復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所
The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission
January 4th, 2015聖誕節 Birth of Christ
(牧師 瑞克 Pastor Rick Lade)
一連上線,Paul搶先說:我們有位達人 Lambert在場,上回是秀摺紙才藝,今天要教大家剪紙,要不要先來動手一下? Sarah跟兩個小的忙說好啊, Nancy已經順手翻找出相機在等待了.
Paul一邊看著Lambert手作,一邊幫忙解釋動作的次序,等紙摺成所要的形狀,就在上面畫簡單字型的線條(有美工底子的會看得真切一點),接下來就要動刀了,只見 Lambert拿起剪刀,依著所畫線的部分,三兩下就剪出成品;今天是春字花,其他如吉羊平安等,也都是應景又容易自己動手做的字花,有興趣的話 Let's DIY吧.
Nancy跟Sarah也拿出她們的字花,是一張天使的圖案,它是剪成有六面且圓邊的平面圖形,跟我們正方四角形且可立體豎起的,相異其趣.
剪紙一陣騷動過後,Rick開始導讀今天的課題:聖誕節緊接著新年期間,我們過了一個瀰漫聖恩,充滿愉快,又洋溢幸福,全家團圓的假期;因為 Jai-Yu家有人染流感,(祝願他們早日康復)所以本周就在我自個兒家裡,跟大家聯網帶領讀經.
耶穌基督誕生前後,一些不尋常的氣象天候,瑪利亞以處子之身蒙恩懷神子,於返鄉途中誕生在馬槽,東方智者來朝聖,以及統治者希律王蠻橫無情的殺戮,經文裡都一一詳實記載.我不多做解釋,只列出部分相關經文,跟著我一條一條經文讀就好.
這是先知撒母耳在耶穌基督誕生前五年所說的預言：
希拉曼書 Helaman 5:54-63
５４那拉曼人撒母耳還預言了許許多的事情，那些事情是無法記載的。
54 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which can not be written.
５５他對他們說：我給你們一個預兆；再過五年，那時 神子就要來臨，救贖所有相信他名的人們。
55 And behold, he said unto them, Behold, I give unto you a sign: for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
５６我要給你們這個，作為當他來臨時的一個預兆；就是天上要有極大的亮光，以至在他來的前一夜要沒有黑暗，在世人看起來像是白天。
56 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh, there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day;
５７ 因此，將有一個白天一個夜晚再一個白天連在一起，就好像是一個白天而沒有夜晚；這將是給你們的一個預兆；因為你們將知道日出和日落。
57 Therefore there shall be one day and a night, and a day, as if it were one day, and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun, and also of its setting;
５８ 你們將確切知道那是兩個白天和一個夜晚；然而那夜晚卻沒有黑暗，是他降生前的一個夜晚。
58 Therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
５９ 有一顆新星要出現，是你們從未見過的一顆；這也將是給你們的一個預兆。
59 And behold there shall be a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
６０ 不僅如此，天上還要有許多奇蹟。
60 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.
６１ 你們都要驚訝託異，以至倒在地上。
61 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
６２ 凡相信 神子的，必得到永恆的生命。
62 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.
６３ 上主已藉著他的天使這樣吩咐我，要我來把這事告訴你們；他已吩咐我， 要我對你們預言這些事；他對我說：對這人民大聲疾呼，悔改並預備上主的道路。
63 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me, Cry unto this people, Repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
路加福音 Luke 1:26-56
26 到了第六個月、天使加百列奉 神的差遣、往加利利的一座城去、這城名叫拿撒勒．
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 到一個童女那裡、是已經許配大衛家的一個人、名叫約瑟、童女的名字叫馬利亞。
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 天使進去、對他說、蒙大恩的女子、我問你安、主和你同在了。
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 馬利亞因這話就很驚慌、又反復思想這樣問安是甚麼意思。
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 天使對他說、馬利亞、不要怕．你在 神面前已經蒙恩了。
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
31 你要懷孕生子、可以給他起名叫耶穌。
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
32 他要為大、稱為至高者的兒子．主 神要把他祖大衛的位給他．
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 他要作雅各家的王、直到永遠．他的國也沒有窮盡。
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 馬利亞對天使說、我沒有出嫁、怎麼有這事呢。
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 天使回答說、聖靈要臨到你身上、至高者的能力要蔭庇你．因此所要生的聖者、必稱為 神的兒子。〔或作所要生的必稱為聖稱為 神的兒子〕
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 況且你的親戚以利沙伯、在年老的時候、也懷了男胎．就是那素來稱為不生育的、現在有孕六個月了。
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 因為出於 神的話、沒有一句不帶能力的。
For nothing is impossible with God."
