What Comes to Mind Concerning Christmas & the Birth of Jesus?

Every year, as December 25th approaches, many people consider how they will celebrate Christmas. What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Why do you celebrate Christmas? Christmas is celebrated for many reasons, and some are erasing the meaning of what Christmas is really about. For others, it will be about one person.

Today, Christmas has been replaced with “Happy Holidays.” However, Christians will continue to say, “Merry Christmas” because Christmas has a unique and special meaning to them. On Christmas day, we celebrate the greatest gift that was given to mankind, the birth of Christ.

His birth was planned before the foundation of the world. God knew we needed a Savior, to save us from our sins. That is why, at this time of year, we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Birth Of Jesus Fulfills Prophecy

The birth of Jesus is more than a child being born in a manger. If you dive deeper into the Word of God, His birth fulfilled many prophecies. One of them begins in Isaiah 7:14, where the Lord said, He “shall give you a sign.” This sign was, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

A child (The Messiah) was to be born in Bethlehem. To bring this prophecy about, Caesar Augustus sent out a decree saying “that all the world should be taxed.” Joseph, being from the lineage and the house of David, had to go to Nazareth, to be taxed. When Joseph received word of this decree, Mary, at the time, was close to giving birth. When they arrived in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), it was time for Mary to give birth. God chose for His son to be laid in a manger. Being born in a manger shows signs of Christ’s humility and accessibility to His people.

Jesus Birth Paved the Way for Salvation

His birth, paved the way for His people to receive salvation for their sins. The finished work of salvation came to all nations through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

This fulfills Isaiah 49:6 NASB95; He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Birth of Jesus Has a Future Purpose

The birth of Jesus also fulfills prophecies that are set in the future, (Luke 1:32–33).

Luke 1:32-33 KJV; 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

It is a prophecy of His coming back to reign forever.

Until this prophecy can be fulfilled, Jesus is in heaven, at the right hand of His Father. Christmas is the beginning of seeing and watching that God’s word is the Truth. This is why many celebrate this special day because it testifies to His eternal Word, (Psalm 119:89). Therefore, this is why we long for the day of His return.

Scripture on the Birth of Jesus

Old Testament

Announcing the Birth of Christ

Isaiah 7:14 KJV; Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV; 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

New Testament

Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah

Luke 1:26-38 NET Bible; 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.

30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! 31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.

36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The Birth of Jesus in Matthew

Matthew 1:18-25 NET Bible; 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately.

20 When he had contemplated 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 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, 25 but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus in Luke

Luke 2:1-20 KJV; 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.