The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus looked like when He was born, nor does it say if people saw anything unusual about Him as an infant (such as a halo). Later on, artists often added a halo to their pictures of Jesus to signify His holiness and uniqueness.

What the Bible does tell us, however, is that Jesus’ birth was absolutely unique — for He was born of a virgin. This had been predicted centuries before, and it became a reality when the angel announced to Mary that she would be the bearer of God’s Messiah. This filled Mary with amazement — but her response to the angel showed the depth of her commitment to God’s will: “I am the Lord’s servant…. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

But more than that, Jesus’ birth was unique because of who He was: God’s only Son, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins. He wasn’t simply a good person; He was God in human flesh! As God declared to Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus (a word meaning ‘the Lord saves’), because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

As we approach Christmas in just a few days, what does Jesus Christ mean to you? Don’t let the tinsel and busyness of Christmas crowd out its true meaning, but open your heart and life to Jesus Christ and — like the shepherds on that first Christmas night — worship Him and give Him your life.