Christmas Tree 圣诞树

At this time of the year, most of us will enjoy decorating our Christmas Tree. But do we all know why we decorate it the way we do? Today, I would like to share with you the story and the meaning behind the decorated Christmas tree.

在每年的这个时候， 我们大多数人都会在装饰我们的圣诞树。但是，我们为什么这样的装饰它？ 今天，我愿与大家分享这个圣诞树背后的含义。

The tree is an evergreen tree and it represents a life full of joy and living forever with God. This is the Good News of Jesus' birth, His life on earth, His death and then becoming alive from the dead. And the Bible also tells us very clearly that Jesus is the Son of God.

这棵树是一种常青树和它所代表了充满欢乐和永远与上帝生活的生命。耶稣的出世, 他在地上的生命，他的去世，然后从死里复活, 这是个好消息。然而圣经也非常明确地告诉我们,耶稣是上帝的爱子。

So today my dear friends, we all need to consider – Do we believe what the Bible says about Jesus? Well, as Christians we believe with all our heart that what the Bible says about Jesus is indeed true. And Christmas is a time for us to celebrate a person - a living person who loves you and who was born for you, and then died for you, so that you might have eternal life. CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JESUS!

所以，我亲爱的朋友们，我们都必须考虑我们是否相信圣经上所说关于耶稣的事呢？ 那么，至于基督徒，我们全心相信圣经上所说的耶稣是确实,是真的。因此我们在圣诞节是庆祝一个人 - 一个活著的,爱你的人，为你而生，然后为你而死的人，因此这样, 你能有永恒的生命。圣诞节是关于耶稣！

There are a lot of stories and many ideas about why we decorate trees at Christmas time. And one favorite story tells of a man named Martin Luther who started this tradition over 400 years ago.

有很多故事和许多想法，关于我们为什么在圣诞节装饰树木。 这里有一个故事讲述了一名男子名为马丁路德, 在超过400年前, 开始了这个传统。

One Christmas Eve, Martin was out walking in the woods near his home. He was praying and thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked up into the midnight sky, and became so thrilled with the beauty of an evergreen tree that stood tall outside on a starry night. He decided that he wanted to take that tree home with him. He had a saw with him, so he cut it down, and dragged it home. He then built a base so that it would stand straight and tall in his house. Then he fastened some candles to it, to made them looked like those stars he had seen earlier. (They did not have electric lights in those days.) Then he lit up all those candles and stood back to admire the tree. Those candles reminded him of the stars that were in the sky above Bethlehem on the night that Jesus Christ was born. We have used electric lights today on our Christmas tree.

述说在一个圣诞节前夕，马丁外出在他家附近的树林中散步.祈祷与思考著耶稣基督。他抬起头来看著午夜的天空，看见美丽的常青树屹立在星夜里, 而感觉到兴奋. 他决定将这棵树取带回家。他带著锯子, 将它锯下，并拖著它带回家。他建立了一个架子, 让它可以在他家里挺直的站立起来. 然后， 他绑了一些蜡烛在树上, 就像他较早前看到的那些星星一样. (在那些日子里他们没有电灯.） 他点燃了所有的蜡烛，站回原来的地方欣赏那棵树。这些蜡烛也提醒著他耶稣基督诞生在伯利恒那个夜空上的恒星.今天我们已经用电灯泡来装饰我们的圣诞树。

The Lights on our Christmas tree represent those candles of long ago, and those stars. The Bible also talks about Jesus as the Coming King and as the One who brings LIGHT.

在我们的圣诞树上的灯光代表这些很久以前的蜡烛和这些恒星。圣经也谈论到耶稣是未来国王和一个带来了光的人。

Remember in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark & Luke, Mary & Joseph were turned away from the inn and there was no room for them to say anywhere. Well, Christians believed that a stranger could be the Christ Child in disguise. And the Bible tells us that Jesus IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

记得在马太，马可与路 加福音， 马利亚和约瑟被旅馆拒绝， 在任何地方也没有空房间提供给他们. 那么，基督徒认为，一个陌生人可能是婴儿基督的化身。和圣经告诉我们，耶稣是世界之光的！

Candles were put at the windows of all the Christian homes on Christmas Eve. Those candles guided the Christ Child to those doors. And if a stranger came to the door on Christmas Eve, they were never ever turned away from that house.

