Rich Wounds
How can you dwell deep in the Easter story? What can you find in the wounds of Christ? In Rich Wounds, David Mathis shows us the countless treasures in the life, death, and triumph of Jesus.
Devotional
The book is broken into three parts, taking different approaches and angles to understanding the Easter story. Part 1: His Life, looks at eight aspects of Jesus’ life. Part 2: His Death, examines the wondrous work of Jesus’ cross. Part 3: His Triumph, is an extended look at Jesus’ resurrection. Part 4: His Passion Week, journeys through the proper Easter story, ending on Easter Sunday.
Mathis soaks his entire book in Scripture. And he has a way of drawing out devotions from the simplest sentences. I loved how he explains what it means for us to have a Savior who works as well as sleeps, and when it’s time to rest or sacrifice sleep.
Theological
But I especially enjoyed the chapter on what it means to have a Savior who walks. Mathis says that a walking pace set the standard for Jesus’ ministry, and it is this steadfastness that shows he was not distracted by his past or hurrying into the future. When he was pressured, he trusted his Father, and he walked in faith. It is the Christian’s pace of love.
I appreciate how Mathis is deeply theological. In Chapter 10, he lists five benefits that Christ purchased on the cross. Propitiation, justification, redemption, reconciliation, and pacification show just how precious the blood of Jesus is. And in Chapter 13, he compares the Old Covenant with Christ’s New Covenant of Grace. The book remains worshipful throughout. Theology and doxology.
Worshipful
The book crescendos at Part 3: His Triumph, and Mathis makes much of Christ’s resurrection. Probably my favorite chapter in this book, Chapter 16 ponders what it means for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to have a human heart. Also in this section, Mathis explains how Christ is unstoppable, how he is exalted, and how he has sat down. His wounds will never fade, and his worship will never end.
By the time you get to Part 4, having spent so much time examining the life and work of Christ, you feel the weight behind his Passion week. The most important week in history culminates in the risen King. In a moving conclusion, Mathis looks at the lyrics to “Jesus I My Cross Have Taken.” With the song, and Scripture, Mathis calls us to take up our cross. By dying to self, we gain Christ. It’s his glories, now, we sing.
I received a media copy of Rich Wounds and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.