The Christmas We Didn't Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent

by David Mathis

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns and this has been particularly so in 2020. But the most unexpected and significant event in the history of the world actually happened over 2000 years ago when God himself became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. These Advent reflections, written by David Mathis, help us to lift our eyes to wonder of the incarnation and worship the one who came to save us and make our futures certain. Be amazed once more by the unexpected details of Jesus' unique birth and saving work with these short daily devotions and prayers, and renew your worship of our humble, generous and loving Savior.

Genres: Christmas, Christian, Christian Living, Devotional, Faith, Nonfiction, Theology

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

David Mathis (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando) is executive editor at desiringGod.org and an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. His seminary experience includes Reformed Theological Seminary and Bethlehem College & Seminary, where he now serves as adjunct professor.

Reviews

[Kristen Rosener · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Advent devotionals I have ever went through.

Many Advent books are cheesy and theologically shallow, focusing more on sentiment than the wonder of the incarnation. This year, I was on the hunt for a book that broke the mold, and David Mathis certainly did not disappoint. Somehow he was able to take the most popular and well-known portion of Scripture (the Christmas story) and deliver it in a way that was fresh, insightful, and theologically rich. I noticed new - and very unexpected - things that provoked worship all through the month of December.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, David Mathis shares twenty-four short devotions reflecting on the birth of Christ and what it means for us. Even though I read this book in October for the purposes of reviewing it, instead of spacing it out day by day over Advent season, I found it very meaningful and encouraging. Some devotions focus on the characters and events of the Nativity story alone, while others place this story within its larger Scriptural context, but all of the readings emphasize the miracle of the Incarnation, in which God came down in humility to meet with his people, bear their griefs and burdens, and save them from their sin. Each devotion ends with a brief reflective prayer, modeling how Christians can express their wonder and gratitude to God.

The Christmas We Didn't Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent is a great resource for individuals, couples, families, and groups. People in church small groups may enjoy reading this in tandem and discussing their thoughts, and even though Mathis wrote this book at an adult reading level, it could also be a great option for family devotions. The book does not include any adult content or references that would restrict younger people from reading it, and because each devotion is only a few pages long, they do not require a fully developed attention span.

Then again, many adults struggle with their attention spans as well, and one of the best things about this book is how concise it is. Mathis takes mysterious, grand concepts that people have written entire scholarly works about, and breaks them down into short, expressive readings that build on each other in the weeks to Christmas. People who feel overwhelmed with their daily responsibilities and holiday preparations can use this book as an opportunity to slow down, contemplate Christ, and worship every day, in addition to preparing their hearts for Christmas.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and fresh Advent daily devotional which I read together with my Cell Group at church – perhaps this year more than ever the hope, peace and joy of Advent takes on a new meaning. My favourite chapter was on the “missing” verses of “Hark The Herald Angels” sing with a suggestion of a bible study (with copious verse references) of the biblical inspiration behind one of the verses.
 

[Stacey Each · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Christmas. Read this advent book next year.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite Advent book I’ve read yet!

[Ben Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Advent book for 2020, 2021, and now 2023. After branching out last year and missing this one, I am gonna stick with Mathis' little book I think. Mathis gives brief, easy to follow chapters that cover more than you would "expect" perhaps within an Advent book. My favorite couple chapters deal with the reality that the "Wise Men" in Scripture were in reality pagan astrologers who were about as far from Bible Scholars as one could get...yet God welcomed them to the presence of the Savior.

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Christmas We Didn’t Expect” was exactly the Christmas devotional I would expect from writer David Mathis—down-to-earth, engaging, impactful. During the 24 days building up to Christmas, Mathis helps readers discover unexpected details about Christ’s incarnation that infuse our recognition of his coming with deeper understanding, meaning, and joy.

Through the readings, Mathis manages to weave in heady theological concepts in a way that even "non-theologians" like me are engaged and, dare I even say... dazzled?! I walked away from Day 5 (“The Word Became Flesh”) treasuring the unusual concept of “hypostatic union” like never before.

Mathis’ explanations also helped me to grasp why the virgin birth is not just a “Christmas miracle” shoehorned into the Christmas story to conjure up a little extra charm and wonder. Rather, it uniquely fulfills a desperate need. In Mathis’ words:

“...the virgin birth shows that humanity needs a saving that it cannot bring about for itself. The fact that the human race couldn't produce its own redeemer implies that its sin and guilt are profound and that its Savior must come from outside.”

I also found the material in this devotional to be a blessing to share with others. I was able to share Chapter 10 (“We Three Kings from Orient Aren’t”) with Cindy, a believing friend building connections with her coworker who is dabbling in the occult. The chapter takes a beautiful, humbling look at the unexpected people Christ came for, (particularly instructive for those of us who are accustomed to considering ourselves the Christian elite).

