Christ Our Mediator

There are those books you read that have you feeling good about yourself and life as you read and those that make you laugh or cry as you read and they're good books. However there are books that cause you to experience pain as you read them - almost as though the author were there kicking you in the shins, while wearing steel-toed boots, as you read. This book is one of the later and for that I am grateful.

Christ our Mediator is not an easy book to read, yes it is simply written and you can "get through it" in one sitting. However, it is much more complex than that: this book take you not only back to the cross but has you visualizing yourself there as the cause of God having to kill His own Son.

It brings the reader to a new place of appreciation for the agony of the cross and the glory of God's grace and mercy. We cannot have the later without the former. This will be a marvelous small group study for groups that are willing to be real and honest with each other.

I highly recommend this book, but only if you are willing to take the time to let yourself see the cross in a new and somewhat painful light, one that will bring a fresh appreciation to "by grace you are saved..."

5 out of 5 Stars Author: C. J. Mahaney Publisher: Multnomah Buy Christ Our Mediator Reading Level: Leisure

It's a shame I didn't read this earlier. It's jammed packed full of gospel truth. C. J. has a way of unpacking truth and deftly applying it to the human condition. Says Mahaney, And this is how serious it gets: In our arrogance, we invest our feelings (or lack thereof) with final authority rather than recognize that our emotions are unstable and unreliable, often hopelessly controlled by selfish pride, and riddled with lies--lies that "feel" like the truth.

I've watched people yield to such lies repeatedly. It's a frightening experience to sit with individuals who actually insist that what they feel is ultimately more authoritative to them than what's written clearly in Scripture. They even somehow assume God is sympathetic to this attitude. But He is not. He would, in fact, identify it as the height of prideful arrogance--and God is unalterably opposed to the proud. (Kindle Location 225 of 989) I also enjoyed the prayers he ends each chapter with. The intense application with the prayers moved my heart towards worship of God as I was reading. Stylistically there's also a wonderful pastoral quality. For instance, he uplifts and encourages the reader, [Y]ou and I have never been, and will never be, abandoned by God. I know sometimes it feels that He's abandoned us; I've felt that way. But those are deceptive feelings, because the One who drank this cup says to you and me, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." We may occasionally feel alone, but we never truly are alone. (Kindle Location 841 of 989) I urge you to read Christ Our Mediator. You won't find a more concise, more impactful presentation of Christ's work for us.

C.J. Mahaney doesn't take a very extensive approach in his book, Christ Our Mediator, on explaining his point, but for people wanting to quickly be revived in their walk, or just an overview of what to know about Christ it can be a refreshing read. Mahaney chooses to center mostly on the events of the cross, and use perceiving it through God's eyes instead of ours.

An objective view of Christ's sacrifice isn't something many people take these days. It's mostly something we look at through our subjective lenses rooted in human feelings. While Mahaney doesn't discourage our own feelings he wants to encourage instead that we try to see one that is less driven by how we feel about things, and more of what Jesus says. With this he provides many verses to get you thinking over the thought he has presented.

Once you have read the book you'll wish it was a bit longer as the author had plenty of room to expand many points that were good ones to expand on. For those looking for a quick meditative read then it fits that perfectly. The author cuts straight to the point, and doesn't waste time trying to fill extra space for the sake of filling space, nor does he quote tons of other authors to make his point when I could just go read those other books.

Each chapter makes a point, and does a good job at carrying it out. Mahaney does succeed at getting the reader to think objectively about the cross, but the only problem is as humans our perspectives will always be limited by subjectivity. There is an objective point, but humans can only comprehend so much. The shortness of this book will be appreciated though as it sinks in quick, and lasts a while.

Mahaney wrote a book that can appeal to anyone because it doesn't take much to read, but yet provides some deep insight. Mostly, if you're wanting to reflect on Christ it is a good way to begin. You'll walk away wanting to get back into the Gospels and read the accounts he is discussing, and practice the objective perception of it.

Rating 4 of 5.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for a review.

Mahaney set out in this book to "follow the counsel of my historical hero, Charles Spurgeon, who wrote, 'Abide hard by the cross and search the mystery of His wounds.'" He set out to search this mystery as explained in Scripture, and to encourage believers to grow their knowledge of Christ. Mahaney begins by reminding his readers of the importance of believers clinging to and continuing the gospel. I apprecaited Mahaney's discussion of feelings, and their role in our worship and understanding of Christ. If one has never pondered deeply the role of Christ in the life of a believer, this book is indeed an encouraging and enlightening read. If one has pondered it before, it will be a great tool as provoke deeper thought, and growth in our intimacy with Christ. Mahaney is a great teacher, who explains Scripture, invites the reader to think and meditate on the truths therein, and to rely on God for the grace of growth:

We need divine assistance to "take it in," to absorb deeply what bearing away our sin meant to Jesus, the Holy One. That's what we're after--what it meant to Him.

What does His role as Mediator in my life mean to Jesus? I am grateful for a book that has challenged me to think about this, and to relish Christ's love deeply.

I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for giving me a free copy of this book to review as a part of their review program.

This little book was a great reminder that we have someone who "stands in the gap" between us and God the Father. We so often think of Christ the baby in the manger or Christ the man on the cross who paid the penalty for our sins, that we forget that He is STILL working on our behalf. Thank you for the reminder of our great mediator.