Our Savior’s Flight into Egypt.
By James Wiese on December 27, 2024
The Sunday after Christmas December 29, 2024
Text: Matthew 2:13-23 24:2480
Theme: Our Savior’s Flight into Egypt
I. A few hours of happy celebration, then back to the way things were – vv.13-15
No Christmas is without its share of tragedies. This year I did not pay much attention to the news this past week, but I would imagine that tragic occurrences have taken place, as is true every year at Christmas. It certainly was true that first Christmas season.
It would seem to us that Christmas with its joys and merriment, and days of heartbreak and sorrow just do not belong together this time of the year. Even for those whose Christmas has not been touched by personal tragedy and grief, the thought is often expressed that it is too bad that right after Christmas we have to go back to the ordinary business of living in this world with its worries and uncertainties. A few hours of happy celebration, then it’s back to the way things were. If we think it is too bad that we must go back to a world where the lights are not bright and the songs are not merry, then we need to remember what happened immediately after the first Christmas.
That Christmas heard angels sing glad tidings of great joy. But it was followed by sorrow and pain. A week went by, and baby Jesus was circumcised according to the O.T. law. There He shed the first drops of His precious blood for us. A few more weeks passed, and the Wise Men came to offer their gifts. But that happy occasion was followed by the tragic event which we will hear later. To avoid it, the new-born King of kings fled to Egypt to escape the hatred of an evil king. That was a bad world into which the Christ-child came to live. It was a world that hated the Son of God, a world where babies died, a world where adults wept in painful loss. After a few hours of happy celebration, the world was back to the way it had always been.
As we go back to the ordinary world after Christmas, we can find a great deal of insight for our own lives and struggles in this story of Our Savior’s Flight into Egypt. But first we join in singing our next hymn: (CW 357 A Glory Fills the Midnight Sky; Insert: Infant Lowly)
II. If the Son of God lives in a home, things will go well; vv.16-18
A few weeks, maybe months after Jesus’ birth, the Wise Men came and brought their gifts. After their departure an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take the mother and child and flee into Egypt. Such a flight was necessary for the safety of the young child. King Herod wanted to kill Him. How might this sad turn of events affect Mary and Joseph? Until now they had experienced more joy and wonder than sorrow or anxiety.
They knew this child was the Son of God. The angel told them this, so did the shepherds and the Wise Men. But now God commanded them to flee lest they perish. If Jesus were truly heaven’s King come to earth, then surely there would be no need to fear Herod! Herod a threat to the Son of God? It didn’t make sense. But Joseph did not argue. He did as the angel told him.
Already a foreshadowing of Jesus’ life on earth took place. Shortly after birth, the Son of God was already persecuted. He was not safe in the land which He had chosen to honor with His birth
Neither were Mary and Joseph for they also must flee because Jesus had come live in their home. If the Son of God lives in a home, surely things will go well for the people there! Yet, after His birth, the family had trouble and grief because of Him.
So did the town of Bethlehem. Its mothers and fathers experienced sorrow and pain because the Son of God was living among them. Soon after the angels announced tidings of great joy, Bethlehem became a vale of tears. Herod killed its children to get at the Christ.
Even when we celebrate a happy Christmas, when we find great joy in the Savior’s birth, we too must expect to experience many sorrows and trials here as through faith He lives in our homes. Such things happen because of our attachment to Him. “You will be hated by all people because of my name,” He told His disciples. “But whoever endures to the end will be saved” (Mt.10:22).
The New Year that lies ahead will be like all other years – there will be sickness, sorrows, hardship, and other sad events. We will need to pray continuously. It will be a year in which we will experience our share of inexplicable difficulties and tears as Mary, Joseph, and Bethlehem did. When the glad tidings of the Savior’s birth have gladdened our hearts, it is by no means a foregone conclusion that only joy will reign there. Rather, those same hearts, in which Christ makes His manger bed, will often be broken by grief. We have no divine guarantee that the year which lies ahead will be free from pain and sorrow and death.
But, with Mary and Joseph we face the New Year with confidence because the Son of God still lives with us and promises that all things will go well as He turns everything out for our eternal good (Ro.8:28). For in spite of all outward appearances:
– the Lord Jesus is still the ruler in Israel;
– He is still the supreme God;
– He is still the King of kings and Lord of lords;
– He still created and rules the universe;
– and He still is Immanuel, God with us, our Savior. No one can stop Him. (CW 339 Infant Holy; TLH 81 st.1-4 O Jesus Christ).
III. Yet, in weakness we find hope and comfort in Him – vv.19-23
No one can stop the Savior’s path. Jesus’ flight into Egypt proves it. At first appearance that flight seems to speak of weakness and humiliation. But it shows the opposite. Amid apparent weakness, there lay strength and majesty.
It is true. Herod had soldiers heavily armed, sent to kill the Christ. But the Child had servants more powerful than Herod’s soldiers. They protected Jesus from the rage of a bloodthirsty king. And unlike soldiers, the angels did it without shedding any blood.
