耶誕節和臥底老闆
By Luis Cervino
大家看過「臥底老闆」這部實境秀嗎？在這部實境秀裡，大公司的老闆(執行長)假裝成普通員工，和員工們一起工作，看看他們如何做自己的工作和生活。老闆也從中得知企業底下的披薩店、大型的旅館、維修公司和便利商店內部是如何運作的。
在每一集結束的時候，老闆會卸下他們的偽裝，告訴員工自己真實的身分，並且實際做些能正面改變職場的事情。他們通常會給員工一些額外的獎賞，例如給員工的小孩獎學金、有薪假或者捐醫療費用。在一些例子裡面，有些怠忽職守的員工被認出來、被辭了。這個實境秀的中心思想是高階的管理階層花時間，親自視察、和員工互動，了解他們的狀況並且做出必要的改變。
有趣的是，這樣的想法以前就有了：大約二千年前，當神決定成為「臥底老闆」來到世界和人類一同居住。祂一開始住的不是皇宮，也沒有盛大的歡迎儀式。相反地，耶穌基督選擇簡樸地來到這個世界，出生在一個貧窮卑微的家庭。他的出生只有很少數的牧羊人和他的父母注意到。而耶穌選擇誕生在一個很不尋常的地方－馬槽，動物的遮蔽所。
一些有學識的人，我們稱他們為東方博士，帶著禮物來到耶穌的家鄉，尊崇他。耶穌繼續長大成人，從他地上的父親約瑟那裡學習木匠的手藝，和人們一同居住，面對和體驗人類所面臨每天的挑戰。
在福音書－馬太福音、馬可福音、路加福音和約翰福音當中，我們能找到關於耶穌在世上的冒險以及他如何用日常生活的例子告訴我們永恆真理的教導。這些教導有時非常明確和直接，有時是寓言，影射某些特定的人或團體。
耶穌生活在人群當中，就像是臥底老闆，他站在第一線明白來自工作、家庭和社會的壓力。他也了解不同階層人們內心深處的需求和掙扎，像是犯姦淫的人、妓女、稅吏、卑微的漁夫、生病和貧窮的人、自大驕傲的宗教人士和仕紳權貴。
他知道被人背叛的感覺、也了解被不信的人誣賴莫須有的罪名是甚麼感覺。像電視上的臥底老闆一樣，耶穌給我們白白得來的禮物：愛、接納、原諒、和好、改變以及和天父同在的永恆生命。
他的名字是耶穌基督，十二月是我們紀念他降世為人的日子，我們稱它為耶誕節。但是現在很多國家，這個節日的中心思想因為政治正確的關係被扭曲了。有些人為了不信的人的緣故，拒絕說「耶誕快樂」，而用「佳節愉快」來取代它。
然而，對跟隨耶穌基督的人來說，我們不害怕說耶誕快樂。因為我們知道：「因有一嬰孩為我們而生；有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上；他名稱為「奇妙策士、全能的 神、永在的父、和平的君」(以賽亞書9章6節).
Luis Cervino是一位在墨西哥托雷翁市(Torreon, Coahuila)的口腔顎面外科醫生。他和他的太太Rocio以及他的兩個兒子同住。自1997年，他就是CBMC/CPEC在墨西哥的會員，並且自1999年開始就負責將週一嗎哪由英文翻譯成西班牙文，藉著翻譯他將神國訊息傳達給墨西哥和世界其他西語國家。
反省與問題討論
如果你看過電視實境秀臥底老闆，你對這個節目的印象如何？或者你對這個節目的中心思想有甚麼看法？ 如果你來當這個臥底老闆，你覺得結果會如何？這個臥底的工作值得做嗎？ 耶穌是降世為人的臥底老闆，如同約翰福音1:14所說，道成了肉身，住在我們中間。對此，你有甚麼看法？ 你覺得神有必要採用臥底的方式嗎？難道他不能用其他的方式來完成他想做的工作嗎？解釋你的答案。
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望知道更多關於這個主題的經文，請參考：路加福音2章4-20節；約翰福音1章1-5節；歌羅西書1章15-20節；希伯來書1章1-3節
CHRISTMAS AND THE “UNDERCOVER BOSS”
By Luis Cervino
Have you seen the TV reality show called “Undercover Boss”? In it, owners or CEOs of large companies go undercover as rank and file workers for a week or two, working alongside employees to discover firsthand how they perform their jobs and meet their personal needs. These bosses learn about the inner workings of their enterprises – such as pizza businesses, large hotel groups, maintenance companies, and convenience stores.
At the end of each program, the bosses shed their disguises, revealing themselves to their workers, and enact positive change in the workplace. They often reward employees with extra benefits such as scholarships for their children, paid leaves of absence if needed, or donations of medical care. In some instances, negligent workers have been identified and dismissed. The key concept is the top executives take the time to personally review what is transpiring in their companies, interact with staff, and institute necessary adjustments.
Interestingly, this concept is not new; it happened 2,000 years ago when God decided to come “undercover” to live with His creation. He began His stay not at a palace or with great ceremony. Instead, as Jesus Christ, He chose to come simply, living among working people with a humble, non-assuming family. His birth received little notice except for a few witnesses – a handful of country people and His earthly parents. For Jesus” arrival, He chose an unusual site for an important person: a stable – an animal shelter.
About two years later, some learned individuals – commonly known as “wise men” – came to give Jesus proper homage, along with some gifts. Then they returned to their distant homes. Jesus spent the succeeding years growing into adulthood, learning the carpentry trade from Joseph, His earthly father, living with and meeting people and experiencing the challenges and problems of everyday life.
In four books of the Bible, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we find accounts of His adventures and how He used examples from everyday life to teach eternal truths those who followed Him, sometimes very specifically and directly, other times in story form (parables), addressing people individually and in groups.
Living among the people, like an “undercover boss,” Jesus learned firsthand the pressures of work, family and society. He understood the underlying needs and struggles of a wide range of people – adulterers and prostitutes, tax collectors, humble fishermen, the sick and the poor, arrogant religious and civic authorities.
He experienced the human feelings of being betrayed, having His kindnesses refused because of unbelief, and being falsely accused without any evidence of an alleged crime. And, similar to the undercover bosses on TV, Jesus offered unearned gifts and benefits. In this case, it was His unconditional love, acceptance, forgiveness, reconciliation, transformation, and ultimately, eternal life with His heavenly Father.
His name is Jesus Christ, and this month we remember His appearance on earth with an event called Christmas. In many instances, the central meaning of this day has been distorted. Some refuse to say, “Merry Christmas,” replacing it with a more politically correct, "Happy Holidays," not to offend those who do not believe in Jesus.
For followers of Jesus, however, we are not afraid to say, “Merry Christmas.” Because we know, “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” (Isaiah 9:6).
Luis Cervino is a maxillofacial surgeon in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, where he resides with his wife, Rocio, and their two sons. He has been a CBMC/CPEC member in Mexico since 1997, and has been translating Monday Manna from English into Spanish since 1999. His translations reach readers in Mexico and many other parts of the world.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
If you have seen the TV reality show, “Undercover Boss,” what has been your impression of it – or at least its general concept? What do you think would be your conclusions if you were to serve as an “undercover boss” at your workplace? Would there be value in such a “covert” activity? Jesus Christ, coming to earth as an “undercover boss.” What do you think of that perspective of God taking on human form, and living among His creation, as John 1:14 states: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us”? Why do you think this “undercover approach” was necessary for God? Could He have accomplished what He did in some other way? Explain your answer.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Luke 2:4-20; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3
