You might not often think about Jesus as a refugee. But His earliest days were shaped not by celebration – they we’re shaped by a search for safety.
This is the reality faced by families today. They leave their homes to protect their children and find a place where they can survive.
No one chooses to flee their homes and all they know. But the beginning of Jesus’ life asks us to reflect on how we stand with people who are forced to flee today.
Conflict has uprooted millions in the DRC. Your support can help provide essentials like food, warmth and safety for those rebuilding their lives.
Jesus’ early life was marked by danger and displacement
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Mary and Joseph were warned in a dream that Jesus’ life was in danger. Herod, threatened by the birth of a new king, ordered violence across Bethlehem.
To protect their son, Mary and Joseph fled their home in the night. They crossed into Egypt, carrying Jesus with them (Matthew 2:13–15). This part of the nativity story is easy to miss. Before Jesus spoke His first words, He lived through fear, violence and flight.
As His parents held Him close, they crossed borders. They searched for safety in a land far from home.
Their journey raises a clear question: was Jesus a refugee?
Was Jesus a refugee?
The Bible doesn’t use the word ‘refugee’. But today we use that word to describe someone who has fled their country because of violence, conflict or persecution.
Mary, Joseph (and Jesus) fled for their lives and crossed borders to find safety. Their journey reflects what we understand as a refugee experience:
- They fled a violent ruler.
- They escaped to protect their child.
- They sought safety in another country.
In Jesus, God choose to enter the world in vulnerability. He wasn’t born into comfort or power. He began His life as a child whose parents ran to protect Him — just as so many families do today.
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Families like Chance’s fled their villages in the middle of the night. They carry their children. They walk for hours or days. They search for safer ground.
Today, many live in displacement camps. They’re not refugees.
They’re families who are uprooted inside their own country and are trying to survive with limited food, shelter and healthcare.
Just as Mary and Joseph fled violence with Jesus, mothers like Chance are doing everything they can to keep their children safe.
Families in the DRC are doing all they can to protect their children and begin again. Your gift can help provide essentials and stability as they rebuild their lives
A biblical call to support those in danger
Scripture is clear about God’s heart for people who flee danger:
- ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ - Matthew 25:35 (NRSV)
- ‘The Lord watches over the strangers’ - Psalm 146:9 (NRSV)
- ‘You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt’ - Deuteronomy 10:19 (NRSV)
Jesus’ refugee story shows us that God stands with those who flee. It also calls us to do the same. Supporting families uprooted by conflict is more than compassion. It’s part of our faith.
What Jesus’ refugee story teaches us today
When violence forces families from their homes, every act of kindness matters. Your support can help provide food, warmth and essential items for those seeking safety.
