GOOD and GREAT NEWS of GREAT JOY: The Gospel Inside The Nativity!
This blog focuses on Jesus’ coming to earth and why he is named Jesus and the epic importance of what that means to us.
May JESUS CHRIST be the reason to celebrate and worship in our lives every day, every year and always…
Below are Bible Verses from Luke 1, Matthew 1 and Luke 2 as these are the main New Testament verses on Jesus Christ’s birth, His identity, relationship to God the Father and Holy Spirit and what His life and coming mean to us all. The Scriptures below are written out for us to be an easy reference and (hopefully) Gospel inspiration!
Luke 1:26-38 Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
————Luke 1 Scripture Reading ends here—-Matthew 1 Scripture Reading starts below:——————————————————————————————————–
Matthew 1:18–25 The Nativity of the Messiah
Matthew 1:18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
————Matthew 1 Scripture reading ends here and Luke 2 Scripture Reading starts below:——————————————————————————————————
Luke 2:1–7 Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born because of the census that was commanded…
The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:8–14 Heaven’s earthly celebration of the birth of Jesus by angels appearing to shepherds in the field announcing Jesus’s birth and the shepherd’s responses!
Luke 2:8-14: 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.—————
———————————————————————————-END OF SCRIPTURE READINGS——————————————————————————————————–
There are many, many other verses related to Jesus and the prophecies surrounding his coming, his life and his death and resurrection. The foundational verses included above are meant to help us celebrate His Birth in the Truth of God’s Word and show us that Jesus is God’s Son and believing in Him brings eternal life! See John 3:15-17; 1 John 5:1- 5:20; 1 Peter 1:3-10; Romans 14:7-9; 2 Corintians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2: 29; 4:9, 4:7; John 1: 12-13 and other verses too
Romans 10:9-10 New International Version (NIV)If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Thus, we see the Gospel in the Nativity verses! Christ came to save us from our sins as God’s Son! We cannot earn our way, Christ paid for our way with his own life, death and resurrection!!!
These verses out of the Bible give details about Jesus Christ’s coming to earth as fully man and fully God, His birth and the initial responses of Heaven and those on Earth. 🙂
Notice that angels told both Mary and Joseph separately to name the baby Jesus!
Notice why JESUS was named JESUS =
BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS!
- Luke 1:31
The angel Gabriel tells Mary to name her child Jesus.
Matthew 1:21
An angel of the Lord tells Joseph to name the child Jesus:
- Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
IMPT: The angel told Joseph: JESUS is named JESUS BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS!
IMPT: The angel Gabriel told Mary: Jesus is the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God gave him the throne of his father David: He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Luke 1:32-33
Actual verses say: Luke 1:31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Jesus was also named Immanuel:
See below: Matthew 1:22-25; Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6-7
Matthew 1:22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.” {JESUS IS CLEARLY GOD!!!}
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel
Isaiah 9:6-7: 6For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.————
Jesus = my Lord while in the womb of Mary by Elizabeth. Luke 1:43 {From the beginning His own know Him as Lord!}
Philippians 2:9-11 God gave Jesus the name that is above every name, and that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
Shepherds were told that JESUS IS SAVIOR, Lord and MESSIAH! Luke 2:10-11: 10 I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
JESUS IS SAVIOR born for us, MESSIAH, the LORD!!!
On a personal note: When I was a child my family went to Catholic Church every Sunday and usually on Wednesday evening to Catechism all my growing up years. We rarely ever missed. Even when someone was sick, typically one parent would take the rest of the family and when we returned the other parent would go to a later service. Yet I had never been introduced to the Bible verses of Christ’s birth. Honestly, it was not until our oldest son Adam (39 years old in 2024) was in Bradenton Christian School and he had to memorize Luke 2 that I truly became familiar with the truth of Christ’s birth.
Therefore, I wanted to make sure some of the most foundational Scriptures about Jesus’s beginnings on earth were discussed!
I HOPE YOU HAVE OR WILL KNOW CHRIST IS GOD’s SON WHO CAME TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS AND BELIEVE AND BE SAVED!
TO KNOW CHRIST as Savior, Messiah, the Lord, to know His LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IS THE GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024 and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!
Deborah Mott
debsmott@icloud.com
‘Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life’ (v.25, MSG).
1 John 2:25 In his great love for you and me, Jesus, the Son of Man, suffered as a representative of the entire human race, so that you could be rescued from all the spiritual forces of evil in the world. One day, Jesus will return ‘with the clouds of heaven’ (v.13) as he promised, and victory will be complete (Matthew 24:30–31).
Lord, thank you for this amazing victory of Jesus over all the forces of evil. Thank you that all the powers of evil have been defeated and one day will be utterly destroyed.
Dear Reader, as a Post Note:
These most important truths I pass on to you is to understand God’s love and forgiveness to you.* Run to God when you are tempted, when you have done wrong…don’t hide from God. Go to him no matter what!—Tell God how you feel, be honest with God about everything. GOD IS SO GOOD, He is compassionate and forgiving. He gives us good that we don’t deserve (Grace) and does not give us the (judgment) that we do deserve (instead He gives us Mercy)! ALL because of JESUS we are offered eternal Grace and Mercy! God is faithful even when we are not. God is Good News and Great Joy! God is our Hope!
God’s Word is the most important book in the world. There is no book like it anywhere. It is breathed by God’s Holy Spirit to many people over many years who wrote it by inspiration of God to them. God’s Word is alive **) and active and sharper than a two- edged sword. It is LIFE to those who read it and peace, joy and contentment come from God’s Spirit and Truths….plus so much more.
God’s Word, especially living the Gospel to myself and others, has helped me tremendously and kept me in the hardest times of my life. God’s Truths anchored me and gave me hope and help that I really needed. All because of JESUS, God forgives my sins and failures; Jesus and all He has done, is doing and will do is the most important truth and hope I have! Experiencing God’s Love and Forgiveness through Christ is Good News and Great Joy! Then God helps me to give His love and forgiveness to others. Receiving God’s forgiveness because Christ died to give me His forgiveness brings me such love for God! Love for God results when I know and live “Christ died for our sins!!!!”
Loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and loving my neighbor as myself and as Christ has loved me are life goals. I pray they are our life goals.
Here are the Bible verses that back up what I have shared:
*For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
**For the word of God is alive* and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart Hebrews 4:12
***Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength Deuteronomy 6:5
***Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37
***Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength Mark 12:30
***Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27
***“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another .By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another John 13:34-35
***Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23
In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He then says that the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9 & 10
To me, these verses are some of the most important and life giving, life changing ones. May God help us live out these truths and may we celebrate Christ and all He is and has done, is doing and will do, all of our lives! .
May we make Christ Known,
Deborah Mott
