Promise of Jesus birth 基督降生的应许

[Dexu Xia]

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, . . . out of you will come . . . one who will be ruler over Israel. Micah 5:2

In November 1962, physicist John W. Mauchly said, “There is no reason to suppose the average boy or girl cannot be master of a personal computer.” Mauchly’s prediction seemed remarkable at the time, but it proved astonishingly accurate. Today, using a computer or handheld device is one of the earliest skills a child learns.

While Mauchly’s prediction has come true, so have much more important predictions—those made in Scripture about the coming of Christ. For example, Micah 5:2 declared, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” God sent Jesus, who arrived in tiny Bethlehem—marking him as from the royal line of David (see Luke 2:4–7).

The same Bible that accurately predicted the first coming of Jesus also promises His return (Acts 1:11). Jesus promised His first followers that He would come back for them (John 14:1–4).

This Christmas, as we ponder the accurately predicted facts surrounding the birth of Jesus, may we also consider His promised return, and allow Him to prepare us for that majestic moment when we see Him face to face!

By:  Bill Crowder

How might you respond in worship to the truth of the prophecies of Christ’s birth? How does His promise to return for us impact your decision-making?

Loving Father, I’m so grateful for the birth of Jesus and His mission of rescue and redemption. Thank You for His certain return for me.

伯利恒、以法他啊，⋯⋯-将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我作掌权的。—弥迦书5章2节

在1962年11月，美国物理学家约翰·莫奇利（John William Mauchly）说：“我们不应该以为一般的男孩或女孩，无法操作一台个人电脑。”当时莫奇利的预言似乎不同凡响，但事实证明其准确度令人惊讶。如今，使用电脑或掌上型设备，是儿童最早学习的其中一项技能。

莫奇利的预言确实已经成真，而圣经中有关基督降临那更重要的预言也已经应验了。例如，弥迦书5章2节宣告：“伯利恒、以法他啊，你在犹大诸城中为小，将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我作掌权的；祂的根源从亘古、从太初就有。”上帝差遣耶稣降生在小小的伯利恒城，这标志着祂是出自以色列的君王大卫的家族（参阅路加福音2章4-7节）。

圣经不仅准确地预言耶稣首次降临，并且清楚指出耶稣必要再临（使徒行传1章11节）。耶稣向当时跟随祂的众门徒承诺，祂必再来接他们到祂那里去（约翰福音14章1-4节）。

今年的圣诞节，当我们思考耶稣降生的预言已准确应验时，愿我们也深思，祂应许必要再来。求主帮助我们，为着与祂面对面的光辉荣耀时刻做好准备！

作者：  柯贝尔

基督降生预言的应验，如何促使你敬拜赞美上帝？

耶稣应许必再来接我们，这如何影响你的许多决定？

慈爱的天父，感谢祢让耶稣降生，让祂背负拯救和救赎的使命。
感谢祢应许祂必会再来。