Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to share something that connects the Christmas story to one of the oldest and most persecuted Christian communities in the world—the Coptic Church of Egypt. It's a story that begins with the Holy Family's flight to Egypt to escape King Herod's murderous rage, and it continues through 2,000 years of Egyptian Christianity marked by both triumph and tremendous suffering.
Let me start by reading from Matthew 2:13-15: "Now when they (the wise men) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the Child to destroy Him.' And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet (Hosea 11:1), 'Out of Egypt I called My Son.'"
[The deeper meaning - Ferguson's insights]
Now, most of us know this story as part of the Christmas narrative. The wise men visit Jesus, they don't return to Herod, and Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety. But theologian Sinclair B. Ferguson, in his book "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace," helps us see something much deeper happening here.
Ferguson writes: "The point in this story of Egyptian exile is about Jesus' identity; for later, once Herod was dead, Jesus would be brought out of Egypt, and thus fulfill Hosea 11:1...which reflects on the rescue of God's people - His 'son' Israel - from slavery in Egypt."
Do you see what Matthew is doing? He's showing us that Jesus is reliving Israel's history—but this time, doing it perfectly. Israel went down to Egypt as a family (Jacob and his sons during the famine), grew into a nation there, and then God called them out through Moses in the Exodus. Now Jesus—God's true Son—goes down to Egypt as a child and is called out, fulfilling what God had always intended through Israel's story.
[The pattern of exodus - Jesus as the fulfillment]
Ferguson continues: "In Matthew's account of their escape to Egypt, 'there are echoes of the story told in Genesis and Exodus. A family goes down into Egypt; a child is rescued from a wicked ruler; he grows up and leads his people out of their bondage; they pass through the waters of the sea; they are tested in the wilderness; eventually they reach the borders of the promised land.'"
Think about those parallels! Moses was rescued from Pharaoh's order to kill Hebrew boys. Jesus was rescued from Herod's order to kill baby boys in Bethlehem. Moses led Israel through the Red Sea. Jesus would be baptized in the Jordan River. Israel was tested in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus was tested in the wilderness for 40 days. Israel entered the Promised Land. Jesus would lead His people to the ultimate promised land—eternal life with God.
Ferguson writes: "These events are like a shadow cast backwards into history from the life of the Lord. He is the reality. He is the true Son of God who was called out of Egypt; He would go through the waters in His baptism in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:1-17); He would be tested in the wilderness (4:1-11)."
[The greater exodus - eternal salvation]
Here's what Matthew is telling us: "In Jesus a greater exodus has begun." The first exodus delivered Israel from physical slavery in Egypt. But Jesus came to accomplish a far greater exodus—deliverance from spiritual slavery to sin, Satan, and death.
Ferguson notes that 30 years later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus discussed with Moses and Elijah the "departure"—literally the "exodus" in Greek (Luke 9:31)—that He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. "This true and final exodus would not be a physical deliverance from an earthly pharaoh. It would be deliverance from Satan, and from the guilt, and power, and shame of sin."
So Jesus being taken to Egypt wasn't just about His safety—though it was that. It was about fulfilling a divine pattern, filling up a prophecy that God had written into Israel's history to point forward to the ultimate salvation Jesus would bring. As Ferguson beautifully concludes: "Now there is no earthly danger, worldly power, or spiritual snare that His people need to fear. Everywhere we look into this story, we discover that it is all about salvation. That is its central message. That is the Christmas message. And it is our greatest need."
[Where Jesus went in Egypt - the tradition]
Now, according to ancient Coptic Christian tradition, the Holy Family didn't just briefly pass through Egypt—they spent several years there, perhaps as long as three years. Coptic tradition identifies numerous sites in Egypt where the Holy Family stayed, creating a "Holy Family Trail" that Coptic Christians have venerated for centuries.
They traveled south along the Nile, and tradition says they stopped at places like Matariya (where a tree is said to have bowed to Jesus), Old Cairo (where the Church of Abu Serga now stands, built over a cave where they supposedly sheltered), and even as far south as Assiut. Whether all these specific sites are historically accurate, we can't know for certain. But what we do know is that Egypt became a refuge for the infant Christ—and later, Egypt became home to one of the strongest early Christian communities in the world.
