心靈不安的人有福了

路加福音2:10 那天使對他們說：「不要懼怕！我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的。」

天使的話語表明這位君王的誕生是給那些在恐懼中戰競活著的人的。唯獨這些人屬於他的國。天使要把這消息傳給他們，正如向那些貧苦的、懼怕的牧羊人宣告這消息一般：「我正帶給你一個大喜的消息」。這喜樂實在是給所有人的，但是只有那些良心恐懼，心靈窘困的人們才會接受這消息。唯有他們屬於我，屬於我的講道。我會向他們帶來這佳音。讓這喜樂接近良心最不安的人，豈不正是一件大好之事嗎？
當這個世界有麵包和魚、辦法和金錢、能力和榮耀時，它就高興歡慶了。但是，一個悲傷困苦的心唯獨期盼平安和寬慰，期盼知道是否上帝以恩慈待他。一顆不安的心只有從這大喜中尋到平靜安息。與這大喜相比，世界的喜樂沒有任何價值。所以，這大喜的消息要講給可憐的良心，正如天使在這裡所講的：「聽我說，你這悲傷不安的心啊，我帶給你大喜的消息，因為他成為人臨到地上，並不是為了將你投入地獄。他來，是為了讓你可以在他裡面歡樂大喜。」
如果你真明白基督，正確地描述他是誰，他是什麼，請你記下天使的話語。天使是怎麼描述他的呢？天使說：「他是『大喜』」
那理解這詞意思的人，並將它存記在心的人有福了，因為他們從其中必然發現力量。——馬丁路德（聖誕日講道）（WA 34.2:505)

Blessed Are Those Who Have Troubled Hearts
Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

The angels’ word shows that this king is born to those who live in fear and trembling, and such alone belong to his kingdom. To them it shall be proclaimed, as the angels announced to the poor, frightened shepherd, “I am bringing you good news of great joy.” Such joy is indeed offered to everyone, but only those who are frightened in their consciences and troubled in their hearts can received it. These are they who belong to me and to my preaching, and unto them I will bring good tidings. Is it not a wonderful thing that this joy is nearest to those whose consciences are the most restless?
The world is happy and of good cheer when it has loaves and fishes, means and money, power and glory. But a sad and troubled heart desires nothing but peace and comfort, that it may know whether God is graciously inclined toward it. And this joy, wherein a troubled heart finds peace and rest, is so great that all the world’s happiness is nothing in comparison. Therefore should such good tidings be preached to wretched consciences as the angel preaches here: “Listen unto me, you of a sad and troubled heart, I bring you good tidings. For he has not come down to earth and been made man that he might cast you into hell. But he has come in order that with great joy you might rejoice in him.” And if you would truly understand Christ and properly describe who and what he is, mark well the angel’s word, how he defines and describes him, saying that he is and is called “great joy.” Blessed are those who can well understand the meaning of this word, and hold it truly in their hearts; for strength is to be found by such. (Sermon for Christmas Day, 1531) (WA 34.2:505)

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