Get Up and Go!
Sermon December 28, 2025 Matthew 2:13-23
Get Up and Go!
Reverend Fred Okello
We have just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord. We sang carols, reflected on angels and shepherds, and rejoiced in the good news that God has come to dwell among us. Christmas fills us with images of peace, joy, and holy wonder.
However, the scripture before us today shifts suddenly—from celebration to a state of emergency. The child whose birth we have just celebrated is now in immediate danger. King Herod has learned that a child has been born who is called “king of the Jews.” To Herod, this is not good news—it is a threat. His throne feels unstable. His power feels challenged.
So Herod begins to act. He is gathering information. He is watching Bethlehem. He is preparing violence. Soldiers are about to move. Families are about to be shattered. Innocent lives are at risk.
This is why God speaks urgently to Joseph: “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee.”
The emergency is real because a ruler has decided that this child must die. The danger is not abstract—it is active, deliberate, and deadly.
The Holy Family must leave not because they have done something wrong, but because evil does not tolerate the presence of God’s salvation. The child must go on the run because power has chosen fear over faith and control over trust.
There are moments in life when everything changes with just two words: “Evacuate now.” Those words are used when a fire is spreading, floodwaters are rising, a hurricane is approaching, or the ground is unstable. They are spoken because remaining where you are has suddenly become dangerous.
For us today, “get up and go” may not mean packing bags in the middle of the night—but it often means leaving something that threatens our spiritual health. Our spiritual health may be threatened by:
· Staying in habits that are destroying our peace
· Remaining silent when God calls us to speak truth
· Holding on to bitterness, fear, or control
· Staying comfortable when God calls us to grow
Sometimes God urges movement not because the place is evil, but because the season has come to an end. Like an evacuation order, God’s call is an act of mercy. He moves us before damage becomes destruction.
Ask yourself: Where might God be saying, “You can’t stay here anymore”?
Joseph obeyed God. He had no map of Egypt, no job lined up, no promise of how long the exile would last. He simply trusted God enough to take the leap.
That sounds very familiar to our lives today:
· Changing direction after a medical diagnosis
· Letting go of a job, role, or position that once felt secure
· Stepping into a new ministry, calling, or responsibility
· Choosing faith over fear when answers are incomplete
We often want God to explain everything before we obey. But Matthew reminds us that obedience precedes understanding. God may not reveal the whole journey to you—but He will always show you the next faithful step.
God Uses Movement for the good of God’s people. Egypt was not Joseph’s destination—it was his protection. Nazareth was not impressive—but it was formative.
In the same way, God uses our “movements” today:
· Difficult seasons shape our character
· Unplanned detours deepen our faith
· Ordinary places become holy ground
What feels like an interruption may actually be preparation. What feels like loss may be God’s protection in disguise.
God is not only concerned with where we end up, but with whom we become along the way. As people, we often measure God’s work by comfort rather than faithfulness, growth, and trust.
In summary, Matthew 2 reminds us about how God continues to work today. Sometimes God comforts us. Sometimes God reassures us. And sometimes God urgently says:
“Get up. Take what matters most. And go.” Not because He wants to unsettle us—but because He wants to save, protect, and prepare us.