A Revolution in Galilee

In ancient Israel, only the chief priest could utter the name of God, and the chief priest could only utter the name of God on one day. And on that one day the one person who could utter the name of God could only use the name of God using the respectful and appropriate designation, "Jehovah."

Jesus, a Jewish Mediterranean peasant uttered God's name frequently while teaching in the hills of Galilee. Jesus spoke the name of God frequently--more importantly, rather than using the conventional and formal "Jehovah," Jesus referred to God using the term "Abba." The word "Abba" is the rough equivalent of "Daddy."

Jesus began a revolution in the hills of Galilee. The revolution was all about how we perceive ourselves and perceive those around us. We are all the adopted daughters and sons of the God of eternal power and glory. So naturally, we can call God "Abba." God is not some distant and estranged from us. God has come near to us and has offered to enter into a familial relationship with us. That means that we are all of infinite worth, and we should perceive ourselves and others as persons of infinite worth.

The churches that Paul founded brought this message into the Greek and Roman world. Like Israelite culture, the value that Greek and Roman cultures gave to people was a function of their family heritage. Those born of royalty were given a high status. Those born of servants were given a low status. Children of royalty were considered to be of infinite worth. Children of those born to servants were considered to be of little value.

Jesus' message that Paul proclaimed disrupted this cultural system. As the early Christians reasoned, correctly, if we are all adopted children of God, then we should all be considered to be of infinite worth; not just those who were born into royalty. That means, that there is no longer male or female, Jew or Greek, free or servant. As you might expect, Jesus' message threatened to disrupt the entire social order in the Greek and Roman world.

Jesus' message remains revolutionary. We are all God's children. That means that when we see anyone in this world, we must see them for who God has revealed them to be; his daughters and sons. And we must treat them that way. If taken seriously, Jesus' message can turn our world upside down, for the better.