Read: Luke 2:8–20 

God incarnate is the end of fear. F. B. Meyer

上帝降世为人，使人坦然无惧地亲近祂。

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.” Luke 2:10

那天使对他们说：“不要惧怕！”-路加福音2章10节

Nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words he says are, “Do not be afraid” (Dan. 10:12, 19; Matt. 28:5; Rev. 1:17). Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet Earth, it usually leaves the human observers flat on their faces in catatonic fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance on earth in a form that does not frighten. In Jesus, born in a barn and laid in a feeding trough, God finds at last a mode of approach that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a newborn baby?

在圣经中，几乎每次天使出现，所说的第一句话都是“不要惧怕”(但以理书10章12、19节；马太福音28章5节；启示录1章17节) 。这实在不足为奇，因为当人们亲眼看到上帝的使者降临，第一个反应总是惊惶恐惧、目瞪口呆。但是路加福音告诉我们，上帝以一种不让人害怕的形式来到世上。祂降世为人，降生在马棚里，躺卧在马槽中。试问有谁会害怕初生的婴孩呢？

Puzzled skeptics stalked Jesus throughout His ministry. How could a baby in Bethlehem, a carpenter’s son, be the Messiah from God? But a group of shepherds in a field had no doubt about who He was, for they heard the message of good news straight from a choir of angels (2:8–14).

当耶稣开始宣讲天国的福音后，就有许多人质疑：降生在伯利恒的小婴孩，一个木匠的儿子，怎么可能是上帝所应许的弥赛亚呢？然而，在野地里的牧羊人却深信不疑，因为他们已经听见天使及天军报告大喜的信息 (2章8-14节) 。

Why did God take on human form? The Bible gives many reasons, some densely theological and some quite practical; but the scene of Jesus as an adolescent lecturing rabbis in the temple gives one clue (v. 46). For the first time, ordinary people could hold a conversation, a debate, with God in visible form. Jesus could talk to anyone—His parents, a rabbi, a poor widow—without first having to announce, “Don’t be afraid.”

上帝为何要降世为人呢？圣经提供了许多解释，有些是深奥的神学，有些却浅显易懂。其中，耶稣青少年时期在圣殿里，坐在教师中间边听边问的景象，为我们提供了一个线索 (46节) 。那是世人与降世为人的上帝，第一次面对面展开对话及辩论。耶稣可以直接与人谈话，无论是对祂的父母、犹太教的教师，或是穷寡妇，耶稣都不需要先说：“不要惧怕。”

In Jesus, God comes close to us.

藉着耶稣，上帝来到我们身边。

I’m humbled, Lord, that You would come near to me. But I’m grateful. Thank You.

主啊，感谢祢，卑微如我，祢愿亲近。献上感恩！

Luke 2:8-20New International Version (NIV)

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

整理：于姊妹