QT 23/02/2024 Friday Luke 2. Jesus, the Saviour of the world. 耶稣，世界的救主.
QT 23/02/2024 Friday Luke 2
http://www.esvbible.org/luke2
If you read Luke without Acts in mind, it looks like "Got head no tail!" On the other hand, Acts without Luke is "Blur."
Luke ("the beloved physician", Col 4:14) is most probably the only Gentile biblical author. With such a person as author, the Gentiles, the marginalised, the poor, the widow, the orphans and the outcasts would not escape his attention. Dr Luke persevered with Paul all the way to the end—"Luke alone is with me" (2Tim 4:11).
The arrival of Mary in Bethlehem (Luke 2:5) was JUST IN TIME to fulfil the prophecy of Micah 5:2—that the ruler over Israel will come from Bethlehem ("the city of David", Luke 2:4).
Please bear in mind that the Gospel reaches Rome only at the end of Luke-Acts. Now here in Luke 2:1-3, it is significant that Luke records the DECREE by Caesar Augustus (the Roman Emperor then) which consequently moved Joseph and Mary from Nazareth in Galilee in the north 115 km to the south in Bethlehem. This fulfilled the prophecy of Prophet Micah!!
REFLECTION (1): Even though the Caesar's motive was for a census to be taken of the entire Roman world (Luke 2:1), it was PART OF the LORD's plan since Old Testament times (see Ruth and Micah) for the Saviour to come from Bethlehem. Reflect on the SOVEREIGNTY of God in history.
Notice that the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) were among the first to welcome The Great Shepherd. How fitting. The shepherds BELIEVED the angels (Luke 2:15).
Notice that the use of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24) for the purification rites reveals that Joseph and Mary belong to the "poor" category under Lev 12:8 ("And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons...")
REFLECTION (2): Jesus Christ came via a poor maiden (Mary) from a kampung town (Nazareth). Is this one of the ways that God CAN work out His purposes in the world—using the less glamorous means, people and places?
What a moment! When baby Jesus and parents came into the temple courts, there was Simeon ("righteous and devout", Luke 2:25) waiting! And "Simeon took him in his arms and praised God". The Saviour of the world in his arms! Fall off the chair, fall off the chair. In fact, Simeon was ready to die ("letting your servant depart in peace" Luke 2:29) after experiencing this awesome moment in history: The Saviour of the world, in his arms, in God's temple.
REFLECTION (3): Those who wait upon Him shall "see" Him, whether man (Simeon, 2:25) or woman (Anna, 2:36), young (John the Baptist, 1:44) or old (Elizabeth/Zechariah, 1:7). Acts 2:17-18, quoting Joel, also point to these diversities. Have you fully recognised Jesus, the Saviour of the world?
星期五 2024年2月23日 今日读经：路加福音2章. 耶稣，世界的救主.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Luk/2/
如果你在阅读路加福音时撇开了使徒行传，读起来就好像“有头无尾”一样！另一方面，读使徒行传不读路加福音就会“一头雾水”.
路加(“所亲爱的医生”，西4:14)大概是圣经作者当中唯一的一个外邦人。以他的身份作为作者，那些外邦人、边缘化的人、穷苦的人、寡妇、孤儿和被弃的人都无法逃出他的视线。路加医生与保罗一直努力坚持到最后---“独有路加在我这里”(提后4:11)。
马利亚来到伯利恒(路2:5)刚好应证了弥迦书5:2的预言---必有一位从你那里出来，为我作以色列的统治者(“大卫的城”,路2:4)。
请记住，在路加福音-使徒行传的尾声时，福音才传到罗马。在路2:1-3,路加记载了从凯撒奥古士督(当时的罗马帝王)颁发下来的谕旨,是后来促使约瑟和马利亚从加利利北部115公里的拿撒勒南下伯利恒的一个重大事件。这就应验了弥迦先知的预言！！
反思(1):虽然凯撒的目的是要叫普天下的人登记户口(路2:1)，这早已在耶和华旧约时所定的计划当中(见路得和弥迦)，就是救主将来自伯利恒。回顾并思想神在历史上的主权。
看守羊群的牧人(路2:8-20)是最先迎见那位大牧者的。多合时宜啊!那些牧人都相信天使所说的(路2:15)。
约瑟和马利亚用了“一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽”(路2:24)作为洁净仪式的用途，说明约瑟和马利亚是属于利未记12:8里“穷苦人”等级的(“她的经济能力若是不够献一只羊羔，她可以拿两只斑鸠，或是两只雏鸽...”)
反思(2):耶稣基督出生自一个贫穷的童贞女(马利亚)，来自一个乡镇(拿撒勒)。这是神在世上成就祂的旨意的途径之一吗---用的是不光鲜亮丽的途径、人和地方？
等等！当婴儿耶稣和他的父母来到圣殿的院子时，西面(“公义虔诚”，路2:25)在等他！“西面就把他接到手上，称颂 神”。世界的救主就在他怀里！惊人！太惊人了！事实上，西面已做好准备要死(“释放仆人平平安安地去吧”路2:29)，因为他已经历了历史上这神奇的一刻:世界的救主，就在他怀里，在神的殿里。
反思(3):那些等候祂的必“看见”祂，无论是男的(西面2:25)或女的(亚拿,2:36)，少的(施洗约翰，1:44)或老的(以利沙伯/撒迦利亚，1:7)。使徒行传2:17-18,引述了约珥，也指向这些不同的层面。你是否完全地认识耶稣，世界的救主？
