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.
Christmas begins with waiting. In the four weeks of Advent, many churches read the prophets’ promises and the expectation of John the Baptist; at Christmas they turn to the birth narratives in Luke and Matthew, and to the opening of John’s Gospel.
Advent: promise and preparation
Isaiah’s words were first spoken to the people of Judah in times of danger and exile. Isaiah 9:6 promised a royal child; Isaiah 40:3 a road through the desert for God’s return. The Gospel writers saw these promises fulfilled in Jesus.
Christmas: the birth
Luke tells the story from Mary’s side — Gabriel’s visit and Mary’s song — and from the shepherds’ (Luke 2:10–11). Matthew tells it from Joseph’s, and adds the Magi. John has no birth scene at all; he states its meaning: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14).
For cards and gatherings
Short, complete verses for cards: Luke 2:10–11, Luke 2:14, Matthew 1:23. Every passage on this page can be downloaded as an image card or a printable sheet.
The passages
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.
“For a child is born to us” — first spoken to a threatened kingdom, read by Christians as fulfilled in Jesus.
The voice of one who calls out,
“Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness!
Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
Prepare the way of the LORD: the voice in the wilderness, applied in the Gospels to John the Baptist.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
being small among the clans of Judah,
out of you one will come out to Me who is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
Bethlehem, small among the clans of Judah — quoted in Matthew 2:6.
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name Him ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to His Kingdom.”
Gabriel’s message to Mary.
Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
for He has looked at the humble state of His servant.
For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
The opening of Mary’s song, the Magnificat, prayed daily in many traditions.
“Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The angels’ song of glory and peace.
“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.”
Immanuel, “God with us,” quoting Isaiah 7:14.
The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John tells the Christmas story without a manger: the Word became flesh.
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, that we might receive the adoption as children.
“When the fullness of the time came” — Paul’s one-sentence Christmas.
