A Savior Is Born: From Heaven’s Throne to Bethlehem’s Manger

by William F. Cook III

During the Christmas season, even those who do not know Jesus love the lights and songs. And yet to many, this is all that Christmas is about. Even for Christians who genuinely love Jesus, the holiday bustle drowns out the true meaning of the Christmas is God’s yearly reminder for sinners to come out of the darkness and into the light.

A Savior Is Born by William F. Cook III offers a fresh, rigorous, and devotional exploration of the birth and infancy narratives of Jesus Christ. Positioned around the accounts detailed in Matthew and Luke, each chapter exposits the biblical text in a chronological order, exploring its exegetical meaning, Old Testament fulfillment, and ancient customs. In addition to exegetical commentary, each chapter concludes with pastoral reflections and a traditional Christian hymn of response.

Written by a pastor and biblical scholar, A Savior Is Born is intended for any Christian who wants to dive deep into the passages of Scripture that convey the Christmas story. It is also a valuable resource for church small groups and pastors who want to lead their congregations in a deeper understanding of the Advent season.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Kirsten Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

My church read this book for our Wednesday night D-Groups and it was phenomenal! Dr. Cook did an excellent job of exegeting the four different birth narratives found in the gospels. Excellent read to start preparing your heart for the upcoming Christmas season!

[Rocky Woolery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book on the meaning of Jesus' birth (and life). Written in an accessible style that could be read by upper elementary age kids and profitable for one who has studied the stories of the birth of Christ for years. I could thus see this making a great family devotional for the weeks leading up to Christmas, especially since Cook makes pointing people to the light and a relationship with Him an important concept in the book.

[Lianna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Cook—one of my former seminary professors—has written a book that encapsulates key wisdom and theological insight on the incarnation of Jesus. He traces each stage of Jesus’s birth story across all four Gospels, thoughtfully expounding on what each moment reveals about Christ Himself, its implications for our lives, and its place within the broader sweep of Scripture.

One of Dr. Cook’s greatest strengths is his clear, easy-flowing prose and his ability to draw out essential arguments and historical details without losing sight of the narrative as a whole. While much of the material covers familiar ground, it is presented with enough clarity, historical detail, and pastoral depth that I can see myself returning to this book again in the years to come.

[Tim Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really glad I chose to read this book during the Christmas season. Such great exegesis of God's Word throughout this work. Dr. Cook is always so faithful to the text and makes it very accessible for the reader. I was struck mostly by two big points he makes. The first is the joy and excitement themes of Luke's Gospel and the application for us to find joy again in Jesus coming in the flesh. The other one was talking about Jesus growing up where we don't have much material at all, though we see that even though He is the Son of God, he is obedient to His parents. Great work for all believers to read!

[Rob Sumrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Cook’s expert treatment of the Gospel narratives surrounding the annunciation and birth of Christ is written to an academic audience, but would be helpful for the informed layman. It might even substitute as a meaty alternative to many of the advent devotionals on the market today.

I especially appreciated the way he shared historical context for the birth of Christ, his deep, respectful handling of the Virgin Mary, and his repeated confidence in the biblical narratives. This book belongs on the shelves of pastors and teachers alike.

[Ryan Storch · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Pastor, I would highly recommend this book to congregants to go through the Birth of Christ.