Advent and the Christmas Story: Readings, Meaning, and Verses

Advent is the season of waiting and preparation before Christmas. The word comes from the Latin for "coming." Many churches keep Advent over the four Sundays before Christmas Day, and in many Western churches it also marks the start of the church year. Customs vary by tradition. Some churches and families light candles on an Advent wreath, some follow a set of readings, and some simply take time to slow down and prepare. In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29.

Below are the meaning of that waiting, the Christmas story in order from Scripture, a four-week reading plan, and King James verses for Christmas cards.

The Meaning of Waiting

For centuries before the birth of Jesus, God's people lived with promises not yet fulfilled. The prophets spoke of light coming to people in darkness, and of a child who would be born to reign.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 9:2 (KJV)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Isaiah also spoke words of comfort to a weary people, and of a voice that would call them to prepare.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 40:1–3 (KJV)

The prophet Micah even named the town where the promised ruler would come from: little Bethlehem.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2 (KJV)

Waiting in the Bible is not empty time. It is waiting with a promise in hand. Paul later wrote that "when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son" (Galatians 4:4). Advent invites us to remember that God keeps his word, even when the waiting is long.

The Christmas Story in Scripture

The story of Jesus' birth is told in two Gospels. Luke tells it largely from Mary's side, with the shepherds. Matthew tells it from Joseph's side, with the wise men. Here it is in order.

The angel comes to Mary

In the town of Nazareth in Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to a young woman named Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, "of the house of David" (Luke 1:26–27). Mary was troubled by his greeting, and the angel said:

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:30–33 (KJV)

Mary asked how this could be, and the angel told her that the Holy Ghost would come upon her (1:35), "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (1:37). Her answer was simple: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (1:38).

Joseph's dream

When Joseph learned that Mary was with child, he was a just man and planned to put her away quietly. Then an angel spoke to him in a dream.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:20–21 (KJV)

Matthew adds that this fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14):

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)

Joseph woke and did as the angel told him, and when the child was born, "he called his name JESUS" (1:25).

The birth in Bethlehem

A decree from Caesar Augustus required everyone to be taxed in his own city. Because Joseph was "of the house and lineage of David," he and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David (Luke 2:1–5), the very town Micah had named.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6–7 (KJV)

A manger is a feeding trough for animals. The King promised by the prophets was born in a humble place, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The shepherds and the angels

That same night, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks in the fields nearby. An angel of the Lord appeared, the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were "sore afraid" (2:9).

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

Luke 2:10–14 (KJV)

The shepherds "came with haste" and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger, just as they had been told (2:16). They spread the news, and "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (2:19). The good news came first to ordinary shepherds in the field, and it was "to all people."

The wise men and the star

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 2:1–2 (KJV)

King Herod was troubled. The chief priests and scribes pointed him to Micah's prophecy: the ruler would come from Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5–6). The star went before the wise men until it stood over the place where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10–11 (KJV)

Scripture does not say there were three wise men; it names three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and the number three is a later tradition. Matthew says they came "into the house" and found "the young child," so their visit may have come some time after the night of the birth. Many churches remember the coming of the wise men at Epiphany, on January 6.

Their question, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?", is the heart of Christmas. Our song The King Has Come celebrates that answer: the promised King has been born. Later, this child would call himself the good shepherd who "giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11); see what John 10:11 means.

A Four-Week Advent Reading Plan

This simple plan gives one theme and one or two passages for each week. Read the passage on Sunday, then return to it during the week. If your family uses an Advent wreath, you can light the week's candle as you read. Different churches name the weeks differently (many use hope, peace, joy, and love), so feel free to follow your own church's pattern.

• Week 1: Hope. Read Isaiah 9:2–7. A people in darkness see a great light, and a child is promised whose kingdom will have no end.
• Week 2: Preparation. Read Isaiah 40:1–5 and Luke 3:4–6. Luke shows how Isaiah's words, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord," were fulfilled in John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus.
• Week 3: Joy. Read Luke 1:46–55, the song of Mary. It begins, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
• Week 4: Love. Read John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9–10. Christmas is God's love made visible: "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
• Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: Read Luke 2:1–20 aloud together.

For a quiet devotional alongside these readings, see our Psalm 23 devotional. And for the peace Jesus came to give, see finding peace in God's presence.

Christmas Verses for Cards

These short King James verses work well in a Christmas card or on a gift tag.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11 (KJV)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:14 (KJV)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Galatians 4:4–5 (KJV)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)

A Prayer

Lord God, thank you for keeping your promises. Your people waited a long time for the coming of the Savior, and you sent him in the fulness of time. As we wait and prepare this Advent, quiet our hearts and make room in our lives for Jesus, just as there was no room in the inn. Give us the faith of Mary, who said, "be it unto me according to thy word," and the joy of the shepherds, who came with haste. Thank you for the good tidings of great joy, which are for all people. Thank you that the King has come, and that he is Emmanuel, God with us. In Jesus' name, amen.