Merry Christmas
Let us Celebrate Baby Jesus: Matthew 2:13-21
Escape to Egypt
13When they(Maji) had gone, an angel of the of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up” he said “take 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”
14So he(Joseph) got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt. 15Where they stayed until the death of Herod. And this was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophets: Out of Egypt I call my son”
Friends, At this point Jesus escape to Egypt, The oppressed on earth today can take some comfort knowing that our Lord and Savior,Jesus Christ, began life as a refuge.
16When Herod realized he has been outwitted by the Maji he was furious and gave order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who are two years old and under in accordance with the time he has learn of the Maji 17then what was said through prophet Jeremiah, saying: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Racheal weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted(Jer.31:15, 16)
Friends, Herod’s human jealousy and ambition led to an evil act causing innocent to suffer. God can use horrible human atrocities to fulfill His word, bring about His grace salvation.
19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said “Get up, take the child and his motherand go to the land of Israel for those who were trying to take the child life are dead” 21So he got up, took the child and his mother to the land of Israel and move to Galilea. God saw to it that Jesus was returned to Nazareth, safer, in the place that Jesus grew up.
Friends, Jesus place of birth was not impressive by human standards but a person’s value is not determined by his surrounding. The way of Salvation is now so simple that even a small child can understand and respond in Faith to Christ’s offer of forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Mary’s newborn is God, Sustainer, and the first born from the dead through His resurrection.
What does the baby in the manger mean to you? Is He your savior, or have you ignored Him in pursuit of your own desires?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Rev. Dr. Tommy Oke, Minister of Discipleship