I was also able to read (and sing) through Chapter 4 (“What Child Is This”) with Susan, an unbelieving friend who is spending Christmas in the nursing home for the first time. She was impacted by several of the portions, and asked me to send it to her afterwards, so she could hear it again.

Just as I hope Susan will be able to meditate on the portion I sent her again and again, I look forward to reviewing this devotional as a whole again in future years, as I know it will continue to be fruitful.

~Jen

[Marguerite Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful to read this book for Advent to prepare our Hearts for Christmas and to fully understand why He came! I learned a lot in this!

By the way, I try to read different Advent book every Christmas.

I would encourage you to get this book for next Christmas to read with you family daily to keep on pointing them What Christmas is really all about? They will enjoy this book! Even though not a kind for little kids, but middle grade and upper level!

No Christmas songs on this one.

[Bob Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one of the best Advent-Christmas devotionals I have read. Mathis proves that it is good theology, good biblical hermeneutic that leads to good application. Mathis helps us remember all the surprising and unexpected ways God works through the incarnation. He masterfully took what can become so familiar and made it fresh.

But this was not finding novel, never before thought of insights. This is not some new, undiscovered message. Instead it is a faithful unpacking of what God has done in and for us in Christ. The last chapter sums it up. The incarnation was not some camouflage worn by Jesus or a costume He wore for thirty years. God Himself put on flesh and entered this world. He established a rescue mission and instead of sending another prophet, priest, or king, He Himself came to rescue us.

Christmas is permanent. He continues on fully God and fully human in a human body at God's right side interceding for us, keeping us secure. You see Christmas was not just about rescuing us and sending us on our way, but rescuing us to bring us to Himself.

This book is great as an Advent devotional or a devotion on the incarnation. I can't recommend this highly enough.

[B Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple way to prepare for Christmas. Reflecting on the fact that Jesus came as fully God and fully human, that he took on our flesh and our feelings- easy and hard- so that we may be rescued and glorify Him. Jesus took on our humanity and didn't lose it!!! What I have come to learn that if this Advent season or really any season in life is hard or unexpected, don't push God away but maybe think that God may have us right where He wants us. Jesus came to rally the weak. Jesus came as a baby, that dependent upon his parents, that vulnerable to the world. "It all began in such mildness and meekness. The one who would come from Heaven to save us had to truly be us."
p. 57, 91, 132; Isaiah 53:3-6
Thanks Rebecca for the book :)

[David Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reminders of GREAT BIBLICAL TRUTHS

During Advent 2020 I wanted to do something that reminded my family of God’s sovereignty in the midst of 2020’s craziness. I heard about Mathis’s The Christmas We Didn’t Expect and knew it was going to be good because of the title’s relevance and my familiarity with the author’s previous works. It didn’t let me down. The day 24 quote “The deepest significance of Christmas isn’t just that Jesus came to save us, but that he is who he is” is a great reminder.

[Tim Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Many Christmas devotionals are filled with sentimental, catchy Christmas cliches, etc. This one is filled with rock-solid theology and wonder on every page! Plenty of good application as well. It’s supposed to be read one chapter per day of Advent, but I couldn’t put it down!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to read Advent devotionals every year to keep my heart from getting sucked into the commercialism, materialism and cynicism. Mathis’ contribution is a good balance of solid theological truth balanced devotionally.

[Carly Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn’t anything wrong with this book. There were some chapter that I really loved, but most of them didn’t do much for me. Devotions/advent reading aren’t usually my favorite, because I want to learn so much more than can be explained in a couple of pages.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book to read as a devotional during the month of December. We started it by trying to read it outloud, but for us it is better suited to be read individually and pondered. I would highly recommend it.

[Jane Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advent readings with solid biblical foundation.

[emmalord · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet reminders this advent season! With great joy, we celebrate the coming of our savior! merry christmas:)

thank you @brooke for letting me borrow

[Leah Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this advent book! It definitely felt more theologically driven than other advent books I’ve read in the past, but I felt challenged by it!

[Adam Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few things are as certain in life as the publication of new Advent devotionals every year, but David Mathis clearly wrote this 2020 offering out of joy rather than out of the necessity of meeting a publisher’s deadline. Across 24 devotions from a mix of NT passages, we get a combination of nativity story, doctrine, and application, with each chapter ending with a prayer. And then there’s a great (boxing day?) epilogue on the ascension and ongoing humanity of Jesus! I appreciated the mix of content, and the inclusion of some less common themes. I think this would be best for Christians who are familiar with the Christmas story and the basic truths of the Incarnation, but want to reflect on these in a different way this year.

[Andrew Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I liked the emphasis on the realities of Christmas. Mathis talked about the realities of Mary's virgin birth - glorious, yes, but also very lowly and not glamorous. This inspires even more wonder in the glory of God despite the dichotomous nature of his Son.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas 2020 is going to be different. In The Christmas We Didn’t Expect, David Mathis shows us how the Christmas story is surprising, and reignites the wonder that God himself became one of us.

