Jesus was a man, but he was fully God and fully human. He humbled himself as a commoner because he wanted to reach out to all of God’s creations.

Jesus healed the sick, brought people back from the dead and taught people how to live in a way that was pleasing to God. He never cared how rich, smart or good looking people were; he loved everyone. Then he died for us. “For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Christ) the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:1.

This week, Christians throughout the world celebrate Holy Week in preparation for Easter, when we remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

“You will inherit eternal life if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27.

The lessons Jesus taught to those who followed him were lessons of love. Since the Ten Commandments were written, men have failed at attaining the high standards God first gave people. God realized telling people what to do wouldn’t work, he had to show us how to live to accomplish his goals for us. God became a man to show us the way. It is in the free gift of faith in his son that we are forgiven.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14: 6.

God sent his son Jesus to teach us how to live so we could feel love and mirror that in our relationships with everyone we meet. Jesus taught us to share; he thought we should give everything we could to those in need and know that God will always provide for us. He never collected material things, he just healed people, and through his actions he showed people how wonderful life could be if we all gave up our willingness to be greedy.

Being the son of God, he knew his future. He was fully aware while he was teaching people how to live that he was about to suffer, more than anyone ever has, to defeat the evil that has taken over this world.

This was the strongest act of love to the human race by any person in history. Pure, selfless love. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8.

Jesus is someone to celebrate. He is the living sacrifice God sent to show us the way.  Having faith in Jesus doesn’t make a person perfect, it makes him or her try harder. There are no perfect people on this earth, but true Christians strive to show love to everyone they meet. Just as things aren’t always what they seem, not everyone who checks the “Christian” box on forms is a true believer.

Only those who love all people as they love themselves can truly say they live for Christ.

Christianity has been fought about throughout history. People can’t truly agree about anything; some people still believe the earth is flat.

Here’s a thought to ponder. If Christians spend their lives worshiping God and his son, and there is no God, what do we lose? If it’s all true and faith in Christ is the only way to heaven, what do you lose from not having faith?

If your life is on the line, which isn’t worth it?

Julianne Hamil is a senior in journalism and mass communication.