Not a Silent Night: Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem

by Adam Hamilton, Sally Hoelscher (Editor)

Imagine Jesus from Mary’s point of view—proud of her son, in awe of his gifts and mission, guided by love for him as a person and so much more. In this book, Adam Hamilton begins at the end, with Mary at the crucifixion and resurrection; travels back in time as she witnesses his life and ministry; and ends at the beginning, with the Christ child born in a stable, Mary’s beautiful baby. This year, experience Advent and Christmas with Mary. The five sessions Beginning with the End 2. The Piercing of Mary’s Soul 3. Amazed, Astounded, and Astonished 4. Mary, Full of Grace 5. It Was Not a Silent Night

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas, Religion, Christian, Spirituality, Christian Non Fiction, Church

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2014

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed, what for me, was a fresh take on Christmas.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely and small read. I love any book that delves into Mary's perspective on things and trying to grasp what she was probably thing during all of these times in Jesus' life.

I loved that it started backwards too and went from Mary's death to the birth of Jesus. It just made everything easier to understand in ways.

It also wasn't a book that was too preachy which can happen with religious non fiction books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book intrigued me for a few reasons. First, I love the idea of focusing on Advent through Mary's eyes. Second, it's NOT written by a Catholic, and I haven't seen a lot of focus on Mary in non-Catholic sectors.

I am a Catholic, and a bit of a "Mary geek," so I was a little leery of this book, but what I found was that it is, in a word, awesome. Hamilton takes an approach that's different than what you would expect: instead of focusing on Christmas, he starts with the Crucifixion and goes back in time with each chapter.

You could read this book for an Advent devotional, you could read it for a Christmas devotional, you could read it just to educate yourself and grow in devotion. Hamilton is in no way preachy and he stays true to both scripture AND tradition (which is no small thing).

Highly recommended. I'll be rereading it and sharing it!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

My small group's Advent read. I'd give the concept - looking back at Jesus' life through Mary's eyes - five stars, but Hamilton's execution was just ok, so three stars overall. I thought he repeated himself too much - not necessarily saying exactly the same thing over and over, but the same idea over and over. After reading Barbara Brown Taylor and getting thoughtful, insightful and beautiful words page after page, maybe my expectations were too high.

[Bailey McFerren · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Tis the season to learn about why we have so much to celebrate this Christmas, even in times like these. Adam Hamilton breaks down Mary’s story to illuminate how it might not have been a silent night for her. Her story is raw and she faced a lot of hardship as the mother of Jesus. This book will get your mind and heart in the right place to celebrate the reason for the season.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used as our Sunday school Advent study, this was a great little book that gave us new eyes - those of a mother - Mary's. Love the way Hamilton began with the cross and worked backward to the manger.

[Melva Clark]

Thought provoking.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread. ❤️

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, simple read getting to tell about Mary and how things may have been for her during, before and after Jesus's birth.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of moving backward through the story of Jesus from Mary’s perspective. However, it didn’t turn out to be as “fresh” a take as I thought it would be. I really enjoy Hamilton’s style and have gotten a lot out of his studies in the past, but there just isn’t enough known about so much of Mary’s life to make a book like this break any new ground. The book was comprised of a lot of guessing how Mary must have felt about different events, but it doesn’t take an extensive background in theological studies to deduce anything that Hamilton comes up with in this one. It was the same thing chapter after chapter, though I did find the chapter about Jesus in the temple to be interesting. I’ll keep reading Hamilton for sure, but this one isn’t a favorite.

