50/52 #3 - christ our mediator

What is 50/52?

Book #3: Christ Our Mediator: Finding Passion at the Cross
Author: C.J. Mahaney
Genre: Christian Devotional
Rating (1-5): 4.0
Review:

Once again, Mahaney offers a short, but beautifully accessible theological treatment about Jesus Christ. Last year I reviewed his book on humility, and in that dialogue offered this critique about Mahaney's writing:

I only offer one criticism: As with most authors who have published several books, this book was a bit predictable... when you read Mahaney, you know you're going to get a book focusing on the "cross of Christ" and on God's "grace." Now, this is not inherently bad--just predictable.

True to form, in Christ Our Mediator, Mahaney focuses on another aspect of the death and resurrection of Christ and how that impacts our lives today. To his credit, Mahaney recognizes this is the theme of most of his writings, so he offers this early on in the book: "My earlier book, The Cross Centered Life, reminds Christians that the gospel is the matter of first importance, the one overarching truth that should define our lives.... In Christ our Mediator, I hope to lead us in the pathway of that more profound undertanding" (emphasis mine). In other words, in this book Mahaney is simply going deeper into understanding the cross.

And he does. He goes really deep. Having read both The Cross Centered Life and this book, I see a deeper measure of emotional attachment from the author in Christ Our Mediator. In the former book, Mahaney details the event and brings the gospel in a more personal way to the reader. In the later book, Maheny brings the person on the gospel (Jesus Christ) in a more personal way to the reader, and in so doing challenges the reader to consider the "old, old story" in a new light. He does this effectively by focusing not simply on the cross, but on the supernatural work that Christ accomplished between the Son-and-Father, Son-and-man and Father-and-man.

While Christ Our Mediator is in many ways Cross Centered Life "reloaded," there is enough uniqueness to the themes presented in the material to keep someone interested who desires to read both. Indeed, in many respects they compliment one another. I recommend this book to anyone who desires to be guided in a timeless approach to the cross. Perhaps a good read for the Easter season.

Comments

[evan]

I may pick this one up if the price is reasonable! It sounds great.

[Mel]

Just dropping by to see what is up in your neck of the woods. i love cj's books and messages. I havent read this one yet, but have the book on humility sitting on my desk calling out to be read. :) Oh, and I love that robbie seay album that you have posted on the side. have you heard the newest derek webb? I think you would like it. :)
hope you guys are alive and kickin! (maybe just a little less hard without coffee, eh?)

[adam feldman]

mel~ good to hear from you! i've been meaning to check out "mockingbird" for a while. perhaps i'll itunes it. good luck w/ the humility book. i read it last year and reviewed it (see my "books" category). i really enjoyed it...