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Suffering Saviour
This series of devotional meditations on the final scenes in the life of Christ on earth has been prized by successive generations of Christians ever since its original publication in 1854. Translated almost immediately into English and frequently republished, the book has been described as the greatest single volume of the entire nineteenth century on the last days of Christ's eartly ministry.
Krummacher organizes his meditations around the structure of the Old Testament tabernacle. The first section, The Outer Court, covers the time from Jesus' announcement of His approaching death to His discourses on the way to Gethsemane. The central section, the longest, is entitled The Holy Place. It deals with Gethsemane, Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial, all the judicial proceedings, Christ's scourging, and the journey to Calvary. The final section, The Most Holy Place, covers the crucifixion itself, Christ's sayings from the cross, His agony and death, and His burial.
This is a book to which all Christians, and especially preachers, will want to return frequently, to have their hearts warmed afresh, and their love to, and zeal for, their Saviour rekindled.
Krummacher organizes his meditations around the structure of the Old Testament tabernacle. The first section, The Outer Court, covers the time from Jesus' announcement of His approaching death to His discourses on the way to Gethsemane. The central section, the longest, is entitled The Holy Place. It deals with Gethsemane, Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial, all the judicial proceedings, Christ's scourging, and the journey to Calvary. The final section, The Most Holy Place, covers the crucifixion itself, Christ's sayings from the cross, His agony and death, and His burial.
This is a book to which all Christians, and especially preachers, will want to return frequently, to have their hearts warmed afresh, and their love to, and zeal for, their Saviour rekindled.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1854
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 13, 2021
Krummacher gives short devotional meditations on nearly every step of the last few days of Jesus’ life on earth. He is regularly calling his readers to worship Christ & turn from their sin as he examines another moment in Christ’s last few days. Here are a few nuggets from his meditations:
“The love of Christ constrains us to venture everything for Him; but it is only the belief in Christ’s love for us, and the trusting to His gracious power and strength, that enables us to overcome. He who trembles at himself, as being capable of denying his Master, will gain greater victories than he who deems himself sufficiently strong to be able to say, ‘though all men forsake thee, yet will not I.’”
“His ruin is thy redemption; from His death springs thy life.”
“Since He became the criminal in your stead, you are accounted as righteous for His sake; since He was rejected in your stead, you are admitted into favor with God; since He bore your curse, you are the heirs of His blessing; since He suffered your punishment, you are destined to share His happiness.”
“Though we may be abandoned by the worlds favor, the friendship of men, earthly prosperity, and the bodily strength, though we may even be bereft of the feeling of God‘s nearness and the freshness of the inward life of faith; yet God himself always continues near and favorably inclined to us in Christ.”
“The love of Christ constrains us to venture everything for Him; but it is only the belief in Christ’s love for us, and the trusting to His gracious power and strength, that enables us to overcome. He who trembles at himself, as being capable of denying his Master, will gain greater victories than he who deems himself sufficiently strong to be able to say, ‘though all men forsake thee, yet will not I.’”
“His ruin is thy redemption; from His death springs thy life.”
“Since He became the criminal in your stead, you are accounted as righteous for His sake; since He was rejected in your stead, you are admitted into favor with God; since He bore your curse, you are the heirs of His blessing; since He suffered your punishment, you are destined to share His happiness.”
“Though we may be abandoned by the worlds favor, the friendship of men, earthly prosperity, and the bodily strength, though we may even be bereft of the feeling of God‘s nearness and the freshness of the inward life of faith; yet God himself always continues near and favorably inclined to us in Christ.”
June 18, 2015
Extremely inspiring and insightful! A definite must-read for any believer.
March 17, 2016
I read this during lent this year. Great book for meditating on the passion of Jesus. Short chapters make it perfect for daily devotional reading.
October 1, 2022
I read a much earlier edition of this book, published by the Chicago Moody Press in 1955. I don't know who the translator was, but posthumous kudos to him or her.
F.W. Krummacher was a 19th century German preacher and author of many books. It's hard to imagine a better series of meditations on the Passion of Christ. The prose is vivid (again, kudos to the translator), the insights penetrating and insightful.
You might expect a work from its time to be dry and dense, especially when packaged -- as the edition I read is -- in dark green hardcover, sans any sort of jacket, with just a slight scent of mustiness to the pages.
It is anything but. Krummacher brings to life the scenes that we can read through so quickly in our Bibles.
Take this description of the procession to Mount Calvary:
The procession moves slowly forward enveloped in clouds of dust. What a running together from every side! What a tumultuous noise and horrible din! Spears, helmets, and drawn swords glitter in the sunshine. Soldiers on foot and horseback, priests and scribes, high and low, shrieking women and crying children, Jews and heathen, all mingled together in the crowd. At the head of the procession surrounded by guards, the three delinquents, panting slowly forward under the weight of their instruments of death.
Can't you almost see, hear, smell and breathe it?
