The Innkeeper’s Story- 客栈老板的故事

The Innkeepers Story
客栈老板的故事

This person had a front row seat to the birth of Jesus, I wonder if he told his story, it would go something like this.
这个人亲眼目睹了耶稣的诞生，我想如果他来讲自己的故事，大概会是这样说的。

It’s been a long day today, my inn which is one of the biggest in Bethlehem is full to overflowing, people have been coming to this small town, they all need somewhere to stay, many come from out of town, they were born here, but have no house or residence here, so they have to stay somewhere.
今天真是漫长的一天，我在伯利恒最大的客栈已经爆满，人潮涌向这个小城，大家都需要地方住。很多人是从外地来的，他们虽然出生在这里，却没有自己的房子，只好找地方落脚。

The inns are all so full, mine included, it’s been a long day, why oh why did the Romans have to start all this census nonsense, they are so precise, but they are our rulers, it does bring in good business for me, money is flowing in.
所有的客栈都满了，我的也不例外。今天太累了，罗马人为什么要搞什么人口普查呢？他们真是事无巨细，但他们毕竟是统治者，这倒给我带来了好生意，钱像流水一样流进来。

It’s been a long day, and I try to rest my weary body, but just before I close my eyes, there’s a knock on my door, who could it be so late at night?
漫长的一天终于要结束了，我拖着疲惫的身子想休息，可刚要闭眼，就有人敲门——这么晚了会是谁呢？

Wearily I go down to answer the knocking on my door, under the moonlight, I can see a young man, please help us sir, my wife is heavily pregnant, she is about to give birth and I have been to every other inn in Bethlehem, they all have said there’s no room, please help us.
我疲惫地走下楼开门，月光下站着一位年轻人，他说：“先生，求您帮帮我们！我妻子快要生了，我走遍了伯利恒所有的客栈，他们都说没有空房了，求您行行好。”

He is beyond anxious, the pleading look in his eyes, I don’t mean to say this to him, but truly I have no rooms, but I do have a stable where the animal feed, there is hay and straw where you can rest and I can give you some water and a little food.
他眼里满是焦急与恳求。我本不想这么说，可我真的没有房间了，但我有一个喂牲口的马槽棚，里面有干草和稻草，你们可以休息，我还能给你们一点水和食物。

His eyes light up, thank you so much, so I take him to the stable, there is an oxen and my cows asleep, the couple are just so happy, she can’t be anymore than in her late teens, she has a great glow and he is very attentive to her.
他眼睛一亮，连声道谢。我带他们去了马槽棚，牛和驴都睡着了。这对小夫妻高兴极了，妻子看起来不过十八九岁，脸上带着圣洁的光辉，丈夫对她关怀备至。

They settle in, my animals have never had human company, they seem fascinated by their new visitors, they soon go back to sleep.
他们安顿下来，我的牲口从未和人这么近距离相处，似乎对新客人很好奇，但很快就又睡着了。

But during that night, well two things happened, first of all, the girl gave birth, her name was Mary, it was a boy, her firstborn, they called him Jesus, and they laid him in the animal trough used for feeding the animals.
那天夜里发生了两件事：首先，那位名叫马利亚的女子生了孩子，是个男孩，也是她的头胎，他们给他取名耶稣，把他放在喂牲口的马槽里。

Amazingly, they had visitors, you see these shepherds came because they had heard thousands of angels, telling them that the Saviour, would be born in Bethlehem and in my stable. They told everyone, I don’t think many believed them, after all they are shepherds and shepherds are always telling tall stories.
更奇妙的是，他们还有访客——一群牧羊人来了，他们说，他们在野地里看见千千万万的天使，向他们报信：救世主今夜在伯利恒、就在我的马槽棚里诞生！他们逢人就讲，可我看大多数人都不信，毕竟牧羊人嘛，总是爱讲一些天花乱坠的故事。

You know, long ago, one of our Prophets Micah told us that the saviour would be born in Bethlehem, I wonder, if this was him.
其实很久以前，我们的先知弥迦就预言过，救主将诞生在伯利恒……我忍不住想，难道就是这个孩子吗？

Jesus came into the world to save sinners like you and me, he came humbly and without any pomp and majesty.
耶稣来到世上，是要拯救像你我一样的罪人，祂谦卑地降生，没有任何排场与王者威荣。

He was born in a humble stable, no one recognized him, no one wanted to know, he came because we couldn’t get to God, He had to come to us.
祂生在简陋的马槽里，没有人认出祂，也没有人在意祂；因为我们无法到上帝那里去，所以祂亲自来到我们中间。

Most if not all of the inns in Bethlehem refused entry to Jesus, that’s like the world today, it refuses to accept Jesus, it puts up a no entry sign to Jesus.
伯利恒几乎所有的客栈都拒绝了耶稣，这就像今天的世代——世界拒绝接受耶稣，在门口挂上“耶稣止步”的牌子。

Others are like the innkeeper, they put Jesus in the stable, they will accept Jesus in, but place him away from their celebration of life, Jesus you go to the stable, we will celebrate with you outside in the stable.
还有些人像我这个客栈老板，把耶稣安排在马槽棚里：愿意接纳耶稣，却只肯把祂放在生活庆祝圈子的外面——“耶稣啊，你去马槽吧，我们在外面陪你一起庆祝。”

The shepherds however heard the good news and came to see Jesus and they were transformed, they told everyone.
唯有那些牧羊人，他们听见了好消息，就赶来朝见耶稣，他们整个人被改变，然后逢人就传扬这个喜讯。

This Christmas, which one of the three are you like?
这个圣诞节，你是以上三种人中的哪一种呢？