Good News 好消息
Dexu Xia
We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us. Acts 13:32–33
In 1941, as Hitler’s reign was expanding across Europe, novelist John Steinbeck was asked to help with the war effort. He wasn’t asked to fight or visit troops on the frontline, but to instead write a story. The result was The Moon Is Down, a novel about a peaceful land that gets invaded by an evil regime. Printed on underground presses and secretly distributed throughout occupied countries, the novel sent a message: The Allies were coming, and by imitating the novel’s characters, readers could help secure their freedom. Through The Moon Is Down, Steinbeck brought good news to people under Nazi rule—their liberation was near.
Like the characters in Steinbeck’s story, Jews in the first century were an occupied people under brutal Roman rule. But centuries before, God had promised to send an Ally to liberate them and bring peace to the world (Isaiah 11). Joy erupted when that Ally arrived! “We tell you the good news,” Paul said. “What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us . . . by raising up Jesus” (Acts 13:32–33). Through Jesus’ resurrection and offer of forgiveness, the world’s restoration had begun (vv. 38–39; Romans 8:21).
Since then, this story has spread throughout the globe, bringing peace and freedom wherever it’s embraced. Jesus has been raised from the dead. Our liberation from sin and evil has begun. In Him we’re free!
Compared to other rulers, how does Jesus bring peace to the world? How can you join Him in this work?
Jesus, my ultimate Ally, I surrender to Your rightful rule.
我们也报好信息给你们，就是那应许祖宗的话，上帝已经向我们这作儿女的应验。—使徒行传13章32-33节
在1941年希特勒不断在欧洲扩张军事统治时，有人请求德裔美籍小说家史坦贝克（John Steinbeck）协助抵抗暴政。但不是要他去前线作战或劳军，而是请他写个故事。于是他写下《月落》（The Moon Is Down），讲述一块和平之地遭邪恶政权入侵。地下出版社印制了这本书，秘密地分送到被纳粹占领的国家，为传递一则信息：盟军要来了，透过仿效小说中的人物，读者就能获得自由。藉着《月落》，史坦贝克为那些被纳粹统治的人们带来好消息──他们就要得自由了！
就像史坦贝克小说中的人物一样，第一世纪的犹太人被残暴的罗马帝国统治。但在数个世纪以前，上帝早已应允要差派一位至高的盟友来释放他们，并为世界带来和平（以赛亚书11章），当那位盟友到来时，举世欢腾！多年后，保罗说：“我们也报好信息给你们，就是那应许祖宗的话，上帝已经向我们这作儿女的应验，叫耶稣复活了”（使徒行传13章32-33节）。藉着耶稣的复活，以及祂所赐的赦罪之恩，人们能恢复与上帝之间的关系（使徒行传13章38-39节；罗马书8章21节）。
从那时起，耶稣的事迹已传遍全球，凡接受这好消息的，就能得到和平与自由。耶稣已从死里复活，我们也已从罪恶中得释放。在祂里面，我们是自由的！
与其他统治者相比，耶稣如何为世界带来和平？
你如何参与祂的这项工作？
亲爱的耶稣，祢是我的至高盟友，我愿顺从祢公义的统治。