Fleeing to Egypt

Readings: Matthew 2:13-18

When the Wise Men left, and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to get up and take the young child and His mother to Egypt. He was instructed to stay there until he received a further word from God,; because Herod wanted to find the child and destroy Him. They stayed in Egypt until Herold died; fulfilling yet another scripture  

"Out of Egypt I have called My Son."  

Matt. 2:15, Hosea 11:1

Joseph seems somewhat overlooked in comparison to Mary, but his faithful sensitivity and obedience to God's leading kept his family safe. Imagine the weight of responsibility he held to keep the savior of all humanity, the Son of God in infant form, safe from hostile leaders. God chose him to do this and he faithfully answered God's call in his life. He has chosen each of us, for some wonderful purpose... to carry the "Light of the World" into dark places, into a hostile world. Where is He leading each of us? Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear His call?

When the Wise Men did not return to Herod to tell him where the child was, He was extremely angry; and called for the death of all the male children in Bethlehem who were under the age of two.

Even this heartless act fulfilled another scripture:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted, because they were no more."
Matt. 2:18, Jeremiah 31:15

Doesn't your heart go out to these women... and to women in war zones who lose their children to violence?

Lord, fill us with your Spirit and lead us in fulfilling our purpose in this time.

An Angel Visits Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

"This is how Jesus Christ, the Messiah was born. His mother Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the Marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. " Matt. 1:18 NLT

Jesus means "He shall Save".

Christ means "The Anointed One" and was translated from the Hebrew word for "Messiah", which is "Machiyach".

Jesus was and is God's Anointed One, His promised Messiah, Savior of Men

In  the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He made man and woman in His own image and likeness. Then Adam and Eve both sinned, eating the fruit they were commanded not to eat and were removed from the garden, so they could not continue to eat from the tree of life. During the despair of their fall, God made a promise, that one day the child of a woman would bruise the head of the serpent. Later God promised Abraham, "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed, Long after God promised King David, "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body.

I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father and He shall be My son" .vs 5,11-14 Even though mankind sinned, God had a glorious plan to bring salvation to us. So glorious was His plan that He sent the mighty angel Gabriel to announce the coming joy to Zechariah and Mary. Now we come to Joseph, Mary's betrothed husband, who was a son of David. As you read this section of Matthew's gospel (18-25), put yourself in Joseph's place as he discovers his beautiful, pure betrothed bride is pregnant and not with his child. As he considered breaking their engagement quietly, an angel appeared to him and said:

Angel Visits Joseph- Tissot, Brooklyn Museum

"Joseph, son of David, 

do not be afraid 

to take Mary as your wife. 

For the child within her 
was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

And she will have a son, 
and you are to name him Jesus, 

for he will save his people 
from their sins."

Jesus is the "Anointed One",
God's promised Messiah, 

who does save His people from their sins,
even today. 

Praise God for His wonderful gift

of Jesus our Messiah and Savior.