在圣诞前夕,所有的基督教家庭都将蜡烛点放在窗口。这些蜡烛，将引导婴儿基督走向对的门。如果在圣诞节前夕有陌生人来到门前，他们将永远不会从这个房子转过身去。

All of us can be that same LIGHT. We should be that LIGHT, just not at Christmas Time, but every day of our lives, because Jesus is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

我们大家谁也可以成为那个光。我们应该成为那个光,不只是在圣诞节期间,而是每一天的生活中, 因为耶稣是世界的光。

When we believe that God loves us and we accept His Son Jesus into our hearts, we too become those lights for all the unbelievers. The LIGHT OF JESUS SHOULD SHINE THROUGH US IN ALL THAT WE DO, AND IN ALL THAT WE SAY.

当我们相信上帝爱我们時，当我们接受他的儿子耶稣来到我们的心中，我们也成为这些所有非信徒的光。耶稣的光应该照耀著我们所做的, 和我们所说的.

The star again represents the special star that shone above the manger where the Christ child was laid. It is the same star that the shepherds saw when they came to visit the baby Jesus. It is the same star that the Wise men followed who came from the east, when they came in search of the baby Jesus. Remember, the Bible says - and "Lo, the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came to rest where the child was with his Mother Mary". Jesus is also called the "BRIGHT MORNING STAR" in the book of Revelations.

星星再次代表著那天空上照耀著躺在马槽里的婴儿基督的特殊恒星.这也是当牧羊人前来看望婴儿耶稣时看到的相同的恒星. 这也是来自东部地区的当智者, 跟随著恒星来寻找婴儿耶稣的所在. 请记住， 圣经上说 “众天使离他们升天去了、 牧羊的人彼此说、 我们往伯利恒去、 看看所成的事、就是主所指示我们的。他们急忙去了、就寻见马利亚和约瑟、又有那婴孩卧在马槽里“。在启 示 录, 主耶稣也被称为 “明亮晨星”.

Next, we are going to tell you about the ANGEL decorations on our tree. The word ANGEL stands for messenger, a Greek word. The Angel communicates good news from God to the people. An Angel appeared to Mary. He said - "Fear not for you have found favor with God, and you will conceive by the power of the Spirit and a child will grow in your womb and you will bear a SON. You shall call His name JESUS."

下一个，我们要告诉你的树上的天使的装饰。这个天使在希腊字代表著使者。 天使传达给人民上帝的好消息。天使出现在玛丽亚的面前。他说- “不要怕． 你在神面前已经蒙恩了。 你要怀孕生子、可以给他起名叫耶稣。”

The same Angel appeared to Joseph, telling him what would come to pass. The Scriptures also say that some shepherds were in the fields watching over their sheep. Then an Angel of the Lord appeared and stood before all of them. Those shepherds were frightened. The Glory of the Lord was shining all around the Angel. The Angel told them not to be afraid. He told them he was bringing them - "Good News of Great JOY. Tonight Your Savior has been born in the town of David. He is the Christ Child --- The Lord. This message is given so that you will know and you will hear. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

同样的天使出现在约瑟面前，告诉他成就在马利亚身上的事。圣经也说， 一些牧羊人在他们的领域看守他们的羊群。然后天使长出现，并站在他们面前。 这些牧羊的人就惧怕。主的荣光四面照在天使长身上,天使长告诉他们不要惧怕。他告诉他们,“我报给你们大喜的信息、 是关乎万民的巨大的喜悦的好消息。因今天在大卫的城里, 为你们生了救主、就是主基督。你们要看见一个婴孩、包着布、卧在马槽里,那就是记号了。

Then a very Large Glory of Angels from Heaven filled the midnight skies. All of those Angels were praising God & saying: "PEACE ON EARTH, GIVE GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST & ON EARTH LET THERE BE PEACE AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT PLEASE GOD."

忽然有一大队天兵、同那天使赞美神说: "在至高之处荣耀归与神、 在地上平安归与他所喜悦的人。"

The Angels told the shepherds where they could go to find the baby and then they filled the whole sky singing praises to God. It was an awesome sight.

众天使离开他们升天去了、牧羊的人彼此说、我们往伯利恒去、 看看所成的事、就是主所指示我们的。

BELLS MEAN JOY at Christmas Time. In some countries around the world, bells ring out loud in every church at midnight on Christmas Eve to announce the Birthday of Jesus who brings God's Love and Peace for all those who believe that He is God's Son.

钟声意味着欢乐在圣诞节的时间。在世界的一些国家，在每一个诞节前夕的午夜,钟声在各地的教堂响起,为所有认为他是上帝的儿子的人, 宣布耶稣的诞辰带来了上帝的爱与平。

The colorful Christmas balls all have very special meanings also. They are round; a shape that reminds us that god's love for us is eternal and has no end. The balls also represent the world into which Jesus came as Emmanuel - (which means) god is with us.

