7 Bible Verses for Christmas You Might Not Know
Christmas is right around the corner, and when it comes to studying Scripture about Christmas, it seems like it’s all Luke 2. And while that narrative is important and valuable, there are plenty of Scriptures elsewhere that uphold, support, and point to the importance of that first Christmas.
Here are some of my favorites that you might not know (but are wonderful for study and meditation):
Isaiah 9:2-7
Why it’s a great Christmas passage:
When it comes to prophecies about Jesus’ birth, this passage is at the top of the list. In fact, when the angel appears to the shepherds to give them those wonderful “tidings of comfort and joy,” the angel references this very prophecy. I guess it’s pretty important, right?
Hundreds of years before Jesus would be born, God revealed the circumstances of His birth to Isaiah.
Not only that, God revealed the very nature of Jesus to Isaiah, and this passage depicts this important nature and the character of Jesus through titles like, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Jesus as Prince of Peace is so important to keep in mind. Especially in the context of when this prophecy was delivered to Isaiah. As a nation, Israel is buried in strife with the Assyrians, wondering if and when they will ever be restored. They’re looking for a redeemer-king to lead them, but God reminds them that their true restoration will not be a ruler of this mortal place but from an eternal kingdom.
Think about where you are today and what’s going on in the world around you: how important is it to remember that our true hope is not in the leaders on Earth, but from the Prince of Peace who has already come and will come again?
Micah 5:1-5a
Why it’s a great Christmas passage:
This is a great passage foretelling not only the birth of Jesus, but the location that He would be born. Hundreds of years before the Christ would enter human flesh, God revealed the location of this miracle to Micah.
The power of Messianic prophecy never ceases to amaze me.
Another significant point is the emphasis on Bethlehem's humble status. The passage even says that Bethlehem is too little be counted among the clans of Judah.
God is all about using the least likely candidates to further His kingdom and His purpose. From the elderly Abraham and Sarah —well beyond child-bearing years—to Moses, a weak leader with a speech impediment, God makes much of that which we make little.
The King of Kings stepped into the world not in splendor from the city of Kings, but in humility from an insignificant place made special by the touch of Christ.
In this passage we see Jesus depicted as a shepherd, a title He would later ascribe to Himself. In His guidance and leadership we find our security, our strength, and our peace.
The first sentence of verse 5 is beautiful in its simplicity: "And he shall be their peace."
What an incredibly life-giving promise!
Philippians 2:4-11
Why it's a great Christmas passage:
It can be easy to forget just how significant it is that Jesus, God in the flesh (and "Being's source" as Charles Wesley would write in one of his Christmas hymns) would step into creation as a man.
Philippians 2 reminds us that the Christmas story is far from ordinary. Jesus stepping into the world is an act of humility unlike anything ever seen before.
And though He brought Himself to the lowest point, He has been and will be exalted to the highest point—the name that is above every name. Jesus Christ. Lord of Lords.
We celebrate His arrival at Christmas, but His coming is part of a bigger picture and a bigger story. The birth of Christ is made all the more significant by the resurrection of Christ.
Christ came to conquer not only sin, but death itself. It took an act of love, an act of grace, and an act of humility.
This moment in time that we celebrate this time of year is simply a chapter in the story of redemption. And what a beautiful story it is!
Think about your story of redemption today and reflect on what Christ's victory over sin and death means to you.
Isaiah 11:1-5
Why it's a great Christmas passage:
Okay, so technically this is a prophecy about the second coming of Jesus, not really the Christmas story. Nonetheless, it's a reference to a tangible Jesus, and it shines a great light on the character of Jesus.
Even though it may fit better in the Revelation narrative than Luke 2, this passage is referenced in one of my favorite Christmas hymns, "O Come O Come Emmanuel", which leads a verse with, "O come thou rod of Jesse free thine own from Satan's tyranny."
Jesus is righteous and He is good and He is deliverer from sin and death and ultimately provides freedom from the tyranny of our greatest enemy: Satan himself.
