【聖誕節】:過聖誕節,見到耶穌

JesusBirthCarvings (13)1961年,前蘇聯的太空人Yuri Gagarin 尤里.加加林,搭乘蘇聯製造的太空船,從外太空平安地回來地球上時,據說,他說了一句支持當時蘇聯無神論的政策,譏笑信仰基督教的。有人說,加加林說他在太空的時候,沒有見到上帝。

因為這句話肯定無神論,否認有神論,所以,當時很多蘇聯人認為這句話很好笑,國際媒體也報道了Gagarin 尤里.加加林太空人的這一句給萬人聽的,向全世界宣傳,說,太空人已經證明了外太空沒有上帝。

今天,我請問您一個問題,好嗎?你見過上帝嗎?

每年,十二月二十五日,我們過“聖誕節”。什麼叫做“聖誕節”呢?聖誕節就是創造天地的神變成了有血肉的人,由真童女馬利亞的母體,降生進入了這個世界。那個人就是耶穌基督。作者約翰描寫了耶穌的降生,說,“道成了肉身住在我們中間,充充滿滿的有恩典有真理。我們也見過他的榮光,正是父獨生子的榮光”(約翰福音1:14)。慢慢兒地,嬰孩長大了,開始傳福音、醫病、行善、拯救罪人。當時,見到耶穌的人,就是見到了上帝。

如果問約翰,說:“有沒有上帝?”約翰一定會回答說,“我見到了耶穌,所以我見到了上帝”。

您可能想問我:“但是,那是兩千年以前的事情。我們生活在現在!我們今天就想見到上帝。上帝在哪裡呢?”聽眾朋友,答案是這樣:耶穌基督的愛、溫暖、拯救,他的真理、榜樣和十字架都存留到今天。雖然您見不到耶穌的肉身,但是,藉著《聖經》,耶穌的話、教訓、真理和寶血通通都存留到今日。把《新約聖經馬太福音》打開一讀,耶穌就向您說話;他溫柔的聲音就在您的耳中。看看《新約聖經馬可福音》耶穌行善、行神跡、醫病,耶穌愛人如己的為人就感動你的心理。讀一讀新約聖經路加福音耶穌赦免人罪孽的記載,耶穌的偉大就感動您。研讀新約聖經約翰福音,耶穌受難,被釘十字架的那段話,耶穌的愛就張顯在您眼前。

換句話說,如果您,如果前蘇聯的太空人尤里.加加林,如果任何人,想要見到上帝,只要打開《聖經》,就會看到那位永遠愛我們的耶穌基督,那位昔在,今在,永遠存在的上帝。

原這位上帝賜福給您。原您過一個愛神,愛人的聖誕節。


 

See God at Christmas

In 1961, when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin of the then Soviet Union, returned safely to earth, he made a statement which supported the policy of atheism held by the Soviet Union and made fun of Christianity. Gagarin said that he did not see God while he was in outer space. Since this statement sustained atheism and opposed theism, many people in the Soviet Union thought it was very humorous. The international media seized upon Gagarin’s statement also and communicated to the entire world that the cosmonaut had demonstrated that there was no God in outer space.

Today, let me ask you a question. Have you ever seen God? We observe Christmas each year on the twenty-fifth of December. What is Christmas? Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. God, the creator of the universe, entered the world by taking on human form and being born of Mary, a virgin.

The writer John expressed the birth of Jesus, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The infant grew up and began to preach the gospel, to heal, to do good and to save. Those who saw Jesus, saw God.If we were to ask John, “Is there a God?” John would answer, “I have seen Jesus, and so I have seen God.”

Perhaps you would like to ask me, “But all that happened two thousand years ago. We live today and we want to see God today, sowhere is God?” The answer is Jesus Christ and all that he is: love, meekness, salvation, truth, his example and his cross. All of these exist until today. Even though you cannot see the physical Jesus, he remains present through the Bible, his words, his teaching, his truthand his precious blood.

Let Jesus speak to you when you read Matthew; his gentle voice will whisper into your ears. See Jesus when you read Mark. Watch him assist and heal people; be moved by his “love others as you love yourself” attitude. Read in Luke where Jesus forgave sins and see what a great man Jesus was. Study John’s account of the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. The love of Jesus will manifest itselfbefore your eyes.

In other words, if you or if cosmonaut Gagarin or if anyone else wants to see God, one need only to open his Bible and see Jesus. Jesus Christ loves us always; he is the God who was and who is and who will ever be.

May this God bless you and may your Christmas be a time to love both God and your fellow man.


Native American nativity scene made by hand from clay.
Photo taken at The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

【聖誕節】二:過聖誕節,見到耶穌
作者:謝德華 ©By Edward Short
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