“In every mind there is an enormous store of not-knowing, of being puzzled, of wonder, of radical amazement.” (Abraham Heschel, Man’s Quest for God”)

“God is of no importance unless He is of supreme importance. It is hard to define religion; it is hard to place its wealth of meaning into the frame of a single sentence. But surely one thing may be said negatively: religion is not expediency. If all our actions are guided by one consideration, how best to serve our personal interests, it is not God whom we serve but the self.” Abraham Heschel

When was the last time you were truly amazed by something – or someone? When was the last time you stopped in such awe and wonder that you remained speechless for a time? Perhaps it has been awhile — perhaps not. The world around us right now often presents us scenes of wonder — but they may not always be positive.

You do know that Jesus was a radical? You don’t? Have I offended you? Jesus was kind, he was loving, he was caring and compassionate — but Jesus was a radical. What is a radical? When I push the button on my IPad seeking a definition of the word radical, it tells me that a radical is a “revolutionary, a progressive, a reformer…” among other things. Martin Luther was a radical — Jesus was a radical. In fact, Jesus was all three, if not more. He was a revolutionary, for he often stood up to, taunted, and verbally defeated the powers that would eventually kill him. He was a progressive, for he continually reshaped the understanding and the rules within the “Kingdom of God”. And, Jesus was a reformer — most evidently seen in identifying himself as “Lord of the Sabbath”, among other “radical” titles.

Many of the teachings and the actions of Jesus should leave us standing at the foot of the cross enamored and filled with “radical amazement.” Jesus not only reshaped our understanding of G-d’s presence, G-d’s love and G-d’s commandments, he chose to do what no radical chooses to do. John 15:13 says: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The cross event should leave us all filled with “radical amazement”, for it demonstrates the radical love G-d has for all people.

Pastor Dave