Christmas Best Gift Ever, is Jesus Luke 2
Teacher: Merry Christmas, everyone! What is your favorite part about Christmas? Allow children to answer (presents, snow, food, Jesus!)
That’s right, we love gifts! Look at this wrapped box. We can guess what’s inside, maybe a toy or a game, but we won’t know the true value of the gift until we unwrap it and find out who it’s from and why they gave it to us. Christmas is all about the greatest gift that was ever given. The best gift of all isn’t found under a tree; it was found wrapped in a cloth and lying in a manger.
Today, we are unwrapping the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus is God with us!
Theme Verse: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” – Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
Unwrapping the Story – The Nativity
The Journey and the Stable (Luke 2:1-7)
Long ago, the Roman government announced a census—a count of the people—so everyone had to travel back to the town where their family was from. Our story begins with a man named Joseph and his wife, Mary. Mary was pregnant with a very special baby: the Son of God!
They traveled a long, dusty distance from Nazareth to the little town of Bethlehem. When they finally arrived, they were so tired, but all the inns—the hotels of the day—were completely full! Can you imagine being tired and there being no room for you? The Innkeeper was kind, though, and told them they could stay in the stable where the animals slept. It was messy and smelly, but it was shelter.
That very night, the special baby was born! Mary gently wrapped her newborn Son in strips of cloth (called swaddling clothes) and laid Him in a manger—that’s the feeding trough for the animals. This King was not born in a palace, but in a humble place. They named Him Jesus, just as the Angel Gabriel had told them.
The Announcement to the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)
Meanwhile, out in the dark fields surrounding Bethlehem, were some shepherds. They were simple, humble workers, watching over their sheep at night. Suddenly, a bright light shone all around them, and an Angel of the Lord appeared! The shepherds were terrified!
But the Angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord! And here is your sign: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Before they could even speak, the sky filled with a whole army of Angels, praising God and shouting: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!” Imagine the sight and the sound!
The Shepherds Go and Tell (Luke 2:15-20)
As soon as the Angels left, the shepherds didn’t wait. They said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!” They hurried off and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger, just as the Angel had said.
When they saw Him, they couldn’t keep quiet! They shared the news with everyone they met. Everyone who heard their story was amazed. The shepherds returned to their fields, praising God for everything they had seen and heard.
Bible Verse: LUKE 2:1-21
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
The True Meaning of the Gift
Teacher: The Christmas story is wonderful, but let’s go back to our theme verse: Emmanuel, God with us.
- Who is the gift? It’s Jesus! He is the Son of God who came to earth as a baby.
- What does “Emmanuel” mean? It means “God with us.”
Think about that word: With. When we are scared, we want someone with us. When we are happy, we want someone to celebrate with us. Before Jesus, God was big, holy, and sometimes felt far away. But because of Christmas, God came to be with us. He became human like us so He could understand our world, our hurts, and our joys.
He didn’t come to stay a baby. Jesus grew up to teach us about God, and ultimately, He gave the final gift: He died on the cross for our sins and rose again so that we could be with God forever!
The great gift of Christmas is the assurance that we are never alone. The King of the universe wanted to be with you so much that He left His throne in heaven to be born in a humble stable.
He is the best gift because:
- He is a Gift of Presence: Emmanuel, God is with us.
- He is a Gift of Love: He came to save us because He loves us.
- He is a Gift that Lasts Forever: His salvation gives us eternal life.
Activity & Application
Activity: The Greatest Gift Tag
Supplies: Cardstock cut into tag shapes, markers, glitter/stickers, hole punch, ribbon.
- Preparation: Hand out the gift tags.
- Front: Have the children write or draw a picture of the baby Jesus in the manger.
- Back (The Message): Have them write the word “EMMANUEL” boldly at the top. Below it, help them write the meaning: “God with us.”
- Discussion:
- Where can you hang this tag at home? (On the tree, on a door, on their backpack.)
- Every time you see it, what does it remind you of? (That Jesus is the best gift, and God is always with me.)
Application: Being a Shepherd (Sharing the News)
The shepherds didn’t keep the good news a secret; they went and told everyone!
Teacher: How can you be a shepherd and share the news about Jesus this Christmas?
- By being kind to everyone.
- By telling your family about the real Christmas story.
- By praying and thanking God for the gift of Jesus.
Conclusion & Prayer
Teacher: This Christmas, as you unwrap gifts, remember the greatest gift: Jesus. He is the reason we celebrate. He came to earth, not as a powerful king in a palace, but as a humble baby, to show us that He is Emmanuel, God with us. He wants to be with you every day, not just on Christmas.
(Lead the children in a prayer of thanks.)
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so much that you gave us the best gift ever—Your Son, Jesus. Thank you that He is Emmanuel, God with us. Help us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and share the good news with everyone we meet. In Jesus name! Amen.