The Christmas Story In Selected Christmas Bible Verses

Jesus is the reason for the season, so I thought it would be appropriate to post some Christmas Bible verses in recognition of the celebration of our Lord’s birth.

I can remember reading the Christmas story from our big family Bible as a kid with my mom and brothers on Christmas eve, and that ranks among my fondest memories of childhood.

So, if you are just looking for Christmas Bible verses to read with your family or for your own benefit, here are some of the major Bible verses from the New Testament that outline and explain the Christmas story.

I’ve chosen the New King James Version of the Bible for this selection of Christmas Bible verses, since it is easy to read yet it retains the reverent tone of the original King James Bible.

I hope you enjoy these Christmas Bible verses and that you have a very merry and blessed Christmas.

Christmas Bible Verses: Our Lord’s Birth is Announced to Mary

Luke 1:26-38

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Christmas Bible Verses: Christ is Born

Luke 2:1-7

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Christmas Bible Verses: Shepherds in the Fields

Luke 2:8-20

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Christmas Bible Verses: The Wise Men Come to Worship Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12

1 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, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Thanks for stopping by to read these Christmas Bible verses – have a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Marveling At God’s Ability To Forgive

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

I believe our God is the God of new beginnings, and I also believe there’s an ongoing theme in the scriptures regarding how God’s mercy and grace allow us to start over, even after great failures and setbacks.

Take King David, for example. David’s story is one of the most beautiful and inspiring stories in the Bible. Of course, we all know how it started… the story of David and Goliath is well known. Yet, although David started out upright and in the full favor of God, later in his life we would see him mess up in some pretty severe ways.

But as a friend of mine once said, no one was better at repentance than David. Reading the Psalms, I wonder at how many times David fell on his face, asking God for forgiveness for some sin he had committed. And, I marvel at how every time, God forgave him and restored him; and this was long before Christ died for our sins!

Or, take the story of Peter, the apostle. Peter was known to be loud and boastful, outspoken and always putting his foot in his mouth. Yet, Christ saw something within Peter that he knew was solid as stone… or at least, that would be in years to come.

18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” – Matthew 16:18 (New International Version)

As we all know, Peter denied Christ three times before the crucifixion. I believe that although Christ knew he would, it still must have broken His heart to hear His good friend say he didn’t know Him.

But once again, after the resurrection we see that Christ restores Peter in one of the most powerful scenes from the New Testament:

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21 (New International Version)

How very interesting that Peter denied Christ three times, and Christ restores him three times. I wonder if this is more than symbolic, but it certainly points to the fact that no matter how many times we fall, no matter how many times we fail, Christ is willing to forgive us and restore us anew.

When I mess up, I try to remember that it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes it takes me a while to seek God’s forgiveness, whether it’s out of shame over what I’ve done, or being too proud to admit I’m wrong. But every time, every single time, God is willing to forgive and restore me, an expression of a love that is so mighty it is beyond measure or comprehension.

And so I continue to be amazed at the everlasting mercy and forgiveness of Christ our Lord; that He would care for us so much He would die for our sins, and continue to express His divine love daily by restoring us with His forgiveness. What a beautiful and amazing love it is to be cherished so by the eternal God.