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Rescuing Christmas: The Search For Joy That Lasts
A short, witty, engaging and faithful book showing how the surprising meaning of the first Christmas gives us what we are all seeking—a real joy that really lasts.
- GenresChristian
63 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Carl Laferton
78 books17 followersCarl Laferton is Senior Editor at TGBC. He is author of Original Jesus, Promises Kept and Christmas Uncut, and series editor of the God's Word For You series. Before joining TGBC, he worked as a journalist, a teacher, and pastored a congregation in Hull. Carl is married to Lizzie and they have two children, Benjamin and Abigail. He studied history at Oxford University.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2017
The author tells us that while Christmas is a day of great enjoyment for many, sometimes he just finds himself wanting to get through Christmas day intact. Face it, the Christmas season can be both joyful and stressful. Christmas can also be a very sad time, reminding you of who you’ve lost or who you’ve never had, or of what you’d hoped to achieve or change this year but never did. Perhaps this year, for very good reason, you’re simply trying to “get through Christmas”. In this short book, he asks us to imagine whether Christmas could be rescued from the stress or sadness of just getting through Christmas. He asks us to imagine a joy that lasts and endures past Christmas. He tells us that indeed, Christmas does offer that kind of joy. He tells us that the people who experienced the first Christmas and understood its meaning found a joy that did not fade, and we can as well.
The author writes that if we get the meaning of the first Christmas this Christmas season, then we will get the feeling of joy, and find that it is a feeling that lasts. That’s the aim of this book, in which he focuses primarily on what happened after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
The author tells us about the Magi who came from the east came to Judea. He
states that the gifts they gave to the Christ child tell us why the meaning of
Christmas can be summed up in the word “rescue”. He tells us that the gift of gold
tells us what we are rescued from. The gift of frankincense tells us what we are
rescued for. And the gift of myrrh tells us what we are rescued by. The author
writes that these gifts tell you everything you need to get the message of
Christmas, and to feel overjoyed by the message of Christmas, just
as the Magi did.
The author states that we are rescued from our rejection of God, we are rescued
for relationship with God, and we are rescued by the death of God. He tells us
that when we understand that the meaning of Christmas is rescue - a rescue from
our rejection of God, a rescue for relationship with God, a rescue by the death of
God – then we begin to see that true joy is found not in getting to Christmas, or in
getting through Christmas, but in getting Christmas—in grasping its meaning and
experiencing its feeling.
This small book is priced such that you can by multiple copies to give to friends
and family, and I would encourage you to do just that this Christmas season.
The author writes that if we get the meaning of the first Christmas this Christmas season, then we will get the feeling of joy, and find that it is a feeling that lasts. That’s the aim of this book, in which he focuses primarily on what happened after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
The author tells us about the Magi who came from the east came to Judea. He
states that the gifts they gave to the Christ child tell us why the meaning of
Christmas can be summed up in the word “rescue”. He tells us that the gift of gold
tells us what we are rescued from. The gift of frankincense tells us what we are
rescued for. And the gift of myrrh tells us what we are rescued by. The author
writes that these gifts tell you everything you need to get the message of
Christmas, and to feel overjoyed by the message of Christmas, just
as the Magi did.
The author states that we are rescued from our rejection of God, we are rescued
for relationship with God, and we are rescued by the death of God. He tells us
that when we understand that the meaning of Christmas is rescue - a rescue from
our rejection of God, a rescue for relationship with God, a rescue by the death of
God – then we begin to see that true joy is found not in getting to Christmas, or in
getting through Christmas, but in getting Christmas—in grasping its meaning and
experiencing its feeling.
This small book is priced such that you can by multiple copies to give to friends
and family, and I would encourage you to do just that this Christmas season.
February 6, 2024
Book 153 - Carl Laferton - Rescuing Christmas
I literally pulled this book off the shelf by mistake…looking for another and oh my…I thought I knew the story of Christmas…well buckle up folks…cos this short 60 odd page book…blew me away
The Magi…from the East…the Bible never says how many there were just that there were three gifts…cool…but why those gifts…Laferton goes such a long way to begin to explain or certainly play around the edges of these gifts…
Gold - a gift fit for a king…in this case the King of Kings…Laferton gives a wonderfully witty comparison of the British PM, the US President and the Russian President deciding to go to some tiny little nation with gifts because a child was born to be leader…I mean ?? What ?? The Magi did because the historical texts told them this special child would be born …they wanted to acknowledge this …and more importantly meet Him…see Him…what a journey that must have been ? Wow. A King who would not only lead His people…but rescue them…die for them.
Frankincense - a sweet smelling perfume…God is here. It points to God, as Man, dwelling in that place. Our God…arriving on Earth…it prepares the place where Jesus will reside…and points us to how when He leaves and is crucified He goes to prepare His place…His home…for us…over two thousand years in the making…wow…a personal relationship...a personal friendship with God. Christmas rescues us for this…a personal and intimate message. He came to us.
Myrrh - a gift of pain relief…hmmmm….in extreme circumstances and for embalming bodies after death. I wonder what Mary’s thoughts were…. “Ahmmm….thanks…seriously ? What ?” But of course this is the gift for the future because the ‘ending’ is…Jesus is crucified…He needs to die…for the story to be complete.
We need the reality of the three gifts to help us remember
He is King
He is preparing a home for us
He died for us to join Him there
Merry Christmas
I literally pulled this book off the shelf by mistake…looking for another and oh my…I thought I knew the story of Christmas…well buckle up folks…cos this short 60 odd page book…blew me away
The Magi…from the East…the Bible never says how many there were just that there were three gifts…cool…but why those gifts…Laferton goes such a long way to begin to explain or certainly play around the edges of these gifts…
Gold - a gift fit for a king…in this case the King of Kings…Laferton gives a wonderfully witty comparison of the British PM, the US President and the Russian President deciding to go to some tiny little nation with gifts because a child was born to be leader…I mean ?? What ?? The Magi did because the historical texts told them this special child would be born …they wanted to acknowledge this …and more importantly meet Him…see Him…what a journey that must have been ? Wow. A King who would not only lead His people…but rescue them…die for them.
Frankincense - a sweet smelling perfume…God is here. It points to God, as Man, dwelling in that place. Our God…arriving on Earth…it prepares the place where Jesus will reside…and points us to how when He leaves and is crucified He goes to prepare His place…His home…for us…over two thousand years in the making…wow…a personal relationship...a personal friendship with God. Christmas rescues us for this…a personal and intimate message. He came to us.
Myrrh - a gift of pain relief…hmmmm….in extreme circumstances and for embalming bodies after death. I wonder what Mary’s thoughts were…. “Ahmmm….thanks…seriously ? What ?” But of course this is the gift for the future because the ‘ending’ is…Jesus is crucified…He needs to die…for the story to be complete.
We need the reality of the three gifts to help us remember
He is King
He is preparing a home for us
He died for us to join Him there
Merry Christmas
December 28, 2017
An incredibly engaging, quick read that expands on the story of the Magi from the Nativity. I really enjoyed Lafferton's writing style. His illustrations were spot on and funny. He writes with the charm of a friend sitting down for a cup of coffee. I wish I had read this before Christmas so I could have shared a few copies before the Holidays.
December 30, 2017
Engaging and amusing regarding a significant issue. For one who accepts the authority of scripture it is an excellent read. For those who do not accept the veracity of the nativity narratives it will give food for thought.
August 17, 2025
Carl looks at the first Christmas through the meaning of the gifts of the Magi in a gentle easy to read style full of humour and accessibility. A great book to unpack the gospel threads and it even has a footnote on the probability of the virgin birth.
December 13, 2025
Brilliant book. Short, punchy, and totally suitable to hand to an unbeliever at Christmas. And yet, thoroughly edifying for the Christian to be reminded of the joy we possess in our relationship with Jesus.
No idea why there is a penguin on the cover though.
No idea why there is a penguin on the cover though.
January 12, 2026
I was given this book just before Christmas by a Christian organisation. I thought I would read it and see what I thought. Very interesting although still don't believe some of the stories.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews