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Review Summary: A book I'll read over and over for the rest of my life |
Date: 2009-01-06 |
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Details: "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die" is a book I've decided to read every day for the rest of my life. Why? Because it keeps the wonder and awesomeness of the Cross ever present in my thoughts and soul. Sometimes we think, "I'm a Christian now. I've 'graduated' from the Cross and now I"ll go on to bigger things." This is simply not the truth at all. We need to be constantly reminded of all Christ did for us on the Cross. The Gospel is central to our Christian lives and has an answer for every problem we face. The realization of all that Christ did for us on the Cross brings us closer to His heart and helps us to know Him more intimately. The power of the Cross in our lives is crucial to any ministry in which we are involved.
Each of the "50 Reasons" in Piper's book are only 2 pages in length, so they can easily be read daily. My husband and I have decided to read a chapter a day for the rest of our lives so that we never forget or put out of our minds the amazing Cross of Jesus Christ. |
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Review Summary: Showing Us the Infinite Wisdom of God in the Cross |
Date: 2008-07-22 |
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Details: What John Piper has done in this book is take fifty of the results of Christ's death given in scripture and listed them for us as fifty reasons why Jesus came to die. That, of course, makes perfect sense because any results of Christ's death are intended purposes of Christ's death, since God has the power and wisdom to do things so that only exactly what He wishes is accomplished. This means that there are no unintended results from anything God does, only purposed results. And any purposed results are rightly called "reasons why."
Each of the fifty reasons is allotted two pages of text. First, supporting scripture is given and then there are several paragraphs of explanation. This makes the book especially suited for devotional reading, two or three reasons at a time. Anything more than that might be too much, as there is so much reflect on in each little section.
You'd think by now I'd know all there is to know about the purposes of Christ's death, but there were several in this book I'd never thought about before. For instance, one of the reasons Piper gives for Jesus coming to die is "to give marriage its deepest meaning." This is, of course, based in Ephesians 5. Our marriages were designed to picture Christ's relationship with his people, and Christ's suffering shows husbands (especially) how they should love their wives. And if Christ's death is an example of how we ought to love our spouses, then that's an important part of God's design for it.
I'd call Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die an introductory level book--there's nothing difficult in it--and yet I'd say almost everyone will learn a thing of two from it. And who among us doesn't need a reminder of the infinite wisdom of God in the cross of Christ?
Here are a few ways this book could be used:
*It would make--dare I say it?--an excellent bathroom reader.
*I'm going to use it as a universal gift book. There's nothing intimidating about it, the sections are short, and the information invaluable. Everyone needs to know what's in this book. I plan to order a few extra copies to have on hand whenever I need one to give away.
*I recommend it for tucking in your purse to read while you're waiting in the supermarket check-out lines (or anywhere else for that matter.) That's how I read much of my copy. It sure beats the gossip magazines that I've been known to read while I wait. Not to mention how oh-so-right it is to be redeeming the time spent waiting to redeem your groceries (and maybe your coupons) by reading about the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
*It would be a very appropriate book to give to anyone who asks you about the meaning of the cross, something that I've had happen to me a couple of time so far this year. I gave a short answer--that's all I could do in an everyday conversation--but the whole multi-faceted answer is so much more glorious, and I wish I'd been able to say, "Here's a book you can have that explains it in much more depth."
*It would be suitable for a small group to use for study. |
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Review Summary: A Devotional Book With Some Meat On It |
Date: 2008-03-29 |
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Details: If you flip through this book, you will be under the impression that it is a devotional book. It is actually much deeper than that. John Piper manages to cram a lot of theology into 120 pages. You will probably need to read the book more than once to really get the most out of this book.
I was a little skeptical about there being 50 reasons. I thought that he would have to cut things a little thin to get 50 instead of 47. While I think he aimed for 50, he did a good job not repeating himself. There were a couple of sections that I was starting to think "Didn't he already mention this?" when all the sudden, he took the subject in a totally different direction.
As I was reading the book, I was constantly reminded of a Soteriology class that I took in Bible College. He covers a lot about the doctrine of salvation without getting into a lot of the minor details and arguments.
I recommend this book for anyone that wants a deep devotional book. I also recommend this to Bible College teachers that are looking for a text for their Soteriology class. This students will like this book and learn from it as well. |
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Review Summary: Good, quick synopsis, of each reason... |
Date: 2008-03-18 |
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Details: This is a small book that is really a good "cliff notes" version of why Christ came to die. It is only 120 pages long and so the descriptions of each are no longer than a normal page each. Because of this, the material that Dr. Piper presents is not to get into a deep theological discussion on each topic, but merely to give a quick synopsis and then to move on. I think this would be a great small group study to have with people. It would give the basic understanding and then would lead to some discussion on each topic how this should impact our lives.
The way that this is set up is that Dr. Piper gives the verse and then shows quickly how that verse plays into more specifically of what Christ's death accomplished through that verse.
So, for instance, number 6 is that Christ died "To Show His Own Love for Us." Dr. Piper then gives three verses for reference (Eph 5:2,25; Galatians 2:20) and unpacks them using other verses for reference and with quick, but pointed, exegesis of each. The reason I like this little book is because it is able to give a lot of understanding of all that Christ accomplished through the cross without having to write a novel for each of the reasons. Although, novels could be written for each one, and either have been written or will be written about each reason, this is simply for a "fly by" so that those unacquainted the vastness of Christ's death will get some fuller understanding of all that Christ accomplished on the cross. Also note though that Piper lets the reader know that even though these are fifty reasons, there are still more.
In the beginning of the book Dr. Piper gives this as what he hopes to accomplish with this small treatise:
When all is said and done, the most crucial question is: Why? Why did Jesus come to die? Not why in the sense of cause, but why in the sense of purpose. What did Christ achieve by his death? Why did he have to suffer so much? What great thing was happening on Calvary for the world?
That's what the rest of this book is about. I have gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons why Jesus came to die. Not fifty causes, but fifty purposes. Infinitely more important than who killed Jesus is the question: What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?
Piper, J. (2006). Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (16). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.
I would recommend the book as reference material but it won't satisfy someone wanting a deep theological understanding of each and every reason. But, this wasn't the point of this book either ,as anyone would guess when the fifty reasons occupy only 120 pages.
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Review Summary: Wonderful book for devotions or group study |
Date: 2006-04-03 |
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Details: Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die has almost that many reasons why you should read it. This multi-purpose book grabs your attention from the moment you open it. Quoting from Isaiah 53, John Piper dedicates this book to Jesus Christ. Immediately demanding thought with an introduction that knocks you off your balance and sets you into God's balances, Piper opens his subject by looking at Christ and at Christians' sin, including an apology for the heinous way many Christians have acted through the centuries. His aim is to answer "the most crucial question...Why did Jesus come to die? Not why in the sense of cause, but why in the sense of purpose...What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?" (17)
Each of the fifty reasons covers only 2 or 3 pages. But each of those reasons and their Scripture proofs are guaranteed to make a Christian sweat, apologize, marvel, and pray. You will find familiar and not so familiar reasons herein. Just a few include: To Absorb the Wrath of God; For the Forgiveness of Our Sins; To Bring Us to Faith and Keep Us Faithful; To Heal Us from Moral and Physical Sickness; To Free Us from Slavery; To Give Marriage Its Deepest Meaning; To Free Us from the Fear of Death; To Disarm Rulers and Authorities; To Destroy the Hostility Between Races; and To Show That the Worst Evil Is Meant by God for Good.
Closing materials include a valuable bibliography of books about the historical reliability of the Bible. Prolific Christian author, Piper has poured his heart into this book, using his winsome, straightforward style to once again turn a spotlight on his Lord. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die is a wonderful book for private devotions, but its uses don't stop there. Among other things it is also a good reference for group study, homilies, and sermons; a fine source for family discussions; a wonderful gift; and a witnessing tool. This is a book I'll keep on my reading stand, to go back to, argue with, and allow it lead me into worship and prayer. - Donna Eggett, Christian Book Previews.com
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out of 6 Reviews
