“THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHRIST”

By Doug Krieger

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren has sold over 50 million copies. It starts off with:  “It’s not about you.”  Notwithstanding this caveat, the focus centers on how YOU can discover God’s purpose for your life. Prior to this text Pastor Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Church.   Agreed, vision is perhaps the most important aspect found in both the believer’s personal and corporate walk; however, have we put the cart before the horse?

  Shouldn’t we concern ourselves, as followers of Christ, with what He is after?  There is a thin line between “what’s in it for me” and “what’s in it for Christ” or “what I am building for my ministry” vs. “what is Christ building today?” Aligning yourself with God’s purpose vs. trying to figure out God’s purpose for your life—well, I think you get where I might be going with this.

There are anchor verses found in Ephesians 3:11-12 which clearly tell us that God has an eternal purpose wrought through Christ, accomplished in Christ.  That purpose makes God Almighty approachable.  Grants us “freedom and confidence” to determine God’s eternal purpose through faith in Him, our Messiah.  Yes, God has an eternal purpose—something He’s always desired—it’s eternal.  He didn’t make this up at the last minute, nor at creation—it was always there—“which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God” (Eph. 3:9).

Through Christ’s incarnation, human living, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension/enthronement—all through Him—we can now discover God’s eternal purpose.  When He freed us from sin’s penalty—death—we can now, through faith in Who He is and what He has done for us, find, with unmitigated confidence, His eternal purpose.  And, just what might that be?  Yes, I know, He wanted to save you, to give you His salvation—but what’s in it for Him?  Forgive me, but it sounds a little presumptuous to assume that God’s purpose was to save us so we could go to heaven some glorious day—that thin line is showing again—viz. between what He has accomplished for us and what we have done on His behalf or rather, what is our response?  It is divinely imperative we capture His purpose in that “We love Him because He first loved us”—what shall be our response and is it embedded in His determination? 

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself . . . that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him . . . according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:9-12, Excerpts).

His purpose (Grk. πρόθεσις – “a setting forth” as in the “shewbread”) connotes a divine display motivated by “the counsel of His will” no doubt before the “heavens and the earth” wherein the result of “gathering together in one all things in Christ” will result “to the praise of His glory.”

Cutting to the chase, we can grasp the “dispensation (or “administration/stewardship”) of the mystery” when we take hold of this: “And to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery . . . to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Ekklesia (aka “church”) to principalities and powers in heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9-11). The Almighty definitely wants to exhibit His eternal purpose, “which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God” to all—especially, to these principalities and powers with whom we, His Ekklesia, wrestle (Eph. 6:12).

The obvious confronts us:  His Eternal Purpose is known through the Ekklesia Jesus said He would build and that the “gates of Hades” (i.e., these same “principalities and powers”) would not prevail (Matt. 16:18) against her. Now then, what does this display look like? What “from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God”(Eph. 3:9)?

Uncovering His Intent—the Mystery of His Will

When Jesus resolutely set His face as a flint toward Jerusalem, He had but one thing in view: That which would be “to the praise of His glory” on full display! Surely, there are primary clues which disclose His purpose.

Let’s try to retrace some of His final steps . . . culminating in the resurrection of His friend, Lazarus: “. . . many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him, but some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.” 

The passage we’re considering in John’s Gospel (Chapter 11:45-54) is consequential in uncovering His intent—why did Jesus “offer up Himself once for all” as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin? Yes, to suffice the wrath of God’s judgment upon all disobedience (Heb. 9:25-27) . . . for our redemption—isn’t that the Good News, the gospel of our salvation?  Of course it is, but again, is that the sum and substance, of the “praise of His glory?”

These religious leaders, due to the sign of Lazarus’ resurrection, had enough of this Nazarene! Too many Jews were believing in Him.

“If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 

In their eyes, this was a power grab of the first order—it was time to do something drastic, to stop Him! Lifeless religion and power politics are a toxic potion amongst fallen humanity.

Probable conversation may have gone like this: “Forget about the confidence and freedom He advocates—forget about His approachability; the fact is that He’ll talk to anybody and everybody. But it’s more than talk, He’s persuading far too many of us, not only by what He says, but by what He does. It’s time to take Him out!” 

Sound familiar? I think you know what I mean. Moreover, this man’s audacity to walk into the center of religiosity and Roman authority with unmitigated boldness and resolute confidence in His purpose is bound to upset the status quo. Well does Isaiah prophesy of Him:

“And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore, I will not be disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed” (Isa. 50:5-7).

That’s no-matter-what determination! And so it was that Messiah “As the time drew near for him to be taken up,Jesus resolutely set his sights on Jerusalem” (Lu. 9:51) . . . “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

He could not be stopped.  Unwavering determination characterized His every intention and movement.  “The JOY” that was set before Him consumed, fixated, riveted—no room for compromise, fear, hesitation . . . He had but one purpose, one eternal purpose . . .

“Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will’” (Heb. 10:7).  “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” . . .  “He takes away the first that He may establish the second” (Heb. 10:10, 9) . . . “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them”(Heb. 10:16; Jer. 31:33-34; Heb. 8:10).

Through the second covenant—the New Covenant—through God’s uncompromising love in the offering up of His body as the sacrifice, once for all, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 10:17).  Was that the joy set before Him—to forgive our sins—to be the once and for all sacrifice?  Well, “by that will we have been sanctified”—and for what purpose?  Yes, we have forgiveness, and more so, He has sanctified us, and put His laws into our hearts and written them on our minds—and for what purpose?  It would seem this is the nexus of the gospel. All this is “good news”—and surely we preach it with gusto to all who would hear.

I’m not positing these questions regarding His Eternal Purpose to suggest that forgiveness through His atoning sacrifice (incarnation and redemption), nor the work of sanctification (which we know is wrought by the Spirit of Christ under the New Covenant) are somehow missing the mark or are insufficient in answering the cardinal question of what is God’s Eternal Purpose. Suely, without these obvious accomplishments and present workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, God’s Eternal Purpose would be impossible; however, I posit the notion that these divine accomplishments are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end . . . in other words, they are a lead up to what He has purposed.

Caiaphas the Prophet

In this brevity there are several portions of New Testament revelation which shed abundant light upon our search for His Eternal Purpose.  Returning to the “aftermath” of Lazarus’ resurrection and of the religious leadership in Jerusalem, oddly enough, we can actually ascertain, in measure, why God sent His only begotten Son to redeem fallen humanity.  Let’s delve into both the dialogue of the religious leadership who were intimidated by Jesus and how John’s account/gospel interpreted their statements, starting from the top and ending with Jesus and the disciples leaving Jerusalem proper:

⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. (John 11:47-54 - NIV)

A rather obscure prophet comes on the scene.  Perhaps in the order of Balaam the Prophet (Numbers 22-24); nevertheless, and somewhat amazing, that John considered the comments of Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, as prophetic! John’s affirmation that “one man would die for the Jewish nation” was spot on.  Of course, Caiaphas had something totally different in view—the only way we can stop this Jesus is get rid of Him (He needs to die, plain and simple.). 

John takes this “lemon” and commences to make “lemonade” from it—profoundly so! John says that Jesus not only needed to die for the Jewish nation “but also for the scattered children of God.” Jesus dying just got enlarged, utterly expansive. And who are the “scattered children of God”? The phrase “children of God” was precisely the same wording used in John 1:12: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the authority to become the children of God (τέκνα Θεοῦ), even to them who believe in His Name.”

The ambiguous nature of John 1:12 seems to comport with John 11:52—i.e., whoever receives Him, they are immediately placed within the “children of God” wherever and whoever they are.  However, they are viewed as “having been scattered” (διεσκορπισμένα  - G1287) and are not necessarily exclusive to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” of the dispersion (G1290 – James 1:1) but are inclusive of all who would call upon His Name. “God so loved the world that He gave” is inclusive of all.

To Bring Them Together and Make Them One 

It is one thing—one divine orchestrated matter—to not only die for the Jewish Nation but to die for us all, “all the children of God.”  Yet, these “children of God” are scattered.  They’re not only scattered throughout the world but they most likely are “scattered” in the sense of what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30:  “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (G4650 – σκορπίζει – “skorpizei” - as in dissipating or  “cutting someone off/out”).

I do not think this a stretch.  Today, God’s children are adept at “cutting off” brethren—they’re not only scattered by location, but scattered by “religious intolerance” (take your pick).  Indeed, Matthew 12 speaks of a “house divided cannot stand” (Matt. 12:25).  It is in this context that Isaiah 42:1-4 is quoted wherein “He will declare justice to the Gentiles (nations) . . . and in His name Gentiles will trust.”  This led to the man who was demon-possessed, blind and mute who was healed by Jesus, eliciting the amazed multitude to acclaim:  “Could this be the Son of David?” This acclamation was met with the pharisaical charge that Jesus was healing via the power of Beelzebub! (vs. 23-24). The Pharisees were plotting and planning His demise, and He was privy to their thoughts (vs. 25); whereupon Jesus made their demonic charge indicative of “divisive scattering” juxtaposed to “gathering with Me.” Could it be that these same religious leaders were somehow aware of Matthew’s interpretation of Isaiah’s Gentile emancipation?  Needless to say, they certainly were outraged over His previous remarks:  “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (vs. 8).

