dream

7. Back to the Land of Israel

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 7 (Matthew 2:19-23)

Today’s journey takes us from Egypt northeast past Judea into Galilee, a distance of about 300 miles (500 kilometers).

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.  “Get up!” the angel said.  “Take the child and his mother and go back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are themselves dead.”

So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with the child and his mother.  But when he learned that Archelaus was the new king of Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  After being warned in a dream, he left Egypt for the region of Galilee, and the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth.  This fulfilled what the prophets had said:  “He will be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:19-23)

Egypt had a thriving Jewish community in Jesus’ day.  It would not have been difficult for Joseph and his family to find work and live there.  But like Moses many centuries before, Jesus is not (more…)

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3.  Misgivings, Grace and Name-giving

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 3  (Matthew 1:18-25)

Jesus’ birth took place like this.  His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.  Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Joseph, being righteous, did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he planned to put her aside quietly.

While he was thinking it out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Marry as your wife. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus–‘God saves’–because he will save his people from their sins.”  This would bring to fulfillment the prophet’s message given by the Lord:

Watch–a virgin will become pregnant and bear a son;
 They will call his name Immanuel (it means in Hebrew “God is with us”).

Joseph woke up from his sleep and did just as the Lord’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary.  But he did not know her intimately until she had the son.  He named the baby Jesus.  (Matthew 1:18-25)

(more…)

Continue Reading3.  Misgivings, Grace and Name-giving