Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, above all else. So this holiday season, why not take some time to read through scripture and share your favorite Christmas Bible verses with others?
Christ Jesus brings the earth peace and hope for eternal life. He is our king eternal!
The Christmas season is a time for us to rejoice and share the good news. We have been given the perfect gift, the one and only Son of God.
This blog post will share a few of our favorite verses for Christmas with you. We hope you will take the time to read them and share them with your loved ones this Christmas!
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Table of contents
Old Testament Prophecies – References to Jesus’ Birth
Although you’ve probably heard about Christ Jesus’ birth in a manger, there were many references to this coming moment in Bible verses in the Old Testament. The Lord promised a savior who would deliver people from their sins.
Here are some of those prophecies that were given hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. The truth of the Lord endures forever!
2 Samuel 7:12-13
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
This is God’s promise to David, delivered through the prophet Samuel, concerning the coming of Jesus. The Lord assures David that although he may not see certain things come to pass during his lifetime, He would fulfill His plans through David’s lineage in the future.
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 (which means “God with us”).
Isaiah gave this prophecy approximately 700 years before Christ’s birth. To make such an outrageous statement that a virgin would conceive a child was unheard of. Yet that was a word from God, and that is exactly what happened.
Isaiah 9:6-7
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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish us.
Again, we see the prophet Isaiah speaking of the coming of Jesus. Here, he specifically outlines the attributes and roles of Jesus. He would be called “Prince of Peace,” and the government shall be upon His shoulders. He also speaks about the coming kingdom and eternal life.
Jeremiah 23:5-6
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. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
Jeremiah was another Old Testament prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus. He was born in 644 BC and lived during the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity. He declared that a King would come to save Judah and Israel and promised a “righteous Branch” from the line of David who would bring safety and peace. A promise the Jewish people had been waiting centuries to see fulfilled.
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 will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
The prophet Micah prophesied about the coming of Jesus from Bethlehem, a small town in Judea. In the gospels, we see that because Joseph was from David’s line, he had to travel to Bethlehem when Caesar issued a command for a census. What an incredible coincidence that Joseph and Mary would be in this town the moment Jesus was born. Yet all this fulfilled the prophecy that Micah gave hundreds of years before.
Announcing the Birth of a Mighty God
The birth of Jesus was one of the most significant events in human history, and God did not keep it a secret. Instead, He announced the news of Jesus’ birth to specific people in different ways.
First, God sent an angel to deliver the news to Mary, who would become Jesus’ mother. He also shared special messages with Joseph, the wise men, the shepherds, and others.
These Christmas Bible verses set the stage for the coming of Christ.
Luke 1:28-35
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
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. 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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.
First, a young betrothed girl receives an angelic visitation announcing her pregnancy. These circumstances are undoubtedly mind-blowing, shocking, and challenging to understand. Yet when Mary receives this news, she responds by praising God.
Luke 1:41-43
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
After hearing the angel Gabriel’s announcement, Mary hurried to visit her relative, Elizabeth. Elizabeth and the baby in her womb, John the Baptist, have an instant reaction and recognition of Jesus. We see the God of hope fill them with great joy in this Christmas Bible verse.
Luke 2:8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Shepherds were not high members of society in those days, but these men were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth. This angelic visitation initially frightened the shepherds. But after they witnessed the heavenly host praising God they decided they must go and see this newborn Messiah.
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.”
The magi, or wise men, journeyed all the way from the far east. As astrologers who studied the skies, they noticed a unique star that announced the birth of the King of Kings. This was an incredible discovery, and they set out to find Jesus. Along the way, God warned them in a dream not to go back to King Herod, who intended to kill Jesus.
Christmas Bible Verses About Joseph & Mary
Mary and Joseph also had a unique role in Jesus’ life. God chose them to raise His Son, and their obedience is a crucial part of the Christmas story. Consider these Christmas Bible verses about Jesus’ earthly parents.
Luke 1:26-27
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 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.
The gospel of Luke starts with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a relative of Mary. Then, Luke gives us details about Jesus’ earthly parents. They were betrothed and living in Nazareth. Another critical fact he references is that Joseph was part of David’s lineage. (See more in the Old Testament prophecies section below.)
Matthew 1:18-20
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 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.
This account from the book of Matthew shows us that Joseph was an honorable man. However, he was put in a difficult situation. Clearly, Joseph was key to God’s plan and His choice to raise Jesus. So God sent an angel of the Lord to him in a dream with a message to help him understand the situation.
Luke 2:4-5
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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Every family had to return to their hometown to register because Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken. Since Joseph belonged to the house of David, he went to Bethlehem to register his family.
Birth to a Son – Jesus Christ
We have an exciting headline for this birth announcement: our Lord Jesus Christ has come! He is called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).
When you think of a Christmas nativity scene, you picture a stable with animals, Joseph and Mary, their new baby, and wise men and shepherds.
These characters are part of the beloved story of Jesus’ birth. They recognized that Christ Jesus was born king, although a helpless baby, with a world-changing impact on heaven and on earth. These Christmas Bible verses tell us about the important events and characters of this special moment.
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
In this passage, Luke tells us that at the time of Jesus’ birth. There was no room for them in a guest room or even an inn. So, they had to stay in a manger (or stable).
Jesus Christ is a King who came from humble beginnings. Again, we see God’s greater plan is at work, which doesn’t align with man’s expectations but with God’s kingdom ways. Glory to God in the highest!
Matthew 2:10-11
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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.
The wise men came bringing precious gifts to the One lying in a manger, the baby Jesus. We see their immediate reaction of worship, which is the right response when the Lord appears to deliver great joy!
Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
The shepherds witnessed the heavenly host praising God and proclaiming the good news of the birth of His Son. Then, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see for themselves. Not only do they witness the indescribable gift for themselves, but they also spread the message far and wide.
A Christmas Message to Bring the Earth Peace
Christmas Bible verses are the perfect way to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. They remind us that Jesus is the reason for the season, and they bring hope and peace to our hearts.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of our favorite scriptures related to Christmas. We encourage you to share these verses with your friends and family. Merry Christmas!
More Holiday Posts
If you’re looking for more Bible verses and resources, to use during the holidays, please check out the following Christmas posts and podcasts.
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Comments 2
Thanks a lot for the verses concerning Christmas, most people think Christmas is all food and clothes
Hey David, you’re so right, glad you enjoyed the post. Merry Christmas!