[Karen P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my Sunday School class for Advent. I found the idea of going backwards and thinking about Mary’s perspective intriguing. I thought the first two chapters did that pretty well, but the final three not as much a look through Mary’s eyes. I also was a bit baffled about why the 4th chapter was the Annunciation and the 5th(final) chapter was the birth- so not exactly chronological looking back. I actually think ending with the Annunciation would have been a good choice and wish the author had done that. One of the Sunday school leaders for the first two weeks of the study emphasized the humanness of the story. I could get into that but felt that that was where the author in the later chapters fell away.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not long after the death of my son, I desperately want to "hear" a word from others that had lost a child. Chief among those others was Mary. What did Mary have to say about the death of her son? This text delves into what Mary probaby thought regarding events in her life; things heard, things revealed and things experienced. This book touches the subject through review of her life experiences starting with the death of her son back to his birth. From "why?" to the hope of resurrection we learn that after pain and darkness comes a peace, a joy and a love never known or experienced before. This is an easy read that is well worth the time spent absorbing it.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton’s book provides interesting conjectures about the unknown aspects of the Blessed Mother Mary’s life, which is all anyone can provide, because the Bible reveals so little about her. In addition, history itself has left scant sources attesting to her life. Therefore, your guesses about Mary can be as valid as anyone, and so Hamilton’s book may or may not offer the insight you seek about how to interpret, perceive, and make sense of Mary. I think reading the Scriptures with an open and creative mind would make for a fulfilling reward, and Hamilton’s book can offer guidance in developing an explanation of the unaccounted for gaps in Mary’s life in which the Bible is silent.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of a group study at church, and it was the perfect Advent study. I always appreciate Adam Hamilton’s way of explaining Christianity and theology. He has a way of truly bringing hope through God’s Word. I was wanting to really spend the Advent season in prayer, reflection, and devotions, and this book helped me do that. Seeing the Christmas story through Mary’s eyes gave me a whole new perspective on the Christmas story. This is a great little read for anyone looking to spend some extra time in thought and prayer during the Advent season.

[Gretta Hug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paraphrasing from the book:
Christmas = the birth of the One who: came to teach us how to live, gave the gift of salvation and brought hope with resurrection.
This look at the life of Mary (in reverse order) was a great read. One of the key concepts I took from it is that Mary learned God doesn’t promise a perfect peaceful life. Even Mary, deemed “God favored and grace filled”, didn’t have a life free of challenges and most tragically had to have witness her son’s death on the cross.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the perspective of Mary and tells the Christmas story backwards. It allows us to understand why she is important and not just a vessel for the Virgin Birth, and we learn lessons from her life that can help us live our lives in a more calm, accepting, loving manner. This is the perfect book to read during the busy Advent season because it's short and meaningful at the same time.

[Debbie Babbage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book wasn’t written as well as other studies he’s done, I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of looking at the Advent season through Mary’s eyes. Starting with the resurrection and working backwards was unique and excellent. I can see how it would inspire some great discussion in a small group setting.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary mother of Jesus was the person closest to Him during his time on earth. This book follows Mary, in reverse order from her death backwards to the beginnings with her encounter with the angel Gabriel. Insights into her relationship with Jesus gives the reader better understanding of the hows and whys of not just Christmas, but Jesus and his continuing impact on the people who follow him.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read another book by Hamilton so I wanted this for Advent 2020. I have often thought of how Mary felt when the Angel appeared to her and how she felt throughout her life.
The book does a good job of nudging the reader to think more about the Christmas story.

The Crown of Thorns in the Manger on the cover put me off. I prefer one liturgical season at a time.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a bit weary when people try and look at what someone in ancient times was thinking. But, this was well done. Speaking from personal stories and scholarly study, this viewpoint did allow a revealing of new insights to me that really changed my thoughts on some points. I really called a lot "myth" that he made me see as closer to real stories. Good stuff.

[Rachel Abarca-Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be more of a historical fiction narrative, which it was not. It is a teaching narrative, but begs of readers to look at Christmas through a different lens. While it wasn’t what I expected, I do expect to reread it every Advent season.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of ideas to look at as you go through advent. They are from the perspective of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I enjoyed the book, however I felt that there was a little more preaching than sharing Mary's perspective in some sections of the book.

[Emma Breeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

My church young adult group did this as an advent study one year, and it blew all of our minds.

[NancyL Luckey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of Adam Hamilton's books.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first couple of chapters were intense, and the last were heartwarming. I'm so glad our Pastor selected this for an Advent Devotional.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advent Study book. Perfect for 7 a.m. classes.

[Jaye Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective but didn't really catch my interest. We did this as an advent study in Sunday School. I liked Adam Hamilton's book on Paul better.

[Carol Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good devotional thoughts for the Christmas season.

[Bud Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK... I think Hamilton's companion book The Journey is much better. This short devotional book is easy to read, but somewhat elementary in its content.

[Guthrie Veech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I will write my Christmas Eve sermons from ideas in this book.