Judge of All
Opening Prayer
Take these images of Jesus: Friend, Savior, Lord, Shepherd, Giver of life. Use them to praise and worship him now.
Read John 5:16-30
[16] So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. [17] In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” [18] For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. [19] Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. [21] For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. [22] Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. [24] “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. [25] Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [27] And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. [28] “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [29] and come out-those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. [30] By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Why were his enemies so angry with Jesus?Religious people are sometimes very good at self-righteously appointing themselves judge and jury. We have, after all, some understanding of right and wrong, and we care about these things. In today’s story, these Jews are offended because Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath day. Not only that, but he drew upon Jewish tradition which held that God the Father must do some work on the Sabbath to sustain the universe. For them, what Jesus said must be blasphemous (16-18). The key verses here are vs. 19 and 20. They make it quite clear that everything Jesus does is in line with his Father’s wishes and, for that reason, the Father loves him. But here comes the striking part: this also includes judgment, whether now, in this life, or at the end of time. It is in the hands of this man, Jesus Christ (27). Does this offend you or encourage you? Would you prefer there to be no judgment or exercise of justice at all? Or does it help to know that judgment is in the hands of one who is not only completely fair and just, but is your Savior and friend?
Apply
Ask God for a calm acceptance of the fact that judgment is in the very good hands of our Lord Jesus.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank You for who You are: the Savior–and also a just and fair judge.
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