At Bethlehem, God demonstrated that to love is to give.

在伯利恒，上帝展现了牺牲的爱。

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过祂的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。-约翰福音1章14节

As Star Wars fans around the world eagerly await the release of Episode 8, “The Last Jedi,” people continue to analyze the remarkable success of these films dating back to 1977. Frank Pallotta, media reporter for CNNMoney, said that Star Wars connects with many who long for “a new hope and a force of good at a time when the world needs heroes.”

世界各地的星际大战迷，正热切期待《星际大战8：最后的绝地武士》上映。人们追溯至1977年，分析这部系列电影成功的因素。有新闻评论者指出：当世界正渴望一位带来新希望和正义的英雄时，《星际大战》恰好满足了人们的渴求。

At the time of Jesus’s birth, the people of Israel were oppressed and longing for their long-promised Messiah. Many anticipated a hero to deliver them from Roman tyranny, but Jesus did not come as a political or military hero. Instead, He came as a baby to the town of Bethlehem. As a result, many missed who He was. The apostle John wrote, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

在耶稣降生的那个年代，以色列人民受到极大的逼迫，他们热切期待上帝应许已久的弥赛亚降临，许多人盼望有一位英雄能救他们脱离罗马暴政。但耶稣并不是以政治或军事英雄的姿态出现，祂反倒成了降生于伯利恒的一名婴孩。因此，许多人认不出祂是谁。使徒约翰就写道：“祂到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待祂。”（约翰福音1章11节）

More than a hero, Jesus came as our Savior. He was born to bring God’s light into the darkness and to give His life so that everyone who receives Him could be forgiven and freed from the power of sin. John called Him “the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (v. 14).

耶稣来到世上不是要作个英雄，而是要成为我们生命的救主。祂带着上帝的荣光降世为人，进入黑暗并献上祂自己的生命，使每一个接受祂的人都能得着赦免，从罪的权势中得着释放。约翰称祂为天父的独生子，“充充满满地有恩典，有真理”（14节）。

“To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (v. 12). Indeed, Jesus is the one true hope the world needs.

“凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女”（12节）。的确，唯有耶稣才是这个世界所需要的真正希望。

By David C. McCasland | See Other Authors

作者： 麦大卫 | 其他作者

John 1:1-5New International Version (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9-14New International Version (NIV)

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

约翰福音 1:1-5Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

施洗约翰为真光作见证

1 太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。 2 这道太初与神同在。 3 万物是借着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。 4 生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。5 光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。

约翰福音 1:9-14Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

9 那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。 10 他在世界，世界也是借着他造的，世界却不认识他。 11 他到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待他。 12 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄做神的儿女。 13 这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。 14 道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。

Lord Jesus, You are our Savior, and we praise You for coming to die that we might live.

主耶稣，祢是我们的救主。祢降世受死，
使我们可以得着生命，我们感谢赞美祢。

INSIGHT

Many times when we think of heroes we think of someone who “rescues.” This is especially true of Jesus, who is the greatest hero of all time. Paul wrote in Galatians 1:4 that Jesus is the One “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Second Timothy 4:18 declares, “The Lord will rescue [us] from every evil attack, and will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” The greatest hero of all provides the greatest rescue of all—eternal life.

Who might you want to tell about your story of Jesus’s rescue?

Bill Crowder

灵粮透视

很多时候，当我们想到英雄人物时，就会想到那些施行“拯救”的人。耶稣更是英雄，祂是最伟大的英雄，空前绝后。保罗在加拉太书1章4节写道：“基督照我们父 上帝的旨意为我们的罪舍己，要救我们脱离这罪恶的世代。”提摩太后书4章18节也宣告说：“主必救[我们]脱离诸般的凶恶，也必救[我们]进祂的天国。愿荣耀归给祂，直到永永远远。阿们！”这位最伟大的英雄，施行最伟大的拯救，为全世界的人带来永生。

你准备向谁讲述自己得着耶稣拯救的经历呢？

整理：于姊妹