八月九日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/08/0809.mp3″]
经文: 祂先向抹大拉的马利亚显现。耶稣从她身上曾赶出七个鬼。（马可福音十六：9）
抹大拉的马利亚是可怕罪恶的牺牲者。她不仅被一个鬼附身，而是被七个鬼附身。这些可怕的鬼为它们所居住的可怜人儿带来痛苦和污秽。她的情况是绝望、恐怖的。她无法帮助自己，也没有一个人能减少她的痛苦。但是耶稣解救了她。虽然她没有去找寻耶稣；这个可怜被鬼附的人甚至可能抗拒耶稣。而耶稣只说了有权柄的话，抹大拉的马利亚就成为祂医治大能的见证。所有七个鬼都离开了她，被万有之主强迫离开了，永不回转。何等有福的释放啊！从精神错乱到喜乐、从绝望到平安、从地狱到天堂！她立即成为耶稣的跟随者，亦步亦趋抓住祂的每一句话，跟随祂的每一个脚踪，与祂一起生活，她慷慨地帮助祂，在那群蒙医的、感恩的妇女中她是第一个服事祂的人。当耶稣被钉十字架时，她仍然是祂羞辱的分负者。她不能与耶稣同死在十字架，却尽量靠近十字架。当祂的身体从十字架上取下时，她注意人把祂的身体放在何处。她是忠心的守望者，徘徊逗留在耶稣下葬的坟墓附近，最后一个离开。当祂复活时，她又是第一个来到坟墓的人。她所爱的拉比呼唤她的名字，差她将好消息送给颤栗的门徒和彼得。恩典使她从颠狂变为一个事奉主的人；将魔鬼赶出，让她得见天使；从撒旦手中将她释放，让她永远与主耶稣联合。但愿我也能经历如此恩典的奇迹！
Evening, August 9
Scripture: “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”(Mark 16:9)
Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed by not one devil only, but seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, neither could any human succour avail. But Jesus passed that way, and unsought, and probably even resisted by the poor demoniac, he uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus. All the seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all. What a blessed deliverance! What a happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven! Straightway she became a constant follower of Jesus, catching his every word, following his devious steps, sharing his toilsome life; and withal she became his generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto him of their substance. When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of his shame: we find her first beholding from afar, and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and when his blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid. She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence he arose. Her holy fidelity made her a favoured beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who deigned to call her by her name, and to make her his messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter. Thus grace found her a maniac and made her a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan, and united her for ever to the Lord Jesus. May I also be such a miracle of grace!
