（彌迦書Micah 5:2-4）
彌迦書五章二至四節是有名的彌賽亞預言。彌賽亞的意思是被膏立的人。在希伯來文化和信仰上，受膏者是指那人被賦予一個特殊的位份，或被受權擔任一些重要的或神聖的事情等。在猶太人的文化和傳統裡，彌賽亞的身份往往與政治和軍事領袖相連在一起。在以色列亡國以後，彌賽亞更被賦予強烈的政治和軍事英雄的色彩，是以色列民族復國的盼望。
當耶穌出來傳天國的福音的時候，群眾甚至門徒一直都以為耶穌就是他們盼望已久的革命英雄，要帶領他們推翻羅馬政權，復興以色列國。這種誤解也成為耶穌被逼害，以至後來被釘十字架的一個重要原因。一直到耶穌復活，將要離開祂的門徒之前，門徒也還是抱著這個誤解，追問耶穌何時要光復以色列國。耶穌雖然多次向他們解釋，也坦白告訴他們關乎祂真正的使命，但門徒總是不能體會，也不能明白。直至五旬節聖靈降臨之後，他們才醒悟過來，明白神要藉著耶穌所成就的救贖計劃，並不是那麼狹隘的民族政治的目的，乃是關乎全人類的和好運動。
耶穌的救贖工作是和好的福音，先是神與人的和好，然後是人與人的和好。這個和好的福音能解決人類所有問題的最基本的辦法，不分種族和文化，因此它是普世的救贖，是傳福音和宣教的主要原因。
經文默想
我們已獲得了彌賽亞的救贖，並明白這個和好福音的意義與使命。我們也有先知的使命，向別人宣講神的審判與救贖。請你重讀這一段經文，思想自己在家人、朋友、同事和同學中間應擔負什麼角色，讓他們認識神的審判和救贖的信息？
Micah 5:2~4 is known as the Messianic prophecy. Messiah is the anointed one. In Hebrew faith and culture, the anointed person will be designated to a special position, or delegated with some important responsibility or divine task. In the Jewish culture and tradition, Messiah is always interpreted as the political or military leader. After the destruction of the Israel nation, Messiah was viewed as the future political and military hero who would liberate the Israel people from captivity and restore the Israel nation. Messiah was the national hope of the Israelite for more than a thousand years since then.
During the time of Jesus’ ministry of preaching the kingdom message, people, including His disciples, misunderstood Jesus as their national hero, whom they had been longing for ages to lead them to overthrow the Roman domination. They were expecting Jesus to restore the Israel nation for them, and this misconception put Jesus under persecution, and finally became one of the major reasons to hang Him on the cross. Until Jesus accented to heaven after His resurrection, His disciples were still asking Him about the date of the restoration of the Israel nation. Even though Jesus had explained to them many times, and told them His real mission, the disciples just did not get it. Until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they started to realize that the redemptive plan of God fulfilled in the life of Jesus is to bring the good news of reconciliation to all mankind. Since then, the disciples abandoned the narrow perspective of viewing salvation as a national political endeavor, and the global mission movement begun.
The salvation of Jesus is the gospel of reconciliation. It reconciles first between God and people, and then people with people. This is the ultimate solution to all human problems with no discrimination in culture or ethnicity, for God’s salvation is for all people. It is also the reason of evangelism and missions.
Meditation on the Scripture:
We have been saved by this Messiah, and understand the meaning and mission of this good news. We also share the role and mission of the prophet, and obligate to tell people about God’s judgment and salvation. Please read this Bible passage to meditate on our role and responsibility to share this good news of reconciliation with our family, friends, coworkers and schoolmates.