NOT THE JUDGE, AT LEAST FOR NOW

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“If anyone hears My words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.”

John 12:47-48

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Jesus had spent His entire ministry working to make a difference. He came and healed. He cared for those who were marginalized by society. And He taught the people about a new covenant God was bring His people through Him, a covenant grounded in the gift of salvation extended to all people, Jew and Gentile. God desired to remove the separation between Himself and man caused by sin and so He sent His Son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice. Or as John proclaimed, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Indeed, the Messiah promised by the prophets of old was to be a great Deliverer and so Jesus was. Unfortunately, the kind of deliverance the people were receiving differed from what they thought would happen.

You see, the Israelites were under the control of the Romans who oppressed the people of God with their rule and policies, especially taxation. The people of Israel assumed the Messiah was going to be a mighty, supernaturally powerful warrior that would vanquish the Romans and set them free. Perhaps this is why the people were so willing to allow Jesus to die such a horrific death. They lost hope He was who they believed He was.

Sadly, the Israelites failed to understand that Jesus had come to save them from a far greater enemy than the Romans. For their sin was placing them squarely in the crosshairs of God’s judgment and that’s a place no one would be able to survive. Jesus had shared with the people that God had loved them so much that He did not wish for them to perish but to have everlasting life. There was only one condition for this rescue from judgment and destruction. Each person had to place their belief in Jesus first.

With this as a backdrop, we find Jesus continuing to address a group of Jews on Monday, just four days from His crucifixion. Look again at His words as He affirms who He was and why God had sent Him:

“If anyone hears My words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.”  John 12:47-48

Here we find Jesus making it clear that God had not sent Him to judge. There would be a time for that later but this time was different. Jesus Himself told them that His purpose was to save the world and that included everyone who was listening to Him.

Now note that Jesus did acknowledge there were people who refused to believe in Him. They heard His words but failed to keep them, effectively rejecting Him and the salvation He offered. The scriptures validate this truth many times as we have seen in the Gospels.

But Jesus wasn’t there to judge them for their decision, although He was fully aware of who the Judge was. For every person will have to stand before God in judgment at the last day. They will receive one of two verdicts: pardoned and set free or guilty and condemned. There is no third decision.

Now picture those who chose to turn away from Jesus. When they come before God at judgment, how will they answer when God asks them if they heard the offer of salvation from His Son?

Not a comfortable place to be, right?

For God would know before He even asked that the person had indeed heard the very words His Son had spoken and yet decided to accept them. And in refusing Jesus, they in turn refused the eternal life He was offering. Their choice to rebuff Jesus would lead to their condemnation and everlasting damnation.

There will be a time when Jesus will come to Judge the earth and everyone in it, sent by the God who placed all authority over heaven and earth upon His Son. But for now, He still stands as Savior, a willing Savior ready to accept anyone who will turn from their sin and unbelief, repent of their wrongs, and commit themselves to Jesus and His lifestyle.

Where do you stand in your relationship with Christ? Are you saved or staring down judgment?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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