The story of the birth of Jesus is one of hope and promise, showing how God sent His Son to the world. This summary and timeline of the birth of Jesus looks at the important moments, like when Mary was visited by the angel and when Jesus was born in a manger. You can find the full birth of Jesus Christ story in the Bible, especially in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This is the beginning of a story that changed the world forever.
The Prophecy + Mary and Joseph’s Encounter
The birth of Jesus was no accident. It was something God promised a long time ago. The prophet Isaiah had said that the Messiah would come to bring freedom and salvation (Isaiah 61:1). This promise came true when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a young woman from Nazareth who loved God. She was engaged to Joseph, a man from the family of King David. Back then, it was very important to stay a virgin before marriage, so when Mary was found to be pregnant, it caused a lot of trouble. Joseph, who was a good man, was planning to quietly break off their engagement so that she wouldn’t be publicly shamed.
But then an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child she’s carrying is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20-21). After waking up, Joseph obeyed the angel’s command, took Mary home as his wife, and did not consummate their marriage until after Jesus was born (Matthew 1:24-25). Essentially, Joseph trusted the angel and chose to marry Mary, even though it would bring shame to him.
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Mary and Elizabeth’s Meeting
Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was already six months pregnant with John the Baptist — a child who would later prepare the way for Jesus. Elizabeth had been barren for many years, but God opened her womb, and she was finally able to conceive. Zechariah, her husband, was a priest, and they were known and respected in their community. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth’s baby jumped in her womb, and filled with the Holy Spirit, she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:41-45). She knew that Mary was carrying the Lord and praised her for believing that God would keep His promises.
The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Then, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem for a census. While they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Even though His birth was humble, it was celebrated by angels, and shepherds came to see Him, just as they had been told (Luke 2:8-20).
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The Visit of the Wise Men and the Escape to Egypt
At the same time, wise men from the East saw a star and followed it to Jerusalem, asking where the “King of the Jews” was. When King Herod heard about this, he became very upset. He called together the chief priests and asked where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They told him it was Bethlehem, as the prophet had written ((Matthew 2:4-6; Micah 5:2). Herod secretly met with the wise men and asked them to find the child and report back, but they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They went home by another way (Matthew 2:7-12).
After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in another dream, telling him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill the child. Joseph obeyed and stayed in Egypt until Herod died, which fulfilled the prophecy that God would call His Son out of Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). When Herod died, Joseph was instructed by an angel to return to Israel. However, upon hearing that Herod’s son, Archelaus, was now ruling in Judea, Joseph was afraid to go there. Instead, they traveled to Galilee and settled in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:19-23).
Jesus’ Consecration and Simeon’s Prophecy
When Jesus was a baby, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple to be consecrated. Simeon, a righteous man, was waiting for the Savior. When he saw Jesus, he took Him in his arms and praised God. He said that Jesus would bring salvation to Israel and be a light to the nations. Simeon also told Mary that her heart would be pierced because of what would happen to Jesus (Luke 2:25-35).
Related Article: 12 Lessons from The Birth of Jesus
The Birth of Jesus: God’s Plan of Salvation
The birth of Jesus was the beginning of God’s plan to save the world. Through the events around His birth, we see how God kept His promises and protected Jesus as He grew. The birth wasn’t just about a baby in a manger; it was about God’s love and the hope He brought to everyone.
Timeline of Jesus’ Birth
- Prophecy and Announcement
- Isaiah’s Prophecy: The Messiah would come to bring salvation (Isaiah 61:1).
- Angel Gabriel visits Mary: Announcing that she will conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38).
- Joseph’s Dream
- Joseph learns in a dream that Mary’s pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit, and he marries her (Matthew 1:20-25).
- Mary Visits Elizabeth
- Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-45).
- Journey to Bethlehem
- Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for the census (Luke 2:1-5).
- Birth of Jesus
- Jesus is born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger (Luke 2:6-7).
- Angels announce His birth: A host of angels appears to shepherds, announcing the birth of the Savior (Luke 2:8-14).
- Shepherds visit Jesus: The shepherds go to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus, just as the angels had told them (Luke 2:15-20).
- Herod Learns of the Prophecy
- King Herod hears from the chief priests and scribes about the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4-6; Micah 5:2).
- Herod is troubled and secretly sends the wise men to Bethlehem to find the child (Matthew 2:7-8).
- Visit of the Wise Men
- Wise men from the East follow a star and visit Jesus, presenting gifts (Matthew 2:1-12).
- Flight to Egypt
- An angel warns Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape King Herod’s decree (Matthew 2:13-15).
- Return to Nazareth
- After Herod’s death, Joseph is told in a dream to return to Israel, settling in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23).
- Jesus’ Consecration in the Temple
- Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the temple, where Simeon prophesies about Jesus’ role in salvation (Luke 2:22-35).
