The Immigrants Among Us

Today at FBC Danvers, we will welcome our brethren from the Adoniran Judson Association for a meeting which at its core will focus on concerns for the immigrant community.  

As I reflect on today’s meeting two things come to mind. First is God’s instruction to Israelites in Exodus 22:21, “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” The other is the very person of Jesus. 

When we think of Jesus, we often picture the healer, the teacher, the Savior. Before any of that, Jesus was a refugee.  Born into political instability, Jesus entered the world under the shadow of empire and fear.  

King Herod’s violent decree to kill all male infants forced Mary and Joseph to flee with their newborn son to Egypt—a foreign land, unfamiliar and uncertain (Matthew 2:13–15) . In that moment, the Son of God became a displaced person, seeking safety in exile. 

This part of Jesus’ story is often overlooked, yet it holds profound relevance today. In a world where millions are forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution, and poverty, Jesus’ early life echoes their journey. He didn’t just speak of loving the stranger—he lived it.

A Refugee from the Start

Jesus’ refugee status makes him uniquely relatable across cultures and borders. He embodies the vulnerability of those who flee, the courage of those who protect, and divine solidarity with the marginalized. That story places Jesus in solidarity with the displaced, the vulnerable, and the persecuted.  

Jesus begins his earthly life not in comfort or power, but as a refugee, dependent on the hospitality of strangers in a foreign land. Jesus didn’t enter the world in a palace or among the elite. He was born in a borrowed stable, laid in a manger, and soon after, his family fled for their lives. Jesus was a refugee from the start.

This narrative challenges us to see the face of Christ in the immigrants around us. It reminds us that the Savior of the world once needed sanctuary. In a time when immigration is a divisive issue, this story invites Christians to reflect deeply and reminds us that the gospel begins in the margins, not the center.

Symbol of Hope

Jesus’ earliest days were marked by fear, displacement, and vulnerability. His refugee story connects Him to millions today—from war-torn families in Syria to persecuted Christians in Bangladesh, Ukraine, Egypt, Iraq and many other parts of the world. It affirms that God is not distant from suffering but deeply present within it. To many immigrants Jesus’ refugee journey whispers: “You are not forgotten. I’ve walked this road too.”

For us as Christians in America, it challenges us to listen deeply to those whose stories challenge our assumptions, and to love sacrificially; to let go of the need to be right. Real people are never as simple as our assumptions.

When we love sacrificially, we step into the heart of the gospel. It means to say, “You matter more than my convenience.” It’s the kind of love that doesn’t just feel good — it does good. Jesus didn’t just preach love — He became love. To love sacrificially is to mirror that cross-shaped love.

Radical Hospitality

Jesus’ refugee experience isn’t just a historical footnote—it’s a call to action. To follow Christ is to see the divine image in the migrant’s face. It’s a challenge to move beyond political rhetoric and embrace the gospel’s radical hospitality.

Christians are called to act with compassion, justice, and humility toward immigrants—especially during politically divisive times. The Scripture urges believers to prioritize love over partisanship and to see immigrants as neighbors, not threats.

Jesus didn’t just teach empathy—He embodied it. He touched lepers, wept with mourners, ate with outcasts, and forgave those who betrayed Him. His life was a relentless pursuit of the hurting, the excluded, and the misunderstood.

To advocate for radical hospitality is not to advocate for a borderless state. Every country has the right to protect its borders. As Pastor Judy McEachran stated in an article in Christianity.com, “a just society upholds law and order, protects the vulnerable, and fosters peace and prosperity.”

To follow Jesus, however, is to practice radical hospitality—the kind that crosses boundaries, breaks social norms, and risks comfort. It’s not just feeling for others; it’s feeling with them. It’s stepping into their story, even when it’s messy, painful, or politically inconvenient. Radical hospitality means seeing the immigrant not as “other,” but as “us.”

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Pastor Godwin, FBC Danvers