聖誕節的榮耀TheGlory of Christmas

作者: R.C. Sproul 譯者: Maria Marta

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/glory-christmas/
https://plus.google.com/u/1/106695469993489516884/posts/WMc3ypux9bn

耶穌誕生那天晚上,  出現很壯觀的场面。伯利恒平原變成人類歷史上最壯觀的聲光表演舞台。天上的萬物紛紛登場。

路加告訴我們事情的經過：

「在伯利恆的郊外，有一些牧人在夜間看守羊群。主的一位使者站在他們旁邊，主的榮光四面照著他們，他們就非常害怕。天使說：『不要怕！看哪！我報給你們大喜的信息，是關於萬民的：今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。你們要找到一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了。』

忽然有一大隊天兵，同那天使一起讚美 神說：『在至高之處，榮耀歸與　神！在地上，平安歸與他所喜悅的人！』」（路二8-14；《圣經新譯本》）

天使訪客被上帝的榮耀簇拥著。上帝的榮耀發出光芒四射的華輝。這種榮耀不屬於天使本身。上帝的榮耀象征上帝神聖存有的形態。籠罩著天上使者的正是上帝的榮光，一种可見的上帝的光輝。

那時伯利恒的牧羊人瑟瑟發抖，異常害怕，天使勸告他們：「不要怕！看哪！我報給你們大喜的信息，是關於萬民的：今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。」（路二10-11；《圣經新譯本》）

所有人都渴望某種類型的救世主。我們都在尋找某些人或物，渴望他（它）們能夠解決我們的問題，減輕我們的痛苦，或者幫助我們實現所有目標之中最難實現的一個：幸福。從追求生意成功到覓得完美伴侶或朋友，我們一生都在尋覓。

甚至在我們全神貫注於體育比賽時，也流露出這種對救世主的盼望。當體育賽季結束，出現輸家遠遠多於贏家的結局時，我們都會聽到舉國上下一片呼聲-------「明年再來！」  之後，啟動新一輪的選派工作，或選拔出一批新隊員，對於將會為團隊帶來榮耀的新手，粉絲們寄予希望和夢想。新人、新客戶、新機器，以及明天將接收到的郵件新聞------全都被賦予厚望，勝過任何受造物所能寄予的希望。

天空迸發出來的璀璨光芒，淹沒伯利恒的田野，从光芒中傳來一個聲音，宣告能夠承擔這項任務的救主降生。

我們注意到，新誕生的救主亦被稱為「主基督」。對這些震驚的牧羊人來說，這些頭銜富有意義。救主是基督，那位盼望已久的以色列的彌賽亞。每一個猶太人都記得上帝的應許：彌賽亞，即上帝的受膏者，有一天會來拯救以色列。這彌賽亞救主也是主。祂不但要拯救祂的百姓，還要作他們的君王，他們的元首。

天使宣稱這位救主--彌賽亞--主是「為你們」生的救主。上帝的宣告不是審判的神諭，而是恩赐禮物的宣告。即新誕生的君王為我們而生。

The Glory of Christmas

FROM R.C. Sproul

On the night Jesus was born something spectacular took place. The plains of Bethlehem became the theater for one of the most spectacular sound-and-light shows in human history. All heaven broke loose.

Luke tells us what happened:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

The angelic visitor was surrounded by the glory of God. The glory was shining. This glory did not belong to the angel himself. It was God’s glory, signifying His divine mode of being. It was the divine splendor that shrouded the heavenly messenger, a visible divine radiance.

When the shepherds of Bethlehem quaked in fear, they were admonished by the angel: “Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11, NKJV).

Every human being longs for a savior of some type. We look for someone or something that will solve our problems, ease our pain, or grant the most elusive goal of all, happiness. From the pursuit of success in business to the discovery of a perfect mate or friend, we make our search.

Even in the preoccupation with sports we show a hope for a savior. As a sports season ends with far more losers than winners, we hear the cry from cities across the land—“Wait till next year!” Then comes the draft or a new crop of rookies, and the fans pin their hopes and dreams on the new kid who will bring glory to the team. The rookie, the new client, the new machine, the news that will arrive in tomorrow’s mail—all are invested with more hope than any creature can possibly deliver.

The burst of light that flooded the fields of Bethlehem announced the advent of a Savior who was able to do the task.

We note that the newborn Savior is also called “Christ the Lord.” To the astonished shepherds these titles were pregnant with meaning. This Savior is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. Every Jew remembered the promise of God that someday the Messiah, the Lord’s anointed, would come to deliver Israel. This Messiah-Savior is also Lord. He not only will save His people but He will be their King, their Sovereign.

The angel declares that this Savior-Messiah-Lord is born “unto you.” The divine announcement is not an oracle of judgment but the declaration of a gift. The newborn King is born for us.