Stan’s Corner, Thursday, September 8

“Jesus introduced profound changes in how we view God.  Mainly, he brought God near.  To Jews who knew a distant…God, Jesus brought the message that God cares for the grass of the field, feeds the sparrows, numbers the hairs on a person’s head.  To Jews who dared not pronounce the Name, Jesus brought the shocking intimacy of the Aramaic word Abba.  It was a familiar term of family affection…like “Dada” the first word many children spoke.  Before Jesus, no one would have thought of applying such a word to (God) Sovereign Lord of the universe.  After him, it became a standard term of address…” and so we call God, “Father.”

Philip Yancy, The Jesus I Never Knew