David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 2:13-15

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” ¹⁴And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Too quickly the worship of the Magi gives way to the threat of Herod. Jesus, perhaps two years old now, is threatened; his life is in danger. Joseph must take him and his mother to Egypt (of all places!) for his protection. Herod wants to kill him.

There is at least one other occasion in Jesus’ ministry where people want to kill him. After his first sermon in his own home town, Jesus is threatened by the people with being thrown off a cliff. But he escapes, simply walking through the midst of the crowd (Luke 4:16-20).

The devil is always God’s devil, says Martin Luther, and yet also his chief adversary and ours. He means to steal, kill and destroy. God protects, provides for, blesses, and saves  his people. That’s what Jesus is already doing – even in the face of the devil’s schemes.

Jesus is always God’s Son, our Savior. Thanks be to God! Right now Jesus must run. Soon he will not flee his persecutors. Soon those who wish to kill him will have their way (albeit a brief three-day victory).  But the time has not yet come for Jesus’ death. There are things he must first do. He must gather his disciples and teach them. He must heal the sick, confront the hypocrites, teach the people, and raise the dead. Then he will die. God will see to that. But in his time. Then will come the resurrection, ascension, and finally the Day of Christ’s return.

For now, Jesus must flee. The story of our redemption is just beginning.