The Meaning of Life
Griffith Baptist Church – 3/29/09
A.M. Service
Text: John 11:20-25 (1-44)
Key verse: John 11:25 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Premise: People search and search for significance and it seems always out of reach. Jesus came not only to give life but to enable us to actually, truly live with purpose and joyful hope.
The Introduction
Years ago on a TV show, a guest appeared that was a body builder. As he entered the stage with his huge muscular body the crowd went crazy as the body builder began to flex his muscles and show his power. The first question asked of him was this: “What do you use all those muscles for?” Without answering, the body builder again stood up and began flexing his muscles while the crowd cheered wildly.
A second time, the question was asked, “What do you do with those muscles?” Again, the body builder flexed his muscles and the crowd became almost ecstatic. After asking three times, “What do you do with all those muscles?” the body builder just sat in silence. He had no answers. The man was all power but his power had no purpose other than to show off and bring attention to himself.
For something to have meaning, it must have purpose
Before there is a resurrection there needs to be a crucifixion
Before there is life, there needs to be death
That is the simple message of the text and of Christ in general.
People today are always asking about the meaning of life
They search for it in religion and try to find it in earthly pleasures
All of those pursuits are like trying to fill a bottomless pail; they don’t hold much.
Most Christians start off having that sense of purpose when they are born again:
• Along the way, we get our lives to cluttered up with things that are meaningless
• We pursue other distractions that have their place but overpower our priorities
• The meaning of our life gets lost in the rest of the mix
What is the meaning of life to you? To give life real meaning, what conditions have to be in place?
Body
1. For Life to Have Meaning, There Must Be A Death
A. Some nine year old children were asked what they thought of death and dying. Jim said, “When you die, they bury you in the ground and your souls goes to heaven, but your body can’t go to heaven because it’s too crowded up there already.” Judy said, “Only the good people go to heaven. The other people go where it’s hot all the time like in Florida.” John said, “Maybe I’ll die someday, but I hope I don’t die on my birthday because it’s no fun to celebrate your birthday if you’re dead.” Marsha commented, “When you die, you don’t have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher is there too.” (1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking. Michael Hodgin, p. 100)
B. This fact of the necessity of death was lost on Jesus’ unsuspecting followers:
i. The disciples – 11:12-13
ii. Martha – 11:21
iii. Mary – 11:32
iv. The other Jews – 11:33-38
C. Life has its very meaning in death:
i. John 12:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
ii. Death to sin
a. Salvation – John 3:7, 16 - 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
b. Sanctification (‘making holy’ or ‘consecrating’ a place, thing, or person to God) – Ephesians 5:25-27 - 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
iii. Death to self
a. Flesh (lust of the flesh) – Romans 8:4-5 - 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
b. Desires (lust of the eyes) – James 4:1-3 - 1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
c. Pride (pride of life) – James 4:6 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
2. For Life to Have Meaning, It Must Have Christ In It
A. During a recent hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, a news report highlighted a rescue device used on the oil rigs. In case of fire or (in this case) hurricane, rig workers scramble into the bullet-shaped “bus” and strap themselves into their seats. When the entry port is shut, the vehicle is released down a chute and projected away from the rig. The seat belts protect the occupants from the impact with the water. The capsule then bobs in the sea until rescuers come to pick it up. The rig still may topple in the hurricane. The welfare of the workers depends on whether they are IN the rescue device. - David Asp
B. Jesus followers missed the point of His presence in their lives:
i. The disciples – 11:16 – His control over His circumstances (not His time to die [11:8].
ii. Martha – 11:22-24 – His power over death
iii. Mary – 11:32-33 – His timing in answer to prayer
iv. The other Jews – 11:37 – His purpose in each action He took
C. With Christ in our life we have:
i. Light to see the path (9-10) [John 9:5]
ii. Hope (23) – 1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
iii. Real living (25-26) [John 7:37-39; 10:10]
iv. Comfort (43-44a) – John 14:18 – I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (Heb. 13:5)
v. Freedom (44) – Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3. For Life to Have Meaning, That Life Must Be Lived God’s Way
A. Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master”. The Integrity Crisis by Warren W. Wiersbe, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22
B. Jesus followers had a lesson to learn in their own lives:
i. The disciples – Misunderstood what Jesus intended (7-16)
ii. Martha – Misinterpreted what Jesus meant (23-24)
iii. Mary – Mistook what Jesus was doing (32-33) [bringing glory to God – 40]
iv. The other Jews - Misjudged what Jesus could accomplish (37) [give life again from death]
C. Living life God’s way means:
i. Waiting on Him even when you think His timing is off (6) – Psalms 37:7 - Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
ii. Following Him even when it doesn’t appear to make sense (8) – Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
iii. Trusting Him even though the circumstances tell you otherwise (21-31) – ex. Daniel, etc. – Psalms 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
iv. Listening to Him even when the voices of doubt arise (43-44) – James 1:19, 22-25 - 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Conclusion:
Non – Christian: Have you trusted in Christ as the resurrection and the life? Do you have real life in Christ?
Believer: Are you just getting through life? Have you lost the meaning of who you are in Christ or has that meaning become cluttered and foggy lately? It is time for believers to consecrate, rededicate, their lives to Christ. Come back to Him so He can show you real purpose and life.
