Christmas Refugees
Series: O Come, Immanuel!
Preacher: Kevin Smith, Senior Pastor
Sunday Morning
Date: 28th December 2025
Passage: Matthew 2:13-23
-------------------
The familiar Christmas narrative takes an unexpected turn when we consider that Jesus became a refugee shortly after His birth. Following the departure of the wise men, King Herod realized he had been deceived and flew into a murderous rage. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream with urgent instructions to flee to Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus, as Herod planned to search for and destroy the child. This wasn't a planned journey but a desperate escape from persecution and violence.God's protection during this crisis reveals several profound truths about His character and care for His people. He provided advance warning through the angelic dream, gave specific guidance about where to go, and had already supplied the necessary resources through the expensive gifts from the Magi. The gold, frankincense, and myrrh weren't merely symbolic offerings but became the financial means for the family's survival in exile. Meanwhile, Herod's fury led to the massacre of innocent children in Bethlehem, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping for her children, yet even this tragedy served God's sovereign purposes.The story concludes with hope as God eventually called the family back to Israel after Herod's death. They settled in Nazareth, a despised town, which fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah being rejected. Joseph and Mary returned as different people, having experienced God's deliverance and faithfulness firsthand. Jesus became a Nazarene from a looked-down-upon place so that we would never be rejected by God but welcomed into His glory. This refugee story challenges us to examine whose kingdom truly controls our thinking and reminds us that as former spiritual refugees now brought into God's kingdom, we should show Christ-like love and hospitality to all people.
