Why was God's love, evidenced by Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary, greater than that of a man who would die for another, as in "A Tale of Two Cities"? History provides a clue.

In the beginning, all humanity was blessed through God's dispensing of grace via a covenantal relationship with Adam. The terms of God's covenant were, simply, "Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the center of the garden, because, if you do you will surely die."

However, in spite of Adam's eternal existence, he took the path of disobedience, forsaking the path of life. In this day he would have been in agreement with Spinoza, who said, "Reason, not obedience, should guide our lives."

He exercised his free will. His desire to be like God, sovereign, overcame him and he ate of the forbidden fruit. At that moment the blessings given to mankind, in Adam were abjured. The covenant was broken. Death entered the world. Man's relationship with God was severed.

But God's plan would not be thwarted and what follows is "His-story."

Abraham, the father of nations, believed God and God made a covenant with him of blessing for all people that would come through his descendants. Moses led the exodus out of Egypt of a people, who became a nation. At Mount Sinai, God gave his people the law, he gave them the promised land and a name, Israel. And from the seed of Israel's King David came Jesus Christ, the word, fallen man's redeemer.

"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God." John 1:1.

God, through the ages, planned to restore man's relationship with him. And, in the fullness of time he, "gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

Over 2,000 years ago, God forged a new covenant with mankind sealed in Christ's blood and a new body, Christ's church, rose up with Jesus from the grave. Since that day, the gospel has swept through all the Earth giving meaning and hope to millions. "And now that we are Christ's we are true descendants of Abraham, and all of God's promises to him belong to us." Galatians 3:29.

But there's more: John in Revelations 21:3-4 foretells, "the home of God is now among men and he will live with them and they will be his people, yes, God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain."

Yes, God's love is greater because his perfect plan of restoration was from the beginning. Not the result of one circumstance, but a provision for a lifetime of circumstances, and it will not fail because Jesus never fails.

Kathy Novak is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes submissions from pastors, priests, lay workers and other leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.