A similarly vivid description of the removal of the crucified Savior from the cross is heart-rending and compelling.
But "The Suffering Saviour" isn't primarily about good writing. Krummacher helped me to see so many of the events of the Passion at a deeper level, without resorting to complex theological language.
The short chapters would be appropriate to be read devotionally and perhaps even would be best read devotionally. One might consider doing so during Lent, although the reader would run out of days before running out of chapters.
F.W. Krummacher was a 19th century German preacher and author of many books. It's hard to imagine a better series of meditations on the Passion of Christ. The prose is vivid (again, kudos to the translator), the insights penetrating and insightful.
You might expect a work from its time to be dry and dense, especially when packaged -- as the edition I read is -- in dark green hardcover, sans any sort of jacket, with just a slight scent of mustiness to the pages.
It is anything but. Krummacher brings to life the scenes that we can read through so quickly in our Bibles.
Take this description of the procession to Mount Calvary:
The procession moves slowly forward enveloped in clouds of dust. What a running together from every side! What a tumultuous noise and horrible din! Spears, helmets, and drawn swords glitter in the sunshine. Soldiers on foot and horseback, priests and scribes, high and low, shrieking women and crying children, Jews and heathen, all mingled together in the crowd. At the head of the procession surrounded by guards, the three delinquents, panting slowly forward under the weight of their instruments of death.
Can't you almost see, hear, smell and breathe it?
A similarly vivid description of the removal of the crucified Savior from the cross is heart-rending and compelling.
But "The Suffering Saviour" isn't primarily about good writing. Krummacher helped me to see so many of the events of the Passion at a deeper level, without resorting to complex theological language.
The short chapters would be appropriate to be read devotionally and perhaps even would be best read devotionally. One might consider doing so during Lent, although the reader would run out of days before running out of chapters.
January 3, 2019
Biblical errors.... man's opinions
I found too any errors in this commentary to finish it. Krummacher thought Jesus went to Hell after dying on the cross. Not so. Jesus went to Paradise to preach to souls waiting for the promise made to them throughout the OT.
He told the thief that he would be in Paradise with Jesus that very day. Not Hell. Kenneth Copeland teaches these same errors. There are also many errors like this that come from the over 100 false translations in the KJV. Another issues I found was his opinion that Jesus was weak in the garden prior to being arrested. What? Our glorious Lord weak? He sImply wanted those lazy, sleepy disciples to pray for themselves that they would not enter into temptation especially Peter. This wasn't weakness on our Lord's part. It was wise counsel. I could go on and on. I think my point is made. There are better commentaries on the NT out there. Not recommended.
I found too any errors in this commentary to finish it. Krummacher thought Jesus went to Hell after dying on the cross. Not so. Jesus went to Paradise to preach to souls waiting for the promise made to them throughout the OT.
He told the thief that he would be in Paradise with Jesus that very day. Not Hell. Kenneth Copeland teaches these same errors. There are also many errors like this that come from the over 100 false translations in the KJV. Another issues I found was his opinion that Jesus was weak in the garden prior to being arrested. What? Our glorious Lord weak? He sImply wanted those lazy, sleepy disciples to pray for themselves that they would not enter into temptation especially Peter. This wasn't weakness on our Lord's part. It was wise counsel. I could go on and on. I think my point is made. There are better commentaries on the NT out there. Not recommended.
April 15, 2022
Gripping, clear and descriptively insightful end to a life that did not deserve even the slightest agony is FWK 's account in this must read book. The tears and heart wrenching visualizations of what our Lord might have experienced during his last days in Jerusalem, the very city that had previously broken his heart, cleansed my very soul. Krummacher's deep spirituality and love for the Lord Jeshua abounds in every page. This book is meant to bring back the extreme experience of the Suffering Servant, our very saviour,, Jesus Christ. A book for the ages. I'm certain the first copy is in heaven, under lock and key.
March 4, 2021
Only read half of this 400 page book. Will most likely continue bat a later date as I hate to read books unread. After 200 pages I felt it was a struggle to read, each day I read a chapter. The Writer is obviously in a loving relationship with his Lord as it comes through his writing. This is a good book to meditate on the cross but I do feel these are better out there for that.
June 15, 2022
Numerous chapters read sobbing; wetting the pages. Sweet, simple, devotional language. Grab a copy and read it to your wife. Read it to your children. Definitely the best book I've read all year.
November 3, 2022
Rich words. A monumental book.
January 1, 2021
A look at the week of Christ’s passion, this collection of mediations is RICH in insights, moving in its vivid scenes, and powerful in inspiration to love Jesus more and follow Him more faithfully. Krummacher transports readers to Jerusalem and brings the passion week to life. This is a book I will re-read many times.
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November 18, 2012Excellent, excellent, excellent.
July 16, 2016
This is an excellent book and I found it tremendously encouraging. It is a great devotional read and, I believe, well worth reading over again.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews