The meaning of Christmas, as described in the Bible, is centered around the birth of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. This event is celebrated all around the world as the incarnation of the Son of God.
Here are some key Bible verses that highlight the meaning of Christmas:
- The Birth of Jesus Foretold (Annunciation) – Luke 1:30-35: “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'”
- The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem – Luke 2:6-12: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.”
- The Shepherds and the Angels – Luke 2:13-14: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'”
- The Wise Men Visit Jesus – Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ … When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”
The core message of Christmas, according to the Bible, is the birth of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. God sent His Son to earth to redeem humanity from sin and offer the gift of eternal life to all who believe in Him. Christmas is a celebration of the hope, peace, and joy brought into the world through the birth of Jesus.
Bible verses about the birth of Jesus from old testament
While the birth of Jesus is primarily described in the New Testament, there are prophecies in the Old Testament that foreshadow and foretell the coming of the Messiah, which is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Here are a few Old Testament verses that are often associated with the birth of Jesus:
- Isaiah 7:14 (NIV): “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
This verse is often seen as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus and the name Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
- Isaiah 9:6 (NIV): “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.”
This verse is seen as a prophecy of the birth of the Messiah, who would bring peace and establish an everlasting kingdom.
- Micah 5:2 (NIV): “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.”
This verse points to the birthplace of the Messiah in Bethlehem.
These Old Testament prophecies are considered to be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament, particularly in the books of Matthew and Luke.