In our Sunday School class, we are in the middle of a few-week series on answering some of life’s big existential questions with a goal of engaging the lost with gospel hope. Grouped into five “big questions” we see scripture reveal Christ as the answer to the deepest human mysteries. These questions hit the subjects of man’s origins, identity, morality, purpose and destiny. Respectively, these questions are: Where did I come from? Who am I? How should I live? Why am I here? Where am I going?
Asking these questions requires you to be open to answers that may be neither easy to find nor easy to accept. Things get particularly bleak if you force a purely secular and materialistic presumption in which God’s existence is denied. In this case, the best answers to these questions lead to the deeply unsatisfying and troubling conclusions that life is ultimately meaningless, and man has no purpose or value. In violent opposition to this meaninglessness is, of course, the truth revealed to us by God in his word and in his Son. In the light of the gospel, the answers to these questions become glorious, beautiful, and inspiring as you comprehend that you are intentionally (and eternally!) woven into God’s perfect and loving plan for “life, the universe, and everything.”
In reading scripture for the answers to the five questions, I enjoyed finding that Jesus answers each of these questions about himself, all in the gospel of John. Here are some examples of his answers to each question (of course, not an exhaustive view of Jesus’ claims of himself):
Where did Jesus come from?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Who is Jesus?
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
How did Jesus live?
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
Why did Jesus come?
“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37)
Where was Jesus going?
“I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:28)
While mankind may struggle to find and articulate answers to the questions of the meaning of life, Jesus gives his answers with clarity and power. What manner of man is this? In fact, in his answers we see that he does not seek meaning in life, he is the very definition of it, and even defines the meaning of the lives of the rest of mankind! So, I encourage you, especially this week as we worship God each day during our global missions conference, that you would revel in the joyful purpose you are called to as a child of God and follower of Christ as we “bear witness to the truth” in the footsteps of our Lord and, through his Spirit, bring light, life, and meaning to a world starved for hope.
Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you
– Jesus (John 20:21b)
Pastor Aaron
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