多姿多彩的圣诞球都有非常特殊的意义。他们是圆形的，这形状提醒著我们上帝的爱是永恒，没有结束的。圆形的球也义味着耶稣是以马内利, 来到这世界作为”神与我们同在”.

The red balls remind all of us here today of Jesus' blood that was shed for all our sins. in the shedding of his blood, we all became free forever. What a sacrifice the Lord Jesus made for all of us.

红色的球提醒我们耶稣为我们的罪孽所流出的宝血。 他流出的宝血， 使我们所有的人都永远自由。主耶稣为我们所有的人做出了那么大的牺牲。

The green balls represent to us - the hope of eternal life, and the forgiveness of our sins, just by telling god that we are sorry for the wrong things we have done and then asking god to give us his gift of eternal life. That eternal life is god's greatest gift to us all who are willing to surrender and then believe that Jesus was the son of God.

绿色小球代表我们永恒的生命的希望，并我们的罪过的宽恕，只要告诉上帝，我们很抱歉我们所做错的事情，然后要求神给我们永恒的生命。这永恒的生命就是上帝最伟大的礼物，我们大家谁愿意相信，耶稣是上帝的儿子。

The white balls stand for the purity & light of Jesus. He is the light of the world and was without sin.

白色的小球代表的圣洁和耶稣的光。他是世界之光的，并没有罪过.

The blue balls are for the faith, the faith which the prophets of the Old Testament talked about. These prophets listened to god's word and proclaimed the message that a messiah (a Saviour King) would come to save the world.

蓝色的球代表著信心，信心是信先知旧约的预言。 这些先知听神的话，并宣布一个救世主会来拯救世界。

Faith is the only thing that can last for all of time. If you have that faith, then you have what it takes to handle all of your problems and challenges. Faith is the one thing that no one can steal away from you. Faith lives in your heart. Faith is real.

信心是唯一可以持续所有的时间。如果你有这种信心， 那么你就有所需要的措施来处理所有的问题和挑战。没有任何人能抢走您的信心。信心活在你的心。信心是真实的。

We put some Candy Canes on Our Tree. Candy Canes were first invented by a Candy Maker from America. They made the hard candy in the shape of a "J" originally, as a way to remind the children that Jesus is the heart of Christmas. They were originally red, green and white. The Candy Canes were also to remind us that Shepherds were the first ones to hear about the birth of Jesus. They carried crooks in order to keep their sheep save or to lift them from a cliff or crevice in the rocks.

我们将一些糖果放在我们的树上。美国糖果制造商首先发明了糖果。为了提醒孩子们圣诞节的核心是耶稣, 他们制造了 “J” 形状的硬糖果 。 他们原先是红色，绿色和白色。该糖果也提醒我们，牧羊人是第一个听到耶稣的诞生。这些牧羊人带著杖，以保护羊群。

Jesus is our shepherd and he uses his crook to guide us every single day, leading us away from sin. He provides a path for us to walk with him every day of our lives, if we let him. The colors on our candy canes are red, for the sacrifice Christ made for all our sins, the green, for that hope, that he always gives to us, and lastly, the white - for his purity and light.

主耶稣是我们的大牧羊人.他用他的杖，指引我们每一天， 使我们远离罪恶。他提供了一个路径，我们每一天同他走我们的生活。糖果有红色的色彩， 因为基督为我们所有的罪孽牺牲，流出的宝血. 绿色的， 因为他总是给我们希望， 最后，白色的- 他的纯洁和光。

Last but not least, of all is the gifts that we put under our trees at Christmas time. At Christmas time we present our gifts to each other to show our love for one another. Our love should always be given for free. Jesus gives us his love for free every day, if we have surrender to him. We can not enjoy & experience that love of this free gift until we accept it, and open that love and receive this love as a part of our daily lives. In the same way, we are all reminded at this special time of year, Christmas time, that God sent the greatest of gifts to us at Christmas time, his son - Jesus Christ.

最后是我们在圣诞节时的礼物。 在圣诞节时， 我们拿出我们的礼物互相显示我们對彼此的爱。 我们的爱始终应该给予免费。主耶稣每天给我们的爱都是免费的。 我们不能享受和体验到这个免费爱的礼物， 直到我们接受它，并打开它作为我们生活中的一部分。 以同样的方式， 今年的圣诞节这个特殊的时刻提醒我们, 神在圣诞节发出的最大的礼物， 就是他的爱子 - 主耶稣基督。

We can hear about this gift, read about it, but until we believe and then accept that gift and receive it as a part of our lives we will never be able to experience everything that God wants for us as His Children.

我们可以听到关于这个礼物的信息， 我们将永远无法经历到作上帝的孩子的希望, 直到我们相我，然后接受它作为我们生活中的一部分。