Pelajaran Sekolah Sabat 05, Selasa 31 Julai 2018

Pelajaran Sekolah Sabat 05
Selasa, 31 Julai 2018

Kunjungan Ananias

Apabila Saulus menyedari bahawa dia berbicara dengan Yesus sendiri, dia mengajukan pertanyaan yang memberikan kesempatan yang dinanti-nantikan Yesus: “ ‘Tuhan, apakah yang harusku perbuat?’ “ (Kisah 22:10). Persoalannya menunjukkan pembencian memandangkan tindakannya hingga saat itu, tetapi yang lebih penting, ia menyatakan kesediaan tanpa syarat untuk membiarkan Yesus membimbing hidupnya sejak saat itu. Dia dibawa ke Damsyik, menanti petunjuk-petunjuk selanjutnya.

Dalam Kisah 9:10-19, Alkitab menyatakan bagaimana TUHAN menyediakan pekerjaan Saulus orang Tarsus kepada kehidupan barunya menjadi rasul Paulus. Dalam penglihatan, Yesus berikan tugasan kepada Ananias untuk melawat Saulus serta meletakkan tangan kepadanya demi pemulihan penglihatan matanya. Bagaimanapun, Ananias telahpun mengetahui siapa Saulus, dia juga tahu bilangan saudara-saudara seiman telah menderita bahkan kehilangan nyawa oleh kerana Saulus. Ananias juga benar-benar tahu tujuan utama mengapa Saulus ke Damsyik, jadi, sudah pasti, dia tidak mahu menjadi mangsa yang pertama di sana. Keragu-raguannya dapat difahami.

Namun, apa yang Ananias tidak tahu ialah bahawa Saulus baharu sahaja bertemu secara pribadi dengan Yesus yang telah mengubah kehidupannya selama-lamanya. Ananias tidak mengetahui bahawa, disebalik masih berkhidmat dengan Sandhedrin, Saulus- bagi Ananias suatu kehairanan-baharu sahaja dipanggil oleh Yesus untuk berkhidmat bagiNya. Ini bererti bahawa Saulus bukan lagi pengikut Sandhedrin melainkan alat pilihan Yesus untuk membawa injil kepada kedua-dua orang Yahudi dan Kafir.

Sila baca Galatia 1:1, 11, 12. Apakah tuntutan istimewa yang dibuat oleh Paulus mengenai pelayanan kerasulannya?

Di Galatia, Paulus menegaskan bahawa dia terima mesej dan kerasulannya terus daripada Yesus Kristus, bukan daripada sumber-sumber manusia. Ini tidakh semestinya bercanggah dengan peranan yang dilakukan oleh Ananias dalam panggilannya. Apabila melawat dia, Ananias hanya mengesahkan pentauliahan yang telah diterima oleh Saulus ketika dalam perjalanan ke Damsyik daripada Yesus sendiri.

Sebenarnya, perubahan dalam kehidupan Saulus begitu dramatic bahawa tidak ada sebab manusia dapat ditugaskan seperti itu. Hanya campur tangan ilahi sahaja dapat menerangkan bagaimana lawan Yesus yang paling obsesif memeluk Dia sebagai Penyelamat dan Tuhan, meninggalkan segala-galanya-kepercayaan, reputasi, latar-kerjaya dan menjadi rasulNya yang paling setia dan produktif.

Dalam apa cara penukaran agama Paulus menggambarkan operasi rahmat Tuhan yang mengkagumkan? Apakah yang anda dapat pelajari melalui ceritanya mengenai kehidupan anda yang anda merasa ragu akan pernah datang kepada iman yang benar?

Sabbath School Lesson 5
Tuesday  July 31

Ananias’s Visit

When he realized he was talking to Jesus Himself, Saul asked the question that would give Jesus the opportunity He was looking for: ”What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10, NKJV). The question indicates contrition in view of his actions up to that moment, but more important, it expresses an unconditional willingness to let Jesus guide his life from then on. Taken to Damascus, Saul was to wait for further instructions.

In Acts 9:10-19, the Bible reveals how the Lord was working to prepare Saul of Tarsus for his new life as the apostle Paul. In a vision, Jesus gave Ananias the assignment to visit Saul and lay his hands on him for the restoration of his sight. Ananias, however, already knew who Saul was, as well as how many of the brethren had suffered and even lost their lives because of him. He was also well informed of the very reason why Saul was in Damascus, and so, surely, he did not want to become Saul’s first victim there. His hesitation was understandable.

Yet, what Ananias did not know was that Saul had just had a personal encounter with Jesus that changed his life forever. He did not know that, instead of still working for the Sanhedrin, Saul—to Ananias’s astonishment—had just been called by Jesus to work for Him, which means that Saul was no longer an apostle of the Sanhedrin but Jesus’ chosen instrument to take the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.

Read Galatians 1:1, 11, 12. What special claim does Paul make with regard to his apostolic ministry?

In Galatians, Paul insists that he received his message and his apostleship directly from Jesus Christ, not from any human source. This does not necessarily contradict the role performed by Ananias in his call. When visiting him, Ananias just confirmed the commission Saul had already received on the Damascus road from Jesus Himself.

In fact, the change in Saul’s life was so dramatic that no human cause can be assigned to it. Only divine intervention can explain how Jesus’ most obsessive opponent would suddenly embrace Him as Savior and Lord, leave everything—convictions, reputation, career—behind, and become His most devoted and prolific apostle.

In what ways does Saul’s conversion illustrate the operation of God’s wonderful grace? What can you learn from his story concerning those in your life whom you doubt will ever come to true faith?

Disalin semula oleh : A. A. Pondili