It is a story of singular beauty and wonder-a story worth telling with the best of our creative gifts. It is the story of salvation.

This is the purpose of The Gift of Christmas: to retell the timeless story of Christ's birth in a way that will speak today with unique power. To that end, the book combines fine art with thoughtful meditations on the biblical story by R. Kent Hughes.

It begins when the angel Gabriel appears to an old, childless man and tells him that his aged wife will bear a son who will prepare the way for the coming of the Savior.

It tells how the angel again appears to an astonished young Jewish girl, telling her that she, as a virgin, will conceive and bear the long-awaited Savior of the world.

It recounts the joy of Elizabeth and the magnificent song of Mary celebrating the salvation of the Lord.

And when The Gift of Christmas turns to the birth of Christ, the familiar, ageless story comes to life, revealing the true meaning of the Incarnation in an unforgettable way.

This is the gift of Christmas-the very Son of God-offered to all who will take the time to understand and accept what God has done to save us from our sin. With masterful art and writing, The Gift of Christmas celebrates God's perfect gift, retelling the story of eternity with freshness and vigor.