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The Christ of Christmas
The Christmas story evokes many touching images. Halos, fresh hay, shepherds carrying newborn lambs, and young motherhood all bring tears to the eyes of Christmastime churchgoers.
But the Christmas story is more than sentimental.
It is powerful.
It deals with real people.
It involves pain.
It is one of the most strikingly unusual stories in all of history.
And its main emphasis is not on Jesus' infancy, but on his deity—and why deity took the form of an infant.
In this collection of Christmas insights and messages, Dr. James Montgomery Boice emphasizes the incredible implications of one of our favorite true stories.
The Christmas story has deep meaning today, not merely as a nice bedtime story for children or a narrative in a choral concert, but as a foundation point of your salvation and your new life in Jesus—the omnipotent, omniscient, righteous Christ of Christmas.
But the Christmas story is more than sentimental.
It is powerful.
It deals with real people.
It involves pain.
It is one of the most strikingly unusual stories in all of history.
And its main emphasis is not on Jesus' infancy, but on his deity—and why deity took the form of an infant.
In this collection of Christmas insights and messages, Dr. James Montgomery Boice emphasizes the incredible implications of one of our favorite true stories.
The Christmas story has deep meaning today, not merely as a nice bedtime story for children or a narrative in a choral concert, but as a foundation point of your salvation and your new life in Jesus—the omnipotent, omniscient, righteous Christ of Christmas.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1983
8 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
James Montgomery Boice
268 books100 followersJames Montgomery Boice was a Reformed theologian, Bible teacher, and pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death in 2000. He was also president and cofounder of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, the parent organization of The Bible Study Hour on which Boice was a speaker for more than thirty years.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 17, 2022
December 2022
This was the perfect selection for our Advent book study. What rich, deep conversion we had as we discussed topics such as the virgin birth, the geneologies in the gospels, those who missed Christmas, those who found Christmas and the "little people of Christmas". We were caused to ponder the glory of God's indescribable gift, Christ Jesus, who brought heaven to earth and lifted earth to heaven.
This is my review after the first reading:
Honestly, my hope in reading this book at Christmastime was wrapped up in a motivation and desire to celebrate more thoughtfully the Christ of Christmas and that longing was deeply met in the moments of quiet reading stolen away from the crazy busyness of the season.
But surprised I was by the incredible depth of theological riches Boice packs into less than 200 pages!
"Christmas cries out,'Joy to the world!" Reading about the people of Christmas and the recorded words spoken about the birth of the Christ Child etched in my heart the significance of each detail and produced in me a sense of joy and peace.
I highly recommend this book, to be read at any season of the year!
This was the perfect selection for our Advent book study. What rich, deep conversion we had as we discussed topics such as the virgin birth, the geneologies in the gospels, those who missed Christmas, those who found Christmas and the "little people of Christmas". We were caused to ponder the glory of God's indescribable gift, Christ Jesus, who brought heaven to earth and lifted earth to heaven.
This is my review after the first reading:
Honestly, my hope in reading this book at Christmastime was wrapped up in a motivation and desire to celebrate more thoughtfully the Christ of Christmas and that longing was deeply met in the moments of quiet reading stolen away from the crazy busyness of the season.
But surprised I was by the incredible depth of theological riches Boice packs into less than 200 pages!
"Christmas cries out,'Joy to the world!" Reading about the people of Christmas and the recorded words spoken about the birth of the Christ Child etched in my heart the significance of each detail and produced in me a sense of joy and peace.
I highly recommend this book, to be read at any season of the year!
January 15, 2016
Great book that gives more detailed information of the virgin birth and the people involved in the Christmas story. This is a compilation of some of his Christmas sermons, but they flow wonderfully together without repetition. I highly recommend this book any time of the year!
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December 21, 2025I chose this book from the library of my fellow church member who passed away, and I am so thankful to have it in my library. It has been a great blessing to me.
This book is a product of Boice’s sermons. He did a marvelous job of making the chapters flow, using illustrations to teach truths, and explaining the Scriptures in an enlightening and simple way. The focus is on Christ first, and on our reasonable response second, which is why I was moved to worship our Lord in every chapter. I recommend this book to everyone. Five stars! ⭐️
Chapter Notes:
“The Virgin Birth and History” has some very interesting things to say about the Greek text, the King James Version, and J. Gresham Machen.
“The Genealogies” (of Matthew and Luke) contains the most exciting conclusion.
The paradoxes and the lessons from the chapter “The King in a Manger” are both enjoyable and convicting.
“How to Celebrate Christmas” is brilliant.
And “The Indescribable Gift” is perfectly placed.
This book is a product of Boice’s sermons. He did a marvelous job of making the chapters flow, using illustrations to teach truths, and explaining the Scriptures in an enlightening and simple way. The focus is on Christ first, and on our reasonable response second, which is why I was moved to worship our Lord in every chapter. I recommend this book to everyone. Five stars! ⭐️
Chapter Notes:
“The Virgin Birth and History” has some very interesting things to say about the Greek text, the King James Version, and J. Gresham Machen.
“The Genealogies” (of Matthew and Luke) contains the most exciting conclusion.
The paradoxes and the lessons from the chapter “The King in a Manger” are both enjoyable and convicting.
“How to Celebrate Christmas” is brilliant.
And “The Indescribable Gift” is perfectly placed.
December 24, 2023
A PROMINENT PASTOR COMMENTS ON THE BIBLICAL STORIES OF CHRISTMAS
Author and Pastor James Boice wrote in the Preface to this 1983 book, “Over the years, it has been my privilege as a pastor preaching … to come repeatedly to the Christmas season and explore the Christmas story in a variety of ways…. I have wondered…if I was going to be able to find anything new or even interesting for a congregation that has known these texts from childhood. But… I have always found the texts to speak in fresh ways first to me and then also, to my congregation. The emphases I have found are not those normally associated with the Christmas accounts… The chief emphasis … is on the deity of Christ---and the reason for which He came into the world on that first Christmas…The second unique emphasis I have found … in their concentration upon what I have called ‘the little people of Christmas’ … like Joseph and Mary, the shepherds (who are not even named), Simeon, Anna, Zechariah, and Elizabeth… This second emphasis brings the Christmas story down to us, for most of us are not important in the world’s eyes either. The story tells us that Jesus is for people like ourselves… this collection of Christmas messages … have already been preached … from 1969 to 1982. Most have also appeared on … ‘The Bible Study Hour’…”
He reports, “Edmund P. Clowney, the former president of Westminster Theological Seminary… said, ‘… the Lord Jesus Christ… comes again and again… to bring the accomplishment of His salvation to the individual.’ That is the reason the Christmas story is alive. It is the only reason it has the hold it has upon so many millions of people. If the story were … an event that merely happened 2,000 years ago… and then ended, it would have no hold upon us.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “The significance of the magi’s coming is that they were Gentiles. So Matthew at the very beginning indicates that the gospel is for everyone.” (Pg. 35)
He argues, “If Matthew and Luke made [their] accounts up, would there be the kind of noticeable, apparent discrepancies we find?... They would probably include only one, or both annunciations in both narratives, if they were working together… they would have worked out one story or the other, if they were working together… These [accounts] are not in conflict. We understand how they can be put together. But they are the kind of thing that careful authors such as Matthew and Luke would have eliminated if they were working in collusion.” (Pg. 36-37)
Of the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, he notes that J. Gresham Machen suggests, that “Matthew … gives a list of incumbents (actual or potential) of the kingly Davidic throne, whereas Luke traces the descent of Joseph back through Nathan to David. Thus the genealogies cannot properly be used to exhibit contradiction…” Boice comments, “That is a very good theory … but I have one problem with it. According to Machen’s theory … Matthew’s genealogy … is the one that is not necessarily talking about a literal descent from father to son. Luke’s genealogy IS talking about fatherhood and sonship… if that is the case, that it is Matthew who stresses the descent from father to son by use of the word ‘begat’… while Luke … [is] saying simply ‘of the’… If Luke was talking about strict paternity, he is the one who should have used the word BEGAT, and if Matthew was not talking about it, he should have used the looser form… In my judgment there is a better solution, in which the two lines are viewed as the lines of Joseph and Mary respectively, each thereby being identified as a descendant of King David.” (Pg. 41-42)
He suggests, “We should be willing and should actually help those who need help? We should be willing and should actually help others at any season of the year, but at Christmas think especially of those who are left out of the joy that belongs to most of us… our communities are literally filled with others who will not be a part of these things and so feel the loneliness of Christmas deeply… remember that you were on the outside once. You were separated from Christmas in two ways. First, you were likely a Gentile, and Christ was Israel’s Messiah. Second, you were a sinner, and you were barred from God’s blessings by sin. Jesus came to include you… If you know Him and love Him, you will reach out to others.” (Pg. 61)
He points out, “One tragedy of the first Christmas is that so many came close to Christmas yet missed it all… There were the political leaders of the time… The innkeeper also missed Christmas. He… probably was kept from Christmas by the pressure of business and by a preoccupation with things…Last of all, the religious leaders missed Christmas. They missed it even though they had been told of the birth and even knew the Scripture passage in Micah which told where the Messiah should be born.” (Pg. 75)
He observes, “The world has many false ideas of Christmas. For some persons it is only a story that is somehow meant to glorify babies and motherhood. For others there is the false idea that we must do something for God, like that ridiculous Christmas song ‘The Little Drummer Boy,’ which suggests that Jesus will smile on us if we play Him a tune. Jesus does not need us to play Him a tune.” (Pg. 87)
He states, “The means of celebrating Christmas [Luke 2:17-20] suggests are: (1) to tell others about it; (2) to wonder at the event itself; (2) to wonder at the event itself; (3) to ponder its meaning; and (4) to glorify and praise God for what was done there. We need to think about each one.” (Pg. 112)
This book will interest Christians looking for pastoral commentaries on the gospel birth stories.
Author and Pastor James Boice wrote in the Preface to this 1983 book, “Over the years, it has been my privilege as a pastor preaching … to come repeatedly to the Christmas season and explore the Christmas story in a variety of ways…. I have wondered…if I was going to be able to find anything new or even interesting for a congregation that has known these texts from childhood. But… I have always found the texts to speak in fresh ways first to me and then also, to my congregation. The emphases I have found are not those normally associated with the Christmas accounts… The chief emphasis … is on the deity of Christ---and the reason for which He came into the world on that first Christmas…The second unique emphasis I have found … in their concentration upon what I have called ‘the little people of Christmas’ … like Joseph and Mary, the shepherds (who are not even named), Simeon, Anna, Zechariah, and Elizabeth… This second emphasis brings the Christmas story down to us, for most of us are not important in the world’s eyes either. The story tells us that Jesus is for people like ourselves… this collection of Christmas messages … have already been preached … from 1969 to 1982. Most have also appeared on … ‘The Bible Study Hour’…”
He reports, “Edmund P. Clowney, the former president of Westminster Theological Seminary… said, ‘… the Lord Jesus Christ… comes again and again… to bring the accomplishment of His salvation to the individual.’ That is the reason the Christmas story is alive. It is the only reason it has the hold it has upon so many millions of people. If the story were … an event that merely happened 2,000 years ago… and then ended, it would have no hold upon us.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “The significance of the magi’s coming is that they were Gentiles. So Matthew at the very beginning indicates that the gospel is for everyone.” (Pg. 35)
He argues, “If Matthew and Luke made [their] accounts up, would there be the kind of noticeable, apparent discrepancies we find?... They would probably include only one, or both annunciations in both narratives, if they were working together… they would have worked out one story or the other, if they were working together… These [accounts] are not in conflict. We understand how they can be put together. But they are the kind of thing that careful authors such as Matthew and Luke would have eliminated if they were working in collusion.” (Pg. 36-37)
Of the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, he notes that J. Gresham Machen suggests, that “Matthew … gives a list of incumbents (actual or potential) of the kingly Davidic throne, whereas Luke traces the descent of Joseph back through Nathan to David. Thus the genealogies cannot properly be used to exhibit contradiction…” Boice comments, “That is a very good theory … but I have one problem with it. According to Machen’s theory … Matthew’s genealogy … is the one that is not necessarily talking about a literal descent from father to son. Luke’s genealogy IS talking about fatherhood and sonship… if that is the case, that it is Matthew who stresses the descent from father to son by use of the word ‘begat’… while Luke … [is] saying simply ‘of the’… If Luke was talking about strict paternity, he is the one who should have used the word BEGAT, and if Matthew was not talking about it, he should have used the looser form… In my judgment there is a better solution, in which the two lines are viewed as the lines of Joseph and Mary respectively, each thereby being identified as a descendant of King David.” (Pg. 41-42)
