如果你不是猶太人，你就很難瞭解天使的信息所帶來震撼力。我們不可忘記，「基督」一詞來自希臘文，就是「彌賽亞」的意思，而彌賽亞的盼望是百分之百屬於猶太人的概念。猶太人幾世紀以來在他們的公禱中反覆念誦：「因有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在祂的肩頭上，祂名稱為奇妙、策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君」（賽9：6）。

        在面對敵軍的攻擊、失敗、被征服時，猶太人也會背誦：「你們要使軟弱的手堅壯，無力的膝穩固。對膽怯的人說，你們要剛強，不要懼怕，看哪，你們的上帝必來報仇，必來施行極大的報應，祂必來拯救你們。」（賽35：3~4）。當耶穌騎驢進耶路撒冷時，猶太人夾道歡呼，高喊：「和散那！和散那！」他們心中燃燒的就是以賽書所給予他們的希望，因為「和散那！」的意思是：「現在就施行拯救！」敬虔的猶太人心中熱切盼望彌賽亞將他們從被壓迫中救出來。他們渴望上帝的國度降臨。

        那就是為什麼天使稱耶穌的降生是「大喜的信息，關乎萬民的」。他是在宣佈以色列之彌賽亞的誕生！好幾世紀以來的引頸企盼終於在伯利恆的那位聖嬰身上實現。彌賽亞的世紀揭幕了。

        「普世歡騰」……「以色列之王誕生」……「齊來崇拜」，這些都是耳熟能詳的聖誕歌曲。當我們這些原為外邦之人的信徒從心中唱這些歌時，我們所表達的是植基於彌賽亞盼望的愛。耶穌已經成為我們的救星！

        天父上帝，讚美您賜給我們大喜的信息。天使所說的「萬民」包括我們和猶太人。在這聖誕季節裡，幫助我們將此好消息帶給萬民。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        It's hard to appreciate the impact of the angel's message if you're not Jewish — devoutly Jewish, that is. We must never forget that the word "Christ" (v.ll) is the Greek translation of "Messiah", and the messianic hope was a strictly Jewish concept. It was the Jews who, throughout the centuries, read Isaiah's words in their public prayer, "For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

        It was they who, in the midst of military attack, defeat and occupation, would recite words like, "Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, Your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you'" (Isaiah 35:3,4). This hope was the very thing burning in their breasts when they cried out to Jesus on the occasion of His so-called "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem, "Hosanna! Hosanna!", which means, "Save now! Save now!" The heart of the devout Jew burns with the hope of messianic salvation from oppression. They long for the kingdom of God to be established.

        That's why the angel called Jesus' birth "good news of great joy that will be for all the people." He was announcing the birth of Israel's Messiah! The centuries of sorrow and anticipation had just culminated in the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. The messianic age had dawned.

        "Joy to the world! The Lord has come!"... "Noel! Noel! Born is the king of Israel!"... "O come let us adore Him!" All Christian lyrics, yes — but as we sing them from our hearts, we Gentiles express a love rooted in the messianic hope. Jesus has come to be our Saviour!

        We praise You, Father God, for the good tidings of great joy. Thank You that the angel's words, "All people" include us as well as the Jews. Help us this season to join the angles in bringing the Good News to all people.