Jesus wasn't afraid of confrontation. He was humble and compassionate, but he could also pierce the hearts of those who needed correction. In The Jesus You Can't Ignore, John MacArthur takes a closer look at Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees, the Sadducees and anyone else whose motives were tainted. Explore the passionate side of Jesus and let MacArthur's teaching awaken in you a desire to stand up for God's truth and honor.
Best-selling author John MacArthur gives readers a fresh look at how Jesus addressed attacks against the truth.
Meek and mild. Politically correct. A great teacher. These are the popular depictions of Jesus. But they aren’t the complete picture. Maybe because it’s uncomfortable, or maybe because it’s inconvenient, Christians and non-Christians alike are overlooking the fierceness of the Savior, His passionate mission to make the Gospel clear and bring people into the Kingdom of God. A mission that required he sometimes raise his voice and sometimes raise a whip.
In the much-needed message in The Jesus You Can’t Ignore, renowned Bible teacher and best-selling author John MacArthur reintroduces the compelling and often unsettling passion of Jesus’ ministry. MacArthur points to the picture of the real Jesus the world is so eager to gloss over. And he calls readers to emulate Jesus’ commitment to further the kingdom by confronting lies and protecting the truth of God.
In The Jesus You Can't Ignore, John MacArthur, noted teacher and author, tackles the dilemma facing many in Christian leadership positions: how does one disagree without being disagreeable? Should one disagree? Should one be disagreeable? What would Jesus do?
That last question “What would Jesus do?” is the crux of the entire volume. MacArthur is quick and careful to point out that Jesus responded to those with differing positions not with gentleness or quiet discussion but with confrontational clarity. No one ever left a conversation with Jesus without knowing clearly where He stood on an issue. If you differed in your opinion from His, He was careful to point out where and why there was a difference; and you were called to repent from your position and return to a position of Truth.
Truth with a capital “T” is paramount to this discussion. MacArthur is careful to delineate the reasons for the existence of Truth that is absolute, not relative. There are a set of standards by which one can and should be measured. The loving model of Jesus is not to embrace all positions as though Truth did not and does not matter; it is to carefully confront those opposed to Truth and seek to return to a humble following of Truth as He lays it out.
MacArthur carefully proceeds through the life and ministry of Jesus, showing how His repeated confrontations with the religious leaders of the day were carefully crafted to highlight the areas they had strayed from and perverted the Truth. Jesus does not waltz through the gospels like Caspar Milquetoast; He cuts a path of careful clarity and confrontation of error. The Jesus of the gospels does not dialogue in cafes, He declares on the corners the error of those opposed to Truth.
The question remains: was Jesus "nice?" Not by modern definitions. To many, He was insulting, confrontational, harsh, in-your-face, and blunt. Was Jesus kind? Absolutely! The problem is that modern society has confused kindness with nicety. You will search in vain for one command to “be nice” but Scripture contains many pronouncements to “be kind.” Which is more Christlike?
MacArthur’s conclusion is that those who would live to emulate Jesus’ actions must still be engaged in spiritual combat. As soldiers, some fighting is expected. The battle for Truth continues. One must not ignore or conciliate the enemy. The enemy is to be addressed and exposed. Truth matters. Truth must not be ignored. That is why Jesus could not be ignored in His day. That is why Jesus must not be ignored in our day, either. – Charles L. Eldred, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
In 1897, author Charles Monroe Sheldon penned a volume titled “In His Steps” that went on to become an international bestseller. It is from this book that the popular WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) movement emerged. MacArthur, bestselling author, pastor of Grace Community Church and president of the Master's College and Seminary, begins with this notion and expands it to ask the question, “What did Jesus do?” He acknowledges that knowing the mind of Christ can be a challenge, especially when confronting the widespread influence of secularism and irreligion. But he also notes that Jesus encountered the same kinds of challenges. By studying the gospels, a modern pilgrim can get a sense of how Jesus handled similar situations, and extrapolate from his example ways in which we, today, can live. “His [Jesus'] style of ministry ought to be the model for ours,” the author writes. MacArthur insists that we can engage contemporary culture using the same techniques that Christ used to meet head-on the challenges of his day. (July) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
7 of 7 Reviews Showing:
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ronald Kaddatz (Hot Springs, AR), January 19, 2010
If you have read MacArthur, you will love this book. He tells it like it is-NO comprising with non-Christian beliefs.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Donovan (Redding, CA), January 05, 2010
Absolutely great book! This book is sort of a follow up idea John MacArthur's "The Truth War". I recommend every Christian in our current generation read both. I am taking a small group bible study through this book now using the study guide. Loved it.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Mark Carpenter (Pinckney, MI), December 08, 2009
This book brings the true Christ Jesus out in the open for today as he was during His ministry.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Gainesville Bible Church (Gainesville, TX), September 14, 2009
Once again MacArthur provides a very well written and very timely book on the second person of the trinity. In this book the Jesus we cannot simply ignore, a Jesus that many pulpits today simply do not teach about.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jan (Pinehurst, NC), September 11, 2009
This is a book you just can't ignore. Brings us back to reality and purpose.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Clarence Hamann (St. Joseph, MI), August 05, 2009
I like knowing more about Jesus...and this was backed up by Bible readings, not just someones opinion. I am still in the process of reading it but would definately recomend it. I missed the confrontation just reading the Bible. This book awakened my heart to the Truth .....that is Jesus.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Curtis Serben (Canada), July 29, 2009
MacArthur gives an honest portrayal of Jesus' encounters with the religious leaders of His day, much like we should confront the false teachers of our day. Sadly those that will post negative reviews are likely the same which were addressed in the book, not surprisingly. Though I lived as an unbeliever for more than 25yrs, mostly out of ignorance to what the bible actually said and taught, I am utterly stunned and disgusted at the absolute blindness and depravity of those who twist and pervert the scriptures. It really isn't that complicated, and God has spoken very plainly, yet people so willingly overlook such clear texts and purposely edit the Word of God to propagate their own doctrines and self aggrandized schemes.
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