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TestTag

Refugee

<p><span data-contrast="auto">Three hundred and fifty miles. That’s a road trip from Denver to Oklahoma City. It’s the length of over 6,000 football fields placed end to end. It’s the height of roughly 64 Mount Everests stacked on top of each other. It’s also the distance that Jesus and his family traveled to flee Bethlehem. Not by camel, horse, or any other mode of transportation. They traveled on foot. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">They did the unthinkable to escape a ruthless authoritarian leader, King Herod, who ruled a Roman-occupied Judea from 37 BCE to 4 BCE. Shortly after Jesus’ birth, King Herod, driven by insecurity and the fear that Jesus would one day overthrow him, decreed that all boys aged two years and younger be killed. When Mary and Joseph caught wind of his devious plan, they took baby Jesus and escaped their home to Egypt. This is the story that inspired our “Refugee” commercial. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Their journey mirrors the thousands of refugees and asylum seekers today, who face fear, uncertainty, violence, and worse. Eventually, Jesus and his family returned home, but it’s more than likely that experience stuck with Jesus and shaped his compassion for others. He knew firsthand what it was like to be an outsider and the challenges that come with the territory. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Decades later, Jesus delivered one of his most famous sermons, where he famously spoke about “the least of these,” referring to people who were vulnerable, overlooked, and powerless in society. He reminds his audience that “If you do anything against these people, you do them against me.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Here, we see Jesus’ empathy on full display. Not only did he advocate for others to be compassionate toward the least of these, but he also likened himself to them because he knew how they felt, how they lived. His experiences throughout his adult life reinforce that, but his early days as a refugee might’ve been where his radical empathy began. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Two thousand years later, his teachings are just as relevant now as they were then. How can we practice the same radical empathy that Jesus taught a millennium ago? And even when others don’t, how different would our society be if we did anyway? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>


Jesus was a refugee.


<h1 id="h-the-flight" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Flight</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong></p>



<p>When Herod, King of Judea, heard that the “King of the Jews” had been born in Bethlehem, he felt threatened. He sent out an order calling for all children two-years-old and younger to be killed. This has historically been referred to as “The Massacre of the Innocents.” When Mary and Joseph heard of the order they packed their things and fled their home with baby Jesus to find safety from Herod’s rule.</p>



<p><strong><strong>Today</strong></strong></p>



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<p>Today, many refugees flee their homes in search of safety as well. While the reasons for immigration are vast, political unrest, war, gang violence, and poverty continue to top the list. Just like Mary and Joseph, parents risk the dangerous journey to provide safety from violence and relief from poverty for their children.</p>
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<h1 id="h-the-transportation" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Transportation</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />Walking and using animals were the most common form of transportation in Jesus&#8217; day. Camels would have been the best for desert journeys, but because Jesus&#8217; family was not wealthy it&#8217;s more likely that they traveled on foot. While we&#8217;re not sure what form on transportation his family took, we can be sure that the journey was a long and arduous one through unforgiving desert.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Refugees today use a variety of transportation depending on their route and resources. Some hide on freight trains, others in the backs of trucks, some sail on makeshift rafts, and many have no choice but to make their journey on foot. And no matter the form, the transportation is especially difficult for parents fleeing with children.</p>
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<p><strong>The Cost</strong></p>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />Jesus did not come from an affluent family. So how did they pay for their trip? Before leaving for Egypt, the wise men visited Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It&#8217;s possible that these gifts were sold to pay for the family&#8217;s journey, or that Joseph’s family in Bethlehem provided them with supplies, but it’s also possible Mary and Joseph made the trip in an especially vulnerable position with very limited resources.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Immigrating to another country can be expensive, especially when trying to ensure safety. Some refugees receive help from sponsors or nonprofit organizations, but many are able to make the trek only with the help of family or by spending all of their savings. Making the journey can leave refugees with next to nothing when they finally arrive.</p>
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<h1 id="h-the-climate" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Climate</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />The land between Judea and Egypt is mostly desert. In order to stay close to necessary food, water, resources, and cooler temperatures, Mary and Joseph would have most likely traveled along the Mediterranean coast. While this path provided the best shelter from harsh weather, it came with its own dangers.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Harsh weather conditions are one of the greatest threats to migrants today and one of the least talked about. As they journey, many are exposed to extreme heat or cold. Others endure storms with little to no shelter. And with limited access to water for long stretches, dehydration along the journey can be fatal.</p>
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<h1 id="h-the-threats" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Threats</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />While sticking to the roads along the Mediterranean made the most sense for Jesus and his family, the well trafficked routes presented their own unique risks. Thieves knew the Mediterranean route was one of the only manageable ones. They often took advantage of this on less crowded parts of the road, just outside major cities, laying in wait to ambush vulnerable travelers.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Refugees face a paradox as they travel: they must bring everything they can to keep their family safe, feed them, pay potential people along the way, etc., but they live in constant fear of being robbed. Just as in Jesus&#8217; time, individuals and groups have used knowledge of common migrant paths to rob, harm, and kidnap the most vulnerable.</p>
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<h1 id="h-the-travelers" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Travelers</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />One way to deter thieves would be to join a caravan. Because Mary and Joseph were traveling along a frequent trading route, it&#8217;s possible that they would have joined other travelers or even paid a merchant to allow them to join their caravan. Traveling in larger groups provided protection against lurking bandits. If they didn’t join a caravan, the journey would have been especially dangerous.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Individuals and families fleeing home often travel with others. These caravans provide protection for those traveling, but they also draw attention from government authorities and require organization and leadership to function. Joining a caravan still isn’t a perfect guarantee of safe travel and it often requires some financial commitment.</p>
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<h1 id="h-the-destination" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Destination</strong></h1>



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<p><strong>Jesus</strong><br />When Jesus and his parents arrived in Egypt, they entered a country with a language, culture, and religion that were not their own. Mary and Joseph likely would have found other Jewish people and settled in a community where they could practice their religion, speak their native tongue, and be around people with a shared culture.</p>



<p><strong>Today</strong></p>



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<p>Culture shock faces many refugees today. As they arrive in a new place with new customs, foods, languages, and religions, they learn to adapt while trying to maintain the culture and traditions they hold dear. Many find relief in communities of other refugees from their country or part of the world. In these communities they often find support asthey navigate a strange new place.</p>
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<p>Scripture References:<br />Matthew 2:13-18</p>


Jesus’ Escape to Egypt

<p>After King Herod decreed that all children ages 2 and under be killed, Mary and Joseph fled with baby Jesus to Egypt to escape his persecution. This is the biblical story that inspired our “<a href="https://hegetsus.com/en/jesus-was-a-refugee">Refugee</a>” spot.</p>
<p>Our creative team captured firsthand accounts of <a href="https://hegetsus.com/en/articles/jesus-was-a-refugee">refugees</a> seeking a better future for their families. These behind-the-scenes interviews provide valuable insight into their experience and the harsh realities that <a href="https://hegetsus.com/en/articles/jesus-was-a-refugee">refugees</a> face every day. The uncertainty. The fear. The will to endure for an opportunity at a better life. The same nearly insurmountable odds that Jesus and his parents faced 2,000 years ago as they were seeking refuge in Egypt, outside of their homeland.</p>


The making of “Refugee.”