"From Womb To Tomb And Beyond"

And then good old Martin Luther came along and gave us explanations to the commandments and we learned that not only do they mean we aren’t supposed to do those things, but there’s also stuff implied that we should do.

Stuff like help and befriend our neighbor in every bodily need and help our neighbor to improve and protect his property and business, and here’s a good one, instead of defaming our neighbor, we are to put the best possible construction on everything and speak well of him.

Adam and Eve didn’t do a very good job when it came to obeying God. The Israelites, the descendents of Abraham and Sarah, God’s chosen people, they didn’t do a very good job either. And then there’s us.

We haven’t done such a good job either in fulfilling the LAW’s and Commandments of God.

And God did say that there would be a punishment for not obeying. He told Adam in the Garden…you know that silly snake tried to say it wasn’t so….but God did say that if you break my commandment, you will surely die.

My friends, God demands perfection. Jesus confirmed that when he was on this earth. He said in his sermon on the mount: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I was reading through some of the “advertisements” for Easter celebrations at local churches yesterday. One promised great entertainment both before, during and after the service. Another said “fun for the whole family.” The one that really caught my attention however, was the one that said, “It’s all about you!”

If it were up to me, at this point I would have to throw my hands up in the air and say, “I give up.”

I can’t do it. I’ve tried. God knows how I’ve tried. But I can’t. And I’m afraid of dying.

That’s why we’ve learned about all those various aspects of Jesus’ life over the last few weeks. It’s why we hear them over and over again, year after year.

Because Jesus did what Adam and Eve could not do. He accomplished what the “children of God” could not do. He did what we can not do. He fulfilled all the requirements that God laid down. He lived the perfect life that we can only dream of.

He truly did, as the psalmist wrote:

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.

I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.

This was the life of our Lord. A life lived in servitude to His Father. Living his life according to the will of God.

But, according to God’s plan, Jesus carried it one step further than just obeying the will of the Father.

He became the sacrifice that God demanded. He took on the wrath that God had promised.

Not just the wrath of scouring and insults. Not just the degrading punishment of being hung on a cross. Not just a crown of thorns being placed on his head.

He took on the death that God demanded of those who do not follow His decrees. He became sin for us and suffered the death that we so richly deserved.