[Christianity comes to Egypt - Mark the Evangelist]
According to tradition, Christianity was brought to Egypt by Mark the Evangelist—the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark—around 42-43 AD. Mark is said to have established the Church of Alexandria, which became one of the most important centers of early Christianity, rivaling Rome, Antioch, and Constantinople.
Alexandria had a massive Jewish population, and the Gospel spread first among these Jews, then to native Egyptians. By the 2nd century AD, Christianity was growing rapidly in Egypt. The Coptic Church—"Coptic" comes from the Greek word for Egypt—developed as a distinctly Egyptian expression of Christianity, using the Coptic language (descended from ancient Egyptian) in their liturgy.
[The Desert Fathers - monasticism born in Egypt]
Egypt became the birthplace of Christian monasticism. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, believers fled to the Egyptian desert to devote themselves entirely to prayer, fasting, and spiritual warfare. Saint Anthony the Great (251-356 AD) is considered the father of monasticism. He sold all his possessions, moved to the desert, and spent decades in solitude seeking God. His example inspired thousands of others.
Saint Pachomius (292-348 AD) organized these hermits into communal monasteries. The Wadi El Natrun valley, west of the Nile Delta, became filled with monasteries—some of which still exist today, nearly 1,700 years later! Egyptian monasticism influenced all of Christianity. When missionaries like John Cassian brought monastic practices to the West, they were bringing traditions developed in the Egyptian desert.
[The golden age - Alexandria's influence]
By the 4th and 5th centuries, Alexandria was one of Christianity's greatest intellectual centers. The Catechetical School of Alexandria, founded in the 2nd century, produced brilliant theologians like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Athanasius, and Cyril. These men shaped Christian theology, defended orthodoxy against heresies, and wrote commentaries on Scripture that we still read today.
Athanasius (296-373 AD), the great defender of Trinitarian orthodoxy, spent much of his life fighting the Arian heresy. His stand at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD helped establish the doctrine that Jesus is fully God, not a created being. The phrase "Athanasius contra mundum"—"Athanasius against the world"—describes how he stood alone for truth when nearly everyone else compromised.
[The Arab conquest - everything changes]
But in 641 AD, everything changed. Arab Muslim armies conquered Egypt, ending Byzantine Christian rule. At first, the new Muslim rulers were relatively tolerant—Christians were allowed to practice their faith as "dhimmis" (protected but second-class citizens) if they paid the jizya tax.
But over the centuries, pressure increased. Christians faced discrimination in employment, education, and legal matters. Converting to Islam brought social and economic advantages, so gradually the Christian population declined. Forced conversions occurred during periods of persecution. Churches were destroyed. By the 10th century, Arabic had replaced Coptic as the common language, even among Christians.
Despite this, the Coptic Church survived. But from being the majority religion of Egypt in 641 AD, Christians shrank to perhaps 10-15% of Egypt's population today—estimates range from 10-20 million Copts in a nation of 105 million.
[Modern persecution - the 20th and 21st centuries]
In modern times, Egyptian Christians have faced waves of severe persecution. Under Islamic extremism's rise in the late 20th century, attacks on Christians increased dramatically. Churches have been bombed. Christian villages attacked. Christian girls kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and married to Muslim men.
Some tragic examples: In 2011, a New Year's bombing at Saints Church in Alexandria killed 23 worshipers. In 2017, twin Palm Sunday bombings at churches in Tanta and Alexandria killed 47 and wounded over 100. That same year, ISIS militants attacked a bus carrying Coptic pilgrims, killing 29. In 2015, ISIS beheaded 21 Coptic Christians on a Libyan beach—their final words were "Lord Jesus Christ," and their martyrdom was captured on video that shocked the world.
Egyptian Christians face legal discrimination, difficulty building or repairing churches, barriers in education and employment, and social pressure. Yet they remain faithful. The Coptic Church has not abandoned Egypt, though hundreds of thousands have emigrated to escape persecution.
