“Don’t you folks ever read your Bibles?” These were among the first words I heard from the lips of Dr. John G. Mitchell, founder of Multnomah School of the Bible – recently renamed Multnomah University. I’ll never forget the time Dr. Mitchell walked up to me, a man in his mid 80’s with clenched fists and asked if I wanted to fight! Joking of course, the elder Scotsman truly loved the student body at Multnomah. Not many months before he went to be with the Lord, we were instructed to stop applauding him as he took to the lectern. The sound of 800 students clapping jangled his nerves and wreaked havoc on his hearing aids. So in those last days, we merely stood as a sign of respect as the great teacher made his way to the preachers desk. “Don’t you folks ever read your Bibles?” he would ask, with a glimmer in his eye. He would challenge us with fiery passion to preach Christ faithfully and to pursue holiness – all to the glory of God. Dr. Mitchell would constantly encourage us, “I want you to know the glory of the Savior.” He knew the Savior; he knew the saving benefits of his cross-work; and he wanted everyone to experience the same. He wanted us to know the name above all names, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson, who like Dr. Mitchell also hail from Scotland have an identical passion. They want the world to know, embrace and worship – The Name Above All Names. The Crossway title is a solid offering that explores some core components of Christology. The authors do not intend to present a full-orbed Christology; rather their aim is to present seven snapshots that concern the person and work of Christ:
1. Jesus Christ, the Seed of the Woman
2. Jesus Christ, the True Prophet
3. Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest
4. Jesus Christ, the Conquering King
5. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man
6. Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant
7. Jesus Christ, the Lamb on the Throne
The book while intensely theological, is written is a devotional tone that is suitable for beginners and veterans of the Christian faith. Like Dr. Mitchell who went before them, these Scottish writers have a passion for Christ that needs fanning in America. Perhaps the flicker will turn into a flame!
Veritas et Lux 