As we head towards the Christmas season, we should take some time to reflect on and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all!
These Bible verses for December will help us prepare our hearts for the holiday season, in this time before Christmas known as Advent.
We’ll be looking at Old Testament verses that prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as scriptures from the New Testament that speak of the birth and life of Son of God on this earth.
Don’t miss the free printable 31 day Bible reading plan “Advent: Waiting With Hope” at the end of this article. It’s a great way to celebrate the season, connecting with the story of Jesus throughout the month of December.
Bible Verses for December
December is an incredibly busy month for so many people. It can also be stressful, with money, time, and peace in short supply.
That’s why it’s so important to spend some dedicated time each day focusing on our relationship with Jesus Christ. We can celebrate Him every single day of the year, but Christmas is a special time where other people are coming together to celebrate with us.
It’s also a great opportunity to share the hope and faith of Jesus Christ as almost everyone knows why Christians celebrate Christmas.
Read over these Bible verses, and don’t miss out on the instructions on how to download the free printable December reading plan at the end of this post.
The Prophecy of Christ’s Coming
If you are new to studying the Bible, you may think that Jesus is only mentioned in the New Testament, where we see His birth, life, death, and resurrection. But did you know that He is mentioned many times in the Old Testament?
Isaiah 9:6 “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.”
In Isaiah 9, we see this prophecy about Jesus. Many people read this in the years before Jesus and thought it meant that they would have an earthly savior who would cure all their troubles.
Jesus goes far beyond what faces us today and offers salvation and eternal life for all those who believe in Him. This is a far greater gift than we can imagine, and well beyond what we deserve.
Micah 5:2 ESV “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
Bethlehem wasn’t a likely place for Jesus to be born, but it was prophesied in Micah that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem of Judaea.
Even more unexpected was the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. Our miraculous Jesus deserved a miraculous birth. A virgin would give birth to a child.
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Then in Luke, the angel of the Lord told Mary, who had not been with a man, that she would have a child, the Son of the Most High.
Luke 1:35 “The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.”
These are just a few of the prophecies of Jesus Christ coming to earth to live, fully God and fully man. They were all fulfilled, and we can read about it in the New Testament.
The Story of Jesus’ Birth
In Jesus’ life, we see amazing grace, power and holiness.
A virgin birth in humble circumstances, a child proclaimed by an angel, an evil king pursuing Him – these are all part of the Christmas story.
Luke 1:30-31 “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.’’”
Mary, who was most likely a young teenager at the time, had to trust this message from the angel of the Lord. Not being afraid was a tall order. She would most likely be an outcast in their culture. God had to use a dream to tell Joseph to still marry her. (Matthew 1:20).
Mary’s response was praising God in Luke 1:46-55, a wonderful example of how we can respond to God’s call. Here is just a portion of it.
Luke 1:46-48 “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.’”
We see Jesus born in a stable in Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph had to travel to for the government census.
Luke 2:7 “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
The name of Jesus was proclaimed in the heavens! Angels announced Jesus’ birth to nearby shepherds, and they rushed to see the child.
Luke 2:10-11 “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.”
In the days of King Herod, the king looked to protect himself and his kingdom at whatever price.
When the wise men came seeking this prophesied savior, this King of the Jews, Herod told them to go find him so that he, too, could worship this child. (Matthew 2:8) This was obviously a lie.
The wise men, or magi, did find Jesus, probably not when He was a newborn but most likely before He was two years old, and gave Him gifts to honor Him. This is traditionally part of the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, but might be better classified as an early part of Jesus’ life.
Matthew 2:11 “They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The Significance of Christ’s Role
Jesus came to earth with a purpose, one that would bring us the gift of salvation.
John 1:29 “The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
A lamb was one of the traditional sacrifices for a sin offering in the days before Jesus. But Jesus came to be the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus came to be the light of the world, who shines in the darkness and brings hope to all.
Isaiah 60:1 WEBBE: ““Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the LORD’s glory has risen on you!”
Jesus was prophesied in Isaiah 60:1, and we see this coming true in John 1:9.
John 1:9 “The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.”
One of the most significant purposes of Christ to us personally is our salvation and everlasting life in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This Christmas season, spend time reflecting on Jesus – His story, His attributes, and His purpose!
One of the best ways to do that is to spend time in His word. Consider reading through our “Advent: Waiting With Hope” linked at the end of this post, or other similar Advent Bible reading plans.
The Role of Faith in the Christmas Season
With all the stress and busy schedule of the holiday season, it can be easy to focus on what we aren’t getting done or where we have fallen short.
