如今圣诞节已成为一个“舒适”的节日。在许多人的脑海中，圣诞节让人联想到一个漂亮舒适的房间，里面有一棵闪闪发光的圣诞树，树下是五颜六色的礼物盒。壁炉的火辟啪响着，有蛋奶酒，还有圣诞歌曲作为背景音乐。
相比之下，很少有人会想到施洗约翰。约翰穿着粗糙的骆驼皮衣服，吃的是蝗虫野蜜，这些一点也谈不上舒适。然而，人们却从约旦河周围赶来听他振聋发聩的讲道。
约翰所讲的信息丝毫谈不上舒适。他猛烈抨击，提醒人们罪的严重性以及神对罪的愤怒。“你们要悔改，相信神！”祂大声喊着说。
然而，约翰的信息并不都是烈火和警告。这里面也有盼望，因为他正在预备救主的道路。教会用以代表约翰的记号之一是蛤蜊或扇贝壳。据说他曾用贝壳倒出洗礼的水。对约翰来说，洗礼是我们悔改和被饶恕的标志和印记，标志着我们属于弥赛亚。
所以，你可以和家人朋友度过一个美妙的圣诞节，但不要太过舒适。要思想并牢记，我们的救主来到世上为要填补人类心灵巨大的空虚。
耶稣，求祢洁净我们一切的罪；赦免我们，再次更新我们。愿我们带着喜乐庆祝圣诞，并知道我们的盼望在乎祢。阿们。
马太福音 3:1-12
1 那时，有施洗的约翰出来，在犹太的旷野传道说：
2 “天国近了，你们应当悔改！”
3 这人就是先知以赛亚所说的，他说：“在旷野有人声喊着说：‘预备主的道，修直他的路！’”
4 这约翰身穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫、野蜜。
5 那时，耶路撒冷和犹太全地并约旦河一带地方的人，都出去到约翰那里，
6 承认他们的罪，在约旦河里受他的洗。
7 约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来受洗，就对他们说：“毒蛇的种类！谁指示你们逃避将来的愤怒呢？
8 你们要结出果子来，与悔改的心相称！
9 不要自己心里说：‘有亚伯拉罕为我们的祖宗。’我告诉你们，神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起子孙来。
10 现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里。
11 “我是用水给你们施洗，叫你们悔改；但那在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是给他提鞋也不配，他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。
12 他手里拿着簸箕，要扬净他的场，把麦子收在仓里，把糠用不灭的火烧尽了。”
"John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." — Matthew 3:1-2
Christmas has become a “cozy” holiday. Christmastime in many people’s minds conjures up images of a plush room with a shimmering Christmas tree and colorful packages underneath, a crackling fire, eggnog, and Christmas carols playing in the background.
In contrast, very few people think of John the Baptist. There’s nothing cozy about John, with his coarse camel-skin outfit and his diet of honey and locusts. Yet people came in droves from all around the Jordan River to hear John’s thunderous preaching.
John’s message couldn’t be further from cozy. John pounded so hard that people were reminded of the seriousness of sin and God’s wrath against it. “Repent and believe!” he called out.
Yet John’s message is not all fire and warning. There is hopefulness here too, for he is preparing the way for the Savior. One of the symbols the church uses for John is a clam or scallop shell. It is said that he used a shell to pour the water of baptism. For John, baptism is a sign and seal of our repentance and forgiveness, of our belonging to the Messiah.
So have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. But don’t get too cozy. Remember and reflect on the great need our Savior has come to fill.
Jesus, cleanse us from all our sins; forgive us and make us new again. May we celebrate Christmas with joy, knowing our hope is in you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
