BLOW THE WHISTLE, THROW THE FLAG

That is what a field official does in a football game. Blowing the whistle stops the play. Officials do that for every play, but they “throw the flag” only when they see a player commit a foul.

    I believe that is an apt metaphor for what I'm doing in this article. I am seeing a misunderstanding of history and culture being used to misapply Scripture to justify a political viewpoint. Someone needs to expose this for what it is.

What Is The Problem? What Is The Truth?

You might have seen an editorial cartoon around Christmas time that uses Scriptural imagery to criticize the President's immigration policy. It shows Mary and Joseph being refused admittance to the inn at Bethlehem. The caption compares them to the immigrants that would be barred from entering the United States by the proposed “Wall.”

    That comparison is historically inaccurate. Joseph and Mary were not immigrants. To be an immigrant, you must cross an international border, and they did not do that.

    As a matter of fact, their entire journey took place within the Roman Empire.

    Now, the events recorded in the Gospels took place within five geographical regions: Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Decapolis, and Perea. Most people are aware of the first three, because these regions are part of present day Israel. The last two were east of the Jordan River.

    The alignment of these regions within political boundaries varied during the life of Jesus, but they remained within the Roman Empire. So, the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea was totally within the Empire.

    Galilean Jews in the First Century would often travel back and forth to Jerusalem by crossing the Jordan River and then proceed through Decapolis and Perea. They did this to avoid passing through Samaria. They would take the Samaritan route only if they were pressed for time.

    No matter which route Joseph and Mary took, the only borders they crossed were regional, or district, boundaries, not international. So, they were not immigrants.

But Wait, There's More!

Sometimes the critics of immigration policy try to portray Mary and Joseph as refugees. That image is not true either.

    The reasons for people to become refugees are few in number, but major in scope: war, famine, epidemic, earthquake, volcanic eruption, religious or political persecution.

    We don't see any of those reasons at play in this event. So, Joseph and Mary were not refugees at that time.

    We do see them fleeing to Egypt, after the visit of the Magi, in response to divine instruction. They were refugees in that situation, but they still did not cross international borders. Egypt was part of the Roman Empire at that time.

Okay, Here's An Epiphany For You!

Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem in response to the census and taxation order. They were obeying the law!

Any comparison of the earthly parents of Jesus to immigrants attempting to circumvent the legal process for entering the U. S. has no substance. At best, it is a misunderstanding, and at worst, it is deception.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

(Matt. 1:18-2:15 NAS)

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Luke 2:1-7 NAS)