寻求以色列的安慰者（记号：一位老人）
在这个和圣诞有关的故事中，我们遇见了西面，他又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到。西面因着神给他的应许，就等候神拯救和安慰祂的百姓。以赛亚曾提到这位安慰者：“神说，你们要安慰，安慰我的百姓。”（赛 40:1）这些话是指向那将要来的弥赛亚，神的受膏者要拯救和赎回祂所拣选的百姓。
西面一直在圣殿中守望等候这位弥赛亚。有一天，在圣灵的启示下，他在约瑟和马利亚带来的婴孩耶稣身上认出了以色列的安慰者。他们来是“要为耶稣完成律法的要求” 。路加透过见证人西面宣告说，以色列的安慰者已经来到，要拯救神的百姓脱离罪，无论他们身在何处。
在圣诞节，我们庆祝耶稣来到了我们当中，祂是世界的安慰和盼望。祂住在我们心里，我们靠信心而活，透过圣灵信靠祂。我们已经接受了耶稣的安慰，如今我们活在喜乐顺服中，在世上服事祂。
今天，为着认识耶稣而献上感谢吧，并预备你的心迎接祂的再来。
耶稣，祢是我们的安慰和盼望。请帮助我们凡事都信靠和服事祢。阿们。
路加福音 2:22-35
22 按摩西律法满了洁净的日子，他们带着孩子上耶路撒冷去，要把他献于主，
23 正如主的律法上所记：“凡头生的男子，必称圣归主。”
24 又要照主的律法上所说，“或用一对斑鸠，或用两只雏鸽”献祭。
25 在耶路撒冷有一个人名叫西面，这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到，又有圣灵在他身上。
26 他得了圣灵的启示，知道自己未死以前，必看见主所立的基督。
27 他受了圣灵的感动，进入圣殿，正遇见耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来，要照律法的规矩办理。
28 西面就用手接过他来，称颂神，说：
29 “主啊，如今可以照你的话，释放仆人安然去世！
30 因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，
31 就是你在万民面前所预备的，
32 是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的荣耀。”
33 孩子的父母因这论耶稣的话就稀奇。
34 西面给他们祝福，又对孩子的母亲马利亚说：“这孩子被立，是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒、许多人兴起，又要做毁谤的话柄，
35 叫许多人心里的意念显露出来。你自己的心也要被刀刺透。”
Seeking The Comfort Of Israel (Symbol: An Old Man)
"Simeon . . . was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him." — Luke 2:25
In this story related to Christmas, we meet Simeon, a righteous and devout man who was waiting for the consolation (or comfort) of Israel. Based on a promise made to him by God, Simeon was waiting for God to rescue and comfort his people. Isaiah had spoken about this consolation with the words “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1), and these words point to the coming of the Messiah, God’s anointed, to rescue and deliver his chosen people.
Simeon had been waiting and watching at the temple in Jerusalem for this Messiah. Then one day, prompted by the Holy Spirit, he recognized Israel’s comfort in the baby Jesus, brought in by Joseph and Mary “to do for him what the custom of the Law required.” Through the witness of Simeon, Luke announces that the comfort of Israel has come to save all God’s people from sin, wherever they are throughout the world.
At Christmas we celebrate that Jesus, the comfort and hope of the world, comes to us. He lives in our hearts, and through the Holy Spirit we trust in him as we live by faith. We have received the comfort of Jesus, and now we live in joyful obedience, serving him in the world.
Give thanks today for the comfort of knowing Jesus, and prepare your heart for his second coming.
Jesus, you are our comfort and our hope. Help us to trust and serve you in all things. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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