【双语灵修】耶稣的道成肉身JESUS’ INCARNATION

马太福音1:18-25

耶稣基督降生的事记在下面：他母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚就从圣灵怀了孕。 她丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。 正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来，因她所怀的孕是从圣灵来的。 她将要生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫耶稣，因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。” 这一切的事成就，是要应验主藉先知所说的话说： “必有童女怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。”（“以马内利”翻出来就是“神与我们同在”。） 约瑟醒了，起来，就遵着主使者的吩咐把妻子娶过来， 只是没有和她同房，等她生了儿子[a]，就给他起名叫耶稣。

10月11日

耶稣的道成肉身

他母亲马利亚……从圣灵怀了孕。(马太福音1:18)

关于人死后可能发生的事，存在许多误解。例如许多人认为死去的婴儿会变成天使，也经常见到描绘人的灵魂，在云端弹奏竖琴的艺术作品。

然而，默想耶稣的道成肉身，能够帮助我们更合乎圣经且清晰地思考。两千年前，永恒的神子在马利亚腹中取了人的样式。他始终是完全的神，同时也是完全的人。

耶稣度过了完美无瑕疵的一生。为所有仰望他得救的人舍命赎罪，死在十架上。祂的肉身被安放于坟墓中，到了第三日，这身体复活走出坟墓。数周之后，祂带着身体升入高天，如今坐在神的右边。将来有一天，耶稣还要带着肉身再来，迎接所有神的儿女进入新造的世界，与祂同享丰盛生命。

马太福音28章记载，复活日清晨，几位跟随者遇见了复活的主。其中两位妇女俯伏在地敬拜祂！将来有一天，我们也要以复活的身体与耶稣相遇，敬拜祂。

灵魂与肉体本为一体，永恒之中亦将如此！

祷告

主啊，我们的心踊跃悸动，渴望有一天也能以肉身与你相见，并敬拜你！愿你的灵激励我们，在今天及未来的每一天都爱你、顺服你！阿们。

Matthew 1:18-25

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

JESUS’ INCARNATION

His mother Mary . . . was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. —Matthew 1:18

There are lots of misunderstandings about what may happen to us after we die. Many people think that babies who die become angels, for example, and it’s common to see artwork about souls playing harps in the clouds.

Reflecting on Jesus’ incarnation can help us think more biblically and clearly, however. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh about 2,000 years ago in the womb of Mary. While remaining fully God, he became fully human as well.

He lived a perfect life, without sin. Then, giving up his life to pay for the sin of all who would look to him for salvation, he died. His human body was laid in a tomb. And on the third day his body rose to life again and walked out of the tomb. Several weeks later his human body ascended to heaven, where he is seated at God’s right hand. And one day he will return in the flesh to welcome all of God’s children to full life with him in the new creation.

Matthew 28 tells us that some of Jesus’ followers met the risen Lord on the morning of his resurrection. Two of the women kneeled on the ground, grasped his feet, and worshiped him! One day, in our own resurrected bodies, we too will meet Jesus in the flesh to worship him.

Body and soul are created to be together, and so it will be in eternity!

Lord and God, our hearts stir within us as we long for the day when we too can meet you in the flesh and worship you! By your Spirit, move us to love and obey you today and every day! Amen.