2016年2月24日
期盼 The Forward Look
读经: 路加福音2章21-35節
Reading: Luke 2: 21-35
西面⋯⋯又公義又虔誠⋯⋯又有聖靈在他身上。-路加福音2章25節
Simeon . . . was righteous and devout . . . and the Holy Spirit was on him. - Luke 2:25
全年读经: 民數記9-11章;馬可福音5章1-20節
Bible in a Year: Numbers 9–11; Mark 5:1-20
荷蘭名畫家林布蘭(Rembrandt)在63歲那年驟然逝世。之後，人們在他的畫架上找到一幅未完成的作品。畫作集中於描繪西面充滿感情地抱著嬰孩耶穌，當時耶穌出生才40天，被帶到耶路撒冷的聖殿中。然而，林布蘭尚未完成該畫的背景及他一貫的細節處理。有些藝術專家相信，林布蘭畫這幅畫時，已知道自己大限將至，他就如西面一樣，已準備要得「釋放」 （路加福音2章29節） 。
那時，聖靈在西面身上 （25節） ，因此馬利亞和約瑟來聖殿獻長子時他也剛好在場，這事絕非出於偶然。於是這位一直期盼著應許之彌賽亞的西面，將嬰孩抱在懷中並讚美上帝說：「主啊！如今可以照祢的話，釋放僕人安然去世。因為我的眼睛已經看見祢的救恩，就是祢在萬民面前所預備的，是照亮外邦人的光，又是祢民以色列的榮耀。」 （29-32節）
西面所期盼的，並不是以色列光榮的歷史，而是應許中要來拯救萬民的彌賽亞。
就像西面一樣，我們的生活也可以充滿盼望、滿懷憧憬，因為知道有一天我們都能見主的面。
天父，願我們就像西面一樣，
時時期盼主耶穌基督的到來。
主耶穌啊，我願祢來！–啟示錄22章20節。
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When the great Dutch painter Rembrandt died unexpectedly at age 63, an unfinished painting was found on his easel. It focuses on Simeon's emotion in holding the baby Jesus when He was brought to the temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after His birth. Yet the background and normal detail remain unfinished. Some art experts believe that Rembrandt knew the end of his life was near and—like Simeon—was ready to "be dismissed" (Luke 2:29).
The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon (v. 25), so it was no coincidence that he was in the temple when Mary and Joseph presented their firstborn son to God. Simeon, who had been looking for the promised Messiah, took the baby in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel" (vv. 29-32).
We can look forward in life because we know that one day we will see the Lord.
Simeon was not longing for the glory days of Israel's history, but was looking ahead for the promised Messiah, who would come to redeem all nations.
Like Simeon, we can have an expectant, forward look in life because we know that one day we will see the Lord.
Father, may we, like Simeon, be always looking ahead for the appearing of Jesus our Lord.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20