The Cross and Life's Meaning

The Cross and Life’s Meaning

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   John 18:37-38

I.       Jesus had a life purpose

A.      Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (Why am I alive? What makes life worth living? What gives meaning to living and dying?)

B.      Jesus gave no answer

          C.      Everyone must discover and decide

          D.      Jesus had a life purpose worth dying for. Truth is worth dying for.

II.      The Cross has power over our meaningless story

          A.      The cross is the center of history—the center of YOUR history

B.      Poets and writers can raise the cross to the center of literature

          C.      Composers can raise the cross to the center of worship

          D.      Painters can raise the cross to the center of art

          E.      Producers can raise the cross to the center of the movie industry

          F.      Only hunger can raise the cross to the center of our lives

III.     Jesus’ purpose gives us purpose

          A.      The cross is where our history stops and His begins

B.      Jesus had a purpose for which He gave His life

C.      Jesus’ purpose gave the disciples a purpose for which they gave their lives

D.      Jesus’ purpose gives us a purpose worth dying for

          1.       His reason for living let me know that I am here for a reason

          2.       Our purpose is discovered in His purpose

3.       If we don’t have a reason for which to die, we don’t have a reason for which to live

E.      If we are not willing to die for something, we have not yet discovered our purpose and we are not ready to live

F.      We need to be nailed to something enduring, something eternal

G.      We must have both a reason to live and the passion to want to.

H.      Pilate must have envied Jesus. He had something that Pilate, in all of his position and power, was groping to find.

I.       God gave us the gift of meaning and wrapped Him in thorns.

IV.     What other event in human history answers the question of life’s meaning?

          A.      Where have I come from?

          B.      Where am I going?

          C.      What is the use of my being here?

V.      The Answer of the Cross

A.      Some things can’t be told. They must be showed. Jesus didn’t answer with an essay or a lecture but with the cross.

B.      Jesus’ answer couldn’t be spoken. It had to be suffered.

C.      What does the Cross answer?

          1.       You have a Father who loves you so much

          2.       You have a Father who cares where you will spend eternity

3.       You are worth the dying of His Son

4.       Your life has meaning and purpose

VI.     The Answer of the Cross requires our response