A FULFILLING LIFE

What is the meaning of life?

Three attemptsChristopher Hitchens

What cheers me up? Mainly bloating over the misfortunes of other people. I guess that has to be. Mainly crowing over the miseries of others. It doesn’t always work but it never completely fails. And then there’s irony, which is the gin in the campari, the cream in the coffee. Sex can have diminishing returns, but it’s amazing. Nope, that’s pretty much it then it’s a clear run to the grave.

Bernard LevineTo put it bluntly, have I time to discover why I was born before I die?...I have not managed to answer the question yet, and however many years I have before me they are certainly not as many as there are behind. There is an obvious danger in leaving it too late…why do I have to know why I was born? Because, of course, I am unable to believe that it was an accident; and if it wasn’t one, it must have a meaning…Countries like ours are full of people who have all the material comforts they desire, together with such non-material blessings as a happy family, and yet lead lives of quiet, and at times noisy, desperation, understanding nothing but the fact that there is a hole inside them and that however much food and drink they pour into it, however many motor cars and television sets they stuff it with, however many well balanced children they parade around the edges of it…it aches.

Barak ObamaWe are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. WE are the hope of those boys who have little; who’ve been told that they cannot have what they dream; that they cannot be what they imagine. Yes they can. We are the hope of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake with doubts that tell him he cannot give his children the same opportunities that someone gave him. Yes he can. We are the hope of the woman who hears that her city will not be rebuilt; that she cannot reclaim the life that was swept away in that terrible storm. Yes she can. We are the hope of the future; the answer to the cynics who tell us our house must stand divided; that we cannot come together, that we cannot remake this world as it should be. Because we know what we have seen and what we believe- that what began as a whisper has now swelled to a chorus that cannot be ignored; that will not be deterred; that will ring out across this land as a hymn that will heal this nation, repair this world, and make this time different than all the rest- Yes. We. Can.

The meaning of life…according to John

“Now Jesus did many other signs and wonders in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20.30-31).

“Now Jesus did many other signs and wonders in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20.30-31).

1. The meaning and purpose of life is to know Jesus

2. We come to know Jesus as Christ and Son of God through the signs he performed

3. Jesus performed many miracles, but John only records the signs Jesus performed which point to who he is and what is the meaning and purpose of our lives.

Miracles, Signs, and MeaningMiracles (δυναμεις)

Matthew, Mark, LukeSigns (σεμιον)

John

Evokes astonishment (Mt. 13.54) and praise of God (Lk 19.37) which begs the question: “Who is this?” but fails to answer it.

“Sign”, “Mark”, “Pointer”, for visual perception to give assurance of who Jesus is and to reveal his true nature

The Book of Signs: John 1.19-12.50

Water into wine (2.1-11) Healing of the officials son (4.46-54) Healing of the invalid ((5.1-15) Feeding of the multitude (6.1-5) Healing of a man born blind (9.1-41) Raising of Lazarus (11.1-44)

Quality vs. Quantity?

Water into wine (2.1-11) Good wine in abundance

Healing of the officials son (4.46-54) Powerful healing at a distance

Healing of the invalid ((5.1-15) Complete healing after 38 years

Feeding of the multitude (6.1-5) Satisfying meal for 5000

Healing of a man born blind (9.1-41) Perfect sight (physical and spiritual) after lifelong

blindness Raising of Lazarus (11.1-44)

A fully healthy human being raised from the dead after four days in the tomb

How does a “sign” work?

1. Severe Crisis that demands supernatural resolution

2. The supernatural resolution rendered by Jesus

3. Attention drawn to the supernatural significance of Jesus

4. Jesus explains the meaning of this significance

Severe crisis that demands a supernatural solution“Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that

a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

The Supernatural Solution rendered by JesusJesus said, “have the people sit down.”

Now there was much grass in place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

Attention drawn to the supernatural significance of Jesus

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “this is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world! Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him a king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus explains the significance “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the

food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. What must we do, to be doing the “works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him who he has sent.” (27-29)

“Our father’s ate manna in the wilderness; as it is written. “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (30-34)

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (35)

What’s my purpose?1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

2. The true light, which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

3. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known

What is the chief end of man?Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.