12 Days Before Christmas Series: 1

2 minute read time

2025-12-13

This is the season of the year when we discover (or refamiliarize ourselves) with the story of the birth of Jesus. You may be surprised to learn that this story does not take place on a single night in Bethlehem. In fact, while many imagine the events unfolding in one night, the biblical accounts actually describe a series of events spread out over time and across different places. The story took place over three or four years in settings as diverse as the metropolis of Jerusalem, a sleepy sheep town outside of the palace of a foreign king, a multi-cultural, multi-lingual fish town, and two far away countries that had been mortal enemies of Israel centuries earlier.

Whether you grew up hearing these stories every year or are exploring them for the first time, I invite you to join me in looking at them with fresh eyes.

Some families spend the first 24 days of December reading the entire book of Luke, one chapter a day. Over the next few days, I’ll write about some things that we frequently miss when we read the Christmas Story – things that might mess with your traditions.

(Spoiler Alert: Many of our favorite Christmas hymns and carols are just wrong. As a worship leader it pains me to say, if you are concerned with accurate theology, stick with scripture instead of the hymnal.)

If I’ve piqued your interest, check back every day between now and Christmas and discover some of the things that have surprised me – some that I’ve even discovered this year. And if you are interested in reading through the entire story as it unfolded over 2000 years ago, follow along with the list of scriptures below.

Matthew 1:1-17 – Jesus’s Genealogy (through Joseph)

Luke 3:23-38 – Jesus’s Genealogy (through Mary)

Luke 1:5-25 – Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

Luke 1:26-38 – Birth Announcement of Jesus to Mary

Luke 1:39-45 – Mary and Elizabeth

Luke 1:46-56 – Mary’s Song

Luke 1:57-66 – Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Song

Matthew 1:18-25 – Birth Announcement of Jesus to Joseph

Luke 2:1-7 – The Census of Caesar Augustus and the Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:8-21 – The Shepherds and the Angel Armies

Luke 2:22-24 – Jesus’s Presentation at the Temple

Luke 2:25-35 – The Prophecy of Simeon

Luke 2:36-40 – The Testimony of Anna

Matthew 2:11-12 – The Magi from the East and King Herod

Matthew 2:13-18 – The Escape to Egypt and the slaughter of Innocents

Matthew 2:19-23 – Joseph, Mary, and Jesus return to Nazareth

Tomorrow: Matthew and Luke Give a Nod to Moses