Celebrating Christmas—The Flight into Egypt

Throughout the Bible we repeatedly find a metaphor in which the lands of Babylon and Egypt are symbols of a corrupt and immoral world and the area of Palestine is a Promised Land. In the metaphor God directs people to leave the worldly place and flee to His Promised Land. Thus the Children of Israel left Egypt and made their way to Israel. Abraham left “Babylon” and made his way to Palestine.

But we find the reverse in the story of the Savior. Jesus was born in the Promised Land, but because even it was corrupted and full of evil, Joseph and Mary fled with their baby into Egypt. And thus a new metaphor is introduced.

"Flight into Egypt" by Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337)

This time we have God, who has obtained the Promised Land, fleeing into the corrupt and immoral world. And why? Because He has been sent to heal and save that world.

The Flight into Egypt, then, is symbolic of the fact that Jesus Christ condescended to come into the world and save us from sin (the immoral world) and corruption (death). Because of His birth and His death, you and I can flee this world and obtain a better one. It is the greatest gift anyone has ever given us.

We owe Jesus Christ everything.