December 24 - Jesus Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
Baby Jesus reminds us that God is with us. Jesus was called Immanuel, "God is with us", and fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 7. |
December 23 - Shepherds Micah 5:2 Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-6
The shepherds looked for baby Jesus in Bethlehem shortly after he was born. Micah, hundreds of years earlier, predicted that a ruler would be born in a little town of Bethlehem. |
December 22 - Joseph Jeremiah 33:15 Matthew 1:1,16-25
The hammer and say remind us that Joseph was Jesus' earthly father. Joseph was a carpenter. He was a descendant of King David. |
December 21 - Mary Isaiah 7:14 Luke 1:26-38 Luke 3:23-34
The lily is a symbol of purity. It had been told by the prophets that the savior would be born of a virgin. Mary was a descendant of David and Abraham. |
December 20 - Isaiah Isaiah 6:1-10 John 12:37-41
Isaiah saw Jesus in all his glory and described tongs with a piece of hot coal touching his lips to show that he was forgiven. Isaiah asked God to use him but most rejected his message. The tongs remind us that Jesus' message is about forgiveness. |
December 19 - Jonah Jonah 1:1-17 Matthew 12:38-41
Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a big fish. Jesus used this story to described how long he would be in the tomb. December 18 - David Isaiah 40:11, 1 Sam 16:1,10-13 Jn 10:11-16, 1 Peter 2:25, Rev 7:17
David was a young shepherd boy when God made him king. Jesus is our forever king. The staff reminds us that he is also the good shepherd, calling us back to him. The staff reminds us of this. David is a great grandfather to Jesus. December 17 - Samuel 2 Sam 7:16 Is 9:6-7 Ez 37:24-25 Acts 13:20-23
Samuel anointed Saul when God's people asked for King. Later he anointed David. The crown reminds us that God made a promise to David that his rule would never end. This is fulfilled in King Jesus, David's descendant, who reigns forever. December 16 - Ruth Ruth 4:13-17 Matthew 1:1-5
Ruth, a foreign widow, believed in one true God. Ruth met Boaz when she gleaned grain form his fields. Boaz later married Ruth and saved her from a life of poverty. Just as Boaz was Ruth's savior, Jesus later came to save us. The grain reminds us of this. Ruth was a great-grandmother of Jesus. December 15 - Gideon Judges 6:11-16, 7:1-8, 7:15-22 John 1:46, 7:40-53
Gideon was an unlikely hero, yet God used him to defeat the Midianites. The jar and the torch remind us of that. Another uniquely hero was Jesus. He was not the hero that the Jews expected in the coming Messiah. December 14 - Rahab Joshua 2:1-21, Joshua 6:22-25 Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:31
Rahab believed in the one true God. The walls of Jericho fell when Joshua's men blew their horns. The horn reminds us that God protected her. Rahab is listed as a great-grandmother of Jesus. December 13 - Moses Numbers 21:4-9 John 3:14-15
While they were wandering in the desert, the Israelites were bitten by snakes. God told them that if they looked at a bronze snake on a pole, they would live. The bronze snake reminds us that Jesus was lifted up on a cross. He died so that those who look to Him may have eternal life. December 12 - Ten Commandments Ex 20:1-17, Deut 6:1-5 Mk 12:29-31 Romans 13:9
We show Jesus that we love him by obeying him and treating others as He would treat them. Even though we disobey him when we break the Commandments, Jesus lived a sinless life so we may be forgiven. December 11 - Bread from Heaven Ex 16:4, Ex 16:14-15 John 6:31-35, John 6:48-51
God provided for His people. While they were in the wilderness He provided manna, bread from Heaven. Jesus is the true bread, sent from Heaven, to bring us eternal life. December 10 - Passover Exodus 12:17-27 Matthew 26:26-28
Jesus explained to them that he was replacing the passover lamb. The shedding of his blood would forgive the sins of man and give eternal life. December 9 - God's Name Exodus 3:14 John 8:58, Hebrews 13:8
"Believe me," said Jesus, "I am who I am long before Abraham was anything." Jesus applied the same name God had given himself when he spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The burning bush reminds us that Jesus is the eternal God. December 8 - Joseph Genesis 45:5, Genesis 50:20 Romans 8:28, Acts 3:13-15
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, yet God ultimately made him a leader. God used him to save his brothers and their families from starvation. The coat serves as a reminder that Jesus was a savior to those who betrayed him. Jesus is the savior of all people. December 7 - Jacob Genesis 28:12 John 1:51
Jacob dreamed of a ladder teaching from Heaven to Earth with angels walking on it. Jesus refers to Jacob's dream when he described how he is the connection between Heaven and Earth. Jacob is a great-grandfather of Jesus. December 6 - Isaac Genesis 22:1-14 Hebrews 11:17-19, John 3:16
The faith of Abraham is clearly shown in his willingness to give up Isaac, his only son, before the ram was provided as a substitute by God. Isaac is a great-grandfather of Jesus. December 5 - Abraham Genesis 12:1&2, Genesis 15:5&6 Romans 4:18-25, Galatians 3:6-9
Abraham had great faith. He is noted as a great-grandfather of Jesus. The starry sky serves as a reminder, that as believers, we are children of Abraham and blessed along with him. December 4 - Noah Genesis 9:8-13 Hebrews 9:15
God made a covenant with Noah. He used the rainbow as a sign of this promise - He would never flood the earth again. Through Jesus Christ, God has offered a covenant of eternal life to us. The rainbow reminds us that God saved Noah and salvqtio is offered to us through Jesus Christ. December 3 - Original Sin Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-6 Romans 5:12-21
The fruit reminds us of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden. We remember that we have all sinned. Jesus offers forgiveness from our sin and gives us new life in Him. December 2 - Creation Genesis 1:1
Jesus is the Word of God through whom all things were created. The earth symbol reminds us that everything was created through Jesus to bing honor and glory to him. December 1 - Jesse Isaiah 11:1, Jer 23:5 Matt 1:1-6, 15:8-12
Jesse is listed at a great-grandfather of Jesus in the book of Matthew. It was prophesied that a righteous branch would come from the lineage of Jesse. The stump reminds us of the promise that God fulfilled through the family of Jesse. |