The genealogy of Christ shows that he was the descendant of Abraham and David, which is important because it fulfills God's promises to each of them. This was just one of many promises or prophecies about Christ's birth, showing that God went through a lot of trouble so people could know that Jesus was God's unique Messiah! Christ also came from a long line of sinners because he came for such people. This beginning of the gospel teaches that it's not about how good people are, but how gracious and merciful God is.

The birth of Jesus removes itself from being considered a myth by being deliberately lodged in history. This means that God really did come down in human form. There are several reasons that God did this: 1) to provide evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, fulfilling all of the prophecies along the way; and 2) to provide salvation for the human race as a substitute. This knowledge prompts the response of entrusting ourselves to God.

The birth of the savior occurs in an unspectacular fashion. Christ voluntarily gave up his perfect position for a life of humiliation, misunderstanding, and rejection. He takes this low standing to show people how desperate their situation is, wholly displaying that God loves us with an amazing love.

Magi learned of Jesus' birth and went out looking for him. After following a star, they found Jesus and gave him gifts. The visit of the Magi displays three ironic reactions to Christ's birth. With Herod, there was a paranoid hostility resulting from how he projected his own abusive power onto the one who came to save him. With the chief priests and scribes, there was an indifference that resulted from being too "good" to make time for the Messiah. Finally, the magi displayed a humble seeking. Even though they knew the least about the Messiah, they found him when they looked.