Why Are We Here?

Luke 10:25–37 NLT

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Jesus chose the most despised person he could think of to help the Jewish person after he was robbed.

What are the elements of why we are here?

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

All Your Heart

The causative source of a person’s psychological life in its various aspects, but with special emphasis on thoughts—heart, inner self, mind. Intention, purpose, desire.

All Your Soul

The essence of life in terms of thinking, willing and feeling, inner self, mind, thoughts, feelings, being.

All Your Strength

Exceptional capability, personal potential, with your whole being

All Your Mind

The content of thinking and reasoning. Thought, what is thought, opinion.

Your Neighbor as Yourself

A person who lives close beside others and who thus by implication is a part of a so-called ‘in-group’, that is, the group with which an individual identifies both ethnically and culturally—neighbor, brother.

Mark 12:29 NLT

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

Mark 12:30–31 NLT

30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Another Command

Matthew 28:16–20 NLT

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

What is a Disciple?

To walk behind, to Follow. Has to be called by Jesus. Did not matter about job or social status. The deciding factor was the call of Jesus. Demands a total break with the past. Self Denial. Full reliance on Jesus. It is a lifelong relationship with Jesus. The disciple is not there merely to learn from the teacher but to share his whole life with him without reservation. Discipleship is characterized by establishing a fundamental life relationship to the person of Jesus (and not merely to his teaching).

How do we make a Disciple?

So why are we here?