Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - The Carols of Christmas: A Biblical Journey of Hope, Joy, and Peace

Series Introduction

Christmas is a special time for many. There is one thing that many have in common at Christmas, and that is either hearing, singing, humming, or playing Christmas carols. Have you ever thought where the words of these carols came from? Believe it or not, many came from the Bible, and with them come hope, joy and peace. Over the next seven days, we are going to spend some time delving into several well-known carols, and, using Scripture, unpack some beautiful truths.

Reflection: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Further reading: Matthew 2:3-6

A phrase that many of us may have said before is: “I promise to…”. I have had many people throughout my life say these words to me, only to find out that the ‘promise’ was short lived, and the promise was broken.

I suspect I am not alone.

Seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Micah spoke out God’s promise: the Prince of Peace would come from the land of Judah, in the little town of Bethlehem. We read in Matthew’s Gospel that on a quiet still night, in this town, God’s promise came true. Mary gave birth to a son — God’s Son — and his name was Jesus. We read that wise men travelled far and wide to come and worship him because they knew there was something very special, even heavenly about this child.

God’s word — from some seven hundred years earlier — came true. God kept his promise. Jesus was born in a little town called Bethlehem.

“O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together
Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth.”

“O Little Town of Bethlehem”, lyrics by Phillip Brooks, 1868

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that you are a promise keeper, a Father in Heaven we can believe in, trust in and rely on. Help me to put my hope and trust in you, to hold onto your promises and to stand firm. Amen.

Matthew 2:1-23

The Magi Visit the Messiah

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and 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.”

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18“A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.”

The Return to Nazareth

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

The Carols of Christmas: A Biblical Journey of Hope, Joy, and Peace

Day 1 of 7

NIV

Matthew 2:1-2

Days

Matthew 2:1-23