The most extreme teachings of Jesus were the teachings about Himself. Yes the kingdom of heaven was at hand, but why? Because the King was present, He had come on the scene. The most radical things that Jesus ever said, He said about Himself. The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ about Himself are so radical and so extreme that we cannot just be neutral towards Him. We either have to mock Him and spit on Him or we have to bow down and worship Him. We can't just say He was a great teacher and nothing more, He didn't leave us that option.

"Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.' And Jesus said to him, 'Blessed are you..., because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.'" Matthew 16:16-17