Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Complete Story of Christmas from the New King James Version

By Thomas Nelson

Engage with the story of Jesus’ birth in a unique way that’s sure to become a treasured holiday tradition.

His coming went unnoticed by most people, but it was foretold from ages past.

His birth wasn’t announced by royal proclamation, but it was lauded by the angels of heaven.

There were no servants to attend Him, but shepherds left their flocks and wise men left their homes to catch a glimpse of His glory.

At Christmastime, we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, an event that forever changed our world—and the hearts of billions. And there’s no better way to get in the true Christmas spirit than to immerse yourself in the story of His coming. Good Tidings of Great Joy is the story of the first Christmas as told by the Bible. Every word comes from the New King James Version of the Scriptures, but elements have been arranged to create one unbroken narrative, ideal for reading.

Thoughtfully designed, this book is the perfect addition to your holiday traditions. Read it together as a family or cozy up near the fireplace by yourself to reflect on the day that the Son of God left His heavenly throne to be placed in a humble manger.

Features:

• The complete story of the first Christmas as told in the Old and New Testaments

• Full-color illustrated design, ideal for group reading with all ages

• Index of verses cited for later study

• Six bonus Christmas hymns to enhance family worship

• Record section of family readings

• Special removable advent calendar included

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9780785239291

Book preview

FOREWORD

With holiday songs on the radio, decorations in the stores, and twinkle lights on the houses, the holiday season is upon us once again. But even with reminders of Christmas everywhere, many people don’t really know what the celebration is all about. Now, they may know it has something to do with Jesus’ birth, but beyond that, they can tell you little about that incredible night in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.

What happened in that small village on the outskirts of the Roman Empire changed the world, and we believe that knowing the story—the whole story—can change your world as well. As with any important message, it’s best to go directly to the source. In this case, we would do well to go back to the Bible, to let God’s Spirit, who inspired the very words of Scripture, tell us about the first Christmas.

The book you hold in your hands contains the story of Christmas from Scripture. No words have been changed, but the pieces of the narrative, taken from several books of the Bible, have been woven together to form one seamless tale, the greatest true story ever told. In these pages, you’ll meet the virgin Mary and her righteous fiancé, Joseph. You’ll see shepherds leaving their flocks to seek out the newborn king and wise men from the East falling down to worship Him. And you’ll hear the angels and prophets proclaim that the Child who was placed in the manger is the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of the