“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c] Matthew 2.13-15
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” Luke 2. 39-40
Too often we end the Christmas story with Jesus in the manager scene. We leave it with the nativity and Jesus, surrounded by farm animals, visitors from the east (Magi) and from the fields (shepherds), and his parents. But the Christmas story included multiple journeys. First, the holy family traveled to Bethlehem, then to Jerusalem for his dedication, then to Egypt to escape the hand of Herod, and finally back to the Galilean region to a town called Nazareth. And all of this occurred most likely in a two to three year period.
The birth of Jesus was never easy and not without it perils. If it had not been for Joseph, who I believe gets way less credit than he deserves, Jesus and Mary would not have made it. For after Jesus is born an angel appeared (again) to Joseph, telling him to take “the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.”
Escaping to Egypt wasn’t as simple as riding out of town on Main Street and arriving in a foreign land. There must have been subterfuge, and then a whole difficult journey to Egypt, and then when the time was right traveling over 100 miles back to Nazareth.
What we do know is that the birth of Jesus wasn’t as easy as we might think in our 21st travel capabilities. The journey alone was arduous as Mary and Joseph first went to Bethlehem for the Roman census and then left the Promised Land to Egypt out of fear of King Herod. Twice God brought deliverance of his people out of Egypt — first with Moses and the Passover, and again with Jesus who was the new Passover Lamb born to redeem people from their sins.
What journey are you taking with the Lord today? Is he living in your heart and mind? Is he guiding your soul and spirit? Are you allowing him to take your time, energy, resources and rewards? Are you working as hard on your relationship with God as God did to bring Jesus into this world?
Why not refocus your eyes upon Jesus? Commit your life to him. Confess your sins once again. Allow the grace of God to flow through your life anew this Christmas season by putting Jesus first in everything you do.
“O Lord God, thank you for your journey from Heaven to Earth so we might see you face to face. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill us with your love and compassion for those who are lost, alone, hurting and hungry. Help us find strength in your Spirit and to walk the path of your salvation. I praise you Lord for your many servants who ushered the infant Jesus across the Holy Land so many years ago. Usher him now into my heart so I might be fully his and he fully mine. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen