The contemporary church loves to paint Jesus as gentle, meek ... nice. In this striking work, Mark Galli introduces you to a different sort of savior - one who often makes other people feel decidedly uncomfortable.
Focusing on Jesus as he's portrayed in Mark's Gospel, Galli unveils the power of Christ in his militancy. Through biblical episodes, stories of both classic and contemporary saints, personal snapshots, and discussion questions, you'll discover that Christ's deep love for you is richer and more difficult than you can imagine. In this persistent, fearsome, untamed love, you can find true joy.
Christianity Today editor Galli explores the less lovable side of the
Christian deity, offering a well-written, thoroughly researched look at Jesus.
"The warm and friendly Jesus, although an attractive idea, is but an idol,"
Galli says. He uses 17 passages in the Gospel of Mark to present a Jesus who
is much less loving, gentle and patient than many Christians would like to
believe. This Jesus can be stern, confrontational, purposefully confusing and
even impatient. He sometimes shames and scares us, but loves us enough to draw
us inexorably toward him: "For Jesus has come to us, the real Jesus-mean,
wild, and pulsing with an unnerving and irresistible love." Although several
other recent books, including Mark Buchanan's Your God Is Too Safe and R.T.
Kendall's Out of Your Comfort Zone, have also traversed the God-is-dangerous
territory, this one contributes much to the discussion; Galli's writing is
clear and concise, his logic smooth, his knowledge of early Christian saints
helpful, the discussion questions on target and his conclusions inescapable.
Readers will come away with a disconcerting new understanding of "Jesus mean
and wild." (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Jesus overturned tables in the temple. Jesus chastised the Pharisees. Jesus talked of a final judgment. Jesus expressed anger and grief. Wouldn’t it just be more comfortable to simply overlook these aspects of Jesus’ life? After all, we’d rather spend more time talking about the kind and loving Jesus and the Good News.
That is exactly Mark Galli’s point. Christians tend to focus on the ‘nice’ Jesus and avoid seeing the ‘mean’ Jesus. But Galli uses the Gospel of Mark to show that Jesus’ actions and words were not motivated by meanness, but rather by love. Jesus came to earth to be an example of holy living. So when confronted with situations contrary to His purpose, He could not let them go unchallenged. By closely examining what He said and how He acted, Christians can learn valuable lessons to apply to their lives.
God has always been difficult for man to understand. At times He draws close, and other times seems elusive, even occasionally withdrawing the sense of His presence. A life devoted to Christ can be demanding and difficult, but God’s wild and intense love for His children is unbounded.
Galli expertly uses a wide variety of illustrations and personal stories to show that Christians need to consider the vastness and complexity of God. Yes, He is unquestionably a God of love, but He is also a holy God, and a God of power and righteousness. Instead of trying to place limits on Him, Christians should embrace His many facets and realize that His own glory will always be His motivation. This would be a good book for group discussions, and a truly thought-provoking study guide is included. – Jeff Friend, Christian Book Previews.com
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Garry Webb (Hamilton, Ohio), November 05, 2009
After 25 years of confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, only to discover that I never really knew Him! After viewing the "Passion of the Christ", God began a "re-birth" of sorts and this book is one of the tools God used to bring me into a deeper fellowship with His Son. To first, know Christ as Lord, in the power of His resurrection, means much more than to know Him only as a friend. Christ came to earth as the Holy Lamb of God, and I can't wait to behold Him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! Thank you, Mark Galli, for letting God use you to write such an uplifting book. God bless.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by David Laymon (Strawberry Plains, TN), August 22, 2009
The soft squishy Jesus that we have been fed all our lives is nothing more than a ball faced lie. Galli does an excellent job of telling it as it is, with plenty of scripture to back himself up. God is not looking for puppets, he looking for friends and allies. But the evil one wants to keep us in the dark and never truly taking up the challenge and adventure that God is offering. Excellent read.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle G (KS), June 25, 2009
I am doing a small group study on the book Jesus Mean and Wild by Mark Galli and can say we are all enjoying being challenged in the way the world has portrayed Jesus. This book makes you think!
2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jennifer Stout (Alvarado, TX), December 17, 2008
It has great content, I am really enjoying the message. I t is a little hard to read for a speed reader.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Terri Morse (Tucson, AZ), February 22, 2008
This book has changed my life and how I relate to other people and my relationshp with the Lord! A must read for every Christian no matter how long you have been walking with Jesus.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by James E. Yoder (Bonanza, OR), October 02, 2007
A totally different but true opinion/view point. Well worth the time to read.
Well written.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michael (OKC, OK), April 10, 2007
Excellent book. Good to the point that I have used its many stirring topics not only in my House Church but also in my personal devotions. Galli provides quotes from Kierkegaard and Bonhoffer, which is the possible foundation for many of his ideas and inspirations. So if one finds this book to be an offense or troublesome, Galli is certainly not the only author with which to take your problems.
The Church (especially in America) has lost its ability to provide the flint for the conviction that the Holy Spirit is desperately seeking to provide. It has forsaken its clarity for relevance which has gained it a foothold on neither.
I have and will continue to highly recommend this book to my Evangelical and Fundamentalists friends. It is not only a great book for devotion, but also for conviction of baby Christians. And for an added bonus, it has some sample questions for small group leaders... which can easily be modified to fit whatever type of application is desired.
Great book sir... can't wait to explore more of your catalog.
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Vicki Herndon (Reidsville NC), March 17, 2007
There is no good thing in Mr. Galli's book that cannot be found elsewhere, and readers would be wise to look elsewhere. Any Bible study or Sunday school class worth its salt and light would net Truth wrapped in words and packaging that glorify God. Mr. Galli's cheap title and irresponsible writing may prove to be costly in the Church's efforts to evangelize the broken and bleeding. Jesus is never mean, God never abandons, and we are never abandoned by grace. It is through grace that we know that grace never abandons. We soar in God's gift of grace as eagles in the air and light. We are kept by grace as babes in amniotic fluid when we experience the darkness of this fallen world. I am sorry for Mr. Galli. Did he not know that man's best thinking is no match for the Word of God? The book left me with a depressing sadness that, for awhile, kept my knowledge of Truth bound in battle with his blasphemy. A feast on the works and words of C. H. Spurgeon was God's tool to free me. I pray that Mr. Galli will be willing to dig in to the feast as well. I pray also that Mr. Galli's friends are paying attention. Their duty is clear.
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