On Christmas Eve of 2024, outdoorsman Bear Grylls stated on his X account that Mary was a “Palestinian” and that she and Joseph were “refugees” when they traveled to Bethlehem. Today, we are “celebrating the birth of a Middle Eastern refugee” who “changed the course of the world forever.” I suppose this means that any Middle Eastern refugee can change our world today. (Source)
Every Christmas, Leftists try to make the Christmas story about some needed government welfare program. They only appeal to the Bible when they scold Christians for judging (Matt. 7:1-2; John 7:24) and not supporting socialism (Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-35). In the same breath they refuse to acknowledge the Bible teaches that unborn babies are human beings (“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb…”: Luke 1:51) and afforded protection to the unborn by the law (“so that her children come out”: Ex. 21:22), same-sex relationships are prohibited (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:27; 1 Tim. 1:10), and God, because He created us “male and female,” never intended same-sex marriage (Gen. 1:27; 2:24; 5:2; Matt. 19:4-6).
Georgia Democrat Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock attacked Republican senators who passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He claimed their vote was a “vicious and evil attack on the most vulnerable people in America.” He compared the tax cuts to Herod, who was “willing to kill children” to preserve wealth and power. He failed to mention that it was a tax project that sent Joseph and a pregnant Mary to leave their home and livelihood and register for the money-raising scheme (Luke 2:1). The better analogy is when people from high-tax states move to lower-tax states. Let’s not forget the despised tax collector Zacchaeus, who used his position to rob the people in the name of some new government program to solidify the power of the Roman government to oppress the people and enrich the politicians.
Jesse Jackson was one of the first Leftists to turn Joseph and Mary into a “homeless couple” when he claimed that Christmas “is not about Santa Claus and ‘Jingle Bells’ and fruitcake and eggnog,” of which all Christians would agree, but about “a homeless couple.”[1] He repeated his “homeless couple” theme at the 1992 Democratic Convention. Hillary Clinton, in comments critical of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s homeless policies, claimed that “Christmas celebrates ‘the birth of a homeless child.’”[2]
Like seasonal clockwork, some have tried to make Jesus, Mary, and Joseph into a refugee family since refugee wokeness is the new cause célèbre. The first item I saw was, “If only we had a seasonally appropriate story about Middle Eastern people seeking refuge being turned away by the heartless.” Then there’s this.
Mother Mary wearing a respirator to protect herself from tear gas. Baby Jesus with zip-tied hands, wrapped in a thin blanket that looks like aluminum foil. Masked centurions with sunglasses and green vests labeled “ICE.” This is how the Lake Street Church of Evanston chose to assemble its outdoor Nativity scene for the Christmas season.
It’s shocking to learn how ignorant people are about the Bible. Joseph and Mary were neither homeless nor refugees. Mary went to live with her cousin Elizabeth upon hearing about her pregnancy and “stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home” (Luke 1:56). Presumably, her parents owned a home. They did not throw her out when they learned of her unbelievable story because she was welcomed back home.
An edict from the centralized Roman government required Joseph and Mary to spend time and money registering for a tax (Luke 2:1-7). Their place of birth—Bethlehem—was in Israel, which was under Roman occupation. They were not fleeing persecution.
It’s typical of governments that make laws without considering the consequences. There was not enough housing for traveling citizens (Luke 2:1). No matter, Rome wanted its pound of flesh in terms of taxes.
The fact that “there was no room in the inn” (a disputed translation; see below) (Luke 2:7) did not make them homeless any more than a family on a trip is homeless when they encounter “No Vacancy” signs during an emergency or vacation time.
In fact, the inns were full to overflowing in the entire Holy Land because of the Roman emperor’s decree that everyone be counted and taxed. Inns are private businesses, and customers are their lifeblood. There would have been no reason to turn away this man of royal lineage and his beautiful, expectant bride. (Source)
The best available accommodation was offered to Mary and Joseph. No one stopped them from entering Bethlehem. There is nothing in the text that shows they were treated harshly.
Here’s a new wrinkle to the story as presented by Michael J. Kruger:
A recent study by Stephen Carlson makes the case (a compelling one, I think) that the Greek word normally translated as “inn” (καταλύματι) in Luke 2:7 is best translated as “place to stay.” So the passage isn’t saying there was no room in the inn, but rather there was no room for baby Jesus in the place they stayed. In what place were they staying? Carlson argues it was probably in the home of Joseph’s family in Bethlehem,[3] perhaps in an adjacent guest room (which would have been small).
The Greek word kataluma is also used to describe the place where the Last Supper was held (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11) before Jesus was arrested by the corrupt religious leaders who declared that Caesar was their king (John 19:15) and crucified by the Roman government.
