WHY THE WORLD NEEDS JESUS

Ecclesiastes 3:20-22

²⁰ We all go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust we all return. ²¹ Who knows whether the breath of man goes upward and the breath of the beast goes down into the earth? ²² So I discovered that there is nothing better than that a man should enjoy his work, because that is his lot. Who can raise himself so he can see what will be after him?

until Jesus

Two very important questions are raised by the collector when he examines the reality of mortality. Solomon anticipates that the religious will object that humans are different – that when we die our breath goes to God. So he asks “who knows if it is true?” He’s not necessarily denying it. He’s simply stating that no one can prove it. Someone would have to come back from the dead to explain that it happens that way.

His second question builds upon that. He asks “Who can raise himself so he can see what will be after him?” The honest will respond to this question with “no one” as well.

The answers to those two questions will remain the same for centuries … until Jesus. Jesus was not only raised from the dead himself, he offered resurrection life to everyone who believes in him. Solomon prepared us for the gospel by exposing the naked truth of our own mortality.

LORD, show us how to tell the world that they really need resurrection life, and that it is only available through Christ.