Around this time of year, I start seeing posts on social media about how Jesus was a refugee, an asylum seeker, an immigrant, etc.
It’s based upon a version of the Nativity story, where the Holy Family was forced to “flee” to Bethlehem to avoid persecution.
This is at best a “whisper down the lane” misinterpretation of the Christ child’s birth, and at worst an attempt by modern-day activists and rhetoricians to frame Jesus as a liberal icon who represents modern day victims of persecution.
In the first place, the gospels never state that Mary and Joseph were forced to “flee” Nazareth, and move to Bethlehem for their child’s birth.
According to Luke: “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were........