Welcome to Day 2 of our Bible study for Muslims on the Christmas story! In this lesson, we will explore several key events and Bible passages related to Jesus’ birth and the Christmas narrative.
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
After the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also miraculously pregnant with John the Baptist. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb, recognizing the presence of Jesus (Luke 1:41). Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth declared a blessing over Mary and the baby in her womb (Luke 1:42-45). In response, Mary broke out into a song of praise to God called the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). This passage shows the fulfillment of Gabriel’s prophecy, the miraculous nature of both pregnancies, and Mary’s humble and worshipful reaction to God’s blessing on her life.
Joseph Accepts Mary as His Wife (Matthew 1:18-25)
When Mary became pregnant, her fiancé Joseph decided to quietly divorce her, not wanting to disgrace her publicly. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained that Mary’s pregnancy was by the Holy Spirit, and she would give birth to Jesus, the prophesied Savior. When Joseph woke up, he obeyed the angel’s instructions and took Mary as his wife. Joseph’s acceptance of God’s supernatural work reflects his righteous character. As Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph provided protection and care for Mary and Jesus.
Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7)
Caesar Augustus issued a census while Quirinius was governor of Syria, requiring Joseph to take Mary to his ancestral town of Bethlehem. While there, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger, because there was no guest room available. This shows God’s sovereignty, as He used a pagan emperor’s decree to bring about the prophesied birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Despite Jesus’ humble beginnings, His divinity is affirmed through the virgin birth and angels’ proclamations.
The Shepherds and Angels (Luke 2:8-20)
On the night of Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to shepherds watching their flocks and announced the Savior’s birth in Bethlehem. Then the angel was joined by a multitude of heavenly host praising God. The shepherds went straight to Bethlehem and found Jesus lying in a manger, just as the angel had declared. They spread the news about Jesus, glorifying and praising God. This shows Jesus came first for the humble and lowly, not the rich and powerful. The angels’ heavenly worship also reflects Jesus’ divine nature.
Jesus’ Circumcision and Presentation at the Temple (Luke 2:21-40)
On the eighth day after His birth, Jesus was circumcised according to Jewish law. He was named Jesus, the name announced by the angel before His conception. After Mary’s postpartum purification period, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. They offered a sacrifice according to the Law’s requirement. While there, they encountered Simeon and Anna, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and praised God for the fulfillment of prophecy and redemption for Israel.
The Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)
Likely occurring up to two years after Jesus’ birth, magi or wise men from the East followed a star to Jerusalem looking for the newborn King of the Jews. After consulting with Jewish religious leaders, they continued to follow the star to Bethlehem to worship Jesus. They presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These expensive gifts show Jesus was recognized as a king. The magi’s long journey also shows Jesus as the Savior for all nations, not just the Jews. Their visit troubled King Herod, who felt his throne was threatened.
The Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18)
After the wise men departed, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath. Herod, feeling deceived by the magi, had ordered the murder of all boys under two years old in Bethlehem. The family remained in Egypt until Herod’s death, fulfilling the prophecy “out of Egypt I called my son.” This escape shows Jesus identified with God’s people in their sufferings from infancy. It also reflects God’s protection over His Son.
In just these few passages, we already see the sweeping epic of redemption and the blurring of the sacred and the humble. From His miraculous conception to His perilous escape from a tyrant’s rage, Jesus’ origin story shows God powerfully at work to save His people. Yet it unfolds through the lives of seemingly ordinary people like Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and the shepherds. We also see Old Testament prophecies fulfilled regarding the Messiah’s birthplace, flight to Egypt, and mission to redeem. As we continue our study, the Christmas narrative will further illuminate who Jesus is and why He came.
Additional Key Passages
Here are some other important passages related to Jesus’ birth and the Christmas story:
- Isaiah 7:14 – The prophecy of Jesus’ virgin birth
- Isaiah 9:6-7 – The prophecy of Jesus as Prince of Peace and Everlasting Father
- Micah 5:2 – The prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem
- Hosea 11:1 – The prophecy of Jesus’ flight and return from Egypt
- Matthew 1:1-17 – Jesus’ genealogy tracing His lineage from Abraham
- Luke 1:26-38 – The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about Jesus’ birth
- Luke 2:1-5 – The decree of Caesar Augustus that led to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem
- Luke 2:8-20 – The angelic announcement about Jesus’ birth to the shepherds
- John 1:1-14 – Presenting Jesus as the eternal Word of God made flesh
Studying these prophecies and their fulfillment will give us greater insight into God’s purpose and plan in sending Jesus into the world. We see how Jesus’ coming was ordained before the foundation of the world. Even political rulers unknowingly played a role in God’s sovereign orchestration of events. Jesus entered the world in an obscure setting, yet angels burst out in praise, shepherds worshiped Him, and cosmic signs marked His importance. The Christmas story has much to teach us about Jesus’ divine identity and mission as our Savior.
Key Themes
Certain repeated ideas and motifs emerge in these opening passages about Jesus’ birth and childhood:
- Fulfillment of prophecy – Matthew repeatedly cites Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ early life, showing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
- Divine intervention – The virgin birth and angelic pronouncements affirm Jesus’ miraculous origins and God’s direct intervention in human affairs.
- Redemption – Simeon declared Jesus came to bring salvation and restoration for God’s people.
- Rejection foreshadowed – Herod’s murderous rage hints at the opposition Jesus would face.
- Praise and worship – Mary, Elizabeth, angels, shepherds, Simeon and Anna all worship and praise God for Jesus’ birth.
- Humble beginnings – Jesus is born to ordinary parents in an obscure village and laid in a manger, showing God using the small and weak.
These themes establish who Jesus is – both His humanity and divinity. We see why He came – to be a Savior and redeemer. And we get hints about His future – He will overcome rejection and death. The Christmas story is the opening chapter in God’s larger story of redeeming humanity through His Son.
Reflecting on the Christmas Story
As we study the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth and early years, here are some questions to consider:
- What does Jesus’ humble birth and obscure upbringing say about the nature of God’s kingdom?
- How does God demonstrate His power and work out His plans through ordinary people and circumstances?
- What prophecies about Jesus Christ were fulfilled even in His early life? How did this confirm His identity and mission?
- How did various people in the Christmas story respond to news about Jesus’ birth? What can we learn from their examples?
- What titles and roles for Jesus do you see in these passages? How do they reveal His purpose?
- How does the Christmas story change your understanding of who Jesus is?
Wrestling with these questions will take us deeper into the meaning behind the details of Jesus’ birth. We see history, prophecy, theology, and practical faith all coming together in the real-life drama of the Nativity. The Christmas story launches us on a journey of knowing the promised Savior who came to rescue us.
Jesus’ Birth in Quran and Islamic Traditions
For Muslims reading these biblical accounts, you may be noticing some parallels and differences with what the Quran says about Jesus’ birth. Let’s explore how Islam’s holy book approaches this story:
- The Quran affirms the virgin birth of Jesus (Quran 3:45–49, 19:16–29, 66:12). His miraculous conception is attributed to the creative word of God, like Adam’s creation.
- The Quran identifies Mary as part of the line of Amram, assumed to mean she descended from Moses’ brother Aaron (Quran 19:28). The Bible traces her lineage to David.
- Islamic tradition cites Mecca as Jesus’ birthplace, while the Bible clearly associates His birth with Bethlehem.
- The Quran says angels promised Mary that Jesus would perform miracles, speak in infancy, and be a prophet to Israel (Quran 3:45–49, 19:30–33).
- The Quran speaks positively about Joseph, who has no spoken lines in the biblical narrative (Quran 12:24).
While the Quran aligns with the Bible’s miraculous portrayal of Jesus’ conception and birth, their timelines differ. The biblical timeline places Jesus’ birth around 4-6 B.C., while Islamic tradition often sets it around 30 B.C. This affects how the two faiths date later events in Jesus’ life and ministry as well.
But despite these differences, we can find common ground. Both faiths teach Jesus entered the world in miraculous fashion to play a special role according to God’s divine plan. He was set apart from ordinary men from the very beginning of His earthly life.
Conclusion
The biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth introduce us to the beautiful, powerful story of our Savior’s entry into the world. Jesus came in fulfillment of ancient prophecy, inaugurating God’s promised redemption. His humble birth to a virgin, announced by angels and attended by shepherds, speaks volumes about the upside-down values of God’s kingdom. The Christmas story sets the tone for Jesus’ entire life and ministry to come. He consistently broke expected molds, overturned human assumptions, and surprised people with the wonder of God’s power and grace at work through the weak, poor, and obscure. As we continue exploring the life of Jesus, the pattern established at His birth encourages us to look for God’s hand lifting up those the world overlooks.
