Daily Devotions
John
The doctrine of judgment
Text: John 5:16-47
THE DOCTRINE OF JUDGMENT
The Jews had judged Jesus as being worthy of death, simply because they blamed Him for telling the man that He had healed that he may take up his bed and walk! What was the basis of their judgment? Had they called for a full explanation from Jesus? They had done nothing except to condemn Him without much thought.
On the other hand, Jesus provided a fairly full statement on the subject of “Judgment”. Let us attempt to summarize what He had taught thus far:-
1. The Prerogative to Judge given to Jesus
This was something that Jesus insisted on. The Jews were of course familiar with the idea of God as Judge. Psalm 50 provides a classic text that describes God as Judge.
“He shall call to the heavens from above,
And to the earth, that He may judge His people:Let the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is Judge.”
Psalm 50:4, 6
Jesus taught that God had given Him the prerogative to judge. Solemnly He declared.
“For the Father judges no one,
But has committed all judgment to the Son…”
John 5:22
“For as the Father has life in Himself,
So He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
And has given Him authority to execute judgment also,
Because He is the Son of Man.”
John 5:26-27
2. There will be a Final Judgment Day
Jesus knew that not everybody believed that there would be a final Judgment Day. Some also did not believe in the hereafter. Nevertheless, He had to solemnly declare an eternal truth.
“Most assuredly, I say to you,
He who hears My words and believes in Him who sent Me
Has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment,
But has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24
“Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming
In which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
And come forth – those who have done good,
To the resurrection of life,
And those who have done evil,
To the resurrection of condemnation.”
John 5:28-29
3. How Jesus will Judge
How would Jesus exercise His prerogative to judge? Solemnly He declares how He would make His judgment.
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge;
And My judgment is righteous,
Because I do not seek My own will,
But the will of the Father who sent Me.”
John 5:30
Jesus insists that His judgment would always be righteous. He would not be as earthly judges who are sometimes guilty of judging unjustly. How would Jesus judge? The following things will mark the way He judges.
a) Jesus would always be in close consultation with His Father.
Yes, the Father has given Him the prerogative and the authority to judge. However, because of the wonderfully intimate relationship with His Father, He would always be in consultation with His Father. His judgment would always be as righteous as His Father’s!
b) Jesus would always bear in mind the will of His Father
God’s will and judgment would always be perfect, simply because of who He is. Jesus knew only too well the depth of God’s will. He agrees with His Father’s will completely. Having the mind of the Father and perfect knowledge of His will, He would be more than adequate in the discharging of His duties as Judge!
A GENTLE APPEAL TO BELIEVE THE WORD OF JESUS
Jesus had unique powers given to Him by His Father. He had the prerogative and authority to judge, and He also had the power to give Him to all who believed in Him. Very gently, Jesus pleaded with those who were sensitive to spiritual matters to heed the truth of the words so quietly uttered.
“Most assuredly, I say to you,
He who hears my word and believes in Him
Who sent Me has everlasting life,
And shall not come into judgment.”
John 5:24
The words of Jesus were sincerely uttered and that was plain to see. He appealed to His hearers to give serious consideration to what He had taught. If only they would open their hearts to believe Him, they would find everlasting life! Have you found Life?