15 Bible Verses for Christmas

The Christmas story belongs in Scripture, not just in carols. These verses run from the prophets who waited for Him, to the night He was born, to why He came at all. Read them with your family. Put one in every card you send.

1. 1.

   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."

   700 years before the manger, Isaiah saw Him. Christmas wasn't an idea God came up with last minute.

2. 2.

   Luke 2:10–11

   "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.""

   The first Christmas sermon was preached by an angel to shepherds. Good news of great joy. That's still the headline.

3. 3.

   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."

   Christmas is the night God put on skin. Everything else flows from that single sentence.

4. 4.

   Matthew 1:23

   "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel — which is, being interpreted, "God with us.""

   His name is the whole gospel in one word. God. With us.

5. 5.

   Luke 2:7

   "She gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."

   Kings aren't usually born next to animals. He was — because the whole story is about Him coming low for us.

6. 6.

   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."

   The timing was God's. The body was real. The mission was rescue.

7. 7.

   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.""

   Heaven couldn't keep quiet. A whole army of angels sang over a baby. Sing too.

8. 8.

   Micah 5:2

   "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you one will come to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times."

   Even the town was prophesied. Bethlehem — "house of bread" — got the Bread of Life.

9. 9.

   John 3:16

   "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

   Why Christmas? Because love sent a Son. The cradle was the first step toward the cross.

10. 10.

    Matthew 2:11

    "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."

    The wise men gave Him gifts. We give Him ourselves — that's still the better trade.

11. 11.

    Luke 1:46–47

    "Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.""

    Mary's first response to the angel was a song. Let yours be one too.

12. 12.

    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."

    A virgin would give birth to God with us. Christmas in one prophecy.

13. 13.

    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 didn't go home unchanged. Christmas should still change how you walk home.

14. 14.

    Hebrews 1:1–2

    "God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son…"

    Christmas is when God's voice took on a face. He's still speaking through the Son.

15. 15.

    Titus 2:11

    "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men."

    Grace didn't just visit. It appeared — wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger, for you.

Merry Christmas. God is with us. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.