Eric@TRM 的部落格

復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所

The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission

December 6th, 2015 聖 誕 節 Christmas

(長老 法蘭克  Elder Frank Van Fleet)

每年的十二月份, 是我們聖誕節慶的日子, 相關的故事一堆, 所以, 我們今天也會談到有關聖誕節的由來, 但是我想強調它的發展後續, 對我們的影響. 首先, 我們就來唱幾首應景的聖誕歌吧. 接著, 請南西為我們做課前禱告.

聖誕節, 無疑的是我們一年中最美好的日子, 就像剛詩歌所描述, 大多數人不是都以歡唱來表示嗎? 可是, 它不單單只是如此, 象徵性的歡聚一下而已, 它帶來耶穌的誕生, 以及基督來人世間的理由.

喔! 對了, 今晚的口譯是? “Paul”, 好的; 繼續探討今天的主題：聖誕節的故事. 我們可是要照章宣讀所有的經文? 這個月還有其他週日, 我想就探索其中一部份就可以了. 除了聖誕節本身, 我還想談一點對我們有重要啟示, 我們必需要知道的部分.

如果你翻閱, 約翰福音第二章, 會發現裡面提到天使給予的訊息, 這部分相信是大家都耳熟能詳的, 所以, 我今天想談的是比較少人知道的, 其他訊息的部分.

路加福音 Luke 2:7-14

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."

我們聽到天使, 帶來極大喜悅的佳音, 給予天下所有的人, 而不單單只是我們, 佳音告訴我們耶穌基督的來臨, 那不是因為人們或任一男人的所為, 所以耶穌基督的出生, 是出自耶和華的意旨; 正如祂的死也和出生一樣, 皆是出自耶和華的旨意. 也因為祂為我們贖罪的死, 才能為我們帶來永恆生命的契機.

這些是眾所周知天使給予的訊息, 不是我今天要強調的部分, 我想強調的是, 天使讓童女瑪利亞 - 耶穌的生母知道神是萬能的, 只要是 神要我們做的, 沒有不能完成的, 因為祂就是全能的 神.

另外, 我想分享有關天使對亞伯拉罕的說話, 當時, 亞伯拉罕和他的妻子, 都已經過了生育的年限; 生兒育女對他們來說, 似乎已然不可能再發生, 更不可能還能再生一個孩子, 因為亞伯拉罕已經是百歲人瑞, 他太太也九十高齡, 但是, 注意一下, 天使告訴亞伯拉罕說: 天底下還有什麼事, 難得倒耶和華的嗎?

提到這個, 我們必須往回翻閱創世紀, 那裡記載著亞伯拉罕和他妻子撒萊的事件, 經文明白告訴我們, 他倆因為年事已高, 已無法有孩子; 其妻並改名為撒拉.

創世記 Genesis 17:15-17

15 　神又對亞伯拉罕說、你的妻子撒萊、不可再叫撒萊、他的名要叫撒拉。

God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.

16 我必賜福給他、也要使你從他得一個兒子、我要賜福給他、他也要作多國之母、必有百姓的君王從他而出。

I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

17 亞伯拉罕就俯伏在地喜笑、心裡說、一百歲的人、還能得孩子麼．撒拉已經九十歲了、還能生養麼。

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"

這裡我們讀到, 知道耶和華差天使現身, 共有三個人和亞伯拉罕對話.

創世記 Genesis 18:9-14

9 他們問亞伯拉罕說、你妻子撒拉在那裡、他說、在帳棚裡。

"Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said.

10 三人中有一位說、到明年這時候、我必要回到你這裡、你的妻子撒拉必生一個兒子．撒拉在那人後邊的帳棚門口、也聽見了這話。

Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

11 亞伯拉罕和撒拉年紀老邁、撒拉的月經已斷絕了。

Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

12 撒拉心裡暗笑、說、我既已衰敗、我主也老邁、豈能有這喜事呢。

So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

13 耶和華對亞伯拉罕說、撒拉為甚麼暗笑、說、我既已年老、果真能生養嗎。

Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'

14 耶和華豈有難成的事麼．到了日期、明年這時候、我必回到你這裡、撒拉必生一個兒子。

Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

在世俗的眼光看來, 九十高齡的婦人, 是不可能再有生育的機會的, 但是, 神依然應允她生兒育女、且是一國之君人選的機會; 於是, 大能的神, 賜予撒拉懷孕, 所以, 亞伯拉罕以他百歲人瑞、撒拉以九十高齡, 再次成為父母.

這樣一來, 恰恰好證明我剛才所強調的 神是無所不能的, 在我們有所無法完成的事, 藉由全能神的幫助, 凡事將可迎刃而解. 等等我們翻閱路加福音時, 可再一次得到我所強調的 神是無所不能的明證.

路加福音 Luke 1:5-17; 18-22; 23-25; 26-35

5 當猶太王希律的時候、亞比雅班裡有一個祭司、名叫撒迦利亞．他妻子是亞倫的後人、名叫以利沙伯。

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

6 他們二人、在　神面前都是義人、遵行主的一切誡命禮儀、沒有可指摘的。

Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

7 只是沒有孩子、因為以利沙伯不生育、兩個人又年紀老邁了。

But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8 撒迦利亞按班次、在　神面前供祭司的職分、

Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

9 照祭司的規矩掣籤、得進主殿燒香。

he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 燒香的時候、眾百姓在外面禱告。

And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 有主的使者站在香壇的右邊、向他顯現。

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12 撒迦利亞看見、就驚慌害怕。

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

13 天使對他說、撒迦利亞、不要害怕．因為你的祈禱已經被聽見了、你的妻子以利沙伯要給你生一個兒子、你要給他起名叫約翰。

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

14 你必歡喜快樂．有許多人因他出世、也必喜樂。

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,

15 他在主面前將要為大、淡酒濃酒都不喝、從母腹裡就被聖靈充滿了。

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

16 他要使許多以色列人回轉、歸於主他們的　神。

Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.

17 他必有以利亞的心志能力、行在主的前面、叫為父的心轉向兒女、叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧．又為主豫備合用的百姓。

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

前面經文裡提到, 以利沙伯不能懷孕, 那表示她無法生育, 她丈夫撒迦利亞和她, 因此婚後多年膝下猶虛. 雖然夫妻倆年紀已不小, 但是,  神聽到了撒迦利亞的祈求, 應允賜給他們一個小孩. 雖然, 他們的年紀已經老到無法生育了, 他仍然誠心的禱告, 祈求能擁有一個自己的小孩, 最後,  神不僅聽到了, 還將賜給他們一個會被命名為約翰(也就是施洗者約翰)的小孩.

他們不單單只是被允許有一個小孩, 還將因這個新生兒所帶來的喜悅, 而且這小孩還將是, 完成耶和華一個偉大事工的人, 那就是藉由他的教導, 將幫助許多以色列的兒童, 在未來回歸到耶和華, 他們全能的 神的身邊.

所以不要再說 “不可能”! 信靠全能的 神, 凡事都有可能.

18 撒迦利亞對天使說、我憑著甚麼可知道這事呢、我已經老了、我的妻子也年紀老邁了。

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

19 天使回答說、我是站在　神面前的加百列、奉差而來、對你說話、將這好信息報給你。

The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

20 到了時候、這話必然應驗．只因你不信、你必啞吧不能說話、直到這事成就的日子。

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

21 百姓等候撒迦利亞、詫異他許久在殿裡。

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

22 及至他出來、不能和他們說話．他們就知道他在殿裡見了異象．因為他直向他們打手式、竟成了啞吧。

When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

當耶和華應允撒迦利亞的祈求, 讓以利沙伯懷上一個孩子時, 撒迦利亞是如何回應這個佳音? 他抱持懷疑的心-- 我怎麼知道 神會為我這樣做 --我已經老了, 我老婆也是過了生育年紀的人了, 我要怎樣才能知道這一切將會成真. 是的! 因為他的疑慮, 他不相信那是天使的佳音, 使得他瞬息間成了啞吧, 直到他孩子出生才復原.

我想在那情形下, 如果有天使來跟我說, 他是天使, 也許我也會抱持同樣懷疑的心態; 但是, 我願意如果有天使代表 神在我面前顯現, 來告訴我說你的禱告, 已經得到回應了, 然後該發生的接著發生, 我想我會深信不疑.

23 他供職的日子已滿、就回家去了。

When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

24 這些日子以後、他的妻子以利沙伯懷了孕、就隱藏了五個月、

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

25 說、主在眷顧我的日子、這樣看待我、要把我在人間的羞恥除掉。

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

所以說, 我們要有這樣的認知, 女人不能懷孕生育, 實在是不能被怪罪的.

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.

再次的,  神的旨意使童女懷孕, 而不是出自人的慾望, 也凸顯聖靈的聖潔, 所以, 我們才能尊稱耶穌基督為 “神之子”.

約翰福音 John 3:16

16 　神愛世人、甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們、叫一切信他的、不至滅亡、反得永生。

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

在這裡應驗了 “神之子”的誕生, 是來幫助、救恩世人.

路加福音 Luke 1:36-38

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.

這就是今天我所要強調的重點：

“For nothing is impossible with God. 在人不能的, 全能的 神事事可能.”

並且在過程中,  神還讓童女有所選擇 “願意或不願意”成就 神的旨意. 並沒有給予她或我們任何的壓力, 像用逼迫的方式, 只是很單純的尊重我們自己的選擇.

就像童女瑪利亞的選擇, 依照天使的說法, 來完成 神在她身上做工的旨意. 所以, 當天使離去後, 她依約懷上孩子-- 耶穌基督, 也就是 “神之子”.

我們崇敬的是一位完美的、有愛心的 神, 祂成就祂的應許, 我們所必須要做的, 就是完全的信靠祂, 我們每一個人, 來到世上都有他自己的目標, 祂會幫我們達成這樣的目標, 如果我們渴望祂的幫忙的話.

在聖經裡, 可以找到很多沒有全能的 神, 無法達成的事. 即使是成就在一些不受歡迎的人身上. 但是, 切記, 大能的 神, 無事不成, 也沒有難得倒祂的事吧?!

好了! 這些就是我們在聖誕節慶, 一個開場白, 相信還有其他的機會, 來分享有關聖誕的故事. 也不要忘記我所強調的, 我們擁有一位照顧大家的 “全能的 神”. 開始全心信靠祂吧!

(Those Who Came: Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Jared Hoover, Patricia Hoover; Paul Lin; Sharon Wu; Joanna Lin)  (Ruby Chen)

(Stenographer: Susan Shelton)  (Interpreter: Paul Lin)

(Skype to: Frank Van Fleet; <Lade> Nancy, Anna, Joseph; <Moellmann> Matthew, Jai-yu, Joshua; Breanna, Caralea)

*今天改在牧師 Lade 家上課

恭喜 長老 法蘭克, 下個月屆齡退休