Hotel Corona 新冠酒店

[Dexu Xia]

Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all . . . . From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  2 Corinthians 5:14, 16

The Dan Hotel in Jerusalem became known by a different name in 2020—“Hotel Corona.” The government dedicated the hotel to patients recovering from COVID-19, and the hotel became known as a rare site of joy and unity during a difficult time. Since the residents already had the virus, they were free to sing, dance, and laugh together. And they did! In a country where tensions between different political and religious groups run high, the shared crisis created a space where people could learn to see each other as human beings first—and even become friends.

It’s natural, normal even, for us to be drawn toward those we see as similar to us, people we suspect share similar experiences and values to our own. But as the apostle Paul often emphasized, the gospel is a challenge to any barriers between human beings that we see as “normal” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Through the lens of the gospel, we see a bigger picture than our differences—a shared brokenness and a shared longing and need to experience healing in God’s love.

If we believe that “one died for all,” then we can also no longer be content with surface-level assumptions about others. Instead, “Christ’s love compels us” (v. 14) to share His love and mission with those God loves more than we can imagine—all of us.

When do you find yourself most prone to forget the “bigger picture” of your shared humanity with others? What helps remind you of our equal brokenness and need for Jesus’ love?

In hard times, Jesus, thank You for those moments when I see a glimmer of breathtaking beauty through the love and joy of others. Help me to live each day this way, regarding “no one from a worldly point of view.”

 原来基督的爱激励我们。因我们想，一人既替众人死，……我们从今以后，不凭着外貌认人了。—哥林多后书5章14、16节

耶路撒冷的丹琳酒店（Dan Hotel）在2020年以“新冠酒店”之名广为人知。政府将这家酒店专门提供给新冠肺炎的康复者居住，使酒店成为疫情期间民众难得能聚集欢乐的场所。由于入住酒店的人都感染了病毒，因此他们能无拘无束地一起唱歌、跳舞和欢笑。这个国家虽因不同的政治和宗教团体彼此对立，局势益发紧张，但大家共同面对的这场危机，居然创造出了一个空间，让人们学习不分彼此，甚至成为朋友。

我们容易受到与自己相似的人吸引，觉得与这些人有类似的经验和价值观。但是，正如使徒保罗经常强调的，福音挑战我们去跨越任何人与人之间被视为“正常”的障碍（哥林多后书5章15节）。透过福音的视角，我们看到的是比分歧更大的画面──我们都同样不完全，都渴望和需要得着上帝爱的医治。

如果我们相信“一人既替众人死”，那么我们就不会再轻易地评断他人。取而代之的是，“基督的爱激励我们”（14节）将祂的爱和使命分享出去，给那些我们无法想像上帝竟然也爱的人──所有人。

你什么时候最容易忘记自己和别人一样软弱？
什么能提醒你，我们都同样不完全和需要耶稣的爱？

耶稣，感谢祢，即使在艰难时期，
我可以透过别人的爱和喜悦瞥见美善。
帮助我不凭外貌去评论任何人。