提要
以色列人對彌賽亞的盼望是很複雜的。較簡單的想法是,去期待從大衛的宗族要產生一位政治的領袖,可以解放以色列脫離所有外族的統治,把國家帶向健康和繁榮(今天「正統」的猶太人皆作如是觀之)。但另一較複雜面是,即或猶太聖經都指出「彌賽亞」是個神聖的用語,大衛王位肉身的繼承者似乎完全不是猶太人,而是上帝自己。
例如:「因有一嬰孩為我們而生,有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在祂的肩頭上;祂名稱為:『奇妙策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君』。祂的政權與平安必加增無窮。祂必在大衛的寶座上治理祂的國,以公平公義使國堅定穩固,從今直到永遠。」(賽9:6~7)
問題來了:「人怎能成為上帝?」只有一個方法:上帝自己選擇成為人。人可以渴望作上帝,但他永不可能變成上帝--他沒有這種力量。但上帝有能力變成人--自我限制的能力(腓2:5~11)。這是為什麼天使告訴約瑟:「她所懷的孕是從聖靈來的。」(20節)只有上帝能變成人--同時是全然的上帝和全然的人。
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Overview
Israel's messianic hope is complex. The simple part is that there is expectation of a physical leader from the line of David who will deliver Israel from all foreign occupation and lead her to health and prosperity. (This is the "messiah" most orthodox Jews look for to this day). The complex part is that the Jewish scriptures themselves speak of this messiah in divine terms. The very notion of a physical successor to King David's throne who at the same time is God seems to be acutely non-Jewish.
For example: "to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Won derful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever" (Isaiah 9:6,7).
The question is, how can a man be God? There's only one way: only if God unilaterally chooses to become man himself. A man can aspire to be God, but he can never become God — he doesn't have the power. But God has the power to become man. Only ultimate power has the power of self-limitation (Philippians 2:5-11). That's why the message of the angel to Joseph is so vital — "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (v.20). Only God can become man, and be wholly God and wholly man at the same time.
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Prayer
Thank You, Lord, that Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled (Isa. 7:14) and through the virgin's womb we received into the world "Immanuel"— "God with us". May we daily, by Your grace, live as proof that this really happened in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. |