Jesus was also a famous teacher. Even today many of his teachings are part of our culture: 'Turn the other cheek,' 'Do to others what you would have them do to you', and many others.

But of all his many teachings, Jesus said the most important one is to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' And the second most important is to 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

According to Jesus, God's way of living is summed up by these two simple commands; to love your Maker and to love your neighbour.

Yet in making this statement, Jesus is showing us how we fail even this simple test of living God's way. None of us has loved God or our neighbours to the extent that Jesus describes.

God holds us responsible for our failure. Jesus teaches about a time in the future when we will all have to come before God in judgement and face the consequences for the way we have lived. This is a serious business.

Yet there is a way out.