AND THEN THEY WENT HOME

 Although I was too young to remember the first move, I have lived in nine homes.  I used to say, if I had baling twine, duct tape, and boxes, I could pack up a house in a day.  For sure it would take me longer now!!  Each move was for a good reason and each house became a home the moment we walked through the door.  BUT … we were never forced to flee for fear of our lives.

When the Wise Men had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  “Get up,” he said, “take the 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.”

Disclaimer: You will not find the following in Scripture.  You will only find it in my mind as I try to picture the activities unfolding.

I can imagine Joseph waking Mary and telling her to quickly grab only essentials.  I can imagine Mary looking at Joseph and saying, “Are you sure it was an angel and not something you ate?”

And all the time - panic … Would they escape?  Would they be followed?  How?  Why?  During this panic, I picture Jesus calmly standing there with his teddy bear, his sandals on, and ready to go.  Joseph and Mary, once again, obeyed.  They left Bethlehem.

Egypt —- A new country.  New traditions and new cultures would have surrounded Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as they waited.  I wonder if Joseph went to bed every night and wondered, “Maybe tonight the angel will appear in my dream.” I wonder if every morning Mary asked, “Did you dream?”

Cliff Notes: It was all over the news: Herod is dead!  Joseph went to sleep.  The angel appeared with instructions to go to the land of Israel.  News flash:  Archelaus replaces his father, Herod.  Another dream and the family headed to Nazareth in Galilee.

AND THEN THEY WENT HOME

We have now come full circle. 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.

 

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went home.

——————-

The Christmas Story did not end at the birth.  The baby became a toddler.  The toddler became a teenager.  The teenager became a man.  And all this time, Jesus was learning.  He learned how to walk and talk and eat and drink.  He learned how to get up after falling down and he learned it hurt when he stubbed his toe.  He was observing.  He was listening to the words of the Old Testament.  He played.  He worked.  He saw people happy, sad, grieving, and celebrating.  He saw birth and he saw death.  Jesus was experiencing life, as he waited to begin his ministry.

We call it a Christmas Story or a Christmas Miracle, but we should call it the Miracle which began on Christmas because the Good News – no – GREAT NEWS is that

THE MIRACLE WHICH BEGAN ON CHRISTMAS HAS NEVER ENDED ! ! !

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”    John 14:2-4, 6-7

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.    Mark 16:19

A Miracle Began on Christmas --

A baby was born that day.

The New Testament began that day.

Our chance for eternal life began that day.

Merry Christmas