38 馬利亞說、我是主的使女、情願照你的話成就在我身上。天使就離開他去了。
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
39 那時候馬利亞起身、急忙往山地裡去、來到猶大的一座城．
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 進了撒迦利亞的家、問以利沙伯安。
where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 以利沙伯一聽馬利亞問安、所懷的胎就在腹裡跳動、以利沙伯且被聖靈充滿．
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 高聲喊著說、你在婦女中是有福的、你所懷的胎也是有福的。
In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 我主的母到我這裡來、這是從那裡得的呢．
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 因為你問安的聲音、一入我耳、我腹裡的胎、就歡喜跳動。
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 這相信的女子是有福的．因為主對她所說的話、都要應驗。
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
46 馬利亞說、我心尊主為大、
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47 我靈以 神我的救主為樂。
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 因為他顧念他使女的卑微．從今以後、萬代要稱我有福。
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 那有權能的為我成就了大事．他的名為聖。
for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.
50 他憐憫敬畏他的人、直到世世代代。
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 他用膀臂施展大能．那狂傲的人、正心裡妄想、就被他趕散了。
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 他叫有權柄的失位、叫卑賤的升高．
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 叫飢餓的得飽美食、叫富足的空手回去。
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 他扶助了他的僕人以色列、
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔、施憐憫、直到永遠、正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。
to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
56 馬利亞和以利沙伯同住、約有三個月、就回家去了。
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
馬太福音 Matthew 1:18-25
18 耶穌基督降生的事、記在下面．他母親馬利亞已經許配了約瑟、還沒有迎娶、馬利亞就從聖靈懷了孕。
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 他丈夫約瑟是個義人、不願意明明的羞辱他、想要暗暗的把他休了。
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 正思念這事的時候、有主的使者向他夢中顯現、說、大衛的子孫約瑟、不要怕、只管娶過你的妻子馬利亞來．因他所懷的孕、是從聖靈來的。
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 他將要生一個兒子．你要給他起名叫耶穌．因他要將自己的百姓從罪惡裡救出來。
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22 這一切的事成就、是要應驗主藉先知所說的話、
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 說、『必有童女、懷孕生子、人要稱他的名為以馬內利。』（以馬內利繙出來、就是 神與我們同在。）
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
24 約瑟醒了、起來、就遵著主使者的吩咐、把妻子娶過來．
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 只是沒有和他同房、等他生了兒子、〔有古卷作等他生了頭胎的兒子〕就給他起名叫耶穌。
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
路加福音 Luke 2:1-20
1 當那些日子、該撒亞古士督有旨意下來、叫天下人民都報名上冊。
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 這是居里扭作敘利亞巡撫的時候、頭一次行報名上冊的事。
(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 眾人各歸各城、報名上冊。
And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 約瑟也從加利利的拿撒勒城上猶太去、到了大衛的城、名叫伯利恆、因他本是大衛一族一家的人．
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 要和他所聘之妻馬利亞、一同報名上冊．那時馬利亞的身孕已經重了。
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 他們在那裡的時候、馬利亞的產期到了。
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 就生了頭胎的兒子、用布包起來、放在馬槽裡、因為客店裡沒有地方。
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人、夜間按著更次看守羊群。
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 有主的使者站在他們旁邊、主的榮光四面照著他們．牧羊的人就甚懼怕。
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 那天使對他們說、不要懼怕、我報給你們大喜的信息、是關乎萬民的．
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 因今天在大衛的城裡、為你們生了救主、就是主基督。
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 你們要看見一個嬰孩、包著布、臥在馬槽裡、那就是記號了。
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 忽然有一大隊天兵、同那天使讚美 神說、
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 在至高之處榮耀歸與 神、在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人。〔有古卷作喜悅歸與人〕
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 眾天使離開他們升天去了、牧羊的人彼此說、我們往伯利恆去、看看所成的事、就是主所指示我們的。
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 他們急忙去了、就尋見馬利亞和約瑟、又有那嬰孩臥在馬槽裡。
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 既然看見、就把天使論這孩子的話傳開了。
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 凡聽見的、就詫異牧羊之人對他們所說的話。
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 馬利亞卻把這一切的事存在心裡、反復思想。
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 牧羊的人回去了．因所聽見所看見的一切事、正如天使向他們所說的、就歸榮耀與 神、讚美他。
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
馬太福音 Matthew 2:1-16
1 當希律王的時候、耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆．有幾個博士從東方來到耶路撒冷、說、