All this to say that the “gathering together of the scattered children of God” did not have in view simply, though profoundly, their redemption and collective assembly, but something centered on His Eternal Purpose.  “To make them one.”  Yes, the NIV captures a most salient extension of God’s Plan and Purpose for the ages and hidden in God from ages past:  “to bring them together and make them one.”

In the previous chapter, John 10, Jesus had declared Himself to be “. . . the door of the sheep” (vs. 7) and the “good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (vs. 11). In this context He spoke of the “sheepfold” and the “pasture” where He said: “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd”(vs. 16).  Thus, the original protective fold is one thing, but the door of the sheep would let them out into the green pastures where other sheep which are not of this fold are found. 

His intent is to make those within the fold and those outside the fold—even though wolves are outside the fold, but so is the Shepherd—one flock. Do we see it:  SHEEPFOLD vs. ONE FLOCK.  It’s not that He abandons the sheep within the fold; after all, He established the sheepfold.  Obviously, this sheepfold are those within the context of the Mosaic Covenant, within Judah, within Judaism. 

But He’s the door of these sheep—He is calling them out into the pasture where other sheep, not of this fold, abound only to “make them one” through giving and gifting them with the Father’s Life through the Son (John 17:2-3); the Word, His Truth, the Son (vss. 14-17); and the Glory, the Sprit—to make us one (vss. 22-23).  We are being “perfected into one!” (vs. 23 – “that they may be perfected into one”). 

Alas! In His days of earthly ministry, the very “fold” He had established was sealed with a door.  It was protective, no doubt, but the same door which sealed Judah was the same door that would be opened to “other sheep which are not of this fold”—“them I must also bring.”  And why?  So that there would be but one FLOCK and one Shepherd!

       It would not be done through making new folds but freeing the sheep in whatever fold to join with other sheep outside the folds.  Yes, it is more dangerous “out here” where wolves can “have at it.”  But that’s where the Good Shepherd of the sheep protects—even to the point of where He says:  “I lay down my life for the sheep” (vs. 15).  That’s how determined He was and is to this day!

Folds?  Yes, today we find an amazing parallel where we find “amazing moves of God” whereupon a “fold” is created to “house of the sheep” whereupon purposefully or inadvertently a protective fold winds up dividing the “children of God.”  The intentions are seemingly pure and thoughtful—normally, they are genuine, sincere, and without guile (most of the time). Notwithstanding, the “end product” separates from the rest of the sheep, the one flock—no matter the justification for the fold.

Where did Jesus Go from Jerusalem?

Not for the Jewish nation only, but for the scattered children of God, to gather them together and make them one . . . Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. (Jo. 11:52, 54)

I find it somewhat uncanny that this insertion into John’s Gospel, though in appearance somewhat miscellaneous, is, to the contrary, utterly profound!  At this writing, the “village of Ephraim” was in a wilderness setting and probably within the environs of Samaria—perhaps where the “Woman at the well,” and the Samaritans who had welcomed Jesus, dwelt (Ref. John 4:39-42)?  Regardless, it sure sounds like Jesus practiced what He was preaching by going after the “other sheep which are not of this fold . . . them I must also bring with Me.” Ephraim, estranged from Judah, would be reconciled! Jesus “purposefully” went into Ephraim, for He had “other sheep” which were not of this fold—them, also, He would bring together and He alone would make them one.

Yes, Jesus died for both the Jewish Nation and other Nations, but there’s more, much more, and having to do with His Eternal Plan and Purpose whereby He would gather the scattered children of God together and make them one by His Life, Truth, and Glory – via the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—under the banner of the New Covenant in His blood.  Is not this the “full gospel” which we should be preaching “that they may be one . . . that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jo. 17:21)? 

The day both then and at the close of this age when the endless folds and scattering will cease and Zechariah’s prophecy (Chap. 9) of Messiah, the King, will prevail:

“For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion . . . then the LORD will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning.  The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet . . . The LORD their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted up like a banner over His land.” 

What a display! WHAT AN ETERNAL PURPOSE!