Only the light of Christ’s love can eliminate the darkness of hatred.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

During the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, missionaries trapped in a home in T’ai Yüan Fu decided their only hope for survival rested on running through the crowd that was calling for their deaths. Aided by weapons they held, they escaped the immediate threat. However, Edith Coombs, noticing that two of her injured Chinese students had not escaped, raced back into danger. She rescued one, but stumbled on her return trip for the second student and was killed.

Meanwhile, missionaries in Hsin Chou district had escaped and were hiding in the countryside, accompanied by their Chinese friend Ho Tsuen Kwei. But he was captured while scouting an escape route for his friends in hiding and was martyred for refusing to reveal their location.

In the lives of Edith Coombs and Tsuen Kwei we see a love that rises above cultural or national character. Their sacrifice reminds us of the greater grace and love of our Savior.

As Jesus awaited His arrest and subsequent execution, He prayed earnestly, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.” But He concluded that request with this resolute example of courage, love, and sacrifice: “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His death and resurrection made our eternal lives possible.

Lord, may the world see our love for each other—and the deeds that come from it—as a great testimony to the bond of unity we have in You. May they want to know You too.

只有基督的爱能除去憎恨。

人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。-约翰福音15章13节

在1900年中国爆发义和团事变，各地的西方宣教士都受到攻击。在太原城，群众将西方宣教士围困在一户民宅内，高喊要杀死他们。宣教士决定突破重围，把握一线生机。他们藉着手中的武器，好不容易逃离险境。但宣教士顾姑娘（Edith Coombs）却发现两个受伤的中国学生没有逃出来。她冒险救出一个学生，但回头再去救另一个学生时，却惨遭杀害。

同时，在忻州的宣教士已安全逃出并躲在乡间，还与他们的中国朋友何全奎结伴同行。但当何全奎为这些宣教士探查逃亡的路线时，不幸被逮，最后因为拒绝透露这些宣教士的行踪而殉道。

无论是西方宣教士顾姑娘，或是宣教士的中国朋友何全奎，他们的生命都使我们看见一种超越文化和国籍的大爱。他们的牺牲，让我们想起救主更大的慈爱和恩典。

耶稣知道自己即将被钉十字架，祂在被捉拿之前，迫切地祷告说：“父啊！祢若愿意，就把这杯撤去。”但最后祂说：“然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就祢的意思”（路加福音22章42节） ，为我们留下了勇气、爱和牺牲的榜样。祂的死亡和复活，使我们有永恒的生命。

主啊，愿世人看见我们彼此相爱，
以及因爱所带出的行动。愿这爱成为极美的见证，
让世人看出我们在祢里面合而为一，吸引他们来认识祢。

Luke 22:39-46New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[a]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

整理：于姊妹