Life questions? Curious, but trivial. These questions were part of a collection entitled "Questions of Life, The Universe and Everything…" I wonder…
These days school children seem to be bombarded with so many environmental issues that they hardly have time to think about the meaning of life itself. Those old basic questions of Who am I? What am I here for? Is there a God?…
One thing we note, however. There is every evidence that people are still looking for a leader, for someone to look up to, for someone to follow. We are not nearly as independent in thought and action as we claim to be. Either we look to some hero figure from the past, or we look to one of the present-day contenders.
"He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.
"He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave.
"Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today he is central figure of the human race and leader of mankind's progress.
"All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man as much as that One Solitary Life."
That is a striking statement. At the very least, everyone looking for someone to follow should consider the person and life of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we read, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law" (Mt. 7.28-29). Many have been impressed by Jesus as a great Teacher. It is said that Ghandi, though unwilling to become a Christian, always carried a New Testament in his pocket because he was so impressed with the teaching of Jesus.
People prefer one teacher over another for a variety of reasons. There is more to Jesus than his teaching. At a time when many of Jesus' followers left him, Jesus asked the twelve whether they would also leave. Peter answered for them all, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" (Jn 6.68-69).
When Peter spoke to Cornelius, he said, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and… he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him" (Acts 10.38). There are those who look to Jesus as the great Example. As he went about doing good, so we should do good. As he healed and released people, so we should be people of healing and reconciliation wherever we go.
Yet there is far more to Jesus than the example of an amazing, self-giving life. His example stretches beyond our reach. He is described as being one who feels sympathy with our weaknesses, who was tempted in every way just we are, yet was without sin (Heb. 4.15). A noble ideal, but a very long way back!
There are others who follow Jesus as a great Religious Leader, the Founder of Christianity. There are, of course, other religious leaders - people like Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed… Because of family and geography, their supreme allegiance is with Jesus. He is the one they follow.
For these women at the tomb that first Easter morning, Jesus had been the great Teacher. They had observed his love and his miracles of healing. They had begun to think of him as the fulfilment of the old Judaism and the founder of something new - it was like "new wine", he had said (Lk 5.36-39).
But he had died. Nothing would erase the memory of this fine man. He could continue to be Teacher, Example and Founder for them. They were determined to treasure his memory as they prepared the embalming spices for his burial.
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Jesus lived at a particular time in human history, but he is far more than an historical figure. There is special significance in calling him "the central figure of the human race and leader of mankind's progress". We do not seek him among the dead, for he has been raised to life! He is in a totally different category from any other figure people may choose to follow
Peter writes that the Lord "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3.9). He is still out to seek and save the lost. Jesus told his disciples that the Helper (the Holy Spirit) would be at work in people's lives to convince them of their need to repent and believe the good news (Jn 16.7-11). He doesn't force himself on us. He seeks our free response.
In Francis Thompson's first volume of Poems (published in 1893) we have his best known poem, The Hound of Heaven". It pictures graphically the persistent way in which divine Love pursues us.
Jesus is alive. Yet we have found many ways of avoiding him – logical reasons for not believing (mind), emotional reasons (tears and laughter), hopes and fears… Yet still he has sought us.
"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" He is alive! He is seeking you! He says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3.20).
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