C.J. Mahaney is the former pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  He mentored Joshua Harris (author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye) and then turned the pastorate over to Harris.  Mahaney now leads Sovereign Grace Minisitries which helps plant churches throughout the world.

 

I was eager to read Christ Our Mediator having read and enjoyed Mahaney’s earlier book, The Cross-Centered Life.  To be sure the latter is better than the former.

 

A Short Summary of the Book

 

Introduction: Searching the Mystery. The aim of the book is to “lead us in the pathway of that more profound understanding [of the cross]” (p.12).  Mahaney wants us to look long and hard at the cross.  This sounds okay, but it is a little too fuzzy (in my mind) for the goal of a book.  It seems to me it is kind of like saying, “We are going to think about a lot of things that are related to the gospel, Christ, and salvation.”  Mahaney seems to have a hard time in the book keeping a clear focus for the reader.

 

Chapter One: The Divine Order. We must put truth first and our feelings second.  That’s Mahaney’s main point.  On the way to making that point, Mahaney speaks of our tendency to live according to feelings rather than truth.  This is still introductory material.  It probably should have gone in the introduction except that the introduction would have been longer than the other chapters.

 

Chapter Two: The Divine Dilemma. Men are horribly sinful and God is infinitely holy; that is the dilemma.  What can be done about this?  In the OT, Job looked for a Mediator, Someone to arbitrate between sinful men and a holy God. 

 

Chapter Three: The Divine Rescue. Christ, Who is both God and man, is the appointed Mediator.  Through Christ, men find true peace/reconciliation with God.

 

Chapter Four: Staring Into the Cup. Mahaney reflects on Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  There Jesus prays that if it possible that the cup of His Father’s wrath pass from Him.  Jesus requests this, but is fully obedient to His Father’s will.  He prays for His Father’s will to be done.  Here we see the Mediator’s absorption of His Father’s wrath. 

 

Chapter Five: Your Face in the Crowd. Mahaney tries not to “convict you of sin, but to convince you of grace” (p. 66) as he points out that we all have to admit we would have been crying out “crucify Him!” if we were there at the time of the crucifixion.

 

Chapter Six: The Scream of the Damned. Jesus cried out “It is finished!” when He felt the reality of his aloneness – His separation from His Father. 

 

Chapter Seven: What God Understands. God understands the difficult trials men face because He, as a man, experienced every kind of trial men do.  The crucifixion teaches us this

 

Chapter Eight: Assurance and Joy. We should have joy knowing that Christ is our Mediator.  He is sympathetic to our needs, He provides freedom from legalism and trust in self, and He loves us with a perfect love.

 

 

Good Things About the Book

 

Comments on The Passion.  Mahaney’s comments regarding the movie, The Passion of the Christ, were good.  He mentioned that “the gospel message isn’t visual; it’s truth” (p. 10).  He also says, “It’s only the preaching of the gospel not the depiction of it, that God promises to accompany with saving effect” (p. 10). Romans 10 is clear on this.  Mahaney says the movie provided opportunities to share the gospel.  While the movie helped many to be aware of how Jesus died, it did not explain adequately why He died (which is essential to the gospel).

 

Emphasis on the gospel.  Few books emphasize the gospel.  This is Mahaney’s strength.  While many think the gospel is relevant only for unbelievers are new believers, Mahaney ably argues that it is relevant for ever believer for every day of their lives. 

 

 

Not So Good Things About the Book

 

Unclear. The reader has to work pretty hard to see the theme that is developed throughout the book.  It helped me a lot to write this review actually.  It seems a stretch to see that everything relates to Christ’s mediatorial work. 

 

Doesn’t accomplish his goal.  Mahaney intends to “lead us in the pathway of that more profound understanding [of the cross]” (p.12).  I don’t think I have a more profound understanding.  It didn’t seem like I took a long hard look at the cross either.  It is a small book. 

 

Nothing new.  I believe you can find the same truth taught in a whole slew of Christian books.  In fact, I think it is often said more succinctly, clearly, expositionally (tied more closely to Scripture as the meaning of Scripture is “exposed”), and with greater impact (the relevancy of the truth is demonstrated more clearly and fully). 

 

 

To sum it up…

 

Read The Cross-Centered Life.  It will be much more helpful.  If you want to read more about Christ’s work on the cross, start with The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges.