路加福音2:1-21

 

2:1 當那些日子，凱撒奧古斯都有旨意下來，叫天下人民都報名上冊。
2:2 這是居里扭作敘利亞巡撫的時候，頭一次行報名上冊的事。
2:3 眾人各歸各城，報名上冊。
2:4 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，
2:5 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。
2:6 他們在那裡的時候，馬利亞的產期到了，
2:7 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。
2:8 在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。
2:9 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。
2:10 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；
2:11 因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。
2:12 你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了。」
2:13 忽然，有一大隊天兵同那天使讚美上帝說：
2:14 在至高之處榮耀歸與上帝！在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人（有古卷：喜悅歸與人）！
2:15 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。」
2:16 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；
2:17 既然看見，就把天使論這孩子的話傳開了。
2:18 凡聽見的，就詫異牧羊之人對他們所說的話。
2:19 馬利亞卻把這一切的事存在心裡，反覆思想。
2:20 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，就歸榮耀與上帝，讚美他。
2:21 滿了八天，就給孩子行割禮，與他起名叫耶穌；這就是沒有成胎以前，天使所起的名。

 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ 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 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ 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 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

 

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    主耶穌雖然是天國的王，為了拯救人成為罪人的朋友，就親自成為人的樣式，由馬利亞所生，而且是生在羅馬帝國的中期，剛好是人口普查的時候，約瑟要回伯利恆，也藉此應驗先知的預言。

 

    然而天使出報聖誕佳音是給在田野間的牧羊人，讓人透過卑微的牧羊人報告：基督生於大衛的城裡！這也就是說，主耶穌是基督，更是罪人的朋友！

 

    主耶穌也是從小嬰孩長大，也是依照律法的規定：滿了八天，就給孩子行割禮，與他起名叫耶穌；這就是沒有成胎以前，天使所起的名。

 

    也因為這樣，耶穌基督不只是上帝，更是真正的人！也因為這樣，他才可以拯救我們！正如希伯來書10章5節所說：「所以基督到世上來的時候，就說：上帝啊，祭物和禮物是你不願意的；你曾給我預備了身體。」

 

    基督有身體是從降生以來已直到將來再臨的時候，祂的再臨是以身體的方式再臨，正如祂以身體的樣式升天一樣！現在，祂更以身體的樣式，坐在天父右邊為我們代求！雖然經歷受苦、釘十字架、死亡、埋葬、復活，榮耀的身體成為我們初熟的果子與將來的盼望，我們也要以肉身復活！