Off to Egypt!

February 9, 2026, Monday Message:

Matthew 2:13b NLT: “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said to Joseph. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Fortunately, Joseph and Mary had experience with angels. They had experienced heavenly sightings previously, and everything the angel had told them always came true. A trust relationship had been established.

So when this angel told them to flee to Egypt, they quickly packed and got going. Their child was said to be the “King of the Jews.” And the problem was that Herod believed he was king! And Herod doesn’t want any competition for first place!

This all happened right after the Magi’s visit, so the holy family had adequate resources to sustain a trip to a foreign land. The Wise Men outfoxed Herod and returned home via a different route without ever reporting back to him. This angered Herod, and when he couldn’t locate Jesus, he ordered ALL the male children under two years of age to be killed. There was much wailing and sorrow in that part of Israel, all because of one sanctimonious narcissist.

Believers should rejoice that Jesus and family could seek asylum in a nearby foreign country. Nonresident aliens aren’t welcomed everywhere, and Jesus needed to reach adulthood before his ministry could begin. His primary mission was to take away the sins of the world, allowing mankind to mend our relationship with God Almighty, and we’ve seen that!

Thank you, Father God, for ensuring the completion of your Son’s mission. Thank you, Father, for providing your Son for the rescue of all believers. Thank you for Assurance of Salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Asylum!

For Sunday, January 5, 2025:

Matthew 2:13 NLT: “After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’”

As an infant, our Savior/Son-of-God became a nonresident alien in a foreign land seeking political and religious asylum! Wow! That’s a big bunch of words to describe such a little child!

But it’s a good thing the family left. Herod had gone berserk! Jesus, born King of the Jews, was such a perceived threat that Herod ordered every Hebrew child under the age of two to be killed! There was heartbreak throughout the land.

Herod eventually died and the Holy family returned to Israel. It all worked out according to God’s plan, leaving us with a little more compassion for those seeking political and religious asylum!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Psalms 146 - Inclusive

June 18, 2018 Monday Message:

“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. Psalms 146:9 NIV

While still a toddler, our Lord and savior was forced to seek political asylum in a foreign land. As you may recall, Herod was killing all the young Jewish males, so Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus packed up, headed for Egypt, and were political refugees for a time.

Fortunately Egypt welcomed them, and eventually things settled down in Israel, so the family was able to return to their homeland.

Understand that lines drawn on a map defining individual countries were drawn by men, and NOT by God. God made only one earth, and our assignment, straight from the mouth of Jesus, is to make disciples of ALL nations. To do that, we need to figure out how to get along with everybody. Now let’s get to work!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, June 24, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla continues our walk through Hebrews.