Jesus Christ: All We Need. Our Purpose

Introduction

Good morning church and Merry Christmas. This morning we gather to worship and remind ourselves of the great gift we have in Jesus. How Jesus has truly given us all that we need in our lives. As we’ve talked this Christmas season through this idea we’ve been reminded that, because of Jesus, we are a people who have a new identity.

No longer are we labeled as sinner, wretch, broken, failure, but as Children. As redeemed. As men and women who are joint heirs with Jesus Christ himself. Because of him no one can even levy a charge against me for who I used to be because Jesus has bought that man and brought me from darkness and placed me to walk in his light and truth.

We talked about how, because of Jesus, we aren’t weak and timid people but raised to walk in a strength that goes beyond what even the world can Identify. We have been given strength in the unity found in the family of God. A strength that casts out anxiety and fear because we know who holds us and the future. We have been given strength through the Holy Spirit to walk in holiness. And because we know who holds the future we can rise above any circumstance good or bad because Jesus has won the day.

We discussed how Jesus provided our salvation. That he is the only perfect and spotless lamb of God worthy to be the once-and-for-all atoning sacrifice for sin. How his work on the cross paid off the debt that you and I owed for our trespasses and failures. Because of Jesus we are not bound to that destiny anymore because he provided forgiveness, redemption, and victory for the believer.

Tension

Such things are great and give us deep value and meaning when tied to the purpose God has given us. You see, Jesus Christ is all that we need. He is our saviour and our king. He defines us, strengthens us, and provided our way for salvation. All of these things are true and powerful when we fully embrace that they were all to lead us towards a purpose for which we are all called, equipped, and empowered to live for.

Before we move to one of the most famous passages in the church, I want to recap how we got here.

Truth

Recap of Jesus’ life and ministry.

As we have taken great care to remember this season, Jesus Christ was born not in gilded palaces to a Earthly King and Queen but to a lowly man and his intended bride. He was born in the most insignificant town one could imagine and the only heralds available to make him known were themselves, outcast shepherds. In a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed among the livestock, the king was placed.

Fled for his life. Jealousy and contempt mixed with paranoia and greed stirred those that should have bowed at his feet to seek his life, forcing him to flee the countryside and of Judea and disappear into Egypt. Wise men were dispatched to act as unwitting spies to seek out the child so that he could be quickly dispatched. After all, if the real king was born, the real messiah come down, people might not want to put up with Herod’s nonsense anymore. He might lose his power and his potion that he’d worked so hard to accrue. Instead, they saw divinity and worshiped him. Instead of playing their puppet roles they abandoned Herod and Mary, Joseph, and the child king fled.

Grew in stature and wisdom. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature until the day that it was clear and obvious to all that he was set apart and divine. His cousin John, who had been preaching about the coming messiah and the kingdom of God would baptize him, setting him apart. From then on he brought about a unique tenure as a Rabbi or teacher of the law.

You see, Teachers of the law would exegete the texts and interpret their meanings but Jesus did more than they did. He taught, yes, but as one who had authority over the text, not only as a learned scholar but as one who KNEW the heart behind the text itself.

One time while I was working on my masters I wrote a paper outlining some reading regarding Administration and Biblical concepts in modern churches and the ramifications of such practices. You know, compelling stuff. I had written the paper, turned it in, and then noticed as it was graded that the professor had some very direct criticisms regarding any position I took where I quoted the author. I’d say things like, “it is unclear if the author’s intention was… or The author, Mr. Harrison, describes the event in question… thusly.” His responses would be something like “that is not what the author meant/was saying but this was...”. It took me embarassingly longer than I would care to admit to realize that Dr. Harrison my professor and Dr Harrison the author were the same man.

But it goes to show, that if you want to know what the text means, its easiest to just ask the author himself. Jesus taught as the author who knew the heart behind the text. While others were concerned with using the law only as positions to navigate and legalese to get around, he spoke as one who cared about pleasing God rather than engaging in keeping men happy.

Were that alone not enough, Jesus ministry was littered with super-natural healings and miracles that showed his obvious relationship to God. Some were floored, some were waiting for their turn and their handout from Christ, and others saw these miracles as a viable threat to their own earthly kingdoms.

While they were plotting of how to remove this Jesus as a thorn from their sides, his real mission was becoming more and more apparent. He had come to not rule as an earthly king or military leader but to point the way back to a righteous relationship with God. The people wanted one who would take ground on a map and send their enemies fleeing for the hills. Instead Jesus put a mirror in front of all of them showing them that they were, in fact, the enemy. Their sin had made them an enemy of God and acknowledgement of that truth, repentance and humility needed to be sought and then, they could put their faith and trust in the Son of man, who came to take away the sins of the world. How could he do this? How could the way be made and the debt be paid?

