This was my first introduction to Timothy Keller. I’m not quite sure how his name came across my desk, but I’m glad it did. I throughly enjoyed King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus (affiliate link).

Keller digs into the Gospel of Mark in a unique way. Although it is positioned as a biography of Jesus it is equally a useful commentary on the Gospel of Mark. Keller has a tight and straight-forward writing style that supports his frequent comparison to C.S. Lewis (a personal favorite).

I think he was targeting the believer. Although I think King’s Cross might open the heart of a seeker or non-believer, I think it’s ideal for Christians that are seeking to deepen their understanding of and relationship with Jesus Christ.

I really enjoyed how Keller organized King’s Cross. I think it really grabbed and led you deeper, without intimidating the reader.

He starts by carefully exploring and revealing how magnificent Jesus really was/is. He dissects Religion, Sin, Faith, Belief and shows how radical Jesus was to the people that first experienced him–even to his fellow Jews, who knew the prophesies he was fulfilling.

Then in the second half of the book Keller tackles The Why of Jesus–his purpose and necessity. This is where I took the most notes. These are the foundations of our Faith that Mark and the other Gospel authors document to help us understand why our relationship with Jesus Christ is so important.

I highlighted a ton of passages on my Kindle (affiliate link) as read through Part Two. Keller hits home with so many insightful comments and analogies that create “ah-ha” moments, insights that you surely want to recall or share at just the time in the future.

Here are just a few I really enjoyed, with my associated notes:

On overcoming doubt. Or, how to believe: If you want to believe but can’t, stop looking inside; go to Jesus and say, “Help me believe.” Go to him and say, “So you’re the one who gives faith! I’ve been trying to work it out by reasoning and thinking and meditating and going to church in hopes that a sermon will move me—I’ve been trying to get faith by myself. Now I see that you’re the source of faith. Please give it to me.” If you do that, you’ll find that Jesus has been seeking you—he’s the author of faith, the provider of faith, and the object of faith.

My reading note: Ironic that we hear over and over that we can do ALL things through him, but then the most fundamental elements of our faith–even faith itself–we try to accomplish on our own. Go to Him with your doubts.

On the power of a little Sin in our lives: Fire is never satisfied. It can’t be allowed to smolder; it can’t be confined to a corner. It will overtake you eventually. Sin is the same way: It never stays in its place. It always leads to separation from God, which results in intense suffering, first in this life and then in the next.

My reading note: I think we have become to comfortable with Sin. Somehow we foolishly believe we can control it, even use it with discretion. Dangerous thought.

On failing to accept Grace: See, there are two ways to fail to let Jesus be your Savior. One is by being too proud, having a superiority complex—not to accept his challenge. But the other is through an inferiority complex—being so self-absorbed that you say, “I’m just so awful that God couldn’t love me.” That is, not to accept his offer.

My reading note: Careful not to ever give anyone the impression there there are conditions on God’s Grace. Or, Heaven forbid–we are above needing it.

A great book. I’ll definitely be adding more Keller titles to my Kindle (affiliate link) library. I think the next will be his first: The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (affiliate link)

What do you think?