Sometime later, the Wise Men came “into the house” where Jesus was “with Mary His mother” (Matt. 2:11). They went with valuable commodities of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” While Rome was into taxation, the visitors to Mary and Joseph’s home brought gifts. It’s possible the family returned to Nazareth by this time. Joseph was warned to escape Herod’s treachery by going to Egypt.
[A]n angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt. He remained there until Herod’s death. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON” (Matt. 2:13-5; Hos. 11:1).
Politicians love to flash their religious bona fides. They count on most people not knowing much about the Bible. Because immigration of all kinds is an issue today, why not try to make a case from the Bible to legitimize a political agenda? Of course, Democrats and Republicans do it. Consider the following from former Senator John Kerry and Ted Kennedy advisor Mary Anne Marsh.
In this season of Christmas as Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is important to remember the journey Jesus, Mary, and Joseph traveled. Their journey is recounted in the Gospel of Matthew where Mary and Joseph flee Judea for Egypt fearing Jesus would be murdered by King Herod. That journey, in an effort to save the life of Jesus, makes clear they were refugees.
First, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living within the Roman Empire. Egypt was part of the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus’ birth and their escape to the Roman Province of Egypt. The Roman Empire extended to Britannia. Paul had plans to go to Spain (Rom. 15:24, 28), all within the boundaries of the Roman Empire.
Second, there was a sizeable Jewish population in Egypt in the first century. “In Josephus’s history, it is claimed that, after the first Ptolemy took Judea, he led some 120,000 Jewish captives to Egypt from the areas of Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria, and Mount Gerizim. With them, many other Jews, attracted by the fertile soil and Ptolemy’s liberality, emigrated there of their own accord. An inscription recording a Jewish dedication of a synagogue to Ptolemy and Berenice was discovered in the 19th century near Alexandria. Josephus also claims that, soon after, these 120,000 captives were freed of their bondage by Philadelphus.” (Wikipedia)
This isn’t very different from companies like Goldman Sachs and Tesla leaving the high-tax states of New York and California for the low-tax states of Florida and Texas. Are they refugees because they are leaving oppressive regulatory and taxing states?
Third, the angel could have warned Joseph to go to other parts of Israel where Herod had no jurisdiction, except that there is typological significance in Jesus being “called out” of Egypt. Peter J. Leithart’s comments explain Israel’s reversal of fortune and why Joseph was commanded to go to Egypt. You see, Israel had become the new Egypt (Rev. 11:8).
All along the way, the exodus gets reversed, inverted, subverted, turned inside out and on its head. The murderous king is not an Egyptian Pharaoh, but Herod, “King of the Jews.” The threatening land is not Egypt, but Israel. And the land where the Son finds safety is not Israel but Egypt. The new Moses comes to deliver His followers not from Egypt but from an Israel that has become no better than Egypt.
Fourth, there is a second part of the angel’s command. They were to remain in Egypt until the angel told Joseph it was safe to return. After Herod’s death, they returned to Israel and avoided Judea because another Herod was ruling there. How many aliens and refugees return to their home nations after entering the United States?
Why this fear of Herod? Because Harod understood the Christmas story better than many Christians today. He understood the political implications. No ruler cares about religious beliefs that are personal and exclusively heavenly.
Fifth, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to Egypt, and back to Nazareth, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary never left the Roman Empire.
Sixth, let’s assume Egypt was an independent nation at the time, not under Roman rule. Does anyone believe its leaders would not have protected its border if 10,000 Israelis demanded entry? What we are seeing in the United States is an invasion, with many of the invaders being military-aged men.
Seventh, it’s possible that Roman officials in Egypt scrutinized Joseph and his family. Since Joseph had a marketable skill as a τέκτων (tektōn), artisan/craftsman/carpenter (Matt. 13:53-55), he was permitted to stay with his family.
There’s enough in the Bible to support the care of sojourners, strangers (Lev. 19:34), widows and orphans (Ps. 146:9), and resident aliens (Ex. 22:21) without making up stuff. The modern refugee question is not about whether the United States should permit refugees to enter. Some “shibboleth” (Judges 12:1-6) is needed to weed out terrorists, gangs, sex traffickers, and drug smugglers.
In addition, there needs to be an overhaul of our welfare system, not just for immigrants and refugees but for all Americans.
[1] As reported in The Atlanta Journal/Constitution (December 28, 1991), A9.
[2] Quoted in “Washington” under Politics in USA Today (December 1, 1999), 15A.
[3] See Craig S. Keener, “Birth of Jesus,” The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament.