What Jesus Has Done!

       One of the early impulses toddlers share is the need to be independent.  Before some are even speaking in full sentences, parents are confronted with the "me do's".   Children quickly (in retrospect) want to get places on their own, learn to walk and talk, and then do for themselves.  As parents quickly learn, this can lead to spilled milk, embarrassing situations, and frustration on the part of both parent and child when they try and try but can't manage on their own.  I remember specially being frustrated as a mom when they refused any help.  Then it was hard to be creative enough to find a way to enable them to succeed without them knowing I was helping.  From infant to adult, growth can be summed up as the process of learning to do for ourselves.
        But the desire to do something and the ability don't always match up.  Just because children want to do something doesn't mean they should.  Sometimes it's not safe like cooking on the stove or lighting matches, sometimes it is not practical, but sometimes we just don't want to be embarrassed.
       I remember showing up for my daughter's parent-teacher conference when she was in second or third grade.  The first thing the teacher did was ask if I had been out of town recently.  I had been while working the current disaster; I asked why she wanted to know.  Was there a problem?  She said she figured my daughter had been dressing herself with her dad in charge.  When my daughter came bounding into the room, I realized what the teacher was talking about.  She was wearing orange tights, pink boots, a bright blue flippy skirt (way too short but a favorite), a purple shirt, and an out-grown sweater with kitties on it!
       We all want to do things for ourselves by ourselves.  Independence is a sign of strength that we all cling to very stubbornly.  One of the hardest things to cope with as we grow older is losing the ability to do things for ourselves and learning to ask for and accept assistance.
       Perhaps that is why grace is so hard for us to accept.  "Me do!" is an attitude that is all too common when it comes to faith.  We want to decide to follow Jesus and to have faith.  Not only that but we like the idea of being held accountable so that it matters that people have to try hard to live according to God's law; that way we get to work for our own salvation and judge those people that we deem sinful.  Somehow it feels better if we have earned it.
       But this week, all of our efforts come face-to-face with the bloody, painful death of Jesus on the cross.  Jesus gave up everything to take on human form even to the point of suffering and death.  This is what God has done for us.  Jesus sacrificed himself to redeem the world and for us to insist on doing it ourselves is to make light of his death.  Jesus has saved us and only through God's grace are we forgiven and given the gift of faith.
       Now that doesn't mean that our lives are unaffected.  Because we belong to God, because we have been forgiven, we are to lead lives that reflect the life of Jesus.  Paul says we are to "live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Ephesians 4:1).   This is shown in our love and service for others, helping those in need, in the patience, humility, and gentleness that we share with all of God's children.
       As we come to Good Friday, take time to ponder the cross and the gift of Jesus contained on that cross.  Thank God that in response to our "Me do!" attitude, Jesus has already done it because anything and everything we could do would be a failure.  Out of love for you, Jesus has already paid the price, named, and claimed you as God's own.  Read Ephesians 2:4-9.