Jesus was a Refugee

The gospel of Matthew records an account of how Magi from the east came to visit Jesus after his birth. On the way they stopped in Jerusalem and met King Herod, asking about the one born “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). Herod was concerned, and asked the Magi to return and tell him where Jesus lived, but after being warned in a dream, they did not return to Herod. In response, Herod began killing all children under two years of age in Bethlehem (2:16), but Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled their native country and went to Egypt (2:14). Jesus was in hiding with his family until Herod died (2:19-21). Jesus was a refugee. His life and the lives of his family members were threatened, so his family had to flee to another land, leaving behind their home, possessions, friends, and relatives. It is worth noting that they fled to Egypt. From the time of the Exodus, when the Israelites who were enslaved to the Egyptians were freed and the firstborn of all the families in Egypt were killed by the God of Israel, until the time when the last great king of the southern kingdom of Judah (one half of Israel) was killed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco in war (2 Kings 23:39), Egypt had traditionally been the enemy of Israel. Yet, Jesus fled and found refuge until it was safe for him to return to his homeland.

Jesus was a refugee. He was also God in the flesh, Lord, and Savior.