Introduction
Christmas celebrates an event announced for centuries: God came to live among people. These 20 verses, quoted from the World English Bible, follow five moments in the story: the prophecies that prepare his coming, the announcements made to Mary and Joseph, the night in Bethlehem, those who come to worship him, and then the deep meaning of the incarnation. They are well suited to a family reading, a greeting card or a celebration.
The Prophecies That Announce His Coming
1. Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah speaks to a frightened king and offers him a sign from God: a son whose name will be "Immanuel." The word means God with us. Matthew will recognize in it the announcement of Jesus. Christmas is the concrete answer to this promise. Read all of Isaiah 7.
2. Isaiah 9:6
"For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
In a setting of war and darkness, the prophet announces: "a child is born to us. A son is given to us." His titles are immense: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The frailty of a newborn hides the power of God. Read all of Isaiah 9.
3. Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times."
Seven centuries before Jesus, Micah points to the place of his birth: "Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah." God chooses a modest village for the birth of the one "whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times." His promises come true down to the last detail. Read all of Micah 5.
4. Jeremiah 23:5
"Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land."
Jeremiah announces to a people disappointed by their leaders "a righteous Branch" who will come from David. This king will not be like the others: he will "execute justice and righteousness in the land." Christmas answers the need for a trustworthy ruler, one that human history has never been able to produce. Read all of Jeremiah 23.
The Announcement to Mary and Joseph
5. Luke 1:30-33
"The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
The angel Gabriel reassures Mary: "Don't be afraid." Then he announces a son who will receive "the throne of his father David" and whose Kingdom will have "no end." This message goes beyond anything she could have imagined, but it begins with a word of peace. Read all of Luke 1.
6. Luke 1:37-38
"For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her."
Faced with the impossible, the angel declares: "nothing spoken by God is impossible." Mary answers with trust: "Behold, the servant of the Lord." Her response is a model: she does not understand everything, but she accepts letting God do what he has said. Read all of Luke 1.
7. Matthew 1:20-21
"But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
Joseph hesitates because of Mary's pregnancy. In a dream, the angel tells him not to be afraid and gives him the mission of naming the child Jesus. The name says it all: "it is he who shall save his people from their sins." Christmas already begins with the announcement of the cross. Read all of Matthew 1.
8. Luke 1:46-47
"Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,"
Mary bursts into praise: "My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." The song of the Magnificat shows that the true joy of Christmas is not in the atmosphere or the gifts, but in knowing the God who saves. Read all of Luke 1.
The Night in Bethlehem and the Announcement to the Shepherds
9. Luke 2:6-7
"While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."
The account is very restrained: Mary "gave birth to her firstborn son," wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him "in a feeding trough." There was no room for them in the inn. The King arrives in simplicity and hardship, which makes him accessible to us. Read all of Luke 2.
10. Luke 2:10-12
"The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
The angel speaks to shepherds, humble people of little standing. He brings them "good news of great joy" for all the people: "there is born to you today, in David's city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." The sign given is a baby wrapped in strips of cloth in a feeding trough, not a palace. Read all of Luke 2.
11. Luke 2:13-14
"Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."
A multitude of the heavenly army joins the angel to sing: "Glory to God in the highest." They add "on earth peace, good will toward men." Heaven celebrates what earth is barely discovering: God comes to restore peace with human beings. Read all of Luke 2.
12. Luke 2:20
"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them."
The shepherds go back "glorifying and praising God." They found everything "just as it was told them." Their example is simple: after seeing Jesus, they do not keep the news to themselves, they praise God and return to their lives transformed. Read all of Luke 2.
Those Who Come from Afar to Worship Him
13. Matthew 2:1-2
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."
Wise men from the east travel hundreds of miles, guided by a star. Their question is direct: "Where is he who is born King of the Jews?" Their goal is clear: "have come to worship him." Seeking Jesus sometimes means making a long journey. Read all of Matthew 2.
14. Matthew 2:10-11
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
When the wise men see the star again, they rejoice "with exceedingly great joy." They come in, see the young child with Mary, and "fell down and worshiped him." Then they offer him gold, frankincense and myrrh: they give their very best to the one who has just been born. Read all of Matthew 2.
15. Luke 2:30-32
"for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
The old man Simeon holds the child in his arms at the temple. He recognizes in him God's salvation: "a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel." He had waited his whole life for this moment, and God always keeps his promises, even after a long wait. Read all of Luke 2.
16. Luke 2:19
"But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart."
After the shepherds' visit, Luke notes an intimate detail: "Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart." In the middle of the bustle of Christmas, she shows us another way to live it: to meditate, to remember and to let the Word do its work. Read all of Luke 2.
The Deep Meaning of the Incarnation
17. John 1:14
"The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth."
John sums up Christmas in one sentence: "The Word became flesh, and lived among us." The word for lived literally means to pitch a tent. God does not stay at a distance: he settles among us, "full of grace and truth." Read all of John 1.
18. Philippians 2:6-8
"who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross."
Paul describes Jesus' journey: he who was "existing in the form of God" "emptied himself," taking the form of a servant. From the manger to the cross, he chose humility. Christmas is the first step on a path that ends in our salvation. Read all of Philippians 2.
19. Galatians 4:4-5
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children."
Paul places Christmas in history: "when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman." Nothing happened by chance. The purpose of this coming is to redeem us and to give us "the adoption of children," that is, to make us children of God. Read all of Galatians 4.
20. 2 Corinthians 8:9
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich."
Paul speaks of the generosity of Christ, who "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." This voluntary poverty begins in the stable and ends on the cross. It enriches us with his forgiveness and his life, and it inspires our own generosity at Christmas. Read all of 2 Corinthians 8.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Bible verses talk about the birth of Jesus?
The main account is found in Luke 2:1-20 and in Matthew 1 and 2. The prophecies that announce it include Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:2. John 1:14 gives its spiritual meaning: the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Which Bible verse should I write in a Christmas card?
Luke 2:11 is a classic choice, with the words "there is born to you today... a Savior." You can also choose Isaiah 9:6 for the promise of the Prince of Peace, Luke 2:14 for glory and peace, or John 1:14 to speak of God coming to live among us.
What does the name Immanuel mean in the Bible?
Immanuel means "God with us." This name appears in Isaiah 7:14 as a sign given to the house of David, and then in Matthew 1:23 for Jesus. It sums up the heart of Christmas, since God does not stay at a distance but comes to share our human condition.
to take notes and ask questions.