What does the Bible say about Christmas? Well, quite a lot. In fact, since Christmas is the story of God sending His son Jesus to earth as a baby, most of the Bible points to and sets the stage for Christmas.

My favorite device in the Bible for telling the Christmas story is a really big, really blatant, really bright image: LIGHT. 

Let’s look at the very first chapter in the Bible to see where this all gets started.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:1-3 NIV

Can you see that in your mind’s eye? Total darkness. God hovering over it. Then speaking LIGHT into it.

This is the picture of what Father God would do in our own world’s history and in our own hearts by sending Jesus as a baby in a manger. Our sin is darkness. Our world is covered in the inky gloom of evil. But. God was hovering. And soon, He would send the Light.

He gave us bits and pieces, foreshadowing of the light of Jesus from His prophets. The famous Christmas passage from Isaiah,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;” begins with, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:6, 2 NIV

Hundreds of years later, when John the Baptist was born, his father, Zechariah prophesied about John’s role in making the way for Jesus,

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation, through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 NIV

Wow! Sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it?

Jesus is then born in a manger in Bethlehem. He is visited by shepherds and then later by wise men (who found out about Jesus’ because of a light in the sky!!)

Soon after Jesus’ birth, He was presented at the temple where a godly woman named Anna prayed over Him saying,

“Sovereign Lord . . . my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-40 NIV

More light! Jesus is the Light for all mankind. The light for all the darkness we experience and live in. We are saved from this deep darkness by God’s Light, JESUS.

So, what does the Bible say about Christmas? The bright, sparkly, glittery holiday is just a tiny picture, a little object lesson, a small symbol of the huge light of Jesus. His birth was announced by light, His life on earth was proof of real Light and today, we are able to live in His light when we trust in Him. 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5 NIV

Family Activity Idea: Pull out all the Christmas lights—strings of twinkle lights, candles, candles, and more candles. Light them all then turn off your overhead lights and lamps. See how these Christmas lights dispel darkness. Read some of the above passages about Jesus, the Light. Every time you see or notice Christmas lights through the season, remind your kids of the light of Jesus!