Christmas and Easter, while not directly mentioned in the Bible, celebrate foundational events in Christian history: the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible highlights the significance of these events, and we celebrate them as a reflection of God’s love and salvation plan. Let’s explore how Scripture points us to the deeper meaning behind these holidays.
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What Does The Bible Say About Christmas And Easter
Christmas
Luke 2:11 – “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
This verse proclaims the joyous news of the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. It reminds us of the true reason for celebrating Christmas – the arrival of God’s promised Messiah, who brings salvation to all who believe in Him.
Christmas is a special time to reflect on the incredible gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and to rejoice in His presence in our lives. It is a season of hope, love, and joy as we remember God’s amazing plan of redemption through the birth of Jesus.
Easter
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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.”
This verse encapsulates the central message of Easter – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that Jesus willingly laid down His life to atone for our sins and triumphed over death, offering us eternal life through faith in Him.
Easter is a time of great celebration as we rejoice in the victory of Christ over sin and death. It is a reminder of God’s immense love for humanity and the hope we have in His resurrection power. Easter invites us to experience new life and freedom through faith in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah prophesies of the miraculous birth of Jesus, emphasizing His divine nature as the Son of God. This verse foreshadows the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior who would bring hope and reconciliation to humanity.
Immanuel means “God with us,” signifying the extraordinary nature of Jesus’ birth and His purpose to dwell among His people. This verse highlights the significance of Christmas as a time to recognize and embrace the presence of God in our lives through His Son.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This well-known verse summarizes the depth of God’s love for humanity, which motivated Him to send Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It reveals the true meaning of Christmas and Easter – God’s unwavering love and His desire to offer salvation and eternal life to all who believe.
John 3:16 reminds us that the birth and resurrection of Jesus are inseparable, representing God’s redemptive plan for mankind. It is a profound expression of God’s divine love and His desire to reconcile us back to Himself.
Matthew 2:1-2
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”
This passage recounts the visit of the wise men (Magi) who traveled from the East to worship the newborn King, Jesus. It underlines the significance of Jesus’ birth and the recognition He received from those who sought Him.
The wise men’s journey to honor Jesus demonstrates the importance of adoration and worship during the Christmas season. It invites us to respond to the birth of Jesus with a heart filled with reverence, awe, and a desire to offer Him our worship and devotion.
1 Peter 1:3
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
This verse resonates with the essence of Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It proclaims the hope and new life that believers receive through faith in Him, highlighting the transformative power of Christ’s victory over death.
Easter is a time to rejoice in the living hope we have in Jesus, knowing that His resurrection guarantees our own resurrection and eternal life with Him. It reminds us of the incredible mercy and love of God, who offers us the opportunity for new birth and a secure hope through the risen Savior.
Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, this was the message given regarding the birth of Jesus. The name “Jesus” means “Savior,” underscoring the purpose of His coming into the world – to save humanity from the bondage and consequences of sin.
This verse reminds us that the true significance of Christmas and Easter extends beyond the festivities and traditions. It directs our focus to the redemptive work of Jesus, emphasizing the need for a personal relationship with Him and the salvation He offers.
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'”
In these words spoken by Jesus to Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus, He declares Himself as the very source of resurrection and eternal life. He offers a profound assurance that through faith in Him, believers will experience life beyond physical death.
This passage encapsulates the heart of the Easter message, affirming the hope we have in Jesus as the conqueror of death. It calls us to reflect on the question Jesus posed to Martha – whether we truly believe in Him and trust in His promise of eternal life.
Philippians 2:8-11
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This passage celebrates the humility and exaltation of Jesus Christ. It highlights the obedient and sacrificial nature of His death on the cross and the subsequent exaltation by God the Father, to whom all glory belongs.
These verses emphasize the significance of Easter as a time to recognize and bow before the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It points to a future day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, reaffirming His supreme authority and the ultimate purpose of His redemptive work.
Luke 24:5-6
“In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:'”
These words were spoken by angels to the women who went to Jesus’ tomb after His crucifixion. They serve as a powerful reminder of the resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb, which signifies His triumph over death.
