Knowing Christ

by Mark Jones, J.I. Packer (Foreword)

The Puritans loved the Bible, and dug into it in depth. Also, they loved the Lord Jesus, who is of course the Bible's focal figure; they circled round him, centred on him, studied minutely all that Scripture had to say about him, and constantly, conscientiously, exalted him in their preaching, praises, and prayers. Mark Jones, an established expert on many aspects of Puritan thought, also loves the Bible and its Christ, and the Puritans as expositors of both; and out of this triune love he has written a memorable unpacking of the truth about the Saviour according to the classic Reformed tradition, and the Puritans supremely. It is a book calculated to enrich our twenty-first-century souls, and one that it is an honour to introduce.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Devotional, Faith

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2015

About the author

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

Rev. Dr. Mark Jones (PhD, Leiden Universiteit) has been the Minister at Faith Vancouver Church (PCA) since 2007. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He lectures at various seminaries around the world and is currently writing a book titled, "Knowing Christ" (Banner of Truth, forthcoming).

He also blogs at Reformation21.org.

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a wonderful book. Theologically rich, and devotionally potent.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a blessing. Mark Jones does a fantastic job of walking through deep Christological truths that can benefit mature believers and new converts. This book will be added to my must read list for Christians. I was awestruck as how he took the deep theology of who Jesus is and brought the reader into a worshipful experience of Christ.

[Leonardo Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente! Mark Jones tem uma escrita agradável e fluida (em alguns momentos até lírica), que serve bem tanto a doutores como a leigos. Os capítulos são concisos, mas trazem o essencial que precisamos conhecer sobre os aspectos que envolvem a natureza do nosso Salvador. Esse livro me fez amar ainda mais a Cristo. Obrigado, Jones!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite frankly this is one of the best books I've ever read. It took me a while, not because it was hard to finish but because it was so rich I only wanted to bite at it and chew long on what I got each time. This is theology done well. It is concise, devotional, lucid, and the product of a mind that swims in the best of our reformed and Puritan heritage.

On Facebook I said this book is a potential candidate for the books that have most influenced me. The reason is that I feel I never really understood the full glory and beauty of Christ's humanity until I opened the pages of this book. Understanding Christ's humanity, and how he depended on the Spirit rather than drew from his own divine nature to fulfill his offices, both exalted the Christ in my thinking and helps me enormously when reading the Gospels again.

Loved it. I know Christ better!

[Bambi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many have described this book as potent, and it’s a good word. Count me among those who feel Knowing Christ is a modern classic. Beautiful, sound Christology. This is my favorite book of 2018. I love Christ more after reading it.

[Becky Hintz · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you bill a book as the companion to Knowing God, you're setting expectations high. This book just didn't live up to the hype. Its language is far more lofty than Packer's; far more formal and theological. It reads more like a series of lectures than sermons--it just misses the punch, the get-in-your-kitchen relevance, the lines connecting theology to life. I preferred Bruce Ware's book on Christ, which covered much of the same ground in a more engaging way.

[Drew Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing Christ is one of those books that reminds you of how little you know. I would rate this book as fairly academic, not something I would give to a new believer. I will say that it is a must read for believer's, however. I appreciate Mark Jones for being concise. As he says in the end, he could have easily doubled this size of this book.

[Johan Verschoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boek dat je in 27 hoofdstukken dicht bij de Bijbel Jezus beter leert kennen. Het beschrijft bijvoorbeeld Zijn gebeden, of Zijn emoties toen Hij mens was.

