Scandalous

Roger Pomeroy | July 2013 - Highfields Book of the Month

By D.A. Carson - (2010) Nottingham: Inter Varsity Press

Don Carson in his own dynamic way opens up the historic events, which took place over one weekend in Jerusalem about two thousand years ago and considers their significance. He unpacks what some of the earliest witnesses to Jesus' death and resurrection wrote. These words, recorded in five passages of the New Testament are 'scandalous' but life transforming. If you really want to understand the heart of the Christian message, this is the book to read!

In the first section (Matthew 27:27-51) we come before the cross where Jesus is mocked as he suffers in agony. There are ironies that point to profound truths - Jesus the king of the Jews is crowned with thorns – and yet He is King! Jesus in utter powerlessness is in fact powerfully at work to save His people!

The next section (Romans 3:21-26) is entitled: 'The Centre of the Bible.' In these six short verses the Apostle Paul shows the profound significance of what took place as Jesus suffered and died. Unless there is an understanding of the basic human problem there can be no awareness of the solution. This is vital stuff if you want to know how a person can be made right with God!

We move into one of the most mysterious sections of the New Testament (Revelation 12) where Carson gives us insight into what few people ever consider today – Satan’s Rage! It was the Apostle John who was given, in visionary form, to see events in the heavenly realm. How important it is to understand, in this post modern age of technology and scientific advance, that there are in fact other spiritual and cosmic dimensions of reality. Unseen forces of Satanic power are at work to undermine the advance of God’s kingdom. It is at the cross of Christ where the Christian learns the secret of victory, even in the face of suffering and martyrdom. Two key lessons of overwhelming importance are set forth on pages 108-9.

The final chapters direct our attention to 'resurrection' - firstly, to Jesus' power in raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-53). Perhaps it is a little surprising to consider Jesus' reaction to the death of Lazarus. It is however glorious to understand the authority Jesus displays in raising him from the dead as a precursor of His own triumphant resurrection. This is summarised in the quote from a poem by S.W.Gandy:

'He death, in death, laid low;
Made sin he sin o'erthrew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so,
And death by dying slew.'    

In the last section (John 20), we relive the 'Thomas' incidents of being absent and later present when the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples. Thomas's immortal words, 'My Lord and my God' are considered. We are finally challenged to move from being like the sceptic Thomas to the transformed believer who had encountered the living Christ – as Lord and God!