Jesus Was an Immigrant

[This is the "sermonette" I originally wrote for Dec. 26. Church was canceled that day due to 8" of snow, so I then included it as part of my sermon this past Sunday. It's based on Matthew 2:13-23, the Gospel reading for the Sunday after Christmas in the Revised Common Lectionary.]

Did you realize that Jesus was an immigrant? That Jesus knows what it's like to move from one place to another? That Jesus understands what it's like to live in a country that isn't your parents' homeland? Did you realize that Jesus was an immigrant?

Of course, not in the same manner as your family or mine. My family moved because of work, the same as y'all, I imagine. Jesus's family moved because the king of their land wanted to kill him. King Herod heard that another king had been born in Bethlehem, King Jesus. He didn't want competition so "he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem under and its vicinity who were two years old and under" (Matt 2:16). Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And just in time, an angel warned Joseph that they had better flee to another country, to Egypt.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his dreams, just like when he was betrothed to Mary and was considering divorcing her. This time the angel said, "Get up, 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" (Matt 2:13). Joseph obeyed immediately. Jesus spent the early years of his childhood in another country. I did so, too: when I was little, I lived in Egypt for two years. So also are your kids. The kids of this church are growing up in a land that isn't their parents'. Jesus understands. And for those who return to their home country, Jesus understands that, too. After a few years, when King Herod died, an angel appeared again to Joseph in his dreams and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead" (Matt 2:19). One difference: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus didn't return to Bethlehem. They returned to their country but to a different part. It would be like if you're from Mexico City and you come to the U.S. with your family. Then, after a couple years you return to Mexico but to San Luis Potosi instead of the D.F. (Mexico City). That's what Jesus's childhood was like. He was a foreigner in a strange land with a different language and different customs. He was an immigrant.

One reason you can trust Jesus is that he understands our experiences. Are you tempted? He was tempted by Satan for forty days in the desert. Are you sad? Jesus's good friend, Lazarus, died and Jesus wept. Are you happy? Jesus attended a wedding and changed water into wine in order to continue the celebration! Likewise, Jesus understands the feeling of a foreigner, of an immigrant. This is the most important thing that we read in Isaiah 63:9, "It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them" (NRSV). His presence saved us. Not a messenger. Not an angel. It was God's own self who came to live a completely human life, to save us. God understands your situation. This is the miracle and the mystery of Christmas. God incarnate, Jesus, born in human flesh. Jesus had a pretty normal life here on earth. He understands betrayal. He understands feeling forsaken and alone. He understands what it's like to live in a foreign country away from your homeland. Because he was born as a baby, Jesus understands us. And because of this, we can put our trust in him. Give him your burdens. Give him your hopes and dreams. Come to him, because he will give you rest (Matt 11:28). And because of this, Jesus deserves all the praises of the psalmist: "Alleluia! Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 148:1).