10But the angel said to them,...

10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
- P124

19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
- P125

An angel of the Lord announces the news of the Messiah’s birth to shepherds in nearby fields. A great host of angels then appears and praises God before them. As modern-day believers, we tend to romanticize shepherding, but in Jesus’ time, shepherds were thought to be at the bottom of the social ladder. The fact that these men receive the angelic announcement is great news for all of us. - P126

Jesus was born in the most humble circumstances as a sign to us: only those who realize their need for the Messiah qualify for His gracious invitation of salvation. And then, as a natural result, we join with the heavenly host, praising the God whose favor rests on the lowly and the undeserving. - P126

When the shepherds go and see Jesus, a newborn in a manger in Bethle-hem, their response is most natural. They cannot help but immediatelygo and tell anyone they find that the Savior has been born. But Mary, theevents differently by privately ponderingthe goodness of God.  - P126

As we reflect on what Christ has done for us thisChristmas season, we are invited to do both. We are toare to delight and declare,
process and proclaim, glorifying and praising God by having fellowshipwith believers and by witnessing to those who do not know Jesus. - P126

Dear heavenly Father, when I consider how Jesus became man and was born in that manger for me, my heart wells up in praise. May that praise fuel me to share this good news with others, from those who know You to those who don’t. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P127

1Nevertheless, there will be ...

1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— - P120

6For 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 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the greatness 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. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

- P121

Zebulun and Naphtali, located in the northernmost part of Israel, receive the prophetic promise of the long-awaited Messiah. This region, referred to as "Galilee of the nations," or "Galilee of the Gentiles," is where Jesus spent most of His time and ministry. The fact that Gentiles outnumbered Jews in this region speaks of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all the peoples of the earth through Abraham’s seed. - P122

The light of Christ often shines most brightly in the darkest places. This is nothing less than God’s great grace, mercy, and love. - P122

As you celebrate the birth of the Savior this Christmas season, remember darkness has been defeated by the light of lights, Jesus. - P122

Through Isaiah‘s prophecy, God proclaims the birth of a child to whomrulership will be given. He will come from the line of David and His reignwill be an eternal reign of justice and righteousness. Laid in a feeding troughfor animals, the child born that night in Bethlehem is the Son of God. ThisSon, Isaiah reminds us, is "given." The God and Creator of the universe is agiver. This is His nature, and this is why we can count on His governmentand kingdom.  - P122

Unlike the kingdoms of this world, it is one of everlastingjustice, righteousness, and peace. Whatever the state of our lives and theworld this Christmas, we can be certain that this promise from God‘s holyWord will come to pass. - P122

"Those who walk in the light now will walk in Jesus‘s final triumph over darkness."
-Jonathan Dodson - P122

His light defeats all darkness, and His hope heals all brokenness. Just as Je-sus is our light, we as Christians are called to be a light in the lives of others.
God instructs us to bless, encourage, uplift, and care for those around us.
In doing so, we reflect His love to the hurting and shine His light into thedarkness. How can you be a beacon of God‘s light today? - P123

Dear God, thank you for the gift of Your Son and the promise of His return and reign. Help me learn to trust Your wisdom, which often appears so foolish in the eyes of the world. Most of all, grant me the courage to walk in it. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P123

[오늘의 한문장] 신약성경과 그 세계

그들은 서로 명예로운 행위 패턴을 따르도록 권면했는데, 이런 행위 패턴을 정의한 것이 바로 거룩함과 외부로 드러나는 사랑이라는 새 법이었다. - P148

10When they came to Geliloth ...

10When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.

11And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,

12the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

- P116

15When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them:

16"The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?

- P116

17Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord!

18And are you now turning away from the Lord? "‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel.