The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event of Easter, and this verse highlights the amazement and joy felt by those who discovered the truth of His resurrection. It challenges us to remember and hold onto the words of Jesus, affirming our faith in His resurrection and the hope it brings.
Romans 10:9
“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.”
This verse presents the essential message of salvation through faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the importance of confession and belief in His Lordship and resurrection as the means to experience salvation and eternal life.
Easter reminds us of the invitation to turn to Jesus, confessing Him as Lord, and embracing the truth of His resurrection. This verse encourages us to make a personal declaration of faith in Jesus, recognizing Him as the Savior who conquered death and offers us the gift of salvation.
John 20:29
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”
In this encounter, Jesus spoke to doubting Thomas, affirming the importance of faith in Him, even without physical evidence. He pronounces a blessing upon those who would believe in Him without having seen Him personally.
This verse encourages us to have faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ, even if we have not encountered Him physically. It reminds us that our belief in Him and the truth of His resurrection leads to blessedness, deepening our trust and reliance on Him as the risen Savior.
Acts 20:35
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
In this verse, the apostle Paul recalls the words of Jesus and emphasizes the concept of selfless giving. He encourages a mindset of generosity and assistance towards the weak and vulnerable, reflecting the nature and teachings of Jesus.
Christmas and Easter serve as reminders of God’s ultimate act of giving through the birth and sacrifice of Jesus. This verse challenges us to follow Jesus’ example by demonstrating love and compassion to others, recognizing that true blessing comes not merely from receiving, but from giving selflessly.
Colossians 2:13-15
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
In these verses, Paul describes the transformation that takes place through faith in Christ. He highlights the forgiveness of sins and the victory over spiritual forces achieved through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.
Easter reminds us of the profound impact of Jesus’ work on the cross, where He paid the price for our sins and defeated the powers of darkness. This passage encourages us to embrace the new life and freedom that Christ offers, appreciating the magnitude of His redemptive work on our behalf.
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Here, Paul expresses his identification with Christ’s crucifixion, emphasizing the transformative power of the cross. He declares that his old self has been crucified, and Christ now lives in him, guiding and empowering his life.
This verse encourages us to fully embrace the crucified life, surrendering our own desires and allowing Christ to live through us. It reminds us that Easter is not just a historical event but a personal invitation to die to self and live in the power of Christ’s sacrificial love.
1 Corinthians 5:7
“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Paul draws a connection between the Passover lamb of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus. He urges believers to live in alignment with their new identity in Christ, free from the influence of sin.
This verse reminds us that Easter marks a new beginning, where the sacrificial death of Jesus enables believers to be renewed and transformed. It calls us to put away the “old yeast” of sin and embrace the unleavened purity and righteousness made possible through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Romans 6:4
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Paul emphasizes the spiritual reality of believers being united with Christ in His death and resurrection. He explains that through baptism, believers participate in the identification with Jesus’ burial and are raised to live a new life in Him.
Easter signifies the opportunity for believers to step into a fresh, transformed life, empowered by the resurrection power of Jesus. This verse encourages us to embrace the newness of life that comes from being united with Christ and to live in the fullness of His resurrected life.
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
These verses capture the Great Commission given by Jesus to His disciples before ascending to heaven. He commissions them to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to follow His commandments.
Easter is not only a time of personal reflection and celebration but also a call to mission. These verses remind us of our role as followers of Christ to share the Good News and make disciples, trusting in the assurance of Christ’s abiding presence with us as we fulfill this divine commission.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Paul declares the transformative power of being united with Christ, emphasizing the newness of life that believers experience. He highlights the complete change that occurs when one turns to Jesus and becomes a new creation.
Easter celebrates the reality of this new creation, where the old sinful nature is replaced by the righteousness and life found in Christ. This verse encourages us to embrace our identity as new creations and to walk in the power and freedom that Easter brings.
Hebrews 9:28
“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
This verse affirms the uniqueness and completeness of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. It reveals His future return, not as a sin-bearer but as the victorious Savior, bringing ultimate salvation to those who eagerly anticipate His coming.
Easter not only reminds us of Jesus’ first coming and the redemption He achieved but also stirs our expectation for His second coming. This verse calls us to hold on to the hope of His return, living with anticipation and readiness as we await the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan.