I. Christmas Bible verses:

Read what the Bible tells us about the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace There will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice, From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7

"And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."" Luke 1:35

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." So all this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us". Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife." Matthew 1:18-24

"And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"" Luke 2:9-14

II. The Need for the Incarnation:

The birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ has become a turning point in the history of mankind. For in the Nativity was the Incarnation, and in the Incarnation was Salvation; and through Salvation we received adoption becoming heirs to the Kingdom.

III. The Blessing of the Incarnation:

Adoption--As St. Paul said: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5

Partakers of the Divine Nature--As St. Peter said: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.." 2 Peter 1:2-4

God Became Close to Us--As St. John the Beloved said: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life." 1 John 1:1

IV. St. Cyril of Alexandria said about the Incarnation:

"Behold a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and bear a Son and they shall call His Name Immanuel. How then (tell me) is that which is born of the holy virgin called Immanuel? Immanuel signifying, that the Word of God which is in truth God was made by reason of the flesh in nature as we. For He emptied Himself having undergone a generation like to ours, and so had His conversation with us. Hence He is God in flesh and she is truly the Mother of God who bore Him carnally or after the flesh."

By: Fr. Mikhail E. Mikhail