He suggests, “We should be willing and should actually help those who need help? We should be willing and should actually help others at any season of the year, but at Christmas think especially of those who are left out of the joy that belongs to most of us… our communities are literally filled with others who will not be a part of these things and so feel the loneliness of Christmas deeply… remember that you were on the outside once. You were separated from Christmas in two ways. First, you were likely a Gentile, and Christ was Israel’s Messiah. Second, you were a sinner, and you were barred from God’s blessings by sin. Jesus came to include you… If you know Him and love Him, you will reach out to others.” (Pg. 61)
He points out, “One tragedy of the first Christmas is that so many came close to Christmas yet missed it all… There were the political leaders of the time… The innkeeper also missed Christmas. He… probably was kept from Christmas by the pressure of business and by a preoccupation with things…Last of all, the religious leaders missed Christmas. They missed it even though they had been told of the birth and even knew the Scripture passage in Micah which told where the Messiah should be born.” (Pg. 75)
He observes, “The world has many false ideas of Christmas. For some persons it is only a story that is somehow meant to glorify babies and motherhood. For others there is the false idea that we must do something for God, like that ridiculous Christmas song ‘The Little Drummer Boy,’ which suggests that Jesus will smile on us if we play Him a tune. Jesus does not need us to play Him a tune.” (Pg. 87)
He states, “The means of celebrating Christmas [Luke 2:17-20] suggests are: (1) to tell others about it; (2) to wonder at the event itself; (2) to wonder at the event itself; (3) to ponder its meaning; and (4) to glorify and praise God for what was done there. We need to think about each one.” (Pg. 112)
This book will interest Christians looking for pastoral commentaries on the gospel birth stories.
December 24, 2025
If you are searching for an Advent Devotional book, this is highly theological. However, theology leads to devotion, which is how I experienced this rich little book.
The last chapter—which I read this morning on Christmas Eve sitting in front on many presents under my tree—titled “The Indescribable Gift” was the perfect way to end the book and my Advent journey this year.
No gift in the world compares with the gift of the Incarnation of God to us.
The last chapter—which I read this morning on Christmas Eve sitting in front on many presents under my tree—titled “The Indescribable Gift” was the perfect way to end the book and my Advent journey this year.
No gift in the world compares with the gift of the Incarnation of God to us.
October 25, 2017
Dr. Boice gives us a easy to read book with 16 short chapters. This is an excellent Advent devotional for anyone. Each page causes us to focus more and more on the Christ of Christmas. Broken up into 4 parts:
1) Christ and Christmas
2) The Virgin Birth and Christmas
3)The First Christmas
4) The People of Christmas
1) Christ and Christmas
2) The Virgin Birth and Christmas
3)The First Christmas
4) The People of Christmas
January 13, 2021
One of the easiest 5 star reviews I have given. Wow. It grew my appreciation of Christ and the whole Christmas event immensely. Beautifully written. Its not a book you can fly through. Each chapter is a new aspect of the story or Christ. It’s a book I plan to read every Christmas dv. Absolutely amazing!
December 14, 2024
I love this gem.
I have read the whole book several times through the years.
Now, I revisit several sections each Christmas. Boice’s insights help me collect my thoughts about what I really celebrate each year.
I have read the whole book several times through the years.
Now, I revisit several sections each Christmas. Boice’s insights help me collect my thoughts about what I really celebrate each year.
July 21, 2017
A wonderful holiday season read
December 2, 2024
Boice presents so many fresh takes on examining the nativity narrative. I greatly enjoyed this book and was so encouraged and fixated on Christ. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
December 31, 2025
Excellent book, should be on everybody's shelf for a Christmas read.
December 30, 2013
Culled from sermons preached around Christmas during the first twenty years of his ministry, this reprint from Boice provides useful insight into the way Scripture presents the birth of Christ. Boice looks at some lesser-known figures of the Christmas story and also adeptly fits the birth of Christ into context with His later death and resurrection. While not very in-depth, it remains a solid look at one of the single most important events in human history.
December 27, 2012
I am glad i read this during the Christmas season. I helped me further understand the reason for Christ to come to Earth. I just put me in the right frame of mind for Christmas. I am glad it came to me when it did. Another great selection by AGO.
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December 20, 2011FINISHED READING
December 4, 2012
Read it during the Advent of 2011.
December 24, 2012
I liked this book very much. It gives enough detail without losing my interest. The explanation of the genealogies (Royal vs Legal) was the best I've seen so far.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews