Christmas is about Jesus. Period. However, somehow we’ve really messed it up. Even as followers of Christ, it’s so easy to get distracted by the special events, parties, food, and gifts that we forget why we’re celebrating. Advent Scriptures are a great way to help bring Christ back into Christmas.
By focusing on why we’re celebrating, our Christmas season will be so much more meaningful. We will be able to point our children to Christ. By taking the time to read Advent Scriptures, we will be able to focus less on all the commercialism surrounding Christmas and more on Christ Jesus. After all, He’s the whole reason we’re celebrating!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.
Advent Season
The Advent season is a beautiful time of year filled with celebration and giving . . . joy and peace! So, what is the Advent season and why is it important? Let’s talk about that!
What is the Advent season?
The Advent season is the period of time leading up to Christmas day. It typically begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts until December 24th. This is the time to reflect on Jesus and the reason we’re celebrating Christmas. Advent readings from Scripture passages can help with that.
How long is Advent?
The Advent season is approximately four weeks each year, but it can vary depending on the day of the week on which Christmas falls. It typically starts at the end of November or the beginning of December.
Why do we celebrate the Advent season?
Historically, advent had a different meaning from what we think of today. However, since the Middle Ages, the Advent season has come to mean a time of preparation before celebrating the birth of Christ. We celebrate the Advent season in order to reflect on what it means for Christ to come to earth. We prepare our hearts to focus on Christ, the true meaning of Christmas.
Why is Advent important to Christians?
Advent is not really important to those who are not Christians. As Christians, we are celebrating for a different reason than the world. Advent becomes important to Christians so they slow down and reflect on what Christ’s coming truly means.
By taking time to reflect on Christ in the Advent season, Christians can keep the focus of their celebration on Christ . . . where it belongs! In fact, Advent helps keep us grounded and purposeful in the Christmas season.
Advent Scriptures
There certainly are many types of Advent Bible verses that can be focused on during the Advent season. For example, since Jesus is why we celebrate, we can focus on the names of Jesus during Advent. There are also Advent Scriptures that focus on prophecies of a coming Christ, events leading up to Christ’s birth, and the birth of Christ itself.
Each week of the Advent season traditionally has a theme. There are Advent Bible verses to go with each theme that you can focus on as well. If you want some help, be sure to get an Advent devotional.
Names of Jesus Advent verses
Many names for Jesus are given throughout the Bible. By learning His names, you get a better picture of who He truly is. You may even choose to get an Advent devotional about the names of Jesus this season. I have many of the names of Jesus listed below.
- Alpha and Omega. Revelation 22:13 ESV, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
- Light of the World. John 8:12, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
- Savior. Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” JOHN 4:42 is another verse for this one.
- Lamb of God. John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
- The Word. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
- Servant. Isaiah 42:1-4 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.” Also, see Isaiah 52:13-15.
- Good Shepherd. John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Ezekiel 34:11-16 talks all about how He is a shepherd.
- Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
- Son of David. Matthew 20:29-34, “And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ And stopping, Jesus called them and said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 talks about where the promise is given that David’s seed will reign forever.
- Christ or Messiah. Mark 8:29-30, “And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.”
- Son of God. Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.’”
- Jesus. Matthew 1: 21, “‘She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” Luke 2:21 then says,”And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
Related:
Advent Bible Verses
As mentioned previously, there are so many different Bible verses that can be read during the Advent season. Below are just a few of these. Some of these are prophecies concerning Jesus’s coming, while other verses tell the stories leading up to and of His birth. There are also verses that talk about what Jesus’s birth did for the world.
These first couple of verses are prophecies talking about the coming of Jesus. It’s so amazing that His birth was foretold hundreds of years before He was born with hundreds of prophecies!
Micah 5:2
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2
Isaiah 9:2-6
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:2-6
As moms, unless we prioritize our relationship with God, it can easily fall by the wayside. Learn more about growing closer to God. As we grow closer to Him, we become a better wife and mother as well.
Isaiah 11:1-5
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Isaiah 11:1-5
Zechariah 6:12-13
“And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.'” Zechariah 6:12-13
These next verses talk about the events leading up to Christ’s birth, Jesus’s birth, and the events afterward. Be sure to read the whole chapters of Luke 1-2 broken up over several days, if desired. There are some other Advent Scriptures below.
The Centering Christmas Prayer Journal will help you take these advent Bible verses and use them to remind and turn your heart towards the more important things of Christmas. Instead of the commercialized frenzy, you will begin to reflect and remember what this holiday is truly about. Not just a baby in the manger, but the Savior of the World; who died and lives for you.
Matthew 1:18-23
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:18-23
Matthew 2:1-2
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
Following are a few other Advent Bible verses that are during Jesus’s ministry as an adult and then the reason why God sent Jesus to earth. These are great verses to reflect on this Advent season.
John 1:9
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:9
John 1:10-13
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:10-13
Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
Advent hope Scripture
The birth of Jesus was foretold hundreds of years before His birth. These prophecies breathed hope about the long-awaited Messiah, who would be the Savior of the world. He was not there yet, but He would be!
Isaiah 11:1-2
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:1-2
Isaiah 40:3-5
“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:3-5
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Avent peace Scripture
What more do we need than peace in the midst of this broken world? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. It is through Him we can have true peace in this world. This is a peace that cannot be manufactured in our own power.
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Luke 2:14
“‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'” Luke 2:14
John 14:27
“‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.'” John 14:27
Advent joy Scripture
When we look back to how the prophecies were fulfilled, the miracle of Jesus’s birth, and the reason why He came to earth, how can we do anything but rejoice?? Our joy is found in the Lord! Let us sing and praise Him!
Zephaniah 3:14-17
“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.'” Zephaniah 3:14-17
Psalm 30:4-5
“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:4-5
Luke 1:46-47
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,'” Luke 1:46-47
Advent love Scripture
The most amazing thing of all is that because of His love for us, Jesus came to earth. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, He died on the cross in our place, and rose again on the third day. He loved us while we were dead in our sin.
Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
1 John 4:16
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16
Advent Scriptures for Christmas
Focusing on Advent Scriptures this holiday season will help you keep your mind on Jesus instead of becoming distracted by the commercialism of Christmas. What verses do you find especially meaningful? What other things do you do to keep your heart and mind focused on Jesus during the season? Please comment below.
You may also like:
- Top Advent Devotionals to Read This Christmas
- Top Secrets to Simplify Christmas This Year
- Everything You Need to Know About the Story of the Candy Cane
