As is typical (I’m guessing) for the first Sunday after New Years, the sermon today at my church was “Do You Have a Goal?” My pastor talked about living with a purpose, living with goals. He quotes Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. He asked the question, “Have you ever thought of Jesus in that way? As a man with a goal? As a purpose driven individual? Was Jesus goal-oriented?” He asked the question, and then gave an emphatic answer, “You bet! Jesus was incredibly purpose driven!”
His reasoning? The cross. Everything about Jesus’ message, his life, his healings, etc. was about the cross [sidenote: Fr Patrick likes to remind me that evangelical Protestants are too focused on the cross – yes, obviously, it’s important – but what about the resurrection!? THAT is where emphasis should be placed, and is placed within the Orthodox faith. They sing songs about the cross, but they are always followed by a song of hope, about the resurrction]. He would leave areas where ministry was going strong, because he knew he had to continue on — to the cross.
Was Jesus purpose driven? Do I want to follow and worship a Purpose Driven Jesus?