The Well-Trodden Yet Not Tired Story of the Incarnation

In his book A Savior is Born, William Cook makes the truths of the incarnation both accessible and worshipful for leaders, and laypeople.

By Mike Leake

Are you one of those people who can watch a movie many times and still enjoy it? I’m not. I need something fresh to keep my mind engaged. Which is probably why I struggle with preaching Christmas sermons. There are only so many lessons you can pull from the Christmas story, right?

That’s why I was less than excited to review A Savior is Born: From Heaven’s Throne to Bethlehem’s Manger. I know William F. Cook is a phenomenal New Testament scholar. But could he really keep my attention for 200 plus pages on the Christmas story? I’m pleased to tell you he can. This book was a pleasure to read.

You may have heard the saying, “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” One might expect a book on the Christmas story written by a seminary professor would be filled with jargon and scholarly debates about the incarnation. You’d especially expect this if you saw that each chapter has a “Taking a Deeper Dive” section. Yet, Cook writes as an expert. And that means he writes with such clarity that a 6-year-old could understand yet a seasoned student of the Bible will also be fed. He hits a phenomenal balance here.

Yes, there are many well-known elements of the Christmas story. Cook doesn’t shy away from these, but he writes with such a sweetness that it infuses even the most familiar of stories with fondness. Each chapter connects to a Christmas hymn, inviting the reader into worship. It’s what makes the book both informative and worship-invoking.

A helpful structure

I appreciate that Cook’s offering is put in chronological order (mostly following A.T. Robertson’s A Harmony of the Gospels). He begins with the pre-incarnate Word in the gospel of John then moves back and forth through Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the birth narrative. The chronology is helpful because it keeps it in a story form. He doesn’t shy away from deeper exposition, but the structure itself keeps the book grounded in the story and keeps readers from getting lost in the minutiae.

The “Taking a Deeper Dive” section included in each chapter is also immensely helpful. These give the reader an opportunity to engage more thoroughly with key theological concepts woven into the Christmas story. Some of these are as simple as his two-paragraph explanation of the year of Jesus’s birth. Others, like his deep dive on the imagery of light, are more extensive but still accessible to most readers.

Each chapter has a compelling exposition and offers final reflections before giving a hymn and the deeper dive. Those final reflections are also beneficial to each chapter. It’s here he moves from interpretation of the text into application. Though usually only a couple paragraphs, this section provides an invaluable bridge from the world of the Bible to the modern reader.

Who is the audience?

While a well-written book, one of my early concerns is its intended audience. It’s published through B&H Academic, and the cover looks more appealing to a pastor or seminary student than it might your average reader. Yet, the book is not a particularly deep dive into the Christmas story. It seems to be written for the layperson.

When learning to preach, someone said to me, “Give them the fruit of your study and not the sweat.” We preachers are supposed to do the heavy lifting in our study and give it to our congregations in a format they can easily digest. Cook does a phenomenal job of giving the fruit of his study and not the sweat. You can tell that each section is deeply rooted in years of biblical study, yet it is remarkably accessible.

“We preachers are supposed to do the heavy lifting in our study and give it to our congregations in a format they can easily digest.” — @mikeleake Share on X

That makes for a well-written book, but can it find an audience?

The best reader for this book might be a Sunday School teacher, small group leader, or busy pastor. But it isn’t confined here. I lead a group of widows at our church in Bible study every Wednesday morning. They would love this book. It will encourage and educate those who’ve heard the Christmas story many times, while also being accessible to those who are newer to following Jesus.

If you’re looking for a super deep dive on the incarnation or the various elements of the Christmas story, you’ll likely not be satisfied with this offering. While it’s informative, truthful, and has a sturdy backbone, it’s simply not going to enter into deep debate on various questions on the incarnation. But it might still be a good read for you. Cook models for us how to have theological depth yet remain highly accessible.

The not yet tired story

Cook’s A Savior Is Born is a refreshing addition to a saturated market of Christmas studies. It’s not highly technical nor does it offer a scholarly deep dive. But it accomplishes something arguably more important: making the truths of the incarnation accessible and worshipful. The book’s strength lies in its ability to speak to a wide audience, whether a seasoned Bible teacher or someone hearing the Christmas story with fresh ears. Cook models a rare balance—theological substance without being overwhelming.

“In ‘A Savior is Born,’ William Cook models a rare balance—theological substance without being overwhelming.” — @mikeleake Share on X

For pastors, Sunday School teachers, or small group leaders, this book provides a ready-made structure for teaching. The inclusion of hymns, reflections, and deeper dive sections makes it versatile and rich for a variety of settings. Yet, it would also be a warm and engaging read for someone pulling it off the shelf of a Christian bookstore.

Ultimately, A Savior Is Born reminds us the Christmas story, while well-trodden, is far from tired. Whether you’re looking for a devotional companion for Advent or a resource to help guide others, this book offers a thoughtful and uplifting journey through the greatest story ever told. I am glad I read this book, and it might have even given me a few ideas for preaching some of the Christmas devotionals I will be asked to present this holiday season.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.