Out of Egypt
Introduction
Two readings from Matthew’s Gospel
A sense of wonder in our heart
The First reading considering the appearance of the angel Gabriel
Speaking to Joseph in a dream – to reassure him
To call His name Jesus
Fulfillment of prophecy
God conceived in the womb of a woman
The Reading of the Wise Men
They had come to worship Jesus
They quote from the prophet Micah
The wise men following the star to find Jesus the young infant
The bow the knee and worship Him
The story did not end there
Matt 2:13-15
The exile of the Lord Jesus
He went for protection
He went to fulfill ancient Scripture
Imagine what it meant for Mary and Joseph
What resources did they have?
Who went with them / how did they go / when did they go?
Where would the lodge and where would they hide?
They were going to their place of lockdown and isolation
Jesus Christ had a difficult life
It began in poverty
He was taken to Egypt
He returned to Nazareth
He grew up in obscurity
He faced opposition when He began His public ministry
He was forsaken by His own disciples
He went to a cruel cross
He can sympthathise with those who call upon Him
Think of our difficult circumstances over this year
Those who call upon Him sincerely, will find His comfort
Mary’s life would be difficult – fleeing to Egypt and seeing Him on the cross
Yet she loved Him
She found forgiveness in Him
All her hope was in Jesus Christ
They patiently waited to return to their own land
Why Egypt?
It was spoken of Israel that they would come of Egypt
Jesus is the ‘new-Israel’
Egypt meant the land of slavery, bondage and oppression – for 430 years
God raised up Moses to bring them out of Egypt
Jesus was to go into a place that symbolises bondage
There are places that are symbols of the evils of the world
Remarkable parallels between Israel and Jesus Christ
Israel – taken down by Joseph for protection and brought out by Moses
Jesus Christ – taken into Egypt (by Joseph) to be preserved and then brought out
Israel came through the baptism of the Red Sea and then spent 40 years in the wilderness
Jesus Christ after His baptism spent 40 days in the wilderness
God made a covenant with Israel and loved them – yet they broke His laws
Many did not fulfill their part of the covenant
Jesus comes as the new-Israel to fulfill the covenant
Jesus is the new exodus – coming to bring His people out of the bondage of sin
Jesus is the blood of the New Covenant – the Passover Lamb
“Out of Egypt I have called My Son”
The relevance to us:
Not just a story but true – all prophecy fulfilled exactly
History and truth
There is a great wickedness that comes out in war
There is great corruption in governments
Their is wickedness in the hearts of human beings
Consider the video – we go to the manger in Bethlehem, to the light of the world
We can trust and believe in Him
The message is to all people
Our sin was placed upon Jesus who went to the cross and punished in our place, that we might go free
God will not sweep sin under the carpet – it must be dealt with
Jesus cried ‘it is finished’
He rose from the dead
As Christians, we have good news – John 3:16
Will He be on the throne of your heart?
May we bow our knee to Jesus Christ