Further, the passage discusses in even more detail the character and person of Christ. As you read through the characteristics and attributes of Jesus, think about your own character and your daily life.
If this is who Jesus is and if we are supposed to imitate Christ in our own lives, do these attributes describe you well? Why or why not? What changes can you make in your life to fit these descriptions even better?
Isaiah 40:1-11
Why it's a great Christmas passage:
When you read through the early parts of Luke’s gospel, you see another important figure in our faith: John the Baptist. We see that he is a cousin of Jesus, and the one who would come to prepare a way for Him.
The prophecy about John the Baptist comes from this passage in Isaiah. Everything that points to Jesus is significant, and everything John the Baptist did was point toward Jesus.
This passage also reminds us that Jesus is our great Shepherd and He comes as our Comforter. He came to repair the irreparable gap between us and God. He did what we could never do and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him.
That’s good news, is it not? In fact, it’s THE Good News.
This is the passage that “Go tell it on the mountain” comes from—verse 9 in particular. What needs to be told? That Jesus Christ is born. The Comforter, the Peace-bringer, the Savior.
Isaiah 55:1-5
Why it's a great Christmas passage:
This can be a pretty convicting passage, as the main subject matter is a life of distractions from what God truly wants for us. The truth is we all focus on things every day that are not from God or of God. Our focus wanders.
It's not uncommon for us to even focus on good things and feel justified, not realizing that we're missing the thing we need to be focusing on. Some of the idols we hold ourselves closest to are there because they seem right and good.
This can be especially true around Christmas, when there is so much going on, it's easy to be distracted by a lot of good things that still miss the point. Whether it's parties, gifts, traveling, and yes, even church, we can set our eyes on the wrong point.
So what is the right point to focus on, then?
Jesus Christ. Jesus stepped into the world, the holy became the meek, and everything changed. Anything that is not centered on Christ is a problem. During the craziness of the season, set your eyes on Him.
The other encouragement from this passage is the truth that Jesus came to save and redeem all peoples to Himself. Not only His chosen people, the nation of Israel. This passage reminds us that it was always part of the plan to use Israel to bring redemption to those of every tribe, nation and tongue.
That sounds like a great reason to rejoice to me!
Colossians 1:15-20
Why it's a great Christmas passage:
This except from Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae may seem like an odd place to look for Christmas, but it provides valuable context to the Christmas story.
At the very first Christmas, Jesus stepped into the world in the form of a humble baby, born of a virgin. As we saw earlier in Philippians 2, Christ humbled Himself—the extraordinary became ordinary.
But in this passage, Paul reminds us that Jesus was not created. Jesus is eternal, the image of God. He was before everything. Christ stepping down into the world is not a simple event—it is significant.
It’s also important to note that though Jesus submit Himself to a mortal form, He still had (and indeed has) authority over all things. It’s through Him and by Him all things came to be, and He carries with Him the authority over all things.
We celebrate His entering the world this season, but we should celebrate His authority in all seasons.
Finally, we’re reminded of His purpose in coming. Believe it or not, Jesus didn’t just come so that we can open presents and sing pretty songs. Jesus came to reconcile sinners to Himself. He came in authority and power to win victory over sin and death.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace and verse 20 of this passage reminds us that the peace that He brought to us came by the blood of the cross. During this season we celebrate the manger, but we look ahead toward the empty tomb.
Christmas is an important season for us as we celebrate the coming of our Savior! Remember that His coming is just the first part of the narrative of our salvation.
All of Scripture ties together to weave this story of love and hope and redemption. From beginning to end, we are reminded through the Word that we have hope and peace from God and God alone.
As you think about gifts this Christmas season, remember the words of Paul: in 2 Corinthians 9:15: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
Shop the printable companion to this post!
Makes a great way to share in a Bible study, with your family at dinner, or for personal reflection. Also includes a nativity craft, coloring sheet, and memory verse aid for you to use.
