Matthew 2:13-23 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 2:13-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, 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." Verse 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, Verse 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
Verse 16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Verse 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: Verse 18"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
Verse 19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Verse 20"Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Verse 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. Verse 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. Verse 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
Devotion
Where are your thoughts on the day after Christmas? While ministering around the world, I´ve observed that some want Christmas to continue a little longer; some are glad it is over; and many just do not understand the whole birth of Jesus as reason for celebration. It is into this post-Christmas diversity that this Matthew passage truthfully speaks.
These verses reveal that people are capable of sin, doing evil and harm—even to innocent infants—causing much weeping. At the same time, it reveals that God is present and will act to not only save and preserve the Son, Jesus, but also to save us from our sins (see Matthew 1:21). The birth of Jesus is a precious everlasting gift from God that reminds us that God is always near bringing love, forgiveness, hope, and salvation to the whole world.
Prayer
God, we are thankful for the coming of your Son, Jesus, into our world. Strengthen us through our faith in Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord. Protect and guide us, defend us from sin and harm, and comfort us in adversity. Amen.
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