Jesus
demands
from the
world
John Piper
CROSSWAY BOOKS
A PUBLISHING MINISTRY OF
GOOD NEWS PUBLISHERS
WHEATON, ILLINOIS
What Jesus Demands from the World
Copyright © 2006 by Desiring God Foundation
Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.
Cover design: Josh Dennis
Cover photo: Getty Images
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked kjv are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked nasb are from The New American Standard Bible.® Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
Scripture references marked rsv are from The Revised Standard Version. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Piper, John, 1946-
What Jesus demands from the world / John Piper.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 13: 978-1-58134-845-3 (hc : alk. paper)
ISBN 10: 1-58134-845-2
1. Jesus Christ—Teachings. 2. Bible. N.T. Gospels—Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BS2415.P49 2006
241.5—dc22 2006021810
To
Benjamin and Melissa
living the love of Jesus
Suggestions for How to Read This Book
Introduction: The Aim of the Book
(and Those Who Wonder What They Are Doing)
Demand #1
Demand #2
Demand #3
Demand #4
Demand #5
Demand #6
Demand #7
Demand #8
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
Demand #9
Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength
Demand #10
Demand #11
Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell
Worship God in Spirit and Truth
Demand #13
Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart
Demand #14
Do Not Be Anxious About the Necessities of Daily Life
Demand #15
Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man
Demand #16
Humble Yourself by Making War on Pride
Demand #17
Humble Yourself in Childlikeness, Servanthood, and Brokenhearted Boldness
Demand #18
Do Not Be Angry—Trust God’s Providence
Demand #19
Do Not Be Angry—Embrace Mercy and Forgiveness
Demand #20
Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven— Be Justified by Trusting Jesus
Demand #21
Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven— Be Transformed by Trusting Jesus
Demand #22
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About What Jesus Demands from the WorldThe four Gospels are filled with demands straight from the mouth of Jesus Christ. These demands are Jesus’ way of showing us who he is and what he expects of us. They are not the harsh demands of a taskmaster. For example, the demand that we come to Jesus is like the demand of a father to his child in a burning window, “Jump to me!” Or like the demand of a rich, strong, tender, handsome husband to an unfaithful wife, “Come home!” What Jesus demands from the world can be summed up as: “Trust and treasure me above all.” This is good news! What Jesus Demands from the World begins with an introduction that puts the demands in a redemptive-historical context, then concisely examines each demand. The result is an accessible introduction for thoughtful inquirers and new believers, as well as meditative meat for veteran believers who want to know Jesus better. “The Christian gospel is more than just a wonderful offer of saving grace; it is a demand for supreme loyalty, for surrender to the lordship of Jesus. We forget this too easily in our contemporary church, besieged as we are by a philosophy of pluralism that rejects ultimate authority and a culture of rights that scorns submissiveness. But John Piper reminds us of the real truth: obedience to Christ’s commands is our absolute duty; yet, paradoxically, in his service is perfect freedom and joy!”—William J. U. Philip, Minister, St George’s-Tron Church, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. “This book is a special gift from the pen of John Piper. How long has it been since you carefully reflected upon the authoritative commands of Christ? Through these pages you will encounter the Savior and experience the transforming effects of the gospel. Few endeavors are more worthy of your time.”—C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries. “Scholars, popularists, and now even novelists are falling over each other today in a blind passion to discover an alternative Jesus to the One so magnificently portrayed in the biblical Gospels. In stark and refreshing contrast John Piper clear-sightedly grasps the obvious—the biblical Jesus is worth living for and dying for.”—Sinclair Ferguson, Senior Minister, The First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. |
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