Is the purpose of life to pursue happiness—through comedy, music and other entertainment? Through gadgets, brands, fine clothing? Through mood-altering substances? Through enjoying fine food and other perks of the rich and famous?
We are all on a journey and we focus on something meaningful that we truly believe in. Purpose in life is a set of goals that are central to our lives. It motivates us to get up in the morning. It can help us make decisions, create meaning & influence behavior.
Many have, I too have attempted these and similar pursuits in my wish to find purpose in life. One wealthy man in particular experimented with all these things and more, and still came to a disconcerting conclusion.
My search for purpose was amazing! For example, John is a Gospel written for a specific purpose: That We Might Believe! A key verse for understanding the Gospel of John is found at the end of the book:
The ‘Feast of Tabernacles‘ was a joyful, week long celebration in September or October. Families camped out in temporary shelters to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel in the wilderness on the way from Egypt to Canaan under Moses. Jesus was teaching at the temple. The Jewish leaders were amazed. They were also questioning his learning. Jesus never focused on His credentials. He only pointed to His doctrine. It was as if He said, “I don’t have a seminary degree, but judge Me by My doctrine.”
Jesus stated that He was absolutely sinless and true, always seeking the glory of God in heaven (John 7: 16 – 19). The Jewish leaders decided that Jesus appeared to be a sinner, and they appeared to be righteous because Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath (John 5: 6 & 16)
We understand purpose, Jesus had a clear purpose. Despite our efforts to work towards our purpose, we often face situations that disrupt us. These situations derail us from achieving what we believe is according to God’s will and purpose. Another great example is how Jesus remained in Jerusalem for a few days after the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37) and even though the religious authorities wanted to silence and arrest Him, He still boldly taught large crowds in the most public place in Jerusalem – the temple. He was clear of His purpose. Still, the story continues, the religious leaders bring a woman to Jesus in shame-filled, humiliating circumstances. They are focused on ‘trapping’ Jesus. The religious police held the woman against her will. She was a prisoner because they caught her involved with a man not her husband. This was in the very act of adultery (John:8).
It is important to note that there was also a man involved in this act of adultery. Still, the guilty man was not brought before Jesus for judgment. It is true that adultery was a capital offense under Jewish law. The rules for evidence in capital cases were extremely strict. According to the law, the actual act had to be observed by multiple witnesses who agreed exactly in their testimony. As a practical matter, virtually no one was executed for adultery, since this was a relatively private sin.
The religious authorities were determined to set a trap for Jesus. If Jesus said, “Let her go,” then He would seem to break the Law of Moses. If He said, “Execute her for the crime of adultery,” then Jesus would seem harsh and cruel. Also, He would break Roman law, because the Romans had taken the right of official execution for religious offenses away from the Jews.
Jesus stooped down, wrote on the ground, and acted as if He did not hear the accusers of the woman. The men who brought the woman did not stop asking Jesus what should be done with her. They continued asking Him. Jesus responded “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first“.
In Jewish law, witnesses to the capital crime began the stoning. Jesus really said, “We may execute her, but we must do it correctly. One of the witnesses must start her execution. So who among you is the one who saw this crime, and only brought to Me the woman, not the man? Who designed the humiliation of this poor woman?”
We see that the leaders were convicted by their conscience. It’s not instantaneously clear why they left in order; the oldest even to the last. The oldest left first because they most easily understood that Jesus was talking about them.
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Jesus sent her away without ever approving of or accepting her sin.
He recognized that what the woman had done was sin, because He told her to stop sinning. He told her to repent, and to not continue her sin. He gave her hope that her life will go on in freedom from sexual sin. She needed hope because the consequences of her sin would be severe enough. After this, she would be shunned by her community. Her husband might reject her. Even face divorce, assuming she was married or betrothed.
Jesus accepted the adulterous women that society rejected.
Do I accept the mistakes of others? Do I judge people because they do not ‘behave’ or ‘act’ in a manner I expect them to? I guess the person who receives the most criticism from me is my wife. I am very judgmental of her. I know how wrong I can be to have any expectations. We are interrupted by actions of others and we lose focus on our purpose.
In the common text, the incident of the woman caught in adultery interrupted Jesus. This occurred as He taught at the temple courts in the days shortly after the Feast of Tabernacles.
Jesus continues, His purpose was to help us believe who He was. Light was an important symbol in the Feast of Tabernacles. During the feast, many emblems and ceremonies remembered the pillar of fire that gave light to Israel during the Exodus. Now, Jesus took this important symbol and simply applied it to Himself:
'When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” '
John 8:12
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.8.12
The meaning and purpose of life is to prepare to become the children of God. This is so we can enjoy eternity working together with our loving Father. We will engage in the most exciting, meaningful endeavors imaginable!
- Accepting one another is hard, yet me MUST!
- Humility is the hardest, our PRIDE is so POWERFUl!
- Forgiveness is a way to let go of anger, resentment, and other negative emotions. It’s not about condoning harmful actions, but rather about finding compassion and reclaiming personal power. Forgiveness can help us move past hurt and resentment, and foster empathy and understanding. It can also improve mood, enhance relationships, and increase happiness.
INSPIRE 