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您一定知道“圣诞节”就是庆祝耶稣基督的诞生。我们说“圣诞”是因为耶稣基督是永恒的神，所以他是至圣的，他是圣洁的，是永恒的。我们都用“圣”这个字描述耶稣是理所当让的。其实，《圣经》用了几个不同的词句形容耶稣基督。他既是万王之王，又是“和平的君王”[《以赛亚书》9:6（现代中文译本：TCV）]。因为耶稣是“和平的君王”，每当过“圣诞节”，我们也会想到世界和平。 

耶稣带来了和平，他又是和平的化身。《旧约圣经》和《新约圣经》都这样描述耶稣：“压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将熄灯火，他不吹灭”[ 《以赛亚书》42:7; 《马太福音》12:20 （现代中文译本TCV）]。意思是耶稣非常温柔和谦卑；耶稣安贫乐道地度日，也教导他的门徒要如此行。因此，多年来，耶稣基督的门徒，就是基督徒，也告诉全世界的人说，“世界的和平来自耶稣”；“信耶稣得平安”。 

但是，今天我们时常见到的，并不是和平乃是战争，不是爱心，乃是仇恨。不是舍身，乃是谋杀；不是施舍，乃是偷窃等。有时候，我们很想知道耶稣基督的和平到底在哪里？我们见到的是家庭不和谐，社会不安定，国际关系不稳定。耶稣的和平在哪里？

其实，耶稣所要赐给的和平是内在的和平，是我们每一个人可以得到的和平，然后再把耶稣的和平转送给我们周围的人。耶稣的和平就是耶稣的爱，就是耶稣的榜样，就是耶稣的十字架。耶稣在世的时候，他过了“爱人如己”的生活，他又留下了诫命教导基督徒要过“爱人如己”的生活。 

这样看来，耶稣基督的和平就是在这里，在我们眼前，在我们的生命里。耶稣等待着我们跟随他，成为他的儿女，让他的爱充满我们的身体和生命。因此，耶稣的门徒在哪里，耶稣的爱也在那里，并且，耶稣的和平就是在那里。等到全家人都信奉耶稣，那家庭就是一个充满爱的家庭，也是一个和谐的家庭；耶稣基督的和平在其中。等到社区都是基督徒，那社区就是一个充满爱的社区，也是一个安定的社区；耶稣基督的和平在其中。慢慢地，社会上的基督徒把神的爱分享给别人，使得基督徒越来越多，基督徒社区变为基督徒都市；耶稣的和平充满其中。慢慢地，耶稣的福音，神的爱，基督耶稣的真理都被传到普天之下，越来越多人成为基督徒。基督徒都市变为基督徒世界。耶稣的和平在其中。 

听众朋友，请您不要认为您看不见耶稣基督的和平。基督徒在哪里，基督的和平也应该在那里。请您和我一样，借着“圣诞节”所给我们的好机会，来仰望这种世界：家庭、社区、国家、世界都是基督徒，都有耶稣的形象，都活出耶稣的爱和真理，都享受耶稣的和平。这样，耶稣基督，那位“和平的君王”会用他的爱统治全世界，使得世界和平。

You know, of course, that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In Chinese, the term for Christmas (sheng dan) includesthe word “holy” (sheng). Since Jesus Christ is God eternal, he is a holy and pure person and is eternal, so it is right and proper to use the word “holy” to describe Jesus. Actually, the Bible describes Jesus Christ in several ways. He is called “King of kings” and he is also called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV). Since Jesus is the “Prince ofPeace,” Christmas is a good time for us to think about world peace. Jesus brought peace and Jesus was the embodiment of peace. Both the Old and New Testaments describe Jesus in this way: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20). This means that Jesus was gentle and humble; he was happy to lead a simple and virtuous life, and he taught his disciples to do the same. For many years since that time, therefore, the disciples of Jesus, i.e., Christians, have told the world that world peace comes through Jesus Christ.

What we see so often today, however, is not peace but war, not love but hate. Instead of self-sacrifice we see murder; instead of charity we see theft. “Where is Jesus’ peace?” we ask. We see disharmony in the home, instability in society and disunity in international circles. Where is the peace of Jesus?

In fact, the peace of Jesus is peace of the inner person and is a peace which each of us can obtain and can in turn give to other people around us. The peace of Jesus is the love of Jesus; it is Jesus’ daily example of living, and is his cross. While Jesus lived on the earth, he lived a life of “love others as you love yourself” and he left the commandment that Christians should also “love others as you love yourself.”

We see the peace of Jesus right in front of our eyes. Jesus is waiting for us to follow him, to become his children and to allow his love to fill our bodies and our lives. In this way, therefore, wherever there are disciples of Jesus, there is the love of Jesus and there is the peace of Jesus. When everyone in a family becomes a Christian, that home is filled with love and harmony, and the peace of Jesus Christ is there. When everyone in a community becomes a Christian, that community is full of love and stability, and the peace of Jesus is there.

Little-by-little, the Christians in that community share the love of God with others so that more and more people become Christians. A Christian community becomes a Christian city, and the peace of Jesus Christ is there. As time goes on, the gospel of Jesus and the love of God and the truth of the gospel are spoken throughout the world and more and more people become Christians. Christian cities turn into a Christian world; and the peace of Jesus is there.

Do not think that the peace of Jesus Christ cannot be seen. Wherever there are Christians, there should be the peace of Jesus. May both you and I take advantage of the opportunities afforded us by the Christmas season and envision a special kind of world, one where families, communities and nations are all Christians, one where everyone exhibits the characteristics of Jesus in lives of love and truth, as they enjoy the peace of Jesus. In this way, Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace,” will rule the world in love and establish peace on earth.

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