The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die (Paperback)

~ (Author) "If God were not just, there would be no demand for his Son to suffer and die..." (more)
Key Phrases: present evil age, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Son of God (more...)

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Product Description

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

The most important questions anyone can ask are: Why was Jesus crucified? Why did he suffer so much? What has this to do with me? Finally, who sent him to his death? The answer to the last question is that God did. Jesus was God's Son. His suffering was unsurpassed, but the whole message of the Bible leads to this answer.

Why did Jesus suffer and die? The central issue of Jesus' death is not the cause, but the meaning--God's meaning.

This is what this book is about. John Piper has gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons. Not fifty causes, but fifty purposes--in answer to the most important questions that each of us must face: What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?

About the Author

John Piper is Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has authored numerous best-selling books, including his classic Desiring God and Crossway's Don't Waste Your Life, A Hunger for God, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, and God's Passion for His Glory, which won an ECPA Gold Medallion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (January 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581346085
• ISBN-13: 978-1581346084
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take up and read, February 16, 2004

By	Patrick Lacson (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In light of the recent Christian and secular excitement over Mel Gibson's movie, John Piper has responded in a small book (129 pages) entitled, "The Passion of Jesus Christ."

The goal of this book was to answer the many questions of people who may have seen Gibson's movie and/or have been contemplating the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

"My aim is to let the Bible speak. This is where we hear the Word of God. I hope that these [scripture] pointers will set you on an endless quest to know more and more of God's great design in the death of his Son." (pg. 12)

The violence and enormity of Christ's death will eventually lead one to ask the question, "why did he have to suffer so much?" This is the very question that Piper aims to answer.

However, it must be noted that Piper qualifies this question by saying that instead of answering the <i>cause</i> of why Christ suffered and died, we must see the <i>purpose</i> to His suffering and death. In his own words he says, "when all is said and done, the most crucial question is: Why? Why did Christ suffer and die? Not why in the sense of cause, but why in the sense of purpose. What did Christ achieve by his passion? Why did he have to suffer so much? What great thing was happening on Calvary for the world? " (pg. 17)

The remainder of the book is 50 purposes to why Christ suffered and died. These purposes are masterfully expounded from the Scriptures. He gives the reader a doctrinally sound theological answer to many questions that believers and unbelievers may ask regarding the death and suffering of Jesus Christ.

This book is no mere tract, but a thought provoking defense of the great doctrines of the Christian faith. These doctrines are unfolded as the question of Christ suffering is answered within each chapter. It fulfills its aim to let the Word of God speak to the reader, by basing every argument from the Scriptures.

For example, he tackles common questions like:

<li> How can God be loving and just? (chapter 1)
<li> Who's idea was it for Jesus to die? (chapter 2)
<li> What does it mean for Christ to learn obedience and to be perfected? Wasn't he already obedient and perfect? (chapter 3)
<li> How can we properly understand God's love and grace? (chapter 5)
<li> What is justification? (chapters 7-12)
<li> How is His death unique and how does it compare with the sacrifice of animals? (chapter 24-31)

This book was overall a well written wakeup call to the reality of the suffering of Jesus Christ, which demands an inescapable response.

Read this book and pass it along to a friend.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Christians, February 27, 2004

By	Alexander Scott (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Piper does an excellent job exegeting why Christ suffered and died. Each of the 50 chapters is a straightforward analysis of 2-4 Bible verse from the Old and New Testaments. His points are clear, focused, and short (each is 2 pages). He covers a range of topics from sin to atonement to justification to discipleship to salvation, each intimately tied to the cross. I think a mature Christian will gain a lot from Piper's 50 points, and can effectively use them in evangelization.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explaining The Passion, March 29, 2004

By	Joel Andrew Bianchi (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Piper elegantly disects the issue of the significance of Christ's suffering. The book was released conveniently around the same time that Mel Gibson's movie was stirring up controversy in the media. Where Mel's movie fails to explain, Piper is quick to interject meaning. This book is not just recommended to people searching for answers to questions about the crucifixion of Jesus, but also for Christians who enjoy the shear joy and pure logic of the cross. Refreshingly, the book is not a defense of a tradtion, but an honest search for truth.