圣诞节的来历圣诞节是什麽一回事？ What is Christmas about?
- 听力原文
- 参考译文
Some 2,000 years ago, the Jewish people in the Middle East had a hope: a king sent from God. This was mentioned in their ancient scrolls, and this king would come as a descendant of their King David - the king from long ago they so loved and respected. This expectant king was described by their prophets as one who would be their savior and one who would set the captives free.
In those days suddenly a lot of homecoming members of king David's clan suddenly arrived at the little town of Bethlehem. That was because Caesar Augustus of the Roman Empire, which ruled the Jews at the time, issued a decree that a census would be taken, and that everyone must register in his native town. Joseph and Mary, who was large with child, hence also arrived at Bethlehem from Galilee, since Joseph was King David's descendant.
There in Bethelem, Mary, who was still a virgin, gave birth to a baby boy - just as what an angel had told her before she was pregnant. This also fulfilled the prophesy in the Jewish scrolls concerning the birth place of the savior.
On the night that Jesus was born, there were some shepherds tending their sheep in the fields nearby. Suddenly an angel appeared to them, with light shining all around. The shepherds were terrified, but the angel told them that he came to tell them some good news: a savior had been born to them, and they could find him in Bethelem. And the sign to them would be that the baby was wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger.
When the shepherds hurried to Bethelem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger, just as the angel had said.
At age thirty, Jesus started proclaiming His purpose of coming to earth, which was to let people know this: the God who created all things and gave life to humans, loves every person. However, since everyone has sinned. And no matter the sin is big or small, whether it is murdering or just telling lies or looking down on others, it is a sin in God's eyes. As a result humans cannot enjoy eternal life. But God is love, and in order that humans could enjoy abundant life and an eternal life instead of eternal torture and punishment, He sent His only son Jesus to earth to become a scapegoat to be tortured and put to death on the cross.
As a result, every person, no matter how impure and unclean, or how much sin he has committed, he just needs to confess to God that he is sinful and believes in Jesus Christ, and the blood shed by Jesus can cleanse all his sin. And he is pardoned and accepted by God, receiving eternal life.
When Jesus was on earth, he prophesied that He would be killed, and that He would rise again on the third day. These were all fulfilled, proving that He truly was the son of God sent to earth.
That is the true meaning of Christmas!
Dear friend, do you want to have eternal life?
Do you want God to pardon all your sins and wrongdoings?
两千年前在中东的犹太人有一个期望，就是一个神差派的君王，这是在他们古卷中提及，会从备受他们历代敬爱的国王大卫後代所出，这万众期待的君王被他们的先知形容为一个拯救他们的使者，释放被掳的救星。
在一个小小不起眼的伯利恒城里，当时突然来了很多回乡客，因为统治犹太人的罗马帝国凯撒奥古士督颁下命令，要所有人都回乡报到，做人囗登记。於是住在加利利的约瑟，和腹大便便的马利亚也抵达了伯利恒，因为约瑟是大卫家族的後代。
就在伯利恒，仍是童贞女的马利亚产下了一个男婴，就正如她还没有怀孕时，一个天使向她预言一般，并应验了犹太教古卷中所说，救主出生的地方。
耶稣降生那晚，在伯利恒城附近有些牧羊人正在看守羊群，突然一个天使向他们显现，华光四射，他们都吓得半死，但那天使向他们道明来意，就是要告诉他们救主耶稣降世的大喜讯，并说他们在伯利恒城内看到的一个用布包裹，躺在马槽里的婴孩，就是这刚降世救主的记号。
牧羊人赶抵伯利恒时，找到了约瑟和马利亚，并如天使所说，果然看到一个被布裹着，躺在马槽里的男婴。
耶稣三十岁时就开始向世人宣讲他来这世界的目的━━就是要人知道创造万物、给与人生命的神爱所有人，但因为每一个人都犯了错，或大或小，无论是说谎或看不起人，杀人放火，在圣洁的神眼中都是罪过，因而不能得到永生。但神是爱，为了要让人有机会能够享受丰盛的人生，更能有极乐的永生，免受永远的折磨及惩罚，就派他的独生子━━耶稣，来到世上作代罪??羊，让世人把他无缘无故地施以酷刑，钉死在十字架上。
这样，任何人，无论如何不洁，如何罪孽深重，只要承认自己有罪过，相信耶稣基督，就可以藉耶稣所流的血，洗茈一切罪孽，得到特赦，重新被神接纳，得到永生。
耶稣在世时，预言他会便杀，并会在第三天复活，这些都一一应验了，再证明他的确是神派来的独生子。
这就是圣诞的真正意义！
亲爱的朋友，您想得到永生吗？
您想神特赦您所有的罪过吗？
