Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become Europe’s largest land war since World War II. At least 8 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, while 8 million others have fled the country. This amounts to almost 20% of the Ukrainian population.
Have any of you or your families ever fled as refugees? What are some feelings and fears of seeking a safe place—much less a new home—as a refugee? Maybe you have experienced these, maybe you haven’t. But Jesus has.
Jesus was born as a refugee, away from his home. His mother Mary, after miraculously becoming pregnant, married Joseph and they lived in Nazareth but Jesus wasn’t born there. The Roman government forced them from their home just about the time Mary was supposed to give birth. The Bible says, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David” (Luke 2:4).
From Nazareth to Bethlehem. Maybe a week of travel for Joseph and Mary, then they couldn’t find a place to stay and Jesus was born in an animal shelter. That’s the life of a refugee.
After this, King Herod heard that a new king had been born and went crazy. He ordered all baby boys in Bethlehem to be killed, so Jesus became a refugee again. “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” (Matthew 2:13).
It seems that this trip to a foreign country lasted a few years. Have you left Jesus? left his calling? left your commitment to him or people he loves? stuck in addiction? still struggling with mental illness? It may take some time for you to come back. Jesus takes that time. Even if it takes years.
Certainly Jesus visited other strange places during his life on this earth as refugee from heaven. The holy Son of God touched contagious lepers, assisted sinful prostitutes, and reached out in mercy to traitor tax collectors.
Three specific places he traveled, foreign to God, are the cross where he suffered to pay for our sins, then the burial tomb where he lay dead to give us life, and then he descended into hell which is the last place you’d expect God to go but he needed to confront the devil in his own lair, poke him in the chest, and say, “You are a liar and a loser.” For the times you’ve drifted, fled, strayed or wandered, Jesus became the refugee of refugees. He finds you there. He understands.
Jesus knows what it is to feel like you’re in the wrong place. Except when that place is God’s place. You see, there is no place God isn’t. There is no place God won’t go to find you. There is no place Jesus hasn’t conquered. No journey where he can’t come along. No journey too dark or difficult.
He knows. He understands. He joins the journey. He’s there, and not just catching up. Jesus is leading the way. Follow him, and you’ll never be away from home.
PRAYER: Have mercy, Lord, on our world and on those suffering from the war in Ukraine. Draw near to your heart those who have lost loved ones, those bombarded with fear, and especially those who have left their home searching for security. Bring peace to hearts and to nations. Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: Do you know anyone who’s in a bad place or a wrong place? Anyone who is on the run from problems? This video called Refugee from HeGetsUs.com may inspire them.
