阅读经文 

“恳求人类救赎主”是将临节和圣诞节期间使用的最古老的赞美诗之一。它可以追溯到公元四世纪安布罗斯，以及后来的马丁·路德（1523）的作品中。

这首歌讲述了童贞女怀孕生子的故事。马利亚诚实地问，她怎么可能生下孩子，天使在路加福音一章三十五节解释说：“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你”。因此，马利亚所生的孩子将被称为“神的儿子”。

这首歌还包括了我们昨天在腓立比书第二章中思考的主题。“基督放下祂的威严，经过黑暗的客西马尼园”。神的儿子，神所应许的弥赛亚，放下天上的荣耀，成为一个人，在世上住在我们中间，并顺服差遣，以至于死在十字架上，拯救我们脱离罪恶。

然后祂从死里复活，升到天上统管万有。“救主降世，父所遣，主今仍立父面前”。这呼应了腓立比书第二章中的升天主题和天使的预言。“神将赐祂大卫宝座……祂的国度永不止息。”

因此，在这首歌中，我们与历代的圣徒一起祈愿：“恳求人类救赎主，降临世间显奇恩！”

"Savior of the Nations, Come" is one of the oldest hymns used in the Advent/Christmas season. It dates back to the fourth century A.D. in the works of Ambrose, and in later years Martin Luther (1523).

This song tells the story of the virgin birth. Mary’s honest question about how it would be possible for her to give birth is explained by the angel in Luke 1:35: "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." The child born to Mary would therefore be called "the Son of God."

The song also includes the theme we reflected on yesterday from Philippians 2. "Christ laid down his majesty, passed through dark Gethsemane." The Son of God, the promised Messiah, laid aside the glory of heaven to become a human being, to live among us in this world, and to submit to death on a cross to save us from sin.

Then he rose from the dead and ascended to rule in heaven. "Though he left his Father’s home, Christ now sits on God’s own throne." This echoes the theme of exaltation in Philippians 2 and what the angel prophesied: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David . . . his kingdom will never end."

So in this song we proclaim, with believers down through the ages, "Come, Lord Jesus, Savior of the nations!"