Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Learning to Love God by Loving Others

Home
Progressive Christian
Jesus Was a Refugee: Two Nighttime Flights

Jesus Was a Refugee: Two Nighttime Flights

Last updated on: February 27, 2021 at 10:06 am by Susan E. Brooks

Jesus Was a Refugee: Two Nighttime Flights 2021-02-27T10:06:49-05:00 Susan E. Brooks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mother and Child

The Syrian refugee had to flee with her children in the dark of night. Artwork by Susan E. Brooks

She was a refugee from Syria, a beautiful young woman, dressed in black from head to toe. A patterned scarf was tied around her head and tucked into a lightweight double-breasted suit coat that skirted the floor. She spoke passionately in a language I couldn’t understand. Her young interpreter had to stop a time or two to choke back tears. As I listened to her story, I realized Jesus was a refugee too as a baby.

One Mother’s Story

As the young mother told of her struggles during her recent pregnancy in Syria, I sat spellbound. Her country was falling apart. As her time drew near, she scheduled a c-section two weeks before her baby was due—she needed to make sure the baby would not be born in the middle of the night. A night trip to the hospital would have been too risky. When the time came for the c-section, the soldiers stopped her family on their way to the hospital. They detained her husband for no apparent reason, leaving her to deliver the baby without him.

Delivering the Baby Alone

Upon her arrival at the hospital, the warring factions were bombing the area, and her heart was racing. Because of her condition, they couldn’t give her the medicine she needed to relax, so she had to find a way to calm down without medication.

“I can do this. I can do this,” she repeated, realizing she had to be strong for the baby.

In spite of the horrific conditions, she delivered a healthy baby, and in time the husband was released. The family returned to their home, but the situation in the area only worsened. Soldiers harassed her husband when he would venture out, until one day they beat him with sticks so severely he feared for his life. By the time the baby was four months old, the family decided it was safer to flee the violence than to stay in their home.

A Nighttime Flight

Since they had no passports and no birth certificate for the baby, they would have to escape across the border illegally. Their best chance to survive the journey was to race through the forest under the cover of night. It was extremely difficult to see their way through. At certain places they had to run, or the spotlights would expose them. If caught in the spotlights, border guards would shoot them on sight. The young father carried his two-year-old son, and the nursing mother carried her four-month-old baby. It was nearly impossible to keep the children quiet, but somehow, they made it. This young Syrian family is now living in the states building a new life.

Jesus Was a Refugee

After hearing this story at a peace feast organized by Peace Catalyst International, I had the privilege of hugging the young mother. She wants everyone to know about the suffering of her people. Her story reminded me of another flight by a family of refugees. They too fled under the cover of night to a neighboring country. They fled to Egypt, to save the life of their child from a murderous ruler. The child’s name was Jesus. I wonder who helped that refugee family. Who took little Jesus in and provided diapers for him and food and shelter for his mother and father until Joseph could find some carpentry work and an apartment? Mary, Joseph, and Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod died.

Entertain Strangers

When I was a stranger in a foreign country, I depended on the kindness of the local people, and I am forever grateful to them. The scripture is clear on the treatment of foreigners. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (NIV). I’m not sure what that verse means about the angels exactly, but I am sure it means we should welcome refugees. Some Egyptian family surely welcomed the family of baby Jesus. If Jesus was a refugee (Matt. 2:13-15), how can we refuse to help the refugees who come to our cities?

I’m an artist who loves to write. If you’d like to get to know me better, please follow me on social media.

My Blog: susanebrooks.com

Instagram @sebrooks81 (Mostly Art)

Facebook, Susan E. Brooks, Artist,

Twitter @sebrooks81

YouTube Susan E. Brooks, Artist

Art

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

Kentucky Refugee Ministries

refugee

welcoming the stranger

Previous Post

February 22, 2021

Grace or Sacrifice?

Next Post

March 3, 2021 Grief Is a Wolf: A Meditation on Grief

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Discipleship dreams and Goals emotional health Following Jesus General Christian Topics God's Love Grace Hearing God identity in Christ Marriage prayer Raising Children Relationships and family sacrificial love Social Justice spiritual focus spiritual growth Trusting God Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz