Cook, William F. III. A Savior Is Born: From Heaven’s Throne to Bethlehem’s Manger. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2024. 265 pp. $21.99.
A Savior Is Born chronologically explores the birth and infancy narratives found in the gospels. William Cook’s goal in this book is to articulate the literary and chronological significance of each passage alongside salient Old Testament connections and “deeper dives” into related theological topics.
Cook begins with the prologue of John’s gospel (John 1:1–18), choosing this starting point to demonstrate the significance of the incarnation and caution against a “shallow Christology” (13). This opening chapter discusses Jesus as the “light,” an image woven through the entire Bible. Chapter 2 proceeds to the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1–17, highlighting those names that display God’s redemptive narrative, especially Rahab.
The following chapters reflect on the events that precede Jesus’s birth, beginning with “the annunciation of the forerunner” in Luke 1:5–25. Cook demonstrates how the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth mirrors other biblical couples who experienced sovereign intervention in their childlessness. Cook then treats “the annunciation of the Son of God” in Luke 1:26–38, explaining the significance of the “virginal conception” and emphasizing Mary’s “courageous embrace” (69) of God’s plan. He subsequently reminds the reader of the “magnitude” of Elizabeth and Mary’s encounter. Luke 1:39–56 demonstrates that “even in his prenatal state, John is fulfilling his calling” (75) by leaping for joy at Mary’s arrival. The Magnificat is described as Mary’s “worship from the heart” (78) while Zechariah’s Benedictus (Luke 1:57–80) articulates God’s fulfilled promises to both Abraham and David.
Chapter 7 returns to Matthew’s gospel and the annunciation to Joseph (Matt 1:18–25). This chapter situates the cultural context for Joseph’s ethical predicament and the weight of his obedience to the voice of the Lord. Cook also explains several possible interpretations of Isaiah 7:14 (referenced in this passage) including the predictive, typological, and multiple fulfillment approaches.
Next, Cook unpacks the familiar phrases of Luke 2:1–7, explaining the political context for Jesus’s birth and some of the major differences between “contemporary depictions” of the manger bed and the witness of a “first-century bystander” (136). He articulates the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom through the announcement of Jesus’s birth to shepherds (Luke 2:8–20) rather than the “elites of society” (144). Cook reflects on the “joy of Jesus” (158) in the Gloria before moving “from Bethlehem to Jerusalem” and the events of Luke 2:21–40 (161). Here, he explains how Joseph and Mary’s choices in these early days heed ancient divine instructions. The chapter also examines the Nunc Dimittis of Simeon and the prophecy of Anna.
In his discussion of Matthew 2:1–12 and its account of “the worship of the nations,” Cook corrects familiar misconceptions about Jesus’s foreign visitors and their gifts, focusing instead on the symbolism of nations journeying to worship as depicted in Isaiah 60 (187). Cook continues with a sensitive exegesis of the massacre of the innocents (Matt 2:13–23). The book concludes its study of the gospel narratives with the “only account in the Bible of an event between Jesus’s infancy and adulthood” (209). Jesus’s journey to the temple, recorded in Luke 2:41–52, offers a “sign of things to come” (215). Cook then pans outward to reconsider first-century expectations of the Messiah. He persuasively demonstrates that Jesus is the seed of Abraham, a prophet like Moses, a king like David, and the servant of the Lord.
A primary strength of A Savior Is Born is the fact that most of its Scripture references are printed fully within the book’s text. Cook’s hope is that this choice will help readers to see “how the Bible is a book about Jesus” especially in the “abundant references to the Old Testament” found in the birth and infancy narratives (xiv). This choice on Cook’s part renders the book incredibly devotional, a fact reflected in its endorsements. As a musician, I also appreciated Cook’s focus on the rich theology present in the Magnificat, Benedictus, Gloria, and Nunc Dimittis. These texts have been staples for composers through the centuries and readers will find themselves better positioned to worship through such anthems because of Cook’s commentary.
Similarly, I applaud Cook’s effort to complement his theological work with an opportunity for doxological response. He does this first and foremost by referencing the centrality of worship for many of the individuals in Matthew and Luke’s accounts. The book’s inclusion of a full hymn text at the end of each chapter is welcome! However, I suggest that the impact of the texts comes up short. Cook includes only the most well-known Christmas hymns, which might cause readers to skim past the printed strophes. Furthermore, excepting “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” Advent hymns are left out altogether. Arguably, these texts would have been well suited as a “response” to the chapters considering those events that anticipate Jesus’s birth.
Christmastide is in constant danger of being overrun with everything but quiet and sustained reflection on the gospel narratives. Many will share Cook’s concern that most congregants encounter these familiar verses without pausing to consider the magnitude of the events being retold in their hearing. A Savior Is Born is therefore a valuable resource to place in the hands of worshipers, one that can be returned to each year.
