What does an ancient story about a baby born in a small town have to do with your life today? More than you might think.
The story of Jesus’ birth is one of the most popular stories in history. It’s been told through sermons, songs, drama, and artwork that still bring hope, peace, joy, and love today.
Maybe you’ve caught snippets of the story through Christmas carols, manger scenes in front of churches, and that one sermon you heard a decade ago. That’s okay, this article is here to put all the pieces of the Christmas story together.
Along the way, we’ll explore what makes this story so extraordinary. Because the Bible has plenty of stories of unlikely births, heroines from unlikely places, and humble shepherds with starring roles. So why is this one particularly special? Let’s find out.
Where Is the Birth of Jesus in the Bible?
The birth of Jesus is told in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
A Summary of the Birth of Jesus Bible Story
- The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would give birth to God’s Son through the Holy Spirit.
- Joseph planned to quietly end their engagement until an angel appeared in a dream and told him to stay with Mary.
- Caesar Augustus ordered a census of the entire Roman world, so Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
- While there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and laid Him in a manger because there was no guest room available.
- Nearby shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks when an angel of the Lord appeared to them with good news of great joy.
- A heavenly host appeared, praising God and declaring peace on earth.
- The shepherds hurried to find Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger, then went out glorifying and praising God.
- Sometime later, wise men from the east followed a star to find Jesus and worship Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Key Bible Verse
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 NIV
A Deeper Dive Into the Birth of Jesus
Long before Jesus’ birth, people in ancient Israel carried a deep hope that God would one day send someone to make things right.
Their hope came from old promises passed down through generations.
People came to believe that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the One who would bring peace and restore their nation.
Centuries earlier, God had told a shepherd named David that one of his descendants would become a great and lasting King. David’s hometown was Bethlehem, a small village south of Jerusalem. Over time, people came to believe that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the One who would bring peace and restore their nation.
Looking for a Messiah
It was assumed that any savior would save Israel through violence and power. So many people claiming to be the Messiah had risen up in the years before Jesus’ birth. Their plans to bring “peace” often followed the same playbook: create terror, kill enemies, and assassinate Roman officials.
None of these would-be saviors lasted long. And by the time of Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people were likely giving up hope that anyone could save them.
Mary, Joseph, and God’s Plan
The story starts with a young woman named Mary. We don’t know Mary’s age. She could have been as young as fifteen, but she may have been in her early twenties.
Mary lived in a small town with little reason to expect anything extraordinary from her life. But one day, an angel named Gabriel visited Mary and told her she was pregnant with God’s own Son.
Mary responded with faith, trusting God’s plan despite the obvious challenges she had ahead.
Her husband Joseph showed the same obedience when he believed the angel’s message in a dream and stayed by Mary’s side.
The Night in Bethlehem
Mary’s pregnancy progressed normally until some time before the birth. According to Luke, the Roman Emperor decreed a census, requiring that every person go back to their ancestral residence. Joseph, being a descendant of King David, needed to return to a small village called Bethlehem.
By the time Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, every guest room was full. So they stayed in a simple space. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. (A manager was for feeding animals. They were common both inside homes and in stables.)
And so the Son of God entered the world not in a palace but in a place no one expected.
The Shepherds and the Angels
Out in the fields on the same night, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks when the angel of the Lord appeared among them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.
The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid because this news would bring great joy to all people—the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. Then a great company of the heavenly host (more angels) appeared, praising God and declaring peace on earth.
The shepherds rushed to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, and shared what they’d seen. Their joy spread as they went out glorifying and praising God.
The Wise Men
Far away, educated stargazers (called wise men) noticed something strange. A new star shone brightly over Judea. The wise men believed it signified the birth of a divine King, so they traveled west to find Him.
Imagine their wonder when they arrived, not at a palace, but at a humble home. It didn’t make sense, but the signs told them it was true. That’s why they entered, bowed low to Jesus, and offered Him kingly gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Why Is This Story in the Bible?
The birth stories in Matthew and Luke serve as introductions to who Jesus is and what His life will mean in their accounts.
The story highlights how God lifts up the humble and keeps His promises to the poor, the overlooked, and the faithful.
In Luke, the story highlights how God lifts up the humble and keeps His promises to the poor, the overlooked, and the faithful.
The angel’s message to Mary and welcoming the shepherds into the story introduce Luke’s larger theme that God’s kingdom welcomes those the world forgets.
In Matthew, the story roots Jesus firmly in Israel’s history.
The details about Bethlehem, King David’s family line, and the visit of the wise men all confirm that Jesus fulfills the ancient promises of a coming Messiah.
Matthew contrasts Jesus’ birth with King Herod’s violence, and shows us that Jesus is a very different kind of king—one who brings peace rather than fear.
These two origin stories help set up the gospel stories and provide a foundation for Jesus’ identity. They were written to show that from the very beginning, Jesus’ life revealed God’s character, His promises, and His upside-down way of working in the world.
What Does the Birth of Jesus Teach Us?
1. God works through ordinary people.
Mary and Joseph weren’t powerful or famous, but they trusted God when life got complicated. Their story shows that faith requires obedience and courage.
2. God keeps His promises.
Generations waited for the Messiah. When Jesus was born, it proved that God’s promises never expire, even when they take longer than expected.
3. God’s love reaches everyone.
The first people invited to meet Jesus weren’t kings or priests, but shepherds. From the very beginning, God made it clear that His love is for every person, everywhere.
Why Is This Story Important Today?
The story of Jesus’ birth reminds us that God often begins His greatest work in the quiet places we overlook.
While the world was busy with politics, power, and progress, God’s plan moved forward in a borrowed room, through two ordinary people who simply said yes to Him.
That’s one reason why this story is so memorable. It pulls apart what we think about status and strength. Because God, the most powerful being, chose humility and presence over distance.
He still meets us today in our waiting, our fear, and our hopes for something more. The birth of Jesus is proof that light can break through any darkness, even when it feels like the world has stopped noticing.
Common Questions About the Birth of Jesus
Where in the Bible can I read the story of Jesus’ birth?
You can read this story in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
Was Jesus really born on December 25?
The Bible doesn’t give a date. Early Christians chose to celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25, likely because it coincided with the darkest time of year.
Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, and prophecy said the Messiah would come from David’s family line.
Who were the wise men?
They were scholars or stargazers from the east who followed a star that led them to Jesus. Their gifts showed they believed He was a true King.
What does “lying in a manger” mean?
A manger is a feeding trough for animals. It shows how humble Jesus’ arrival was and reminds us that God often chooses unexpected places to reveal His strength.
Why isn’t Jesus’ birth in every gospel?
Only Matthew and Luke include the story of Jesus’ birth; Mark and John don’t. That’s because the gospels aren’t biographies. They’re theology books using the stories of Jesus to develop themes. Each gospel author selected specific stories that fit the themes they wanted to convey.
Reflect or Discuss
- What part of Jesus’ birth story stands out to you the most and why?
- How does this story change the way you think about God’s timing or plan for your life?
- What’s one way you can respond to God’s love and peace this Christmas season?