Bible verse about christmas

Summary

Bible verse about christmas

Bible verse about christmas

The Dawn of Redemption: 60 Bible Verses for the Christmas Season

 

The story of Christmas is not merely a historical account of a birth; it is the theological climax of history. It is the moment the Creator entered His creation. From the ancient whispers of the prophets to the angelic choirs over Bethlehem, scripture paints a unified picture of the coming Messiah.

Here is a curated collection of the most essential scriptures regarding the Nativity, Prophecy, and Incarnation.

I. The Prophecies: Shadows of the Messiah

Centuries before the star appeared, the prophets described Him.

1. Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

2. Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

3. Isaiah 9:7 – “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.”

4. Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who is to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

5. Isaiah 11:1 – “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

6. Jeremiah 23:5 – “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.'”

7. Numbers 24:17 – “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

8. Genesis 49:10 – “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come.”

9. Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

10. Psalm 72:11 – “May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.”

II. The Annunciation & Preparation

The angelic messages to Mary, Joseph, and the announcement of the forerunner.

11. Luke 1:26-27 – “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

12. Luke 1:30-31 – “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.'”

13. Luke 1:32-33 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.”

14. Luke 1:35 – “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'”

15. Luke 1:37 – “For no word from God will ever fail.”

16. Luke 1:38 – “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.'”

17. Matthew 1:20 – “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'”

18. Matthew 1:21 – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

19. Matthew 1:23 – “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”

20. Luke 1:46-47 – “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'” (The Magnificat).

III. The Birth in Bethlehem

The historical narrative of the night world history changed.

21. Luke 2:1 – “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.”

22. Luke 2:4 – “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.”

23. Luke 2:5 – “He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

24. Luke 2:6 – “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.”

25. Luke 2:7 – “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

26. Luke 2:8 – “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”

27. Luke 2:9 – “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”

28. Luke 2:10 – “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”

29. Luke 2:11 – “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

30. Luke 2:12 – “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

31. Luke 2:13-14 – “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'”

32. Luke 2:19 – “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

IV. The Visit of the Magi

The revelation of the King to the nations.

33. Matthew 2:1 – “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.”

34. Matthew 2:2 – “and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”

35. Matthew 2:9 – “The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.”

36. Matthew 2:10 – “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

37. Matthew 2:11 – “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

V. The Theology of the Incarnation

Why He came: God becoming flesh.

38. John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

39. John 1:4 – “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”

40. John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

41. John 1:9 – “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

42. John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

43. Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

44. Philippians 2:6-7 – “Who, being in very nature God… made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

45. 2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

46. 1 Timothy 1:15 – “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

47. 1 John 4:9 – “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

48. 1 John 4:14 – “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

49. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

50. John 3:17 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

51. Colossians 1:15 – “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

52. Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

53. Titus 2:11 – “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

54. Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

55. Matthew 20:28 – “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

56. Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.”

57. Revelation 12:5 – “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”

58. Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus… am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

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25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Christmas in the Bible

 

Q1: Where is the Christmas story found in the Bible? A: The narrative is found primarily in Luke 2:1-20 (the census, the manger, the shepherds) and Matthew 1:18-2:12 (Joseph’s dream, the Magi, the flight to Egypt).

Q2: Was Jesus really born on December 25th? A: The Bible does not state the date. December 25th was chosen by the early church to celebrate the birth, possibly to coincide with Roman festivals or based on calculations regarding John the Baptist’s conception.

Q3: What does the name “Immanuel” mean? A: It is Hebrew for “God with us.” It appears in Isaiah 7:14 and is applied to Jesus in Matthew 1:23, signifying that God is no longer distant, but present with humanity.

Q4: Why was Jesus born in a manger? A: Luke 2:7 says there was “no guest room available for them.” The manger (feeding trough) highlights the humility and poverty Christ willingly entered into.

Q5: How many Wise Men (Magi) were there? A: The Bible does not say “three.” It says they brought three gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh). Tradition assumes there were three men based on the number of gifts.

Q6: What is the significance of the gifts? A: Gold symbolizes His Kingship. Frankincense (incense) symbolizes His Deity/Priesthood. Myrrh (embalming oil) symbolizes His death and sacrifice.

Q7: Why do we call it “Christmas”? A: It comes from the Old English “Christes Maesse,” meaning the Mass of Christ. It is a liturgical celebration of the Nativity.

Q8: Is the star of Bethlehem mentioned in the Old Testament? A: Numbers 24:17 prophesies, “A star will come out of Jacob.” The Magi likely knew this prophecy and followed the literal star described in Matthew 2.

Q9: Why does Matthew trace Jesus’ genealogy to Abraham and Luke to Adam? A: Matthew writes for Jews, proving Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (son of Abraham/David). Luke writes for Gentiles, proving Jesus is the Savior of all humanity (son of Adam).

Q10: What is the “Incarnation”? A: It is the theological term for the Son of God taking on human flesh (“carne”). John 1:14 (“The Word became flesh”) is the key verse.

Q11: Who were the first people to hear about Jesus’ birth? A: The shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem (Luke 2:8). This shows the Gospel was first given to the humble and lowly.

Q12: Why did Herod want to kill Jesus? A: Herod the Great was paranoid about losing his throne. When the Magi asked about the “King of the Jews,” Herod saw Jesus as a political threat.

Q13: What is “Advent”? A: Advent means “Coming.” It is the four-week season before Christmas where the church prepares for the coming of Christ (both His birth and His second coming).

Q14: Why is Jesus called the “Son of David”? A: God promised King David that his descendant would rule forever (2 Samuel 7). Jesus was born into David’s lineage (through both Mary and Joseph) to fulfill this covenant.

Q15: Did Mary remain a virgin after Jesus was born? A: Catholics and Orthodox believe in her Perpetual Virginity. Protestants generally believe she had other children with Joseph later, based on references to Jesus’ “brothers” (Matthew 13:55).

Q16: What does “Jesus” mean? A: It is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, which means “The Lord Saves.”

Q17: Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem? A: To fulfill the prophecy of Micah 5:2. Bethlehem was the ancestral home of King David.

Q18: What is the “Magnificat”? A: It is Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55, spoken when she visited Elizabeth. It celebrates God lifting up the humble.

Q19: Why is the Christmas story important for salvation? A: Without the Incarnation (birth), there could be no Atonement (death). God had to become man so that He could die for man.

Q20: Are Christmas trees biblical? A: No, they are a later cultural tradition (likely German). However, believers often use them to symbolize the “Tree of Life” or the eternal life Jesus brings (evergreen).

Q21: Why did Joseph want to divorce Mary quietly? A: He thought she had committed adultery. Being a “righteous man” (Matt 1:19), he wanted to spare her the public shame or stoning required by law.

Q22: What is the “Host of Heaven” in Luke 2? A: It refers to an army of angels. They appeared not to fight, but to praise God for the peace Jesus was bringing.

Q23: Why does John call Jesus “The Word”? A: “Word” (Logos) means God’s expression, reason, or communication. Jesus is the perfect communication of God to humanity.

Q24: Did the Magi visit the manger? A: Likely not. Matthew 2:11 says they came to a “house” and saw the “child” (not baby), suggesting they arrived months or up to two years after the birth.

Q25: What does “Peace on Earth” really mean? A: It doesn’t mean the immediate end of all wars, but peace between God and man. Through Jesus, the war of sin is over for those who believe (Romans 5:1).