提要
博士的故事在聖經其他地方或任何早期的基督教著作中都沒有記載。那是一個獨特又複雜的故事。對於我們這些熱愛聖誕傳說的人,它還有點令人困惑。
按照新國際標準版聖經,這段故事是這樣起頭的:「耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆……」(1節)。這不禁使我們佇足沈思我們最珍愛的聖誕傳說之一。在所有的聖誕卡片、話劇、裝飾中,博士都是來到馬槽前──但馬太福音卻告訴我們說,他們是耶穌出生以後才來到的。到底是出生以後多久呢﹖那也正是希律王想要弄清楚的事:「那是什麼時候出現的﹖」(7節)
很明顯的,那顆星首次出現於兩年以前──所以希律王下令將伯利恆城裡所有兩歲以內的嬰孩都殺盡了(這是在約瑟和馬利亞逃往埃及以後的事──14節)。他可不願意被一個「猶太人之王」威脅──即使那人只不過兩歲大!從今天的鑰節我們看見,當博士終於在伯利恆找著耶穌時,耶穌已是個「小孩」而非嬰孩,並且祂和祂的雙親是在「房子裡」而非馬槽內(11節)。
本章所提到的四個應驗的預言,使得這個故事更為複雜。在第五節和第六節,我們看到彌迦已經預言伯利恆是彌賽亞的出生地。耶利米卅一章十五節被引用以證明他曾預警有關屠殺的事(17、18節)。何西阿說彌賽亞將「從埃及被召出來」(何11:1)。最後,更有先知傳統的預言彌賽亞要被稱為拿撒勒人(23節)。彌賽亞是個拿撒勒人,生在伯利恆,被上帝從埃及召出來!真是太奇怪了。
但今天的鑰節已經回答了這個獨特又有趣的問題:「他們就俯伏拜那小孩子」。歷史的事實比傳說更真實可靠──「道成肉身的上帝居住在人間」,噢,讓我們「齊來崇拜」吧!
|
Overview
This story of the magi doesn't appear anywhere else in Scripture or in any other early Christian writing. It is unique and complex. And for those of us in love with a Christmas tradition or two, it may be a bit confusing.
The narrative begins, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem..." (v.10). In so doing it gives us immediate pause in terms of one of our cherished Christmas traditions. All the Christmas cards, pageants, and paraphernalia have the wise men coming to the stable — but here we have the word, "after". How long after? That's exactly what paranoid King Herod wanted to know. "Give me the exact time of the star's appearing", he demanded (v.7).
Apparently the star had first appeared two years previously — that's why Herod had all the two-years olds in Bethlehem murdered, and every child up to the age of two for good measure (after Joseph and Mary had made their escape —v.14). Herod wasn't about to be usurped by some would-be Jewish king, even if he was only two! Then, as we read in the key verse, they finally found Jesus in Bethlehem, now a "child" rather than a baby, living with his parents in a "house", not a stable (v.ll).
The story is further complicated by four separate references to fulfilled prophecy. In verses 5 and 6 we see that Bethlehem was foreseen by Micah (5:2) as the birthplace of the Messiah. Jeremiah (31:15) is quoted as having forewarned of the slaughter (v.17,18). Hosea (11:1) saw Messiah being called "out of Egypt". And then there's a genuine reference to prophetic tradition that Messiah would be called a "Nazarene" (from Nazareth) (v.23). Messiah was a Nazarene, born in Bethlehem, called by God out of Egypt! Confusing?
But the key verse provides the tone, indeed the posture, for response to this unique, complicated, and intriguing story: "they bowed down and worshipped Him". Beyond our traditions there is history — "God in man is now residing." O come, let us adore Him!
|
Prayer
We too, Lord Jesus, bow down and worship You. Not the young child in Bethlehem, but the risen Christ at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Grant us the reality of the symbols of the wise men. We worship You as King, as the gold would denote, as our High Priest as the frankincense shows us, and as our substitute in death as the myrrh would teach us. |