Was Jesus a Radical?

The life and ministry of the historical Jesus stand in contrast to the more conservative vision of the mythical, spiritual Christ, detached from political concerns, espoused by mainstream Christianity. Amidst the political and religious unrest of Roman-occupied Judea – 1st century present-day Palestine – Jesus emerged as a radical, revolutionary figure that challenged the sovereignty of Rome. The message of Jesus was a radically inclusive vision of humanity. His teachings reached out to the outcast and marginalized and cautioned against greed and love of money over love of God. While today his radical legacy is largely forgotten, diluted by institutional interpretations, the revolutionary spirit of his actions and message lives on in the historical story of his life.

Mainstream Christianity has tended to deny the revolutionary intent of the historical Jesus, portraying him instead as a pulley spiritual figure. Yet his trial and crucifixion in the context of Roman-controlled Judea tells a different story – that is decidedly political. 

For a start, crucifixion was reserved by the Romans for rebels and runaway slaves. Crucified bodies were put on public display, to intimidate the masses, and reinforce the supreme power of Rome. Jesus was a widely popular figure with the common people, a thorn in the side of the rich and powerful, and a champion of the dispossessed. These attributes alone made him a potential threat to Roman imperial rule. 

Worse, Jesus was the seditious leader of a messianic popular movement. His call for the imposition of the “Kingdom of God” was interpreted as a direct challenge to Roman sovereignty. His crucifixion, with a plaque placed above his head reading “King of The Jews,” underscores the Roman view of Jesus as a revolutionary (Aslan, 2014). 

What Were the Radical Teachings of Jesus?

In ancient ethical teachings, such as those of the Greeks that Jesus would have been familiar with, moral concern was largely confined to the family, friends, and those considered social equals. The Jewish ethical tradition that Jesus grew up within expanded altruism to encompass all Israelites. 

Jesus himself took the radical step of extending compassion to all those in need. Helping those in need was not seen as a mere virtue; it was framed as the ultimate purpose in life. In contrast with the Ancient Greek ideal of eudaimonia (the pursuit of a self-fulfilling, happy life) Jesus taught that the point of moral behavior was to please God.

As Bart Ehrman (2023) describes it, Jesus’ teachings were “Jewish ethics on apocalyptic steroids.” As an apocalyptic Jew, Jesus believed that the end was near. Only those who relinquished material concerns, and devoted themselves to God by living completely and selflessly for others, would enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Among Jesus’ most radical critiques are those that condemn “lovers of money” and human greed. In the Gospel of Luke (16:13), Jesus declares that ‘no slave can serve two masters’ (God and wealth), emphasizing that god and Mammon (wealth) are incompatible objects of allegiance and desire (Pickett, 2009). 

In Hebrew, Mammon means ‘money,’ in the Aramaic of the New Testament, the term is commonly understood to refer to material wealth, money, and the pursuit of greed. Accordingly, Mammon symbolizes a world driven by competition and disengaged self-interest. The message of Jesus, of interdependence, sharing, and loving friendship,   stands in stark contrast. 

For Jesus, pursuing wealth over spiritual greatness is not merely a personal failing, but a systemic issue. Love of Mammon paves the way for a competitive system that favors the privilege of the “haves” over the “have-nots.” Greed, a corrupting force, runs counter to Jesus’ call for a flourishing life of shared abundance and holy communion. 

Radical Inclusivity

The radical inclusiveness of Jesus challenged the religious and cultural norms of his time – just as it challenges us today. He embraced those that society had cast aside, communing with lepers, forgiving sinners, and healing the blind and the lame. The famous parable of the Good Samaritan, for example, casts a hated foreigner as the hero. 

Jesus’ love for those considered worthless and useless, the forsaken, despised, and marginalized underscored a rejection of tribal loyalty and the self in favor of universal human connection. The message of Jesus is clear. He argued that the “other” was not an enemy or stranger, but a neighbor and friend.

His radical, revolutionary message demanded compassion for the weak, oppressed, and outcast take precedence over loyalty to tribe, custom, or tradition. Through his actions and teachings, Jesus offered a vision of radical love and inclusion that remains as challenging today as it was in his own time.