送給耶穌的禮物

送給耶穌的禮物
聖經閱讀：馬太福音2:1-12 現代中譯本|合和本
2014年1月24日(五)

今天的經文是聖誕故事的一部份。這些經節告訴我們關於那幾個東方博士的事情。我們對這幾個人所知不多，也許他們是研究星象的人。 　那些博士來朝拜耶穌，那位「猶太人的王」（第2節）。他們帶來要送給耶穌的禮物，可能就是那時用來送給世上君王的禮物──黃金、乳香、和沒藥。 　對現今的我們來說，這些禮物也許讓人覺得奇怪。黃金是尊貴、財富的象徵，很多君王頭上戴的冠冕都是黃金作的。當燃燒乳香時，它會發出極香的味道，這也許一直以來是「敬拜」的象徵。沒藥是一種香料，它被用在預備要埋葬的軀體上，也許這個禮物是預表耶穌在十字架上的死。 　那些博士帶這些禮物來表達他們對耶穌的尊崇。我們也可以藉著獻上我們的生命和我們的服事來表達對耶穌的尊崇。 —NW 「他們進了屋子，看見小孩子和他的母親馬利亞，就俯伏朝拜這孩子，然後打開寶盒」 馬太福音2:11a 禱告：天父，謝謝祢差派耶穌到世上。奉主的名，阿們！ (尤榮輝譯)

Gifts for Jesus
Bible Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
Friday, January 24, 2014

Our Bible Reading today is part of the Christmas story. These verses tell us about the wise men. We do not know a lot about these men, but they probably studied the stars. 　The wise men came to see Jesus, “the king of the Jews” (verse 2). The gifts these men brought to Jesus were gifts that would be given to an earthly king — gold, frankincense and myrrh. 　These gifts may seem strange to us today. Gold was a symbol for royalty and wealth. Many kings wore crowns made out of gold. When frankincense was burned, it gave off a very nice smell. This may have been a symbol of worship. Myrrh was a spice that was used to prepare bodies for burial. Perhaps this gift predicted Jesus’ death on the cross. 　The wise men brought gifts to show honor to Jesus. We can show honor to Jesus by giving Him our lives and our service. —NW “The wise men came to the house where the child was with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened the boxes of gifts they had brought for him.” Matthew 2:11a PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to earth. In His name. Amen.