Day 11. Return home

Today’s scripture: Matt. 2:19-23 (NIV) After Herod died, an angel of the Lord, appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 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. So he got up, took the child and his mother and went up to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

After Herod the Great died of an incurable disease, his kingdom was split into three parts, and his son Archelaus ruled over Jerusalem and Bethlehem, so Joseph took his family as far away as possible. Herod’s son, Antipas, ruled over Galilee, where Nazareth was located. They were farther away from Jerusalem, so life would have been quieter.

Nazareth was a small city, but it sat on the trade routes of southern Galilee. There was a Roman garrison there. Nazareth was a bustling city and was known to be quite independent, which the Jews despised. Jesus would have been privy to many different cultures while growing up there. Mary and Joseph would have had an easier time raising Jesus in Nazareth. They would have been surrounded by many Jewish families, and Jesus would have been in the temple studying the Word with his father many times.

Matthew paints the picture of the coming Messiah announced by God through the prophets, pointing to Jesus. But the Jews were looking for a conquering hero of Rome, not a humble carpenter from simple beginnings. They were looking for a rebirth of David, who was a mighty warrior king. Jesus was not a traditional king, though both Mary and Joseph came from the lineage of David. Instead, Jesus would be king one day, but he came to rule over hearts right now.

Throughout Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2, you see God’s protective hand at every turn. There is treachery everywhere, yet God sends protective angels to look after the welfare of Mary and Joseph. God removed them from the stigma and shame that would have come from their home town of Nazareth. God is always one step ahead of danger. It is comforting to know that God is looking after us in a similar light. Be prepared to obey God as quickly as Joseph did in these accounts of his life. He set a great example of obedience to his son Jesus.

Did you know: The song says, "On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 11 Pipers Piping ..." which signifies the eleven faithful apostles.