Jesus' Family Album December 20 Devotional

MATTHEW 2:14-15 | ¹⁴ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, ¹⁵ and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

Joseph was a small town guy. Archeological evidence suggests Nazareth probably had 80-100 families. Everyone would have known everyone else, and most would be connected as family in some way. Suddenly he must flee with his little family into the foreign land of Egypt. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are refugees who must find work in vast country where the language, culture, and religion are different. Safety from the evil Herod brings its own dangers and challenges.

Perhaps this experience helped Jesus identify with the little, the least, and the lost. His ministry would be marked by a reaching out beyond Judaism and empathy for those on the margins.

When have you been on the margins or existed on foreign territory?

Gracious God,

You became Heaven’s refugee in the person of your Son, coming from heaven to earth, to live on our broken terrain. Thank you for that trip and for blessing those who lived on the margins.

Amen.