Het boek doet aan het begin een beetje 'droog' aan, maar gaandeweg laat het je steeds meer verwonderen over hoe bijzonder het is dat Jezus voor mensen wilde sterven en daar zo erg voor heeft moeten lijden.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Jones' book "Knowing Christ" is an excellent companion book to J. I. Packer's book "Knowing God". Jones focuses in on the character and attributes of Christ, explaining key aspects of Christ's divine and human natures, showing how they work together, and how Christ interacts with his people and the world. The book is written in a very easy to read fashion with small chapters describing each specific aspect of Christ's character. Examples include: Christ's dignity, covenant, prayers, temptations, death, resurrection, and offices. I highly recommend this book to those studying Christology, both new and seasoned Christians can learn more about Christ with this book.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most profound Christian books I've ever read. On page after page, Mark Jones shows depths of the glory of Jesus that have led me to pause and worship. It is impossible to read this book quickly, and that is a good thing. The author is steeped in his knowledge of the Puritans, especially John Owen, to whom he says he owes a debt of gratitude.
This is a book that will be with me on my desert island. It deserves a place among the classics. It also deserves re-reading in the days to come. Long may it remain in print. It should be required reading for church leaders. Tolle lege !!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great survey of many aspects of the person and work of Christ from a Reformed theological perspective. I particularly liked and learned much about a topic that many people claim as one of their beliefs (“Jesus is fully God and fully man.”) but may never have really considered or studied, adding much theological depth and richness to what Christ being the God-Man actually means. Jones’ writing style leaves something to be desired (kind of dry or abrupt at times) and the survey format also can present challenges based on one’s familiarity with the various topics, but the content is worth the read in spite of this.

[Felipe Sabino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástico! Talvez a melhor cristologia disponível em vernáculo para leigos.

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the attributes of Christ. Mark Jones channels the Puritans for both quotes and style.

What struck me was the emphasis on Christ's humanity and how He walked with Spirit. My view has been that Christ's divinity trumped everything. So when he triumphed over Satan in the wilderness it was because he was God. But the truth is that Christ was not just God. He was the perfect man who trusted his Father and was filled with Spirit beyond measure. Therefore he defeated Satan not because he was God, but because he was the sinless man. Jones does a great job of showing Christ's humanity and what that means for us.

Insights into Christ's character and work abound in this book. I found it tremendously helpful in clarifying divergent ideas of Jesus was. I would highly recommend this book for all Christians, but especially pastors and teachers. It is christology and doxology rolled into one.

My one complaint is that there is not a Scripture or subject index. Adding one into a later edition would be a great benefit to using this book as a resource.

[NinaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it’s early, but Knowing Christ is going to be on my favorite books list this year. It centers upon whom our identity should be founded. I am a Christian, not because I want to escape hell, experience forgiveness, live in hope in a fallen world, though these are all good side blessings of being saved. I am a Christian because of Christ. If there is anyone or anything more desirable to me than Him, then I am just fooling myself.

This is a devotional book more than anything. It isn’t something you can rush through but has to be taken in, morsel by morsel, with careful understanding, studying of and meditation on the trove of Scripture references it cites. I have been a Christian for three decades yet still found new insights on the character of Christ I had never thought of before. He is the reason I believe and indeed worthy of my lifelong worship and devotion. This book made me love Him more than before and anything that causes anyone to do that should be taken in with open hearts by all of us.

[Paul Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Christological work I have ever read. I will definitely read it multiple times throughout my life. My favorite aspect of this book is not just the high theology on Christ's divinity but also on Christ's humanity; for without Christ's active obedience being fulfilled according to the flesh, we would all be lost and our salvation void. The chapters are succinct and devotional, and the final chapter (being a sort of culmination of everything stated before) is practically worthy of applause upon finishing. Your worship and treasuring of Christ, and all of His attributes, will only strengthen (and bring about more humility) as you read this. Mark Jones, as the great Puritan Hectorius Bogglesworth once said: "You have nailed it, good sir!" I will recommend this to all of my friends.

[Alex Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has stirred my affections for Jesus more than any other book outside of the Bible. I’m going back through and taking notes now. After that, I’ll probably take more notes of my notes. Read this book!

[Kevin Sheth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knowing Christ is a gold mine of rich, Puritan Christology that will be of great benefit to Christians of little or great faith.

[Daniel Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. My favourite book of the year.

[Jonathan Josey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that is saturated in Scripture. As his epilogue states, it could easily be a book 2-3 times the size that it is. As deep and helpful as it was, it could have gone even further! But as John states at the end of his gospel in 21:25, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I supposed that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

That is the strength of this book. It is completely Christ-centered, but also helps one realize how much *more* we have to learn of Christ. It is a deeply devotional book that is easily accessible, and it is set up for deeper study for anyone who desires. Highly recommended!

[Tom Sussex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really is one of the best. It is dense, and reading it can feel like wading through mud, but it is so so rewarding. Every sentence is rich with scripture, and it helps you to wrap your mind around the deeper mysteries of God whilst leaving you in awe and wonder at his ways. I've been reading it for 18 months (very sporadically) but it has helped me to experience a real closeness with Christ, and looking at the glimpses of his glory in the pages of his Word has helped me fix my eyes upon him. Ultimately this book helped me to learn more about my Saviour, long to know him better, and desire to love him more.

[Jared Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book can accurately capture the majesty of Jesus Christ, but this book tries oh so well. This is such a short but dense work; it quotes from many well known theologians and exposits a wealth of scripture with clarity. Each chapter is quite short and can serve as a devotional for a month or so. For any reader of this book, I pray your worship, zeal and love for Christ would grow, for He is the supreme object of desire and worthy of all praise that could be given to Him.

[Justin Genus · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Let us live in the constant contemplation of the glory of Christ, and virtue will proceed from him to repair all our decays, to renew a right spirit within us, and to cause us to abound in all duties of obedience. This way of producing these effects flesh and blood will not reveal,—it looks like washing in Jordan to cure a leprosy; but the life of faith is a mystery known only unto them in whom it is.”

—John Owen

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't like it so much at first, but found myself liking it more and more as I went through it.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to really get going on this book, mainly because I wanted to make sure I had quality time to spend on it. I definitely feel like I understand more about Christ, and I hope I retain what I've learned.

[mpsiple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Some profound theological reflection written in short devotional chapters. I especially appreciated Jones's emphasis on the humanity of Christ. I'm more thankful for Jesus because of this book, and I hope it becomes a staple.

I would recommend this to *everyone*.

(It could also serve as an introduction to the Puritans. The endnotes tell you all the right names to be reading.)

[Sean McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Addalai B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read slowly as a devotional. Appreciated the topical style for reading over several months and especially the Puritan’s meditations Jones included.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Puritanish guide to the Incarnate Son of God. I learned a ton! Really edifying approach to this work, Mark Jones has adopted the Puritans' view that all theology is spirituality. Jesus really is the light of the glory of God!

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that come along that can be described as instant classics. One such book is Mark Jones latest release, Knowing Christ. A noted expert in the writings of the Puritan authors, Jones examines in this book twenty-seven aspects that help us understand our Savior.

We know Jesus, but do we really know Jesus with the difference being mere head knowledge versus an intimate relationship. In order to have this intimate knowledge of our Savior, we must dig into Scripture to understand who he is, why he came, what he did on our behalf, and how all that impacts our life. Jones aptly notes in the introduction, “We can only love him more by knowing him better – which takes us beyond conceptual to relational knowledge. ‘To know’ in the Bible can very often mean to have a concern about something that involves the understanding of the mind, the movement of the will, and the application of the heart. ‘To know’ means ‘to know with particular interest’ or ‘to set one’s affections upon’.” The outstanding aspect of Jones’ book is it is directly focused on helping the reader grow in their affections for and love for Jesus.

Each chapter begins with a passage of Scripture, followed by explanation and application. Jones, in the tradition of the great Puritan authors, provides salient theological insight on a number of important truths such as the incarnation of Christ, the divinity of Christ, the humiliation of Christ, and other aspects such as the prayers of Christ, his names, offices, and events such as the transfiguration, death, and resurrection.

Interspersed throughout his commentary in this book on what it means to know Christ are valuable quotes from a number of Puritan authors that are not just filler for the book. Conversely, these comments from men such as John Owen, Stephen Charnock, Thomas Goodwin, as well as many other godly authors of old.

I came away after reading this book more fully aware of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I highly recommend Mark Jones book for all believers. It is written in such a way that it would be valuable as a devotional tool or as a useful means by which to study the person and work of Christ. Furthermore, I would recommend J. I. Packer’s classic work Knowing God as a companion piece to Jone’s book. Both will serve you well in your biblical studies.

I received this book for free from Banner of Truth and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”