July 28, 2025 -- Matthew 2:13-14 -- Jesus, the Ultimate Displaced Person
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Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt…
Matthew 2:13-14 ESV
Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus was a displaced person (DP)? His parents, in compliance with the decree of Caesar Augustus that the Roman world be enrolled in the census, went from their hometown to Bethlehem to be registered. They lived in Bethlehem for a while after Jesus’ birth, but then His family had to flee to Egypt. The local king of the region, threatened by the news of the birth of a potential rival to his power, was about to put all the male children, two years old and younger, to death. After a time in Egypt, the holy family went to Israel again. Then were internally displaced, fleeing to Nazareth. It was a place where Jewish people mixed with Gentile people. It was a town in which the “pure” Jewish people were despised. Being a DP means:
Jesus’ family struggled to find food that complied with Jewish laws for clean food (as was required by the extensive laws of Leviticus)
Jesus’ family did not have extensive family ties in the area, something very important in that culture for the celebration of festivals.
Jesus’ family would have been hated by the Jews, because Jesus was born less than nine month after his parents’ wedding. The Gentiles of the region would have hated them because they were Jewish.
There are various measures sociologists use to determine life stresses. The top five are: the death of a loved one, the divorce, moving, major illness, job loss. Add to that, becoming a DP is a huge life stressor, contributing to depression, anxiety, PTSD and so on. DP people are often caught in poverty and face discrimination. This means that Jesus endured the hardest of life’s experiences, He can identify with you and with me.
We live in a culture where people are always on the move. People move for jobs. People move from place to place because of poverty. Even those who are in their home region note that home has changed because of our mobile culture. Technology means that people are more media connected, but far less relationship connected. Jesus, the ultimate DP, understands. Pour out your heart to Him.
Today’s prayer is Psalm 139:1-12. Read it slowly. Pray it realizing how truly God understands the rootlessness of your life and upheaval your experience.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
https://youtu.be/F2tKVqZZiI4?si=4couVfxd7j0D1YuV Turn Your Eyes/The Glorious Christ
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