歷史上的名人耶穌基督出生在一個小鎮名叫伯利恒，離耶路撒冷不遠。但是耶穌的出生並不表示他的生命才開始；三十三年之後，他的死亡也不是他生命的結束。耶穌是永恆的，所以他的出生等於是他降生入世，等於是宇宙的高高在上者走下了寶座。天上的神變成有血有肉的人，就好像聖經所說的，耶穌基督“在本質上就是上帝，但...他放棄了一切...他在外表變得和人類一樣的”（新約聖經，普通話譯本，腓立比書2:6-7）。耶穌大約30歲時就開始傳道，傳講神的真理，福音，信息。耶穌向聽者述說神的恩典，講解神的話語，活出神的愛。為了證明他的身份和權柄，為了表示神的愛和關心，耶穌行許多神跡。盲人得以看見，瘸腿的走路了，死人復活了。

　　奇怪的是耶穌做了這麼多好事以後，眾人卻把他釘死在十字架上。為什麼呢？當時的猶太人仰望一個彌賽亞（就是一個救世主，一個救星），建立神的國。猶太人以為這個人一定是一位革命家，還認為他會趕走羅馬帝國衛戍在以色列的軍隊，復興以色列國。眾人看耶穌行那麼多神跡，毫不否認神的能力在他的身上，所以認為耶穌就是他們所仰望的彌賽亞。但是耶穌說，“我的王國不屬于這個世界”（新約聖經約翰福音18﹕36），耶穌也沒有意思作他們屬世的王。同時，以色列的宗教頭頭看那麼多人跟隨耶穌，聽他講道，欣賞他的真理，就忌妒他了。他們不用自己的聖經證實耶穌是不是神所派來的救世主，他們只想保護自己的權威，所以就想辦法處死耶穌。當時猶太教頭頭把耶穌送去羅馬總督（彼拉多）那裏控告他是反對羅馬帝國的，並且很聰明地引起了眾人的憤怒，使得眾人要求羅馬總督把耶穌釘十字架。

　　彼拉多總督知道耶穌是個好人，知道祭司和別的有掌權的猶太人把耶穌送來是因為忌妒他，彼拉多想釋放耶穌，但是他還是聽從猶太人的要求把耶穌釘十字架。彼拉多認為世界上少了一個猶太人沒有甚麼關係。猶太教頭頭認為他們除去了對手。撒旦認為他戰勝了神的兒子。耶穌呢？耶穌在十字架上時他說了幾句話，其中的一句是“成了”兩個字；意思是“我完成了我的使命”（約翰福音19﹕30）。耶穌知道他的死亡不是他生命的結局。耶穌知道藉著他的死亡天上的神才能赦免萬人的罪孽。耶穌知道他三天後會復活，並且知道他的復活會帶來救恩，希望和新生命給予全世界的人。

　　朋友，神走下了寶座，走上了十字架，是因為他愛世人，愛您和我。請您多學習聖經，多學習耶穌的真理，多了解耶穌這個人。請您讓神的愛感動您，讓耶穌的真理感化您，讓耶穌的死和復活拯救您。

继续读第六部分

The famous historical figure Jesus Christ was born in the small town of Bethlehem, near Jerusalem.  To say that Jesus was born, however, should not be construed as implying the beginning of his existence.  Neither should his death, some thirty-three years later, be seen as the end of his life.  Jesus is eternal, so his birth was simply his entering the world; the Great One on High stepped down from his throne.  The God of heaven took on flesh and blood, just as the Bible describes, “Christ was like God in everything...  But...  He gave up his place with God...  He was born to be a man...” (Philippians 2:6-7 ETRV).  When Jesus was about thirty years old he began preaching; he taught the truths of God, the gospel, the “good news,” as Christian writers called it.  Jesus spoke about the grace of God to those who listened.  He explained the words of God and he exhibited the love of God in his life.  In order to prove his identity and authority, in order to display God’s love and concern, Jesus performed many miracles.  The blind received sight, the lame walked and the dead were raised back to life.

                Strangely enough, however, after he performed so many good deeds, the Jews nailed Jesus to a cross.  Why did they crucify him?  The Jews of that day were anticipating a Messiah—a Savior—one who would establish the kingdom of God.  The Jews expected this person to be a revolutionary who would expel the Roman army, which was garrisoned in Palestine, and re-establish the independent nation of Israel.  When the multitudes saw the miracles that Jesus performed, no one could deny that the power of God was with Jesus, so they thought that Jesus was their long-anticipated Messiah.  But Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world” (John 18:36 ETRV), and Jesus had no intention of reigning as their earthly king.  At the same time, the Jewish religious leaders saw so many people going over to Jesus—following him, listening to him preach, admiring the truth he spoke—and these leaders became very jealous.  They did not consult their own Scriptures to ascertain whether this Jesus was indeed the Savior sent by God, they only thought of how to protect their own authority; thus they planned to kill Jesus.  These Jewish religious leaders took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, and falsely accused him of opposing the Roman Empire.  They cleverly incited the crowd to oppose Jesus, so the crowd demanded that the Roman governor have him crucified.

                Governor Pilate knew that Jesus was a good man and that it was out of jealousy that the priests and other powerful Jews sent Jesus to him.  Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but in the end he listened to the voice of the mob and sent Jesus to the cross for execution.  Pilate thought that one less Jew in the world would make no difference.  The Jewish religious rulers thought they were rid of their opponent.  Satan thought he had finally fought the winning battle with the Son of God.  But what did Jesus think?  While on the cross Jesus said several things, among which were the words, “It is finished” (John 19:30 NIV).  By this Jesus meant that he had finished his mission, had completed his task.  Jesus knew that death was not the end of his life.  Jesus knew that only by his death could the God of heaven forgive the sins of mankind.  Jesus also knew that on the third day he would rise from the grave and in his resurrection he would bring grace, hope and new life to all people.

                It was love for you and me that caused God to step down from the throne of heaven and step up to the cross of Calvary.  I hope you’ll study the Bible and the truths it contains and find out more and more about this man Jesus.  I hope you’ll allow God’s love to touch you, Jesus’ truth to change you and Jesus’ death and resurrection to save you.