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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Luke 2 – The Life of Gospel 路加福音2 – 福音的人生

Wednesday, 25th October 2023

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon 潘錫安牧師

V1-20 Born in the Plan 生在計劃裡

V1-3 “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.” As the follower of Christ, o we know what is God’s destiny for us? What is the life of Gospel that we must live out? We see the life of Jesus in this chapter, where He was born, how He was born, and the circumstances around His birth. Jesus lived not according to His parents’ plan but the plan of God. As parents, we would have a lot of plans for our children, but do we really pray for them and understand the plan God has for them? Jesus was not born to live anyone’s life, but to reveal God’s plan for Him in His life. We should never live someone else’s life, other people’s plan for us should not stop us living out God’s destiny for us.

V1-3 「當那些日子，愷撒奧古斯都有旨意下來，叫天下人民都報名上冊。 這是居里扭做敘利亞巡撫的時候，頭一次行報名上冊的事。眾人各歸各城，報名上冊。」身為基督的跟隨者，我們知道神對我們的命定和計劃是什麼嗎？我們必須活出什麼樣的福音生活？我們在這一章中看到耶穌的一生，祂出生在哪裡，祂是如何出生的，以及祂出生周圍的環境。耶穌的出生不是按照父母的計劃，而是按照神的計劃。作為父母，我們會對孩子有很多計劃，但我們真的為他們禱告並了解神為他們制定的計劃嗎？耶穌生來不是為了過任何人的生活，而是為了在祂的生活中揭示神對祂的計劃。我們永遠不應該過別人的生活，別人對我們的計劃不應該阻止我們活出神對我們的命運。

V4-7 “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Jesus was not born to be like anyone else, but according to God’s Plan. Mary was willing to live in God’s plan, she knew Jesus was a special baby, she was humble to accept the environment happening around her. Where Jesus was born and how He was born were all in God’s plans. Do believe God’s plan for us and for our children? Do we believe that God will use our environment to fulfil His plan for us and for our children?

V4-7「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， 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。 他們在那裡的時候，馬利亞的產期到了，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。」耶穌生來並不像其他人一樣，而是按照神的計劃而生。馬利亞願意活在神的計劃中，她知道耶穌是個特別的嬰兒，她謙卑地接受周遭發生的環境。耶穌出生在哪裡以及祂如何出生都在神的計劃之中。你相信神對我們和我們孩子的計劃嗎？我們是否相信神會利用我們的環境來實現祂對我們和我們孩子的計劃？

V8-12 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘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. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” God was encouraging Mary and Joseph, by sending the shepherds to them and reaffirm their hearts and their faith. Mary remembered everything happened when she was about to give birth to Jesus, she remembered God’s doing in her life. God has a plan for us and for our children, let us be willing to follow God and trust that He will guide us all our lives.

V8-12「在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。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。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。因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了。」神差派牧人到馬利亞和約瑟那裡，堅固他們的愛心和信心，以此鼓勵他們。馬利亞記得她即將生下耶穌時所發生的一切，她記得神在她生命中所做的一切。神對我們和我們的孩子有一個計劃，讓我們願意跟隨神並相信祂會引導我們一生。

V21-40 Walk in the Plan 行在計劃裡

V36-38 “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” We need a heart loving God and loving people. God used many people and things to support Mary and Joseph to give birth to Jesus. We need testimony to show people so they can remember what God has done in their lives.

V36-38「又有女先知名叫亞拿，是亞設支派法內力的女兒，年紀已經老邁，從做童女出嫁的時候，同丈夫住了七年就寡居了，現在已經八十四歲，並不離開聖殿，禁食、祈求，晝夜侍奉神。正當那時，她進前來稱謝神，將孩子的事對一切盼望耶路撒冷得救贖的人講說。」我們需要一顆愛神、愛人的心。神使用了許多人和事來支持馬利亞和約瑟生下耶穌。我們需要分享見證來讓人們看見神，以便他們能夠記住神在他們生命中所做的一切。

V39-40 “So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Jesus knew the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we must help our children to enter the plan of God, otherwise everything we do will be in vein, God’s blessings and favours will not come to our children, they will always walk in parallel with God’s plan for them. When we are willing to lead our children to walk in the plan of God, then God’s blessings will be with them.

V39-40「約瑟和馬利亞照主的律法辦完了一切的事，就回加利利，到自己的城拿撒勒去了。孩子漸漸長大，強健起來，充滿智慧，又有神的恩在他身上。」耶穌知道敬畏神是智慧的開端，我們必須幫助我們的孩子進入神的計劃，否則我們所做的一切都會成為徒勞，神的祝福和恩典不會臨到我們的孩子，他們永遠會走在與神平行的道路裡。當我們願意帶領孩子遵行神的計畫時，神的祝福就會臨到他們。

V41-52 Live in the Plan 活在計劃裡

V41-42 “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.” Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem every year, and Jesus knew what he had to do in Jerusalem. He was only twelves old, but He knew He had to be in the Father’s house, and to know more about God. In Jewish custom, when children turned 12 years old, they would’ve received all the teaching in the Bible and would be treated as a mature person. But Jesus knew He needed to always be close to God.

V41-42「每年到逾越節，他父母就上耶路撒冷去。 當他十二歲的時候，他們按著節期的規矩上去。」瑪利亞和約瑟每年都會帶耶穌到耶路撒冷，耶穌知道祂在耶路撒冷必須做什麼。他只有十二歲，但祂知道祂必須在天父的家裡，才能更了解神。按照猶太人的習俗，孩子到了12歲，就已經接受了聖經中所有的教導，被視為成熟的人。但耶穌知道祂需要一直與神靠近。

V51-52 “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” Mary and Joseph could not understand why Jesus wanted to stay in Jerusalem, they only did what any parent would do for their child. Jesus was willing to obey His parents on the earth, He did not argue with them, but followed them. Mary knew Jesus was different and she remembered everything God was doing through Jesus. Do we see what God is doing to our children? Do we remember God’s wonderful works in our children’s upbringing?

V51-52「他就同他們下去，回到拿撒勒，並且順從他們。他母親把這一切的事都存在心裡。耶穌的智慧和身量，並神和人喜愛他的心，都一齊增長。」瑪麗和約瑟無法理解耶穌為什麼想留在耶路撒冷，他們只是做了任何父母都會為孩子做的事情。耶穌願意順服祂在地上的父母，祂不與他們爭辯，而是跟隨他們。馬利亞知道耶穌與眾不同，她記得神透過耶穌所做的一切。我們看到神正在為我們的孩子做什麼嗎？我們還記得神在我們孩子的養育過程中所做的奇妙作為嗎？

God’s Will is to deal with our heart, what is in our heart? Do we have peace inside our heart or are we easily offended? Are our hearts filled with hatred, sorrow, depression and bitterness? God rules and reigns, He sits enthroned, He is full of power, and all we have to do is to rely on Him. We must be willing to choose the destiny God has given for us, choose what matters the most for our Father in Heaven, and we can live a life of the Gospel!

神的旨意是對付我們的心，我們的心是什麼？我們的內心是否平安，還是容易被冒犯？我們的內心是否充滿了仇恨、悲傷、沮喪和苦毒？神座王掌權，祂坐在寶座上，祂充滿能力，我們要做的就是依靠祂。我們必須願意選擇神給我們的命運，選擇對天父來說最重要的事情，我們才能活出福音的生命！