Ministry in Word

Similar Revelations, Different Responses
类似的启示，不同的回应

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
有主的使者站在香坛的右边，向他显现。撒迦利亚看见，就惊慌害怕。天使对他
说：撒迦利亚，不要害怕，因为你的祈祷已经被听见了。你的妻子以利沙伯要给
你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。

Luke 1:11-13
路加1:11-13

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
撒迦利亚对天使说：我凭着甚麽可知道这事呢？我已经老了，我的妻子也年纪老
迈了。天使回答说：我是站在神面前的加百列，奉差而来对你说话，将这好信息
报给你。到了时候，这话必然应验；只因你不信，你必哑吧，不能说话，直到这
事成就的日子。

Luke 1:18-20
路加1:18-20

The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a  son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
童女的名字叫马利亚；天使进去，对他说：蒙大恩的女子，我问你安，主和你同
在了！马利亚因这话就很惊慌，又反复思想这样问安是甚麽意思。天使对他说：
马利亚，不要怕！你在神面前已经蒙恩了。你要怀孕生子，可以给他起名叫耶
稣。他要为大，称为至高者的儿子；主神要把他祖大卫的位给他。他要作雅各家
的王，直到永远；他的国也没有穷尽。马利亚对天使说：我没有出嫁，怎麽有这
事呢？天使回答说：圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，因此所要生的
圣者必称为神的儿子。况且你的亲戚以利沙伯，在年老的时候也怀了男胎，就是
那素来称为不生育的，现在有孕六个月了。因为，出於神的话，没有一句不带能
力的。马利亚说：我是主的使女，情愿照你的话成就在我身上。天使就离开他去
了。

Luke 1:27-38
路加1:27-38

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
类似与分别

From Luke’s accounts of God’s revelations to Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father and to Mary, Jesus’ mother, we can learn a valuable lesson on faith.
从路加所记载神对施浸约翰的父亲的启示和对耶稣的母亲马利亚的启示之中我们
可以学习到信心的宝贵功课。

In these accounts we find similarities in their contents: these revelations were both messages brought by the archangel Gabriel and they were both concerning the coming birth of their baby boys. In the case of Zechariah it was apparently something that he and his wife had prayed for. We know this because the angel told Zechariah that his prayer had been heard (Luke 1:13) before he revealed to Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son. In the case of Mary, this was a total surprise because she was a virgin (Luke 1:34).
在这些记载中我们找到它们内容中类似的地方：这些启示都是由天使长加百列带
来的信息，而它们都是关乎他们男婴的诞生。在撒迦利亚那方面这明显地是他与
他妻子所祈求的，我们知道这事实因为天使在向撒迦利亚透露他的妻子伊利沙伯
会为他生一个儿子之先，就告诉他他的祈祷已经被听见了〔路加1:13〕。在马利
亚这方面这是一个完全出人意料的消息因为她仍是童女〔路加1:34〕。

Another similarity is in their reaction to these events: they were both afraid upon meeting Gabriel (Luke 1:12, 29). But there was one subtle difference in their fear: Zechariah was afraid of the angel while Mary was troubled at his words of greeting. In other words Zechariah was self-focused and was concerned of his own security while Mary was God focused and was concerned with the meaning and purpose of this encounter.
另外一个相似之处就是他们对这些事的反应：他们在见到加百列时同样害怕。但
他们的害怕却有一个微妙的分别：撒迦利亚是害怕天使而马利亚却是被他问安的
话所困扰。换句话说撒迦利亚是把目光放在自己身上，关心他自己的安危，而马
利亚把目光放在神身上，她关心这次遭遇的意义和用意。

On the surface there is also a similarity in Zechariah and Mary’s reaction to Gabriel’s message, they both said that what was going to happen to them was not possible. Zechariah gave the reason that he and his wife Elizabeth had well passed the child bearing age, while Mary stated that she could not have a baby because she was a virgin.
表面上撒迦利亚和马利亚对加百列的信息的反应也有相似之处，他们都说快要发
生在他们身上的事是不可能的。撒迦利亚的理由是因为他和他妻子伊利沙伯都已
过了生育孩子的年龄，而马利亚则说她不可能生孩子因为她仍是处女之身。

However deep down Zechariah questioned the validity and truthfulness of Gabriel’s message, saying, “How can I be sure of this?” To this Gabriel answered that Zechariah could be sure because he was the archangel Gabriel who stood in the presence of God, and he had been sent to speak to him and to tell him that good news. In other words Gabriel was saying that his message was valid and truthful because he had access to God. Not only that, it was God Himself who sent Gabriel to Zechariah to tell him the good news that his prayer for having a child of their own was answered. Now good news is worth repeating and spreading, however, Zechariah, in his unbelief, would not be able to speak words worthy of this good news, so he was silenced and his speaking ability removed until his son John was born and he confirmed in agreement with God and his wife that his son’s name would be John (Luke 1:59-64).
不过，撒迦利亚实在是质疑加百列的信息的确实性，他说，「我凭着甚麽可知道
这事呢？」加百列回答说撒迦利亚可肯定这事因为他是站在神面前的加百列，奉
差而来对他说话，将这好信息报给他。换句话说，加百列说他的信息是准确真实
的因为他可到神那里去接近神。不单如此，是神自己差加百列去告诉撒迦利亚好
消息，就是他盼望得到自己的孩子的祷告已蒙应允。好消息都是值得重覆和传开
的，不过在他的不信中撒迦利亚说不出配得这好消息的话来，所以他成了哑吧，
失去说话的能力，直到他的儿子约翰出生和他同意神与他妻子，确认他儿子的名
字是约翰的时候为止〔路加1:59-64〕。

On the other hand Mary, although bewildered by the announcement of her forthcoming pregnancy as a virgin, accepted Gabriel’s explanation of this miracle by faith. Immediately she submitted to God’s plan for her life, declaring herself the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38). She trusted that “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
另一方面，马利亚虽然被她快要处女怀孕的宣告所困扰，却凭信心接受加百列对
这神迹的解释。她马上顺服在神对她生命的计划，宣称自己是主的使女〔路加
1:38〕。她相信「出於神的话，没有一句不带能力的」〔路加1:37〕。

THE MIRACLE OF JESUS
耶稣这个神迹

We can also have the miracle of Jesus in our life.
我们也可以有耶稣这个神迹在我们生命中。

If you feel lost, needing guidance in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the way”, because Jesus said, “I am the way” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the pilot of your life, you will gain a sense of direction even in the most difficult circumstance.
如果你感到失落，生命中需要指引，神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「道路」，因为耶稣说，「我就是道路」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的导航员，什至在最困难的环境中你会得到一个方向感。

If you are confused, needing understanding in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the truth”, because Jesus said, “I am the truth” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the foundation and cornerstone of your life, you will have a dependable standard to use as reference to deal with most perplexing situation.
如果你感到迷茫，生命中需要了解，神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「真理」，因为耶稣说，「我就是真理」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的基础和房角石，什至在最迷惑的处境中你会有一个可靠的标准作参
考。

If you are discouraged, needing support in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the life”, because Jesus said, “I am the life” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the stream of living water in your life, you will constantly be nourished and encouraged by God’s grace in the most serious drought in your spiritual life.
如果你感到沮丧，生命中需要支持，神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「生命」，因为耶稣说，「我就是生命」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的活水泉源，什至在你灵命中最严重的干旱中你会得到神的恩惠的滋
润和鼓励。

God had a plan to use Zechariah and Mary to bring out His purpose for the world. How they responded affected the level of blessing they received in their life. In spite of Zechariah’s initial unbelief, God continued to carry out His work. It is up to Zechariah to finally gain the right perspective and to participate in God’s work. Let us be like Mary, seeing the possibility of God’s plan for our life, and submit ourselves to Him as the Lord’s servants, saying, “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
神有计划来用撒迦利亚和马利亚来成就他对世界的用心，他们如何回应影响他们
生命中得到的福气程度。尽管撒迦利亚最初的疑惑，神继续执行他的工作。撒迦
利亚最后须要得到正确的观点和参加神的工作。 让我们学习马利亚，看到神的计
划在我们的生活的可能性，并且自己顺服作主的仆人，说，「情愿照你的话成就
在我身上」〔路加1:38〕。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

    “The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
                    “信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9