Book Review: Hidden Christmas

Christmas is widely considered to be America’s most popular holiday, and yet so much of the American cultural celebration does not actually acknowledge the person of Jesus. It is easy to get lost in the busyness of the holiday season and miss, as the saying goes, the “reason for the season.” We can instead fall into a focus of buying gifts, eating food, seeing Christmas lights, or stressing about family gatherings. Tim Keller, the late founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and author of several bestselling books, seeks to reorient us to this holiday and season with Hidden Christmas.

In this book, Keller explains how the true Christian Christmas is even better than all of the fun and excitement that the secular version offers. While many enjoy giving gifts and helping the needy during the Christmas season, these acts of kindness are so often removed from their Christian origins and thus robbed of their power. Using well-known passages in Isaiah 9, Matthew 1-2, and Luke 1-2, Keller urges his readers to consider the beauty of Jesus in the Christmas story.

Through discussing the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1-2, Keller shows that Jesus comes from a long line of broken people that he then came to save and invites his readers to consider the humanity of Jesus. Then, through a look at Luke 1-2, he analyzes how different characters in the Nativity Story reacted to Jesus: Mary, Joseph, the Magi, the shepherds. He shares how we also can best respond in faith to the “good tidings of great joy.” In the final chapter, Keller summarizes the doctrine of Christmas, that salvation is by grace. We cannot earn the love of God through performance, but rather we need Jesus to come as a man and save us from our sin.

This is an excellent read for those curious about Christianity, as Keller writes in a way that is great for nonbelievers. Using culture as a starting point, Keller does not expect his readers to have a strong Biblical background. The book is also not particularly long and is written in accessible language. On the other hand, this is also beneficial for Christians. It can be easily read in a small group setting or as a personal Advent devotional. Hidden Christmas is very readable and offers much practical application for daily living. It serves as a great tool to help focus your mind on Christ during a busy Advent season.

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Book Review: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus