What Is Your Reason For Living?

John 20:1–18 CSB

1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. 11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

Jesus is risen!

This is why we gather today, as we do every Sunday, because Jesus rose from the dead. He died on Friday and rose on Sunday!

That is what we celebrate today, every Sunday, and the power of this resurrection gives us eternal hope every day.

Everything about being a follower of Jesus can find its reason in Jesus’ resurrection. He conquers death. He conquered.

The reason, the meaning behind it, the why. Do you think about the why?

When you think about the why you wander if it matters, your looking for the purpose, your looking for the meaning, why are you bothering, I hope you

Think about the why.

If you think about the why then what your doing makes sense. Your less likely to get lost. Less likely to let time pass you by. By answering the why you can begin to answer the what now.

Today I want to share with you a lot about myself and perhaps you can think more about your why.

First, let me hit you with a question that I really asked myself hard for a long time, all the way back in high school, or as some like to remind me, last century.

What is my reason for living? Why do I exist?

When I was in high school I was a pretty strong, well behaved student but became depressed as I thought about why it and like most who are depressed I kept it to myself.

I couldn’t find a reason to keep on existing

A reason people have for living - love of people or people loving them

But my high school years were filled with the quick betrayal by people of people. Someone loved as it benefited them. Other times I was loved but didn’t want to be loved because what that person did brought me down .

Life has only affirmed it. In every person is the capacity for both good and evil and they do both.

Family can be great but it can also bring the greatest hurt.

Reason #2 Wealth

Never enough

Always have to protect it

Once dead, you can’t take it with you

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 NLT

1 These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. 2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. 9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

Reason #3 History - making a difference

Very difficult to do, even harder for it to be remembered

In the eye of the Beholder - General Lee

If there is no God,

twin study, we can’t exist in space

all of this gets wiped out by the expansion of the sun

It doesn’t matter

Reason #4 It’s wrong

- no it’s not. If there is no God how is there a right and a wrong?

Right and wrong get determined by easy or what works.

It’s all able to be justified for the sake of ease of living and power. What makes you comfortable.

At one time Slavery wasn’t considered wrong. If you ever read the american classic Huckleberry Finn, you’ll know that Huck actually thought he was committing a sin helping an escaping slave.

There is a saying from a few years back to try and prevent suicides,

“It gets better.” But it doesn’t.

It gets different but it still sucks with times of great joy and great sorrow.

If I lived for joy than why not just pursue a high, a fix of a drug. This is meaningless.

There wasn’t one reason for living.

Then I listened to a sermon by Tony Campolo and don’t even remember what was said, but became fully aware the only reason for life is God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 CSB

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Over time everything gets revealed.

I found the reason why in the life of Jesus, I find that living for God is where all the purpose of life is, To love God and love others.

John 10:10–11 CSB

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

When I love God, I follow God who is Jesus

Why love others? Because Jesus told us to

How do we love others, the way Jesus showed us.

The night before Jesus gave his life in the crucifixion, the greatest act of love for others ever, to give His life for our sins, the night before he did that He went to the garden of Gethsemane, at the Mount of Olives and prayed.

Luke 22:42 M:BCL

42 “Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?”

This is the difference in Jesus.

This is what determines direction in life.

Not what I want, What do you want?

The why I do what I do, is God wants me to do it.

In Jesus there is a reality that life doesn’t get better. It gets a purpose.

John 10:10–11 NLT

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

In a world where people keep trying to get us to rally for them, their political power, their reasons Jesus says come to me is to take anxiety away from us. To take away the fear. To take away the pressure.

Laying down burdens

Matthew 11:28–30 CSB

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The way of Jesus gives us purpose and meaning. A life in Jesus doesn’t cause us to have an ever searching anxious, how do I get the most joy out of everything as if my reason for living is to be happy all the time.

Life is to have purpose and the peace of God is part of that purpose.

Jesus shows us that loving others isn’t happy or easy.

Mark 8:34 NLT

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Taking up a Cross - means dying to self.

“Not my will but yours be done.” - means dying to selfish pursuits

As a father, a teacher, and an older dude I see now how selfish pursuits end.

I also see what it means when people don’t pursue self or a religious high but a commitment to the way of Jesus.

A relationship with Jesus means a taking off of the old and a radical commitment to a new life.

Jesus gives a new life. If he is powerful enough to come back from the dead than Jesus can change any life, anyone, anywhere.

This is what it means to have a new life in Jesus.

Colossians 3:8–13 CSB

8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

A completely different person, unique, loving, kind.

It is in the power of the resurrected Jesus that we are changed.

It is in rejecting all the things that our meaningless is changed for the meaningful.

Today is the day to believe what Mary said,

John 20:18 CSB

18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

Jesus is alive. The Lamb of God has taken away the sins of the world.

Choose this day to follow.

Mark 8:34 NLT

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

If you choose this day to follow, in just a minute come forward to follow the Lord in Baptism.

If you have been baptized but you lost your way, you went after the meaningless, Choose this day to commit again. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and commit this day to remember your purpose.