Matthew 2:19-23
No Place Too Far

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly 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 seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But 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. There 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."

New Revised Standard Version

The writers of the gospels were quite frugal with their language, so we can usually find interesting stories in what appear to be minor details. I think there are several such lessons in the details that Matthew records about where Jesus lived in his younger years.

One such story has to do with the resolution of what appear to be contradictory prophesies. Matthew establishes in chapter 2 how the prophets were correct when they said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, come out of Egypt, and be a resident of Nazareth. Before the birth of Jesus, Jewish historians must have struggled on how the Messiah could come from both the southern extreme (Bethlehem) and the northern extreme (Nazareth) of Israel, while also coming out of a foreign land. That didn't seem to make sense, until events and angels guided the infant Jesus to safety.

It is probably easier for us to identify with the story told in the geography and politics of these two towns than it is that of the ancient prophesies. These two towns were at opposite geographic ends of the nation, and while Bethlehem was somewhat close to the spiritual center of Jerusalem, Nazareth was far away. However, they shared a lack of significance and importance in that country. Bethlehem had been called the least important village in the land of the least important tribe of Israel. Nazareth had such a poor reputation that the apostle Nathaniel, before he met Jesus, asked if anything good could come out of Nazareth.

So, why would God choose for Jesus to be born and grow up in such insignificant places? There are two answers that immediately come to mind. The first is the symbolism of the two towns at the extremes, representing to us that God's plan covers not just a small area in the center, but the entire country... and beyond. The second is similar, and is seen also in Jesus' birth in a barn -- there is no one too low and unimportant for God. Only a few lived in a palace, and it took some funds and connections to get a room at the inn, but everyone is welcome at the stable. No one had to get a promotion to move "up town" to Nazareth; just the opposite! Nothing about Jesus' life was exclusionary and no one was left out due to lack of standing, wealth, power, or knowledge.

So, leave the dress shoes in the closet, put on the work boots, and tramp out through the mud to the stable... because there were no locks or barriers in the stable to keep people away. Don't look for Jesus to reside in a gated communities or exclusive neighborhoods, because while he will visit there, he will live with those who are saving up for treasures in heaven.

Come! Come as you truly are, come never fearing that you aren't "good enough" for Jesus, because Jesus chose first to come to you!