The joy of Christmas is Jesus.

耶稣的降生为我们带来光明和喜乐。

On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。-以赛亚书9章2节

Rev. Martin Niemoller, a prominent German pastor, spent nearly eight years in Nazi concentration camps because he openly opposed Hitler. On Christmas Eve 1944, Niemoller spoke these words of hope to his fellow prisoners in Dachau:  “My dear friends, on this Christmas . . . let us seek, in the Babe of Bethlehem, the One who came to us in order to bear with us everything that weighs heavily upon us. . . . God Himself has built a bridge from Himself to us! A dawn from on high has visited us!”

知名的德国牧师马丁·尼莫拉（Rev. Martin Niemoller），曾因公开反对希特勒而在纳粹集中营待了将近八年。1944年的平安夜，他向同样被关在达豪集中营的人说了这段充满盼望的话：“我亲爱的朋友们，在今年圣诞节……让我们从伯利恒婴孩的身上，认识那位来到世上与我们一同背负重担的主……上帝亲自搭起这座从祂通向我们的桥梁！清晨的日光从高天临到我们身上！”

At Christmas we embrace the good news that God, in Christ, has come to us wherever we are and has bridged the gap between us. He invades our prison of darkness with His light and lifts the load of sorrow, guilt, or loneliness that weighs us down. 

在圣诞节，我们所拥有的好消息，乃是上帝藉着基督临到我们。无论我们身在何处，祂所搭起的桥梁都能跨越鸿沟。祂以光明穿透黑暗的禁锢，并挪开重压在我们身上的悲伤、罪恶与孤寂。

On that bleak Christmas Eve in prison, Niemoller shared this good news:  “Out of the brilliance that surrounded the shepherds a shining ray will fall into our darkness.” His words remind us of the prophet Isaiah, who prophetically said, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:2).

在那阴郁的狱中圣诞夜，尼莫拉向众人分享这个圣诞佳音：“万丈光芒将牧羊人包围，其中一道明亮曙光也照亮了我们的黑暗。”他的话语让我们想到先知以赛亚也曾预言说：“在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。”（以赛亚书9章2节）

No matter where today finds us, Jesus has penetrated our dark world with His joy and light!

无论今日我们的处境如何，耶稣的喜乐与光明已穿透我们周遭的黑暗！

Lord Jesus, we find hope and strength in knowing that Your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

主耶稣，因为知道祢的光已照耀黑暗，且黑暗不能胜过光，使我们从而得着盼望和力量。

Isaiah 9:1-7New International Version (NIV)

9 [a]Nevertheless, 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—

2 The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
6 For 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.
7 Of 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.