Christmas is the story of God coming close: “they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). These verses are for cards, family reading and quiet moments in December. Here is one for today.
A verse for you
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The angel’s announcement: good tidings of great joy, a Savior is born.
KJVAnd the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The angel’s announcement: good tidings of great joy, a Savior is born.
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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Emmanuel: God with us. The whole meaning of Christmas in one name.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The angels’ song: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The sign promised centuries earlier: a virgin shall bear a son, Immanuel.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The heart of the Gospel in one sentence: God loved the world and gave His Son.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
When the time was full, God sent His Son, so we could be His children.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The Christmas story is told in Matthew and Luke, but it begins centuries earlier in Isaiah, who promised a child called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace.
Luke gives the scene most people know: shepherds at night, an angel saying “fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,” and a choir of angels singing glory to God and peace on earth.
John tells the same event in one sentence: “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” At Christmas, Christians celebrate that God did not stay distant, but came near in a baby named Jesus.
Luke 2:10-11: “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:14, Isaiah 9:6 or Matthew 1:23. Tap Share to send it as a Christmas image.
Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Luke 2:1-20 is the passage most often read on Christmas Eve.