In Jesus Holy Name December 28, 2025
Text: Matthew 2:13-14 Christmas ! - Redeemer
“On the Road again”
The sentimental Christmas Carol “Ill Be Home for Christmas” may be the theme song for December 24th. But by the 28th many of us have changed our tune to “on the Road again” as the holiday closes we know that holiday time is travel time. Over 122 million people will be traveling by plane, train or car. As the gifts are packed away, and goodbyes said, families return to their normal responsibilities, travel is required.
Joseph and Mary are once again on the move. Having traveled to Bethlehem for the birth of their first child, Jesus. They must now leave the home that they had settled into. The wise men have left. Joseph’s work as a carpenter has been going well. But now he has a dream from an angel telling him that he must move Mary and the child Jesus to safety immediately, because of the death threat from Herod. Just as Joseph and Mary’s ancestors fled to Egypt the first time so now they flee not because of a draught in the promised land but because Satan is using an evil King to try to destroy God’s plan to bring salvation through His son Jesus.
With the future of the Messiah in his hands Josph flees to Egypt. When Herod founds out that the Maji did not return he was furious. He had already killed two of his sons and one wife so he was not about to let a new infant grow up to challenge His rule. He is unstable and Satan uses Herod’s jealous tendencies and pride to work him into a furious rage. He sends his soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all the boys under the age of two. Herod’s killing of the children fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15 ‘Rachel is weeping for her children.; She refuses to be comforted. The deaths of the innocent children are remembered today December 28th Holy Innocent’s Day. God was not the cause of Herod’s ruthlessness, but the prophet foresaw Satan at work in the on going cosmic battle between good and evil. Herod failed. Satan failed But Satan would try again to divert Jesus from completing God’s plan.
We don’t know what Jospeh was thinking because he never speaks in the bible, Never a word spoken. He just acts. He takes his responsibility to protect the infant Savior and immediately in the middle of the night, after having the dream, he does not choose to sleep in a little longer, packs up the donkey with the gifts from the wise men , wakes the family, and they are on the road again. It was not a burning bush, like Moses ,nor a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day that guided the children of Israel, just a dream. I am amazed that God entrusted the salvation of the world to an ordinary young couple who’ve had no experience raising children. But then I remembered He has done the same for each of us here.
What can we learn from Joseph and Mary. Because Joseph obeyed, God used him to change the world. God still looks for Josephs today. Common people who serve an uncommon God. Will you be that kind of person? Will you serve…even when you don’t understand?
. God may speak to you in a whisper as He did to Elijah, or a dream. This is how the ministry of Jesus continued with his disciples after his ascension and still today. The voice of Jesus Still comes. Joseph’s obedience serves as an example for us today. Now that Christmas is over, decorations are put away don’t let Satan put your joy away. You’ll hear Satan’s voice say.. “Christmas is over, it’s time to get back to work, and the regular things in life. No, Joseph and Mary were doing the regular things in life, cooking meals, changing diapers, working in the wood shop. These things did not stop them worshiping God and reading His word and taking their responsibility as parents to obey God’s word in Deuteronomy. He put into practice the words of Moses from Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “Hear oh Israel Love the Lord your God with all your heart with your soul, with your mind. Take these commandments and impress them on your children< talk about them when sit at home when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you wake up.” This is still our responsibility as parents today.
Joseph was a righteous man of faith. He trusted God’s word and acted. The Second thing Joseph did was to take care of his family. He still had parenting duties. May God bless your efforts in the coming year to impress God’s words and promises on the hearts of your children. Help them memorize the commandments and read God’s word. Help them practice being servants.
Mary gives us such a down-to-earth picture of faith. She didn’t have everything figured out. She didn’t pretend to be in control. She simply said, “Let it be to me according to Your word.” It wasn’t a fancy prayer. It was a surrendered one—a simple “yes” and we see God’s bigger plan at work.
That’s the invitation for us today. Not to be perfect. Not to have it all together. Just to hand over the fear, the pressure, the need to manage everything… and trust and know that Jesus really does step in with grace and direction.
Why ruin our Christmas with the story of the murder of children? The story of Herod calls us back to reality. We are forced to see the baby Jesus for who He really is: the Savior who has come to redeem us we must remember that these infant finger in the anger will one day asset the nails . there was an excellent meme on Facebook maybe you saw it. It was half a Christmas tree and half the wood of the cross.
We are all valuable to our creator. Read the scriptures. The lepers no one would touch were valuable to Jesus. The tax collector who no one liked was valuable to Jesus. The Samaritan woman who had been rejected by five husbands was valuable to Jesus.
Instead of Herod, Satan has just found new tools to destroy their lives, Right now many of our teens are being swept up by social media telling them they aren’t perfect, not pretty enough, not thin enough, they are affected by bullying, sucking joy and self-worth out of their lives, causing depression. They are experiencing Feelings of unworthiness. Remind them they are valuable and limit their time on social media.
Marey and Joseph were trusted by God to raise His holy son. He was taught the scriptures. Jewish prayers. Luke tells us the only story from the child hood of Jesus. After a trip to Jerusalem for one of the festivals Jesus remained behind. His parents were worried and went searching for him. They found that Jesus was in the temple at the age of 12 debating and discussing the scriptures with the religious elders . Luke writes: he was obedient to them and continued to grow in wisdom and stature.
Just God has trusted each of us, inexperienced as we might be to parent and teach the children placed in our care. Bring them to worship. Take these commandments and impress them on your children< talk about them when sit at home when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you wake up.” This is still our responsibility as parents today.
