The Greater Glory/至高荣耀
Dexu Xia
The Greater Glory
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Luke 2:1
Caesar Augustus is remembered as the first and greatest of the Roman emperors. By political skill and military power he eliminated his enemies, expanded the empire, and lifted Rome from the clutter of rundown neighborhoods into a city of marble statues and temples. Adoring Roman citizens referred to Augustus as the divine father and savior of the human race. As his forty-year reign came to an end, his official last words were, “I found Rome a city of clay but left it a city of marble.” According to his wife, however, his last words were actually, “Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit.”
What Augustus didn’t know is that he’d been given a supporting role in a bigger story. In the shadow of his reign, the son of a carpenter was born to reveal something far greater than any Roman military victory, temple, stadium, or palace (Luke 2:1).
But who could have understood the glory Jesus prayed for on the night His countrymen demanded His crucifixion by Roman executioners? (John 17:4–5). Who could have foreseen the hidden wonder of a sacrifice that would be forever applauded in heaven and earth?
It’s quite a story. Our God found us chasing foolish dreams and fighting among ourselves. He left us singing together about an old rugged cross.
Father in heaven, please help us to see through and beyond the passing glory of everything but Your love.
The glory we need is the glory of the cross
至高荣耀
当那些日子，凯撒亚古士督有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。-路加福音2章1节
凯撒亚古士督被称为罗马帝国第一位也是最伟大的君王。他运用政治手腕与军事力量消灭敌人、扩张王国，把杂乱破落的罗马社区，建设为矗立着大理石雕像与庙宇的城池。罗马人极崇敬亚古士督，称他为圣父与人类的拯救者。当他40年的统治接近尾声时，根据官方纪录，他最后如此说：“我来时罗马不过是土坯之城，我走时却已成为大理石之都。”然而，根据他妻子的说法，他最后留下的一句话却是：“我扮演的角色很棒吧！在我离场时，该为我鼓掌。”
其实亚古士督有所不知，他已在一个更伟大的历史事件中成为配角。在他统治期间，一位木匠的儿子诞生，而这荣耀远胜于罗马帝国的军事胜利、庙宇、竞技场或宫殿（路加福音2章1节）。
但是，你是否知道，当耶稣的同胞要求罗马执刑官钉死祂的那个晚上，祂所祷告祈求的是何其荣耀？（约翰福音17章4-5节）谁能预见那牺牲背后的奇妙荣美，会在天上地上永远得到掌声？
这是何等发人深省的故事！耶稣来的时候，我们仍追逐愚昧的梦想、你争我夺；祂升天的时候，留下十架救恩，让我们能齐声歌颂。
天父，求祢帮助我们，不再看每件事过往的光荣，
而是单单注视祢的爱。