Mar. 31: Jesus the Judge

Judges have been in the news a lot lately. Who can forget that eccentric Judge Larry that presided over the Anna Nicole Smith case several weeks ago? The current buzz is about the eight Federal Prosecutors who were fired and the subsequent hearings—it still remains to be seen whether or not Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will still have his job this time next week.

Jesus is the ultimate Judge. Although Jesus repeatedly stated that He “did not come to judge the world, but to save it,” we find this interesting conversation with a former blind man whom He had healed, who had been tried by the religious leaders and kicked out of the Temple (excommunicated):

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answered, "Who is he, sir, because I would like to." “You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!" “Yes, Lord," the man said, "I believe!" And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus told him, "I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." The Pharisees who were standing there heard him and asked, "Are you saying we are blind?" "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” (John 9:35-41)

In what sense did Jesus come to judge the world? I believe Jesus is saying he is a decisive and deciding force. You cannot be neutral about Jesus. Receive or reject; follow him or forget him; devotion or discard—Jesus demands that you choose, He will not let you straddle the fence.

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council, saying, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:16-21)

Did you catch that? Jesus the Judge gives the verdict: He came as the Light of the World and people react in one of two ways: they are either attracted to him or hide from him. Like someone throwing a light switch in a darkened warehouse in the middle of the night, some critters scurry for the shadows and some are drawn to the light. Once the owner of a store went to check some things in the office in the middle of the night; unbeknown to him there were already two other men on the premises. The startled custodian greeted him, dazed, but with nothing to hide; the would-be burglar slipped out the back door undetected.

What’s your reaction when The Light of God is shone on your life? In reality, we get to decide our own verdict: “Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

~ Father, help me not to fear the light of your examination and your findings. You are not only Judge, but Doctor, seeking to examine me so you can bring about healing. Thank you for taking away my fear of your Light. Amen.