How dare you love! How dare you forgive! How dare you associate with sinners! How dare you bring healing! How dare you challenge us! How dare you overturn our tables! How dare you interpret the Law! How dare you break the Sabbath! How dare you question us!

Yet Jesus dares much. He dares the wrath of the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate, Roman soldiers and his own townspeople. He dares to touch a leper, dine with a tax collector, be anointed by a sinner, feed the hungry, heal the sick and the possessed, resuscitate the dead, walk on water, still storms, change water into wine, and pray and love a whole lot. Jesus dared a lot!

What are we willing to dare as Jesus' disciples? Do we seek his wisdom and keep to the level path? Do we persistently strive to become more like Jesus? Do we strive to make our little corner of the planet more hospitable to the Reign of God? Is following Jesus our preoccupation? Are we passionate about Him? Have we surrendered our will to His will? Do we acknowledge his authority in our lives? Or are we still questioning his wisdom, his authority, his forgiveness, his plan and his love?

Because Jesus loves much he dares much. He dares to love you and to love me. He dared to die for your salvation and for mine. He dared to rise from the dead and open for us the way to eternity with God.