With Christmas just a few days away, all the preparations should be complete. The tree has been decorated, the stockings hung, the presents wrapped, and all the dinners planned. Amidst all these arrangements, take a moment to pause and reflect on the Christmas story.
This Christmas, we’ve been encouraging Christians around the world to look closer at God’s Word. Because when we study it, reflect on it, and meditate on it, we can get fresh insight and discover new meaning within this familiar story.
To help kick-start your reflection as you look closer at the Christmas story, we’ve compiled 300 of the most poignant, reverent, and inspiring reflections from across Christian history into a collection of quotations and prayers. Here are five quotes from this collection to help inspire meaningful reflection during this season:
All That Can Be Seen of God Is in Christ
John 10:30; 14:9; Hebrews 10:20; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 25
Themes: Divinity of Jesus, Humanity of Jesus, Scripture
You have only to read the Gospels, and to look with willing eyes, and you shall behold in Christ all that can possibly be seen of God. It is veiled in human flesh, as it must be; for the glory of God is not to be seen by us absolutely. It is toned down to these dim eyes of ours; but the Godhead is there, the perfect Godhead in union with the perfect manhood of Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever and ever.
—Charles Spurgeon
Born God of God and Man of Man
John 1:1–5, 14–18; 14:6
Themes: Mercy of God, Divinity of Jesus, Humanity of Jesus, Truth, Union with Christ
In Christ the very Mercy has descended to sinners, the very Truth to those that are astray, the very Life to those that are dead: so that that Word, which is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father, might take our humble nature into union with His Godhead, and, being born God of God, might also be born Man of man.
—Leo the Great
Christ Still Comes to Work the Salvation of Souls
Psalm 74:12; 1 Peter 1:9
Themes: Holy Spirit, Birth of Jesus, Salvation
As He once came visibly in the body to work our salvation in the midst of the earth, so does He come daily invisibly and in spirit to work the salvation of each individual soul.
—Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
Keep in Constant View Christ’s Divinity and Humanity
Matthew 1:18–25; 28:18; John 2:25; 10:28–29; 14:1, 27; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15–16
Themes: Divinity of Jesus, Humanity of Jesus
Would you have a strong foundation for your faith and hope? Then keep in constant view your Savior’s divinity. He in whose blood you are taught to trust is the Almighty God. All power is His in heaven and earth. None can pluck you out of His hand. If you are a true believer in Jesus, let not your heart be troubled or afraid.
Would you have sweet comfort in suffering and trial? Then keep in constant view your Savior’s humanity. He is the man Christ Jesus, who lay on the bosom of the virgin Mary, as a little infant, and knows the heart of a man. He can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities. He has Himself experienced Satan’s temptations. He has endured hunger. He has shed tears. He has felt pain. Trust Him at all times with all your sorrows.
—J. C. Ryle (1816–1900)
May We Be More Like Him Each Christmas
Ephesians 4:15; 1 John 3:2
Themes: Happiness, Holiness, Humility, Birth of Jesus, Love
May each Christmas, as it comes, find us more and more like Him, who as at this time became a little child for our sake—more simple-minded, more humble, more holy, more affectionate, more resigned, more happy, more full of God.
—John Henry Newman (1801–1890)
For more Christmas reflections and sharing slides, check out 300 Christmas Quotations and Prayers today.