Jesus Christ - Our Loving Judge

Brethren, we recently finished observing the last great day, or the eighth day, the final feast of the seven-feast cycle that God established. Before even man was created, there in Genesis 1.14, God organized the orbits of the different planets and the orbit of the sun and the earth to be this huge clock that would just have all of these calendar mechanisms in place. He set it up that way for the Sabbaths and the feast days.

One thing that got my attention in this last great day, and I want to focus on one verse in particular, dealing with that day of judgment. But it's not a day which should just strike us with fear. In fact, it's a very encouraging and uplifting day for those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ. I know that in Protestant world and also the Catholic world, they talk about just about sinners being thrown in the lake of fire. Basically, it's just very few who are saved. I know my mother scared me to death when I was about seven years old. She told me about this vision that the Catholic Church has, one of those visions of Mary. These little kids had actually seen this vision, and they saw this tree with all of these leaves falling and falling. The children asked this supposed Mary figure, what are these leaves that are falling? She said, these are all the people that are dying at this very second and going to hell, and they're dropping into hell fire. Boy, afterwards, I went to Mass every Sunday, but it wasn't because of love toward God. It was fear. With this type of fright, churches control so many people. Thankfully, after I came to the knowledge of the truth and looked at this verse in particular, it's in Revelation chapter 20 verse 11. Revelation 20 verse 11, I'll read it. It says, Then I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. This is at the beginning of what we call the second resurrection. It's after the first resurrection, a thousand years before, and then a small period after the thousand years for Satan to be lost and then punished.

The point here I want to focus is on him who sat on that white throne.

It is the same person who is judging us now. That is Jesus Christ. God the Father has bequeathed upon him and delegated all judgment of mankind. Notice in John chapter 5 in verse 22, John chapter 5 in verse 22, Jesus says, For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.

This is a revelation that Christ gives that the Father has delegated judgment to Jesus Christ. That all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. So the Father is actually taking Christ into consideration here, so they will honor him and not just focus on God the Father. God the Father wants to exalt Jesus Christ in this role. The Son does not honor the Father who sent him. He who rejects Jesus Christ in his role is not honoring God the Father at all.

He goes on to say, 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 but has passed from death into life. Jesus Christ constantly mentions this. He mentioned it to the Samaritan women about he who drinks of this water shall never die. And of course, the Jews were very puzzled and even his disciples, because they were human beings. And how could Jesus Christ say that they would continue living on? And the fact is that Jesus Christ was talking about the ultimate result of what he was going to do. The ultimate result is that even if a person temporarily dies, he's going to be resurrected. He's going to live forever. And Jesus Christ saw to it through his sacrifice. So that was the point that there was this certainty that if you follow God to the end of your life, you don't have to fear death, because that's just a temporary situation. And you're going to be awakened immediately after you fall asleep, because you don't know what lapse of time will be between death and the coming of Christ. We're not going to be aware of it. It's going to be something instantaneous as far as we're concerned. We're going to be awakened when Christ returns, and we're going to live forever. We're going to forget about all the ills and all the difficulties of this life. And so what Christ was saying was, well, your life may mean a lot to you right now, but if you follow me, if you drink of those living waters, if you receive God's Spirit, if you repent, you will, through my sacrifice, have eternal life. And so that's what he was talking about, ultimately, because of what he was going to do for us. Continuing on in verse 25, he says, Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. That's the voice of Jesus Christ, and those who hear will live. 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. 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, which has to do with receiving Christ's sacrifice, obeying God, to the resurrection of life, the first resurrection, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. And so here he's just separating it, because after all