Ultimately it would occur because Jesus would take upon his sinless shoulders the punishment of death on the cross that we owed. All sin pays a wage of death and it was a debt we all owed until Christ in one-fell-swoop swallowed the entire cup of punishment we deserved. He was beaten, mocked, scourged, and nailed to a cross like a criminal. As he was breathing his last, he was still interceding for us, asking God to not hold these actions against the very people who were killing him.

His body was removed and placed in a borrowed grave, where he sat, the darling of heaven, messiah of the ages, prince of peace, Emmanuel for 3 days. 3 of the darkest days humanity ever faced as we got exactly what we thought we wanted. But, people didn’t listen with open enough ears as Jesus told everyone that the temple that they destroyed would be restored 3 days later.

On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave, appeared to the disciples and many others over the course of many days. His authority not only over the scriptures but over life and death itself was witnessed and all of the sudden it made sense to those that followed him that he was in fact, the long awaited messiah. Those that sought to shut him up and snuff out the dying embers of his following poured gas on the fire instead.

Jesus’ closest followers received two final notes of mission from Christ before he ascended into heaven that they would carry out until he came again. Both of these accounts in Matthew 28 and In Acts 1 cite Jesus position and his authority to give such a command. It is on these two passages I would like us to contemplate this morning and look, once again, to the purpose Christ has given us. Would you read with me this morning as we think of the gift of this purpose that Christ has given to us.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:7–8 (ESV)

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Pray

You see, purpose is something that we rarely think about in our lives but desperately need to live any kind of fulfilled life.

]There is an old trick used by counselors when they first meet an new client. They will ask a simple enough question but one that lends itself to more than first meets the eye. “Who are you?” At first glance, its a difficult question to answer because it doesn’t come with any parameters or rules, but here is the secret. That is the point. If you have a man answer the question saying that he’s a 30 year union carpenter, you could wager he ties his identity to his work. If a woman start off by describing her kids and grandkids you can guess that she identifies herself mostly by the relationships she has as mother and grandmother, to her family.

Identities help us define where we are in the world but also lend themselves greatly to us discovering our purpose in life. Why are we here? What are we supposed to be doing? What is my purpose besides just paying taxes and checking on the scores from week to week. Are we all just cogs in the economic machine or are we meant for more?

So much of our world is set on selling us purpose and convincing us that they have the answer. Is it raising a family? Increasing our holdings? our influence? our name? our brand? Is it found in doing something worthy of the history books or putting our name on the map? Is it found in community service, teaching children, or serving the under privileged? Purpose is what puts meaning behind us rolling out of bed in the morning. that we have a mission to accomplish today and only we can do what we are called to do. I will submit to you all here this morning that Jesus gave us one of the greatest gifts we’ve ever been given when he handed us purpose. We can now know what we are meant for and how to give meaning to our days. I have 3 things today for us to consider when we look at the purpose given to us.

Exposition

The purpose of Christmas was the salvation of Sinful man.

While this theme is one of the main ones tied to our celebration and remembrance of Easter, we must realize that the incarnation of the Son of God, God in a Bod as a former pastor put it often, is the first stage of this plan made manifest. The plan was ALWAYS the cross. I have heard many in recent days declare that Jesus was victim of the politics of the day and saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. That he was a casualty of unrighteousness. The string that connects all of these various pearls is that somehow, Jesus was killed before his ultimate plans, his ultimate teachings, his ultimate goals could be realized. Many Jews today would fall into this category. Jesus, in their worldview, would have been a blasphemer who was dealt justice. If he were the messiah he would have fulfilled, in their minds, certain categories, many of which are extra-biblical sources to which they give authority.

To allow these interpretations and beliefs to cloud the mission of Jesus, however, is to diminish the sovereignty of God and the mission Christ came to bring about.

From the creation, to the garden, to the tree, to the first sin, God’s plan for the redemption of man was known and dedicated. Jesus was not surprised by the people of the day, the politics of his contemporaries, or that the cross would be his last stop. He knew where all of this was heading and chose to walk that path anyway. The parents, the place, the promise, and the prophecies that surrounded his coming were all on purpose and for this purpose.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Giving Jesus to this world, God knew that it would mean giving him ultimately to his death. It has always been the plan for Jesus to lay down his perfect life for you and for me. Christmas was the first kiss of God to humanity, showing and revealing the ultimate purpose of Christ.

Jesus gives us all the authority we need.

Knowing that his purpose was, is, and will be until he comes back again, to save sinful men from their just punishment, Jesus gives us his bought and paid for authority to join him in this work. You don’t do what you are called to do because you are good, righteous, or even qualified. Instead, you have been given a seal of approval by the authority of Christ himself.

this is a great reminder for us an a lesson that we as the church need to re-embrace often.

Friends, you aren’t called to this adventure because of your skills and the fact that the church needs them.

You aren’t called because of your resources. God doesn’t NEED your money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and btw, the hills themselves are his too. You will be surprised how much God can take you small and insignificant offerings, your time and money, and multiply them for his glory. Take for instance the small boy who brought lunch for himself and put it in Jesus’ hands who multiplied it to feed multitudes. Such a lesson was great but make no mistake, God can stop the sun in the sky. He can cause the rocks to become bread and cause water to come out of rocks. He doesn’t need what you have, you need what he has.

You aren’t called because of your morality. Friends, we are morally bankrupt. Even the good we do is stained with selfishness and sin. No amount of Bible study or church attendance or missional activity will cause you to suddenly be filled to a point of holiness. Your cup has holes in it and the only way to be filled with Christ is to tie yourself to the well that doesn’t run dry. He is our morality and righteousness. I don’t have any apart from him and I, like a vine, can only produce fruit when I am tied into the living branch.

You aren’t called because you are worthy. Your works then, now, and future do nothing to tip the scales in your favor. We can’t do anything to make ourselves worthy of the love, grace, and mercy poured out for us on Calvary. Its all because he declares us worthy of this sacrifice. See, he is the origin. It starts with his authority to say we are worthy any of it.

You are called because of his skill, his resources, his morality, his worthy, and given his authority!

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because Jesus hands us his authority, you need nothing else. He is the one who calls us to these tasks. He is the one who qualifies us for this mission. His authority is undeniable and it seals us as those called to purpose and to mission.

Jesus gives us a mission to pursue.

Go as you are going, living your life as one called, a disciple of Jesus. And while you are living that life of devotion and worship, walk according to this purpose. Call out others to truth of the gospel. Tell them these things, invite them to consider the weight of the cross and the offer held out for them. Make disciples just as you are disciples. Mark them through baptism, allowing them to make public their decision to follow after Jesus, leaving their old lives behind and stepping into the life of the cross. Teaching them to obey all of the Jesus teachings. This process is called discipleship. And as a follower of Jesus, a Christian called by his name, you are called to join him in this purpose.

Put another way friends, this is the calling and purpose of your life. It is your path to walk. No matter your giftings, your resources, your history, or your feelings of inadequacy or resolve this is your purpose. You don’t have to be a well read teacher, an educated professor, a pastor, or a prophet. In fact, none of the first were. They were all blue collar or no collar men and women. They were us.

His mission was to save men, and he made the way ready for them to take hold of his provision for them. He gave us his authority that we might call to others, holding out our hands, ready with the gospel.

further, he’s called us to be those missionaries, ready and armed with authority and purpose, to the entire world around us. to our families, our neighbors, our communities, our nations, and to THE nations. This message is for all of them and you and I are called to be his hands, his feet, and his message. This was his purpse firends and it is still ours. Its the adventure your life is meant for. And Christ provides it for us.

Landing

In recent months I have been able to be knee to knew and shoulder to shoulder with those serving children and teens in the foster care system and encourage workers and the kiddos they serve as they try and speak life into kids who didn’t ask for any of this.

I’ve had the opportunity to serve love, grace, and brisket to teens in the prison system with some of our ladies as we showed them that there are people in this world that have nothing but the best intentions and love for them. That we are here, not to rub your nose in the past of your mistakes but cheer you on into your future of redemption and grace.

I’ve talked with those who are helping addicts turn their lives around by giving food, lodging, transportation, and at their own dime to show these men and women that God cares about them and their future.

Its not easy from day to day or week to week but as I talk with men and women working on the front lines as hands and feet of the gospel message, I see passion and purpose that they wouldn’t trade for any amount of money. Because where mission meets our message, lives change and death makes way for an open grave. Jesus Christ is all we need. He is our identity, he is our strength, he is our salvation, and we walk in the purpose he provides. A purpose that started at creation, continued to a manger, was fulfilled on a cross, and continues today to all men and women who call on the name of Christ.

Amen.