此,復活,要慶祝的是人與上帝關係的修復,沈痾的靈甦醒,渴望想知道上帝的心意,並且被賦予能力去成就祂交託的任務。
引致復活的樞紐,就是耶穌基督的十字架。
祂在十字架上以認同全體人類因著關係破裂後而犯下的各樣卑劣錯誤行徑,而承擔上帝對罪性,罪行(sin nature, sinful works)的嚴厲審判。
耶穌是以自己的全人為祭物,獻上,成為贖罪祭。
祂被葬埋後的復活,顯示祂的獻祭,已經蒙受上帝的悅納;從而清除人與公義聖潔上帝因罪而隔絕的障礙,人可以刷新過往的不堪,在耶穌基督給予的新生命裡重新開始。
三月中,一首聖詩不時縈繞腦海,The Old Rugged Cross「古舊十架」。
我拿出畫筆,想將腦海裡記得的一幅畫呈顯。
壓克力顏彩的好處是,畫不滿意,可以刷白,重新再來。
詩歌的韻律迴旋,在深度敬拜裡,一再揮筆,又數次刷白,我畫出自己沒意想到的:
榮耀的復活清晨,生命擊敗死亡。
我在畫背後題上路加福音24:6的經文: He is not here, but has risen.
(他不在這裏,已經復活了)。

[16“x20" 畫完後,適逢教會青少年為夏令營會舉辦Silent Auction無聲拍賣募款,我把這幅畫連同另一幅自己也很喜歡的畫作捐出。跟青少年牧師說如沒人買,務必還我。後來牧師告訴我,兩幅都被收購了。]
The Old Rugged Cross
1 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So Ill cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]
3 In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see,
for twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]
4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then hell call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever Ill share. [Refrain]