As always, it is best to keep our eyes on Christ. He will provide what He thinks is best for us in this season.
Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Christmas can be an extra special time to remember the hope that we have in God. We are never alone, but always have the Holy Spirit of God within us.
The name of Jesus, Immanuel, means “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23 “‘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.’” Isaiah 7:14
He is with us during easy and blessed times, when it is easy to praise the Lord. But He is also with us during difficult and challenging times, when we bring Him a sacrifice of praise.
Even if every moment of the month of December has been a big struggle, full of times where you feel you have failed God, start over right now, knowing that God is with you. Let Him give you what you need today.
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Sharing Our Hope with Others This Christmas
The birth of Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas. How can we share this with others without being self-righteous or off-putting?
At the end of the day, any mention of Christ will offend some people, especially those who have hardened their hearts against Him. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share, but it can mean that we should think through our actions a little more carefully, so as not to appear thoughtless.
If you still send out Christmas cards, you can send out one with a Christian theme, You can choose Christmas cards that are a little more subtle, or Christmas cards with more religious imagery.
We can share Christmas Bible verses on our social media, which will also encourage other believers with hope and truth.
We can also not do something on social media, which is resharing some of those stories that go around about not saying “Happy Holidays” or about some secular organization not including Jesus in their Christmas materials, products, or celebrations.
While we should have righteous anger about some of what is going on, many of these stories shared on Facebook are there not to raise awareness but to get you to click on their post.
Sharing it might make you feel good in the moment, but it’s good to pause to ask yourself a question. “Who is this going to help?” Do you think resharing a post like this will help someone come to Christ or have a better Christian walk?
If the answer to that is “no” this holiday season, or really, any time of the year, then don’t reshare the post.
Our time and energy can be spent on showing the love of God to others. We can do righteous things to bring honor to the Lord, especially during a time that can be difficult for others.
Taking the time to give to others and be there for them can reflect the love of God to them.
Titus 2:11. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.”
This is a beautiful Christmas scripture, reminding us of all that Jesus did for us here on earth. Share the grace of God this Christmas season, rather than self-righteous actions.
Most of these verses in this article were presented in the World English Bible or the World English Bible British Edition unless otherwise noted.
“Advent: Waiting with Hope” Free Printable 31-Day Bible Reading Plan
December is usually a busy month as we try to add events to a busy schedule, This 31-day Bible reading plan focuses on one or two verses a day that relate to Jesus’ birth and life here on earth.
It’s perfect for a beginning Bible reading plan. It can also be a great scripture reading schedule for busy people or family devotions. Use it for Bible journaling, scripture writing, or reflection during your quiet time.
Click through to our Gumroad store to get our free printable Bible reading plan on “Advent: Waiting With Hope.”
We also have a worksheet with Bible study questions and reflections for Advent. They include:
- What names for Jesus do you find in Isaiah 9:6? What do these names mean to you?
- What does the name Immanuel or Jesus mean? (Matthew 1:23)
- Titus 2:11 references Jesus. What does it call Him, and why is that true?
- Write a prayer reflecting on Jesus as our hope.
These questions are included in the free printable 31-day Bible verses for December Reading Plan.
Other Printable Bible Reading Plans for December
If you are looking for something different, look at these free printables from other websites.
- Kingdom Bloggers covers the Christmas story in this December Bible Reading Plan
- Raise Your Sword offers a Scripture Reading Plan, Wrapped in Wonder
- The Ruffled Mango has a Bible reading plan, Gifts and Blessings
As we head towards Christmas, and navigate the joys and challenges of the month of December, make some room for prayer as well as praise of our Lord.
As the world around us acknowledges a day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, may we speak with love and wisdom about the hope He has given us in eternal life.
Use this prayer to inspire your own prayer for the month of December.
O Lord,
Thank You for Your tender mercy on us, that You made a way for our salvation.
We come to worship You and praise You, especially during this Christmas season. You are so gracious to us.
May our lives honor You and reflect Your perfect love. Help us to be at peace and to be kind to one another during this busy time of the year. Help us to embrace the hope and joy of Advent.
In the name of Christ Jesus,
Amen.
If you liked reading Bible Verses for December, you may also want to read prayers for December and Advent Bible Reading Plan.
Our collection of articles for the Bible verses for each month series includes January, February, March, April (Easter), May, June, July, August, September, October, November (Thanksgiving), and December (Advent), as well as a roundup post with all the months.
