【双语灵修】东方异象MEANWHILE, OUT EAST . . .

马太福音2:1-2

当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说： “那生下来做犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。”

12月16日

东方异象

「那生下来作犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。」 - 马太福音 2:2

有时，时代中真正的重要事件往往超出我们的认知，当中的意义远超我们想象。

当耶稣降生时，远方正悄然发生着另一件事。马太记载「有几个博士从东方来」（常被称为「智者」），他们精通星象。这些博士是占星家、宗教领袖，相信星辰运行与天象异兆能够指引人生方向。

对犹太人而言，这种研究属于迷信的偶像崇拜。然而在这个故事中，我们看见神正在书写比当时人所能了解的更伟大的叙事：耶稣固然是以色列应许的救主，但如今我们明白，基督降生是神吸引万民归向祂的关键环节，甚至迷失在罪与偶像崇拜中的人，也能蒙神的邀请，得以靠近、寻求并寻见祂。在博士的故事中，我们看见神如何迎向我们（无论我们是谁），并使耶稣降生的喜讯活现出来。

在这个圣诞，我们或许以为（或表现得彷佛）庆祝活动与礼物才是节日的重心。但神所要的远不止于此：祂渴望吸引万人归向耶稣，尤其是那些还不认识祂的人。

今年圣诞，神正如何以这份邀请令你惊喜呢？

祷告

神啊，求帮助我们明白生命中至重要的事。求你吸引我们亲近你，奉耶稣的名求，阿们。

Matthew 2:1-2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

MEANWHILE, OUT EAST . . .

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”—Matthew 2:2

Sometimes the big news story of the day is not the one we think it is—or there is more to it than we realize.

As Jesus was born, something else was also happening far away. Matthew tells us about “Magi from the east”—often called “wise men”—who studied the stars. The Magi were astrologers, religious leaders who believed that the movement of the stars and special signs in the heavens could give direction for people’s lives.

To the Jews, that kind of study was superstitious idolatry. And yet we see in this story how God was writing an even bigger story than people were aware of at the time. Jesus was, of course, Israel’s promised Savior. But today we can also see that Christ’s birth was a crucial part of God’s plan to draw all nations to himself. Even people who were lost in the confusion of sin and idolatry could see glimpses of God’s invitation to draw near and ask, seek, and find him. In the story of the Magi we see how God can meet us where we are—no matter who we are—and make the good news of Jesus’ birth come alive for us.

This Christmas, we might think (or act as if) our celebrations and gifts are the main thing of the season. But God wants so much more. He wants to draw people to Jesus, especially those who don’t know him.

How is God surprising you with that invitation this Christmas?

Lord God, help us to understand what is most important in our lives. Draw us near to you, we pray, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.