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Seeing and Savoring Jesus ChristJohn Piper’s Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ is a terrific companion to his book The Passion of Christ. I finished Piper’s book on the 50 reasons Jesus came to die just a couple weeks before I began this one.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ is written in a devotional style. Piper continually quotes from Scripture as he writes, investing his work with authority.

There are two chapters that stood out especially for me. Chapter 7 speaks of the bad reputation that Jesus endured. So often I have only noticed the passages that speak of Jesus’ enormous popularity in the Gospels. Piper reminded me that Christ’s reputation was tarnished by the circumstances surrounding His own birth and by misunderstandings revolving around His association with sinners. Yet, Christ suffered these slanderous comments for our sake and for His own glory.

The second chapter that meant a lot to me personally was on the Severity of Jesus Christ. The tough portrait of Jesus is rarely portrayed in our churches, so it was good and healthy to remember the untamable Savior I serve.

I do not want to be a baby that can’t handle solid food, but a grown-up who is able to take the healthy meat of the Word even when it does not go down as easily. Piper helped me to remember the importance of maintaining a teachable spirit. In seminary, this is of vital importance. Humility is difficult to maintain when you are in an institution that prizes knowledge, intellectual ability, and communication skills. If pride takes root now, it will grow into a bitter tree that God will have to chop down in due time. Piper’s chapter on the severity of Christ reminded me of these lessons.

I enjoyed the final chapter, one that spoke about Jesus’ return. Piper quotes so much Scripture in this chapter that it almost becomes a chain of Bible verses with only periodic interruptions from Piper’s pen. I appreciated the author’s love for Scripture and found myself enthusiastic and excited about Christ’s second coming, as well as convicted over my lack of preparation. Too often, the lamps of my life are not lit and the candles are not burning.

I typically spend Advent preparing spiritually for Christ’s Second Coming. Piper’s chapter lit in me a passion for preparing constantly for Jesus’ Coming, for indeed, it could be any day now.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2007 Kingdom People blog

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