Distinct Joy

Mathis is Senior Teacher and Executive Editor for desiringGod.org. He is also a pastor, husband, and father. 24 daily readings make up this Advent devotional. Mathis writes with cutting clarity, and distinct joy.

This book is soaked in Scripture and thick with theology. No word is wasted. Mathis shows how the twists and turns of the coming Messiah unfold and play out in Scripture. He does not stick to the typical seasonal Bible passages, but he takes us all around the Old and New Testaments, with prophecies and promises - fulfillment and faithfulness.

Excitement and Wonder

I greatly appreciated the theological aspects of this devotional, and Mathis asks some interesting questions. For instance, did the virgin birth have to happen - meaning, did Jesus have to be born in this way? And why do we know so little about Christ’s childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood? Mathis answers these questions with precision and skill, excitement and wonder.

Each chapter ends with a prayer, and Mathis’ words help me direct my heart and mind to God. I admit that there are times when I’ve become too accustomed to Christmas, and this book helped me fall in love with, ground my faith in, and find my treasure in Jesus.

A Surprise and Celebration

When we seem to go through the same motions every Christmas season, this book gives us something strange. Something different. It’s the Christmas we didn’t expect, and it is a welcome surprise and celebration.

I received a media copy of The Christmas We Didn’t Expect and this is my honest review

[gretchen h! · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd time reading through. Some things that have stuck out to me most over the years:

✨ Our joy serves His glory.

💌 The call of love begins with a call to look-to look to the interests of others. To get outside our own needs and preferences, to look beyond ourselves, and to see and seek to meet the needs and wants of others. How might it transform our Christmas gatherings if we were to genuinely “look ... to the interests of others”, rather than be bent on recreating the perfect Christmas experiences from the movies or our memories?
📖 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

🎁 Because these Christians had God as their heavenly treasure, they were able to accept the loss of their earthly treasures in the calling of love.
And not just accept, but joyfully accept. They joyfully accepted the loss of their finite, earthly, limited plural possessions because they knew they had the infinite, heavenly, all-satisfying, singular possession, whose name is Jesus.

🎄The surpassing value of Christmas isn’t finally knowing ourselves to be saved but knowing the Jesus who saves us.

❤️‍🩹 O Father, in our sufferings and stress, grant that we do not ignore the great display of your love in sending your Son to die for us. Touch our souls this Christmas. Show us that real joy is possible, even in the midst of pain.

[Evan Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 24 entry advent devotional was both rich and dense, as well as simple and straight-forward. While I would not recommend this as the first Advent devotional you ever read, it will serve well a long time reader as it presents short, theologically rich truths that are not always brought forth.

While deep theological terms and concepts are used, the idea 3-5 pages a day should not be too difficult for anyone to handle.

I powered through it this year, with the intention of passing it on in time for Advent, but I look forward to reading it as it was designed in the future.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. We worked through it as a family, and while it’s not necessarily written for a younger audience, the overarching truths allowed for some discussion and teaching...and my kids now know at a basic level what the hypostatic union is!

Mathis did an excellent job of keeping an eternal focus—it’s not just about the birth of Christ, but it’s also about Christ’s death and resurrection and about his current position at the right hand of God as our High Priest.

This is a book I’ll likely read each advent season.

[Rachel Menke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most helpful Advent devotional I have read. I found myself truly meditating on the wonder of the Incarnation through Mathis’ helpful reflections on all aspects of the biggest event in history. The event we all think we know but is truly unexpected. If you want to truly worship and grow in your awe of Christ during Advent, you’ll find this book to be an ideal tool for such worship!

[Sheila Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure if this material is necessarily NEW, but it was presented in such a way that I am re-envisioning in a new way. I am so blessed to have had this book given to me as a gift from a beloved cousin. I believe the Lord spoke to her spirit and led her to send me this book.

I recommend it to any and all.

[Gary Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Christmas devotional book was a helpful aid in approaching Christmas. It was deep and thought provoking. It would have been more helpful if there were a few reflection questions at the end of each devotional which would allow for better application of very deep theology. However, I benefitted from learning some new things and being challenged in new ways.

[Samuel Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for Advent. The book is very easy to read. I think the Epilogue was what hit me most about the Incarnation for the Saviour and His presence with the Father. Some real food to consider and meditate on.
Would recommend it for anyone looking a devotional for Advent next year.

[Shannon Herzog · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas season can feel rushed and hectic. This short daily devotional (Dec 1-25) helped me quiet my heart, marvel more deeply at Christ, and better comprehend the miracle that is Christmas. Great to read with family/friends!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one Advent book to read!

Excellent broad view of the Incarnation in keeping with Biblical orthodoxy.
Leaves you comforted, convicted and worshipping.
The bite- size chunks are excellent for family devos!