- P117

20When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’" - P117

The eastern tribes build a large altar near the Jordan. The rest of Israel suspectsrebellion against God and gathers to go to war. They send Phinehas and thetribe leaders to confront them. They warn of the consequences of unfaithful-ness and urge the tribes not to rebel against the Lord by worshiping at an altarother than the one He blesses. - P117

Upon their return, the tribes living east of the Jordan build an altar by the river. The other tribes hear of it and misunderstand it as rebellion against God because God’s appointed place of worship was the tabernacle at Shiloh. Sacrifices could only be offered there. Although they misunderstood their fellow Israelites’ intentions, the rest of the congregation’s willingness to confront them is noteworthy. They want no other altar of worship among God’s people except what God had appointed. The altar at Shiloh foreshadows the cross on which Christ made the ultimate sacrifice: - P118

There is no other way for us to be able to draw near to God. Let there be no other altar of worship in our lives. - P118

The tribes from west of the Jordan are ready to go to war against theirbrothers if need be. But first, they warn the two and a half tribes that theconsequences of rebellion will affect the entire congregation. Do not imag-ine that this confrontation came easy for the ten and a half tribes. They areconfronting men who fought by their side, sharing the struggles of war.
But rather than rushing to fight their brothers, they first seek to reasonwith them.  - P118

When we have concerns regarding the behavior of our brothersand sisters, let us not be quick to quarrel with them. As Christ commanded(Matt. 18:15-20), let us approach them and explain our concerns, seekingtheir restoration and our unity. - P118

 I learned an important lesson that day: Accountability is not about punishment; it‘s about love.
Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpensanother. As Christians, we are called to encourage, exhort, uplift, andstrengthen one another, and one very important part of this is holding eachother accountable. In this way, we spur each other to live a life that is notonly pleasing to God but also inspiring to those around us. - P119

Lord God, I don’t like confrontation, but I know that it is sometimes necessary. Grant me the discernment I need to know when to talk only to You and when to express my concerns to others. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P119

전통 대대로 갈릴리, 사마리아, 유대라 불러 온 지역...

전통 대대로 갈릴리, 사마리아, 유대라 불러 온 지역은 널리 그렇게 부르는 이름일 뿐이지, 영구히 고정된 사회 실체 혹은 지리적 실체가 아니다. 이 지역 전체는 서남쪽의 이두메아, 동남쪽의 나바테아, 요단강 건너편의 베뢰아와 데가볼리 지역 도시들, 그리고 동북쪽의 바타네아/가울란티스지역이 에워싸고 있었다. 갈릴리 바로 북쪽에는 코일레-시리아가 있었다. 갈릴리는 ‘이방인의 갈릴리‘라 불렸는데, 이는 이방인이 많이 살았기 때문이 아니라, 동서남북 사방을 이방인 지역이 에워싸고 있었기 때문이었다. - P137

팔레스타인은 세 언어를 사용하는 환경이었다. 페르시아제국의 공용어 lingua franca였던 아랍어는 여전히 대다수 사람이 쓰는 언어였다. 그리스와 로마가 이 지역을 잇달아 정복했지만, 아람어는 수 세기 동안 그생명을 지속했다. (아람어는 시리아어와 가까운 동족어이며, 시리아어의 고대 형태는일부 사람들이 지금도 살아 있는 언어로서 사용하고 있다.)  - P138

성경을 읽는 경우처럼 전례 자리에서 발견할 수 있는 언어였으나, 일부사람들은 말하는 언어로 사용했으며, 글을 쓰고 명문을 새길 때도 사용했다. 그리스어도 널리 사용했으며, 특히 상인과 지배 계층이 사용했다.
예수는 나사렛에서 자라셨기 때문에, 아람어를 쓰신 게 확실하다. 신약성경이 예수가 하신 말씀이라며 음역하여 제시한 말은 모두 아람어이다(가령 막 5:41을 보라). 아울러 예수는 적어도 히브리어를 읽으실 수 있었던것 같다(눅 4:16-20을 보라). 우리가 앞서 제시했듯이, 십중팔구는 그리스어도 구사하실 수 있었을 것이며, 마가복음 7:24-30 에 등장하는 시리아-페니키아(수로보니게) 여자 같은 이방인과 대화하실 때도, 혹은 본디오 빌라도 같은 이와 대화하실 때도 그리스어로 하셨을 가능성이 있다. 어쩌면 단일 언어 문화권에서 사는 사람들은 그때나 지금이나 이 세계에는 사람들이 아주 정밀한 언어 구사 능력을 갖추지 않고 높은 수준의 교육을 받지 않아도 서너 언어를 두루 쓸 수 있음을 당연하게 여기는 곳이많음을 유념해야 할지도 모르겠다. - P139