Before Herod could move, one of the angels told the wise men that they should not return to Herod. Another told Joseph where to flee. So, despite his earthly power, in the end Herod was helpless to do what he really wanted to do. God knew what was in the wind and did what was needed to be done.
The Lord knows what needs to be done and sends His angels to see to it. It is written, “Are not all angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hb.1:14). The Lord knows what needs to be done and sends His angels to watch over you, “to guard and lift you up in their hands” (Ps.91). No one can stop Him.
No one could stop God from sending His Son to bear our sins. No tyrant could stop God from protecting His Son so that He could send that Son to the cross to die for us. And no one can stop God from doing what needs to be done for the eternal welfare of His children. Others may harm us physically, as Herod hurt those children. But none can harm us eternally when we find ourselves in Christ. In that we have hope and comfort when sorrows strike.
It is just for such a world as this:
– a world full of problems and difficulties;
– a world that knows no lasting happiness on its own;
– a world that experiences the truth that after much laughter comes weeping;
– a world in which we do not know what tomorrow will bring;
– a world where we come face to face with sickness, pain, death;
– a world filled with many heartaches;
…it is just for such a world as this that Christmas and the Christian faith are so important. We have a Savior to whom we flee for refuge. “Come to me,” He bids, “And I will give you rest. And you shall find rest for your souls.” He is ever strong to save, no matter the circumstances. We may not understand why things are the way they are. But we are assured that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jer.31:5). And just as Jesus came back from Egypt to His native land, so God, for Christ’s sake, will bring us out of the Egypt of this world to our heavenly home. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. (CW 326 O Jesus, Grant Me; TLH 92 Now Sing We)
Prayer: O God, our Father, who by the birth and infancy of Your Son sanctified and blessed childhood, we commend to Your love all children and ask You to protect them from every hurt and harm. Lead them to the knowledge of Yourself as God and the obedience of Your will. Receive into the arms of Your mercy all who lay down their lives for Your sake and prepare us by Your grace to always be ready to live and die for You here that we might live eternally with You in Your heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Sunday after Christmas December 29, 2024
Welcome in the name of the newborn Savior. For many, Christmas has passed. But its glow has only begun to shine in splendor within the hearts of God’s people. God’s Son did not come to earth just t
o begin a happy festival. He came to save us from sin and death. That work began soon after He arrived in our world.
Soon after His entrance here, Jesus took up His “cross” as He was forced to flee to Egypt to escape the sword of those who wanted to destroy Him. Sadly, the little children of Bethlehem were not safe from a worldly tyrant. Sorrow prevailed as they bore the cross of suffering in this world. They became the first to give their blessed lives while Jesus lived so that He might sacrifice His life to redeem all for God.
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Let Earth Receive Her King
The Preparation for Worship
The Entrance Hymn: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” 354
The Invocation (Pastor) & The Psalm (Sung by All) Psalm 98
The Confession of Sins: Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” 315
All: Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who has truly kept His Word
And at last to us did send Christ, the sinners’ Help and Friend.
What the fathers most desired, What the prophets’ heart inspired,
What they longed for many a year, Stands fulfilled in glory here.
Savior, hear my welcome cry – Loud hosannas lifted high!
King of Glory, enter in; Cleanse my soul of ev’ry sin,
Crush for me the serpent’s head That, set free from doubt and dread,
I may cling to You in faith, Safely kept through life and death.
The Absolution (Pastor – spoken)
Blessed is the Lord, because He has visited us and prepared redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, just as He said long ago through the mouths of His holy prophets. He has shown mercy to us by remembering His holy covenant, to give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins because of His tender mercies.; to guide our feet into the way of peace. Our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Go in peace.
(adapted from Zechariah’s Song: Luke 1:67-79)
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The Song of Praise: “Comfort, Comfort All My People” st.1,2,4 312
All: “Comfort, comfort all my people; Speak of peace,” so says our God.
“Comfort those who sit in darkness, Groaning from their sorrows’ load.
Speak to all Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell them that their sins I cover, That their warfare now is over.”
All their sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed.
All that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed.
They have suffered many a day; Now their griefs have passed away.
God will change their aching sadness Into ever-springing gladness.
Then make straight the crooked highway; Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, Ready for His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is spread abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token That His word is never broken.
The Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
The Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 63:7-9 The prophet praises God for kindnesses and great deeds He showed to His people. He had done many good things for them in the past. When they were in distress, He carried them and so became their Savior.
The Hymn: “Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising” st.1-4 362
The Epistle Lesson: Galatians 4:4-7 God’s grace is not carried out randomly or by chance; it comes according to His plan. So it is that Christ came at just the right time to extend the grace of God to all. All who believe in Him are adopted into His family.
The Hymn: “To Shepherds As They Watched by Night” st.1-4 335
The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:13-23 Our Savior’s Flight into Egypt.
