The most notable immigrant of the New Testament was Jesus.

Some scholars suggest that his coming to earth was a celestial migration, as he chose to come down from heaven to live on earth among men. He and his parents were refugees, asylum seekers persecuted by a violent king who declared that every Jewish boy under the age of two in the region would be murdered. They fled to find safety, traveling at night across different hillsides and regions to preserve their family and protect the Christ child. From the foundation of time, God knew his Son would be on the move. He knew he would be a sojourner who would benefit from the laws and traditions given to the Israelites. These community customs and rules would protect, provide for, and ensure his safety as they traveled.

Thoughtful Questions

1. God came to earth and lived as a man. During his 33 years on earth, one of his earliest human experiences was that of a refugee fleeing for his life. What might this tell us about Jesus that you’ve never considered before?
2. What do you imagine Mary and Joseph were thinking as they continued to live on the run those first few years? What do you think would have been some of the hardest aspects of traveling so frequently with a young child in a new marriage?
3. As Mary and Joseph fled throughout the region, what Old Testament laws would they have benefited from as they moved from place to place?