A young refugee - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9.

A young refugee
The boy from a village in Judea was under two years old. His parents, who were poor and in a difficult situation, had to leave their home town under a census order by the Romans (Luke 2:1-4). But things worsened, for King Herod, known for his cruelty, intended having all the young boys from the surrounding districts executed.

That young child, we all know him, was Jesus, the son announced to Joseph and Mary as the One due to be the promised Messiah. Herod wanted to eliminate Him, for fear of losing his throne. So, from His youngest age, Jesus was the target of mortal hatred. But Joseph had been warned in a dream: "Take the young child and his mother, flee to Egypt" (Matthew 2:13). So Jesus knew the fate of exiles, as it has always been and is even today. To survive, the family journeyed to the south, crossed the desert of Judea and lived elsewhere.

Jesus was persecuted when still very young, but God protected Him. Later, at Nazareth, the village of His childhood, they tried to throw Him over a cliff (Luke 4:29), but God was watching over Him. On several occasions they wanted to kill Him, but "his hour had not yet come" (John 7:30). The Messiah was to give up His life, but at a time appointed by God during the Passover at Jerusalem. The Lord sacrificed Himself (Isaiah 53:12; Ephesians 5:2). He died for us, rose again to be our Saviour, and lives for ever. He is "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 · Revelation 1:1-11