For at least one day this week people thought of Christ. We have just come through Easter and much of the world has considered the story of Jesus and the resurrection. But the person and work of the Lord should not be examined once a year – He should be pursued every day! There is so much more of Him to know and admire. You never exhaust infinite truth.

Most people look better at a distance. Not so the Lord Jesus Christ. The closer you come to Him the more of His beauty and wisdom and grace you see. The more you investigate the more you will be attracted to the perfect Christ!

Once again it goes without saying that the best way to know the Living Word is to dive deeply into the Written Word. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).

Always begin with Scripture. Measure every other writing by God’s perfect Word. If you want to concentrate on 5 Old Testament books about Christ you should begin with Ruth, Psalms, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, and Micah. When you come to the New Testament I would encourage you start with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and then turn your attention to Colossians, which is all about the preeminence of Christ.

Outside of Scripture, here are 5 great books that will help you as you pursue a deeper knowledge of Christ…

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (A classic that provides detailed history and a Jewish cultural perspective of the world at the time of Christ. I use this book whenever I am preaching on something historical from the gospel records.)

The Example of Jesus Christ by James Stalker (Anything by Stalker on Christ is good. This volume is devotional in nature and extremely practical, showing Christ as the perfect model for life. I have gone back to this book many times and had my heart challenged.)

The Training of the Twelve by A.B. Bruce (This volume deals much with each of the original disciples, but it covers Christ’s earthly ministry and the work of disciple making that He did in the first church. Very helpful.)

The Suffering Saviour by F.W. Krummacher (A powerful look at the last days of Christ and all that our Lord endured for us. Deeply moving.)

He Shall Be Called by Robert J. Morgan (150 names, titles, and pictures of Jesus found in Scripture and their application to our faith. Morgan is a more current writer and has several helpful books.)

(Permit me to give one bonus recommendation: Killing Jesus by Stephen Mansfield. This book has been a recent help to me personally by providing political and cultural context to the crucifixion of Christ.)

Over the next few weeks I look forward to sharing additional book recommendations on other subjects, but it is appropriate that we begin with the Son of God and the Savior of the world. In the inspired words of Dr. Luke, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The study of all truth should begin with the One who IS “the truth” (John 14:6).

When you study our Lord you never run out of truth to study. John knew Him as intimately as any disciple and his conclusion was, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21:25). No more Scripture is being written but more study of the Scriptures can be done.

Pastor Sexton often says, “The pursuit of Christ is the pursuit of a lifetime.” May God help us all to keep pursuing!

What are your favorite books about the Lord Jesus Christ?