【双语灵修】圣诞的永恒应许THE FUTURE PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS

路加福音 2:36-38

又有女先知名叫亚拿，是亚设支派法内力的女儿，年纪已经老迈，从做童女出嫁的时候，同丈夫住了七年就寡居了， 现在已经八十四岁^[a]，并不离开圣殿，禁食、祈求，昼夜侍奉神。 正当那时，她进前来称谢神，将孩子的事对一切盼望耶路撒冷得救赎的人讲说。

12月27日

圣诞的永恒应许

「[亚拿]称谢神，将孩子的事对一切盼望耶路撒冷得救赎的人讲说。」 - 路加福音 2:38

圣诞刚过，我常感些许失落。数周来为节日积攒的兴奋与期待已告一段落。纵然还有一两次家庭聚会，盛典终究已成往事。我知道几天后就要拆下装饰，抹去所有庆典的痕迹。

但圣诞不仅属于过去，它更指向未来。耶稣已降临，而他的第一次降临并非我们唯一的盼望。

在圣殿里，耶稣的父母遇见了亚拿。她毕生致力于敬拜与等候神救恩的征兆。如今年纪老迈，她终于在耶稣的降生中，看见祷告应验。更可贵的是：亚拿还鼓励周围众人，在耶稣身上看见神应许给祂子民的救赎。

当然，婴孩耶稣尚未完成救赎之工，亚拿也未必能活着见证基督成就的功绩。但她的盼望提醒我们：圣诞的意义远超我们所处的当下。耶稣已来，他的降生指向神子民的救赎。更重要的是，他藉死亡与复活，为我们完成了救恩。正如亚拿一样，我们在盼望中等待祂的再临（《启示录》21-22）。最好的尚未来到！

祷告

主啊，愿你降生这一礼物，在我们等候你再来的日子里成为众人对未来的盼望。阿们。

Luke 2:36-38

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27

THE FUTURE PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS

[Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. —Luke 2:38

Sometimes just after the Christmas holiday, I feel a bit of a letdown. For weeks I’ve built up excitement for the coming holiday and have looked forward to celebrating. But now, even if there’s still a family gathering or two to attend, the big event is in the past. And I know that in a few days we’ll start to take down decorations and clear away all the traces of our celebrations.

But Christmas has a future dimension as well. It’s not just in the past. Jesus has come, and his first coming is not the only thing that brings us hope.

In the temple, Jesus’ parents met Anna. She had dedicated her life to worship and to looking for signs of God’s salvation. Now, as an elderly woman, she recognized the fulfillment of her prayers in Jesus’ birth. And there’s more: Anna encouraged the people around her to see in Jesus the redemption promised to God’s people.

Of course, the infant Jesus had not yet completed the work of redemption, and Anna would not likely live to see Christ’s finished work. But her hope reminds us that Christmas is about more than the present times we live in. Jesus has come, and his birth points to the redemption of God’s people. What’s more, through his death and resurrection he has completed the work of salvation for us. And in some ways like Anna, we wait in hope today for his coming again (Revelation 21-22). The best is yet to come!

Lord, may the gift of your birth give us hope for the future as we await your coming again. Amen.