Part I: A few hours of happy celebration, then back to the way things were. vv.13-15
The Hymn: “A Glory Fills the Midnight Sky” 357
Part II: Surely, if the Son of God lives in a home, things will always go well! vv.16-18
The Hymn: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” 339
Part III: Yet, in such weakness we find our hope and comfort in Him. vv.19-23
The Hymn: “O Jesus, Grant Me Hope and Comfort” 326
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Our Response to the Word
The Offering
The Hymns: “Away in a Manger” 341
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain” 361
Responsive Prayer:
M: In this holy season we rejoice to hear the good news of great joy that a Savior has been born for us. For fulfilling Your prophecies and in the fullness of time sending Your Son to be our Savior, we give You, Father, our heartfelt thanks and praise.
C: Unto us a Child is born! Unto us a Son is given!
M: What a great mystery of our faith this is: that God has become fully human for our salvation! Even though He is the all-powerful Lord of all, He lowered Himself, was wrapped in strips of cloth, was placed in a manger, and endured the world’s scorn.
C: Help us always believe that this precious child was born and stood in our place in order to be our Savior.
M: In the midst of our joy, we grieve for the many people in our world who are confronted by the strife that wicked men cause and by the grief that comes as a result of sin. We pray that they may know and believe that Jesus came to bring them forgiveness, healing, and hope. Help us make use of the opportunities You give to let others know of the eternal triumph He won for all who believe in Him.
C: Grant that peace between God and fallen mankind may comfort all people.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
(Silent Prayer)
M: As the angels sang their songs of praise, move us also to sing our praise to You, today and every day, as the true joy of Christmas shines in our hearts.
C: Glory to God in the highest! Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (pg.168)
The Benediction
The Closing Hymn: “Let Us All with Gladsome Voice” 332
Silent Prayer
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The Organist: Jane Rips
The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
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The Sunday after Christmas – Series A
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 63:7-9 God’s Mercy Remembered
7I will tell about the Lord’s mercies, about the praises of the Lord, about all that the Lord has done for us, about his great goodness to the house of Israel, which he did for them according to his abundant compassion, and according to his great mercy. 8He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not deal falsely,” so he became their Savior. 9In all their anguish he had anguish, and the Angel of his Presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he himself redeemed them, and he took them up and carried them all the days of old.
Epistle Lesson: Galatians 4:4-7 – God Sent His Son
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would be born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to shout, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if you are a son, then you are also an heir of God through Christ.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:13-23 – The Flight to Egypt
13 After the Wise Men were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream: “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod will search for the child in order to kill him.” 14 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod. This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Wise Men, he was furious. He issued orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under. This was in keeping with the exact time he had learned from the Wise Men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they are no more. 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” 21 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had succeeded his father as ruler in Judea, he was afraid to go there. Since he had been warned in a dream, he went to the region of Galilee. 23 When he arrived there, he settled in a city called Nazareth. So what was spoken through the prophets was fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.” The Holy Bible Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) ©2019
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Lutheran Church
December 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025
| Sunday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Sunday |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
Christmas 1 |
7 pm
New Year’s Eve Worship with Holy Communion
New Year’s Eve |
New Year’s Day The Naming of Jesus |
9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
Sunday before Epiphany |
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Liz Lisenby; Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA; Dee Bruck, following knee surgery.
Special Service for New Year’s Eve This coming Tuesday, December 31, we will hold a New Year’s Eve Service with Holy Communion at 7 pm at Zion.
Offering Envelopes for the upcoming year are available in the mailboxes in the narthex. If for some reason you did not receive a set, please see Jim Wiese.
Divine Call Sent At the last call meeting, Pastor Kurt Uhlenbrauck was selected to whom our ninth call was sent. He is 62 years old and presently serves St. Jacob Lutheran Church, Grass Lake, MI. He and wife Karen have 2 non-dependent adult children. Please keep them in your prayers over the next few weeks as he prayerfully considers the call. More information about Pastor Uhlenbrauck may be found on the bulletin board in the hallway.
Thank You very much for your kind holiday greetings and gifts by which you have remembered our family again this Christmas. Your words of Christmas greetings and expressions of thoughtfulness and care throughout the year are greatly appreciated. May the Lord bless you and your families with a rich measure of His grace in the days that lie ahead. A blessed New Year to you in Christ! – Pastor, Elizabeth and family.
Looking Ahead:
Tuesday, December 31 – New Years Eve Communion Service at 7 pm
Friday, January 17 – Serving supper at the Ronald McDonald House
Annual Congregational Meeting – (to be announced)
Outreach Efforts: Situational Awareness & Firearm Training (to be announced)
Pastor will be teaching in China with New Life Academy at the end of January into February
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Sunday before Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-13
Point to Ponder “God bless us this year in Christ!” Could we, as we look toward the future, frame a more fitting prayer for ourselves? Simple, yet profound. With our sins removed in Christ, God will bless us, and the fountains of His divine grace will flow.
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