The Lamb who died is the Lord who lives!

被杀的羔羊就是永活的救主。

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God. John 17:3

认识祢是独一的真神……这就是永生。-约翰福音17章3节，-新译本

The glory of the Roman Empire offered an expansive backdrop for the birth of Jesus. In 27  Rome’s first emperor, Caesar Augustus, ended 200 years of civil war and began to replace rundown neighborhoods with monuments, temples, arenas, and government complexes. According to Roman historian Pliny the Elder, they were “the most beautiful buildings the world has ever seen.”

罗马帝国的辉煌，为耶稣的诞生铺陈了奢华的背景。公元前27年，罗马的第一位皇帝凯撒·奥古斯都，终结两百多年的内战，开始建造纪念碑、神殿、竞技场，以及政府复合式建筑，借以取代破旧的市容。根据罗马史学家普林尼长老所述，这些是世界前所未见、最美丽的建筑。

Yet even with her beauty, the Eternal City and its empire had a history of brutality that continued until Rome fell. Thousands of slaves, foreigners, revolutionaries, and army deserters were crucified on roadside poles as a warning to anyone who dared to defy the power of Rome.

虽然这些建筑如此美丽，但这个号称永恒之城的罗马以及罗马帝国，却有着残暴的统治历史，一直持续到罗马帝国没落为止。千万名奴隶、外族人、革命者，或遭军队罢黜的人被钉死在路边的十架上，用来警告任何胆敢挑战罗马王权的人。

What irony that Jesus’s death on a Roman cross turned out to reveal an eternal glory that made the pride of Rome look like the momentary beauty of a sunset!

何其讽刺，耶稣被钉死于罗马的十字架上，展示了永恒的荣耀，反使得罗马的骄傲成为短暂的落日余晖。

Who could have imagined that in the public curse and agony of the cross we would find the eternal glory of the love, presence, and kingdom of our God?

那时，谁能想像得到，在公众的咒骂和钉十字架的痛苦中，我们竟然能寻见上帝的荣耀，就是祂永恒的慈爱、同在，以及国度。

Who could have foreseen that all heaven and earth would one day sing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12).

有谁能预见，有一天诸天全地会颂扬：“曾被杀的羔羊是配得权柄、丰富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀、颂赞的。”(启示录5章12节)

Father in heaven, please help us to reflect 

the heart of Your sacrifice for the world. 

May Your love become our love, Your life our life, 

and Your glory our never-ending joy.

天父求祢让我们行事为人，能反映出祢对世人的爱和牺牲。

愿祢的爱成为我们的爱，祢的生命成为我们的生命，
祢的荣耀成为我们无尽的喜乐。

Read John 17:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

约翰福音 17:1-5

分离的祷告

17 耶稣说了这话，就举目望天说：“父啊，时候到了，愿你荣耀你的儿子，使儿子也荣耀你！ 2 正如你曾赐给他权柄管理凡有血气的，叫他将永生赐给你所赐给他的人。 3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。 4 我在地上已经荣耀你，你所托付我的事，我已成全了。 5 父啊，现在求你使我同你享荣耀，就是未有世界以先我同你所有的荣耀。

整理：于姊妹