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 那生下來作猶太人之王的在那裡。我們在東方看見他的星、特來拜他。
and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3 希律王聽見了、就心裡不安．耶路撒冷合城的人、也都不安。
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 他就召齊了祭司長和民間的文士、問他們說、基督當生在何處。
When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5 他們回答說、在猶太的伯利恆．因為有先知記著說、
"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 『猶大地的伯利恆阿、你在猶大諸城中、並不是最小的．因為將來有一位君王、要從你那裡出來、牧養我以色列民。』
"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7 當下希律暗暗的召了博士來、細問那星是甚麼時候出現的。
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 就差他們往伯利恆去、說、你們去仔細尋訪那小孩子．尋到了、就來報信、我也好去拜他。
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9 他們聽見王的話、就去了．在東方所看見的那星、忽然在他們前頭行、直行到小孩子的地方、就在上頭停住了。
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 他們看見那星、就大大的歡喜。
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 進了房子、看見小孩子和他母親馬利亞、就俯伏拜那小孩子、揭開寶盒、拿黃金乳香沒藥為禮物獻給他。
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12 博士因為在夢中被主指示、不要回去見希律、就從別的路回本地去了。
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 他們去後、有主的使者向約瑟夢中顯現、說、起來、帶著小孩子同他母親、逃往埃及、住在那裡、等我吩咐你．因為希律必尋找小孩子要除滅他。
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
14 約瑟就起來、夜間帶著小孩子和他母親往埃及去．
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
15 住在那裡、直到希律死了．這是要應驗主藉先知所說的話、說、『我從埃及召出我的兒子來。』
where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 希律見自己被博士愚弄、就大大發怒、差人將伯利恆城裡、並四境所有的男孩、照著他向博士仔細查問的時候、凡兩歲以裡的、都殺盡了。
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
我這裡還有一則關於聖誕節, 是一位名Gary Hoover的人,對他所看到的VISION 景像的記載;
顯現在空中的景像
很多年前，是聖誕節的前幾天。我獨自一人在家，聽收音機聖誕頌歌。空中傾瀉、瀰漫著我最喜歡的頌歌“第一個聖誕”。
我剛剛從我的椅子爬起來，並開始走進廚房時，一個願景在我面前顯現，那是一個石場的景像。在短草坪的場域上有一個類似蒲式耳籃子大小的營火。有人堆著一些矮樹的木材。向右延伸大約五十英尺的是塊高約六英尺左右的大石頭，草坪的場域就從山那邊到那裡。
一個男人就斜躺在營火面前，他的右手放在他的腿彎曲的身邊。在他旁邊是一個男孩約十來歲。在他們對面的營火旁站著一名男子，倚在一根大約六英尺長的柱子上。他們三個都在等待一個人，不知是他們的父親或是羊群的主人。這晚上雖然不冷，但還是有點涼颼颼的。
三個人圍在營火邊，一抬頭，就看到這名他們都在等待，就著光來到營火邊的男子。他回頭從肩膀看過去。雖然什麼也看不見，但他知道某些東西就在那裡。夜晚還是漆黑一片，他停止搜尋四周。其他人也一樣看了看四周，像是等待著甚麼。
這時，在約三十英尺高的天空，出現了一個天使。所有的牧羊人都嚇了一跳，但不是真的害怕。我聽見那天使公佈耶穌的誕生，然後突然又出現難以數計的天使，從地平線這端一直到地平線那端，幾乎佈滿整個天空，天使們在上面的天空中，他們在歌唱，讚美上帝。
“榮耀歸於至高無上的上帝;而和平、善意賜與在地球上的人們。”
(加里·胡佛)
"A Vision of the Heavenly Host"
It is now many years ago and was a few days before Christmas. I was alone at home, listening to Christmas carols on the radio. My favorite carol is "The First Noel" and it came over the air.
I had just risen from my chair and started to walk into the kitchen when a scene came before me of a stony field. It had short-cropped grass and on the field was a campfire about the size of a bushel basket. Someone had piled on some brushy type of wood. About fifty feet to the right was an outcrop of stone about six feet high or so, and the field went over the hill from there. Right in front of the fire was a man resting on his side on the ground with his right hand on his bent leg. Beside him was a boy about ten years old. Across the fire from them a man was standing, leaning on a pole about six feet long. They were all three waiting for someone, their father or the owner of the sheep. The night was not cold but was a little chilly.
The three at the fire looked up and saw the man they were waiting for, coming to the light of the fire. He was looking back and up over his shoulder. He couldn't see anything, but he knew something was there. The night became still and he stopped to look all around. The others looked around, too.
Then out of the sky, about thirty feet up, there appeared an angel. All the shepherds were startled, but not really afraid. I heard the angelic announcement of the birth of Christ, and then suddenly there was a heavenly host in the sky above the angel. They were singing and praising God. That heavenly host filled the sky from horizon to horizon.
"Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace; good will to men."
(Gary Hoover)
(Those Who Came : Paul Lin; Belinda Kao; Lambert Jhang; Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Sharon Wu; Jimmy Hsu)
(Skype to : <Lade> Rick, Nancy, Sarah, David, Anna, Joseph)
(Amanda 因體弱氣虛,在房間休息,祝福她早日壯得像一條牛)
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