Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, but there are many interesting facts in the Bible about Christmas! Here’s a list of biblical Christmas facts you may not know:
Interesting Christmas Facts from the Bible
Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth
- Jesus’ birth was prophesied hundreds of years before it happened – (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2).
- Isaiah called Jesus “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” – (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23).
- The prophet Micah predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem – (Micah 5:2).
- Jesus is called the “Son of David” because He descended from King David’s family – (Jeremiah 23:5, Matthew 1:1).
The Birth of Jesus
- Mary, Jesus’ mother, was a young virgin when she conceived Jesus – (Luke 1:26-27).
- An angel, Gabriel, announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God – (Luke 1:28-31).
- Joseph was going to break off his engagement to Mary until an angel told him to stay – (Matthew 1:19-20).
- Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by human means – (Luke 1:35).
- Mary traveled about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem while pregnant – (Luke 2:4-5).
- Jesus was born in a manger (an animal feeding trough), not a fancy palace – (Luke 2:7).
- There was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph, so Jesus was born in a stable – (Luke 2:7).
- The Bible doesn’t mention the exact date of Jesus’ birth, but it likely wasn’t December 25th – (Luke 2:8-12).
- The Bible never says there were animals at Jesus’ birth, but since He was laid in a manger, it’s likely – (Luke 2:7).
- Jesus’ first visitors were shepherds, not kings or rulers – (Luke 2:8-9).
- An angel appeared to shepherds in the fields and told them the good news about Jesus’ birth – (Luke 2:10-11).
- A choir of angels praised God after announcing Jesus’ birth – (Luke 2:13-14).
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The Wise Men and Their Gifts
- The Bible never says there were “three” wise men, only that they brought three gifts – (Matthew 2:1-2).
- The wise men (Magi) traveled from the East, likely from Persia or Babylon – (Matthew 2:1).
- The star the wise men followed was unique and led them directly to Jesus – (Matthew 2:2, 9-10).
- The three gifts the wise men brought had deep meaning:
- Gold – Symbolized Jesus as King 👑.
- Frankincense – Represented His priestly role 🏺.
- Myrrh – A spice used for burial, foreshadowing His death ✝️. (Matthew 2:11).
- The wise men found Jesus in a house, not a manger – (Matthew 2:11).
- King Herod secretly asked the wise men to find Jesus so he could “worship” Him, but he actually wanted to kill Him – (Matthew 2:7-8).
- The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod – (Matthew 2:12).
King Herod’s Evil Plan
- Herod became jealous and ordered all baby boys under 2 years old in Bethlehem to be killed – (Matthew 2:16).
- This event, called the “Massacre of the Innocents,” was prophesied in the Old Testament – (Jeremiah 31:15).
- An angel warned Joseph in a dream to escape to Egypt to protect baby Jesus – (Matthew 2:13-14).
- Joseph, Mary, and Jesus lived in Egypt until Herod died, fulfilling another prophecy – (Matthew 2:15, Hosea 11:1).
READ MORE: 100+ Fun Bible Facts for Kids, Youths and Adults
Other Interesting Christmas Facts from the Bible
- Joseph was a carpenter by trade, meaning Jesus grew up learning carpentry – (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3).
- Jesus’ name means “The Lord Saves” – (Matthew 1:21).
- Jesus’ birth is only recorded in two Gospels: Matthew and Luke – (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2).
- Luke’s Gospel gives the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth – (Luke 2).
- The birth of Jesus marked the beginning of a new era in history (B.C. to A.D.) – (Luke 2:1-7).
- The phrase “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men” comes from the angels’ song at Jesus’ birth – (Luke 2:14).
- The first Christmas was simple and humble, not glamorous or grand – (Luke 2:6-7).
- Jesus’ birth was part of God’s plan to save the world from sin – (John 3:16).
Final Thought
The Christmas story in the Bible is not just about Jesus’ birth but about God’s love for humanity. While Christmas today is full of gifts, decorations, and traditions, the real meaning is about Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Which of these Christmas facts surprised you the most?