[Pope Shenouda III - a modern hero]
One of the greatest modern Coptic leaders was Pope Shenouda III (1923-2012), who served as Pope of Alexandria from 1971 to 2012. He strengthened the Coptic Church during incredibly difficult times, established churches for the Coptic diaspora worldwide, and boldly stood for his people's rights while calling them to forgiveness and faith.
When President Anwar Sadat tried to intimidate the church, Shenouda refused to back down and was exiled to a desert monastery for three years. His courage and spiritual depth made him beloved by Copts worldwide. At his funeral in 2012, hundreds of thousands gathered—a testimony to his impact.
[The church today - suffering yet faithful]
Today, the Coptic Church continues under Pope Tawadros II. Egyptian Christians still face persecution—church bombings still happen, discrimination continues, and extremists still attack Christian communities. Yet the church remains vibrant. Coptic monasteries in the desert still house monks devoted to prayer. Coptic liturgy, largely unchanged for centuries, still uses ancient Coptic alongside Arabic. Young Copts are rediscovering their faith and standing firm despite pressure.
The Coptic Church also has a missions vision. Coptic missionaries serve in other African nations, and the Coptic diaspora has established churches in North America, Europe, and Australia, bringing the ancient liturgy and spirituality of Egyptian Christianity to new lands.
[Lessons from Egypt - what we can learn]
So what can we learn from the Egyptian church's story? First, God's plans are bigger than we imagine. Who would have thought that Egypt—the land of Israel's slavery, the land from which God called His son—would become home to one of Christianity's strongest early churches? God had been preparing Egypt for the Gospel since the Holy Family fled there.
Second, faithfulness under persecution produces deep spirituality. The Egyptian Christians who endured 1,400 years of Islamic rule, discrimination, and periodic violence developed a profound faith. Their liturgy, their monasticism, their commitment to Christ despite the cost—these aren't shallow. This is faith forged in fire.
Third, ancient churches are still relevant. The Coptic Church traces its founding to Mark the Evangelist—they've been worshiping Jesus for nearly 2,000 years! We need their witness, their endurance, their connection to the early church. Western Christians can learn much from our ancient Egyptian brothers and sisters.
And fourth, the church Jesus founded will never be destroyed. For 2,000 years, enemies have tried to wipe out Egyptian Christianity. Yet it survives. Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Coptic Church is living proof of that promise.
[The greater exodus - back to Ferguson]
But let's return to where we started—with Sinclair Ferguson's reflections on Jesus being called out of Egypt. Jesus didn't go to Egypt just to find safety. He went to fulfill a pattern, to show that He is the true Israel, the true Son of God, who would accomplish the ultimate exodus.
And what is that ultimate exodus? It's deliverance from sin, from Satan, from death itself. Jesus accomplished that exodus through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem. And everyone who trusts in Him participates in that exodus—we are delivered from bondage to sin, we pass through the waters of baptism, we journey through the wilderness of this world, and we're heading toward the promised land of eternal life with God.
Ferguson writes: "Everywhere we look into this story, we discover that it is all about salvation. That is its central message. That is the Christmas message. And it is our greatest need. If only we would see it!"
[Personal application - our need for the greater exodus]
This Christmas, don't just celebrate a baby in a manger. Celebrate the greater exodus that baby came to accomplish! Celebrate that Jesus went to Egypt so He could be called out of Egypt, fulfilling prophecy. Celebrate that He lived the life we couldn't live and died the death we deserved. Celebrate that He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. Celebrate that through Him, we can be delivered from every spiritual bondage!
And pray for the Egyptian church—our brothers and sisters who still live in the land where Jesus found refuge as a child. Pray for their protection from persecution. Pray for their witness in a Muslim-majority nation. Pray for revival in Egypt. And support ministries that help persecuted Copts.
Thank you for joining me today. This reflection is based on Sinclair Ferguson's wonderful book "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace," and I encourage you to read it for deeper insights into the Christmas story.
Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations and celebrate the greater exodus Jesus accomplished!
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