A Violent Grace

by Michael Card

They seem to be at irreconcilable odds: violence and grace. Yet award-winning author and musician Michael Card paints a stunning and poignant picture of how violence was the price of grace. Based primarily on passages in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, the reader is led on an exploration of the suffering and sacrifice it took to achieve our salvation, of Christ's separation from the Father so that we could enjoy intimacy with God, of His desertion so that we'd never have to be alone, of His rejection so that we'd find acceptance, and of His death so that we'd have eternal life. A Violent Grace gives readers a renewed appreciation for God's eternal love and an important reminder that His love came at a terrible cost.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

182 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Michael Card (born April 11, 1957) is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in contemporary Christian music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible. Since his debut in 1981, he has sold more than 4 million albums and has written 19 No. 1 singles.He has also authored several books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner A Sacred Sorrow.

http://www.michaelcard.com/#/about-mi...

Reviews

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite devotional works. I try to read it each year during Holy Week. Michael Card balances personal devotion with sound orthodox theology. An excellent read for any Christian.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried so hard when I first read this book, I purchased it back in 2001 and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to go and purchase as many more copies as i could afford and bless others with it so I did. I bought 7 more copies and passed them out to people in my church it was such a blessing.

[Laverne Byas-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read during Lent. It really puts the crucifixion in perspective -- historical as well as contemporary.

[Hany Abdelmalek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, short, yet well written, and contains deep thoughts about the cross of Christ.

[DeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is intense!! I loved it and it gives a deeper understanding of what Christ suffered and endured on the cross. The language is very poetic, beautiful and yet disturbing and thought provoking when John's accounts of Christ's execution are explained. I feel that the detailed explanations of the crucifixion, side by side with the scriptural references and meanings, brought me into His presence and made me just want to weep at Jesus' feet for what he endured on my behalf.

This book is deep and thick with theological/Biblical explanations about the crucifixion of Christ and other events surrounding Jesus' death, burial and resurrection and at the end there is a definite challenge to "take up your cross and follow me." Card calls out a plea to live your life for HIm, because He died for you. It is rich, raw and beautiful.

I loved this book and I'm so glad I read it before Easter. There were a few historical things about the death and burial of Christ that I had never learned before this book and that was interesting, but way more than that - it truly prepared my heart to slow down and worship Jesus this weekend.

This was one of my favorite parts:
"The love of Jesus washed Golgotha in cardinal hues. Darkening to terracotta, and then to nearly black, His blood left a mark on thorns, iron, wood, and soil. And it stained the hands of His oppressors. But here is an enduring mystery of the cross: When you kneel there, the dark stains of your hands disappear. By the miracle of grace, the blood of Christ cleanses you completely. "The blood of Jesus...purifies us from all sin," wrote John. According to Revelation, the miracle of Jesus' blood will be one of the grand hymns of eternity: You are worthy... because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Even in heaven, Jesus will appear "dressed in a robe dipped in blood" (Revelation 19:13)
But if you have let His blood stain you, you will be as white as snow."

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read leading up to Easter, but would be just as encouraging at any time of the year.

[Garth Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Violent Grace" this title sounds upside down but it's a fitting expression of what Christ did for us. I read this book around Easter time when I was wanting to connect closer to the pain that Christ went through on the cross for me. The book is similiar to The Passion of the Christ to where you get a better idea of how much Christ went through for us. There's a chapter describing a doctor's look at when the blood and the water came flowing out of Jesus' side when he was poked there by the guard after he had already died on the cross. The blood and the water is consistent with someone who's heart has exploded through an extreme trauma. Sounds graphic but so too was all the sin of the world and the pain that Christ had in his heart as His Father had to turn his back on Him at the moment when he bore all sin!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this at the suggestion of my friend (who is now a Lutheran Pastor). The book is comprised of 21 chapters, each about 4 pages long and ending with a prayer so it makes a good devotional. Each chapter deals with a different element of the suffering that Jesus went through in his journey to the cross.

Michael Card is well known for some of his contemporary Christian songs like "El Shaddai" but I didn't know that he wrote books until my friend suggested it. I'm reading it for the season of Lent, reading a chapter a day and I'm finding that it's a great mediation for this solemn season.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blow-by-blow account of what actually happened to Jesus on the cross. Mr. Card tells a gruesome tale without being too graphic (but without glossing over anything).

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! How can I not thank my God and Savior for His Grace!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this book right now in my life. It was absolutely refreshing to read an unfiltered view of what Jesus did on the cross. It is very well written, in short chapters to allow one to process what they read, and really doesn't sugar-coat any of the details around the crucifixion and how we should be approaching the cross in our faith.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because of his tendency to put a lot of hypothetical images in your head during some of the chapters. An example being when he talks about trying to imagine that one of the last sounds Jesus heard on the cross was the sound of a bleating lamb...while the imagery is powerful when he does this, it actually took away from the details and level of trust/accuracy he was trying to portray in this book.

Fantastic book, though, and I highly recommend it to anyone that is a bit stagnant in their faith or have lost what the true meaning of what Jesus did for us on that cross is.

[Geetha Chandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the run-up to Easter, a slowdown, and look at each step that the Lord Jesus took from the garden of Gethsemane to the resurrection, really helpful reflection on what Jesus did, for our sake, and how we may now live. Hardback.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful and inspiring

Written in a way that helps you to see an old story with new perspective and which helps recapture the wonder of what Christ has done.

[Vanne Stch · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most "personal" accounts of the suffering of Christ and the "WHYs". A must read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers some fresh perspectives on the crucifixion it’s just not written in a style that is appealing to me.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very, very good. This would be a great resource to work through during Lent, leading up to Resurrection Sunday. But no need to wait that long. It's truth is real all year long.

[scott d. smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always love the passion and perspective of the author. His vantage as a musician comes through in the writing.

[Lynnette Goebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read before Easter.

[ME · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect re-read for Passion Week devotions.

[Janet France · Rating 5 out of 5]

From violence to Amazing Grace

A book that will make you cry, break your heart but nourish your soul with the love of Christ Amen

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking devotionals surrounding the crucifixion. Some good reminders and words of encouragement.

[Robert Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renewed Passion

This book is simple yet elegant. It’s a masterpiece of Christ’s journey to the cross in a light that renews your passion for Him.

[Tori Samar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but outstanding read, especially in preparation for Easter. As always, Michael Card wonderfully engages the reader's imagination and affections as he walks us through the events surrounding Christ's crucifixion. I was struck anew with the wonder and horror of what happened at the cross and also led to consider things about Christ's death and resurrection that I never have before!

Card has always been a lover of paradox, and this book is a good demonstration of that. The chapter titles alone are cause for much meditation. Indeed, the cross is the ultimate paradox--a demonstration of violent grace. Every moment of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and verbal violence that Christ endured allowed each of us to be showered with God's grace. "The cross of Christ will forever remain the center of our faith. From this greatest of negatives flow all the positives of our new life in Christ: from conflict, peace; from pain, healing; from death, life."

Card says it much better than I can: "On one hand, the cross is a mirror held up to my sin that shows me, through the price that was paid, just how thoroughly lost I am. . . . On the other hand, the cross is a window held up to my Lord that shows me how greatly loved I am." And that is amazing grace indeed!

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Card doesn't give the readers anything groundbreaking, but when it comes to the crucifixion, groundbreaking isn't what is needed. Card breaks down each event of the Passion into a formula to show that each thing Christ endured was for our benefit (Christ suffered [x ordeal] so that we could receive [benefit y]). This is a great book for Lent or any other time of year. One can never be reminded too often of Christ's sufferings on the cross. "Out of the beautiful violence of His life will flow a river of grace that will change our world."

[Emerald Longcop]

Im currently reading this book and so cant make a sweeping statement as to what this book is all about. Basically, its a very inspiring book with clear picture images although one must be careful not to take the experience to much of an emotional experience but rather ,one must be able to make a balance understanding on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. One thing i can say is that, violent grace brought me to a different angle of seeing Jesus! Good read indeed!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this book every Lenten season. It is always fresh and always is the perfect daily reminder of what Christ did, with content that seems 'new' every time I read it. Michael Card's gift with words is such a gift to us, and the Holy Spirit uses it to pierce our hearts with fresh insight.

[Don Henrikson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as Michael Card's music does such a remarkable job at calling Christians to consider Christ, this book calls Christians to consider Christ crucified. It is an excellent devotional book on the saving work accomplished at Calvary.

[Cynthia Isley]

I'd buy a copy if I could get one for my e-reader

[Brenda Seefeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Beautifully written. Beautifully printed. A good one to pass on to many people.