“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
—Matthew 11:28
Christians know what Jesus Christ has done—but who is he? What is his deepest heart for his people, weary and faltering on their journey toward heaven? Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” This book reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who he is for sinners and sufferers today.
“Dane Ortlund writes about what seems too good to be true—the Lord delights to show mercy to you and to me—so he works very carefully through key texts and enlists the help of saints past. I was persuaded, and I look forward to being persuaded again and again.”
Ed Welch, Counselor and Faculty Member, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation
“Dane Ortlund leads us into the very heart of God incarnate—not only what Jesus did for us, but how he feels toward us. That’s right: feels toward us. Anchored in Scripture and drawing on the Puritan Thomas Goodwin, this book is medicine for broken hearts.”
Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California
“My life has been transformed by the beautiful, staggering truths in this book. Dane Ortlund lifts our eyes to see Christ’s compassion-filled heart for sinners and sufferers, proving that Jesus is no reluctant savior but one who delights in showing his mercy. For any feeling bruised, weary, or empty, this is the balm for you.”
Michael Reeves, President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Oxford, United Kingdom
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. His Very Heart
2. His Heart in Action
3. The Happiness of Christ
4. Able to Sympathize
5. He Can Deal Gently
6. I Will Never Cast Out
7. What Our Sins Evoke
8. To the Uttermost
9. An Advocate
10. The Beauty of the Heart of Christ
11. The Emotional Life of Christ
12. A Tender Friend
13. Why the Spirit?
14. Father of Mercies
15. His “Natural” Work and His “Strange” Work
16. The Lord, the Lord
17. His Ways Are Not Our Ways
18. Yearning Bowels
19. Rich in Mercy
20. Our Law-ish Hearts, His Lavish Heart
21. He Loved Us Then; He’ll Love Us Now
22. To the End
23. Buried in His Heart Forevermore
Epilogue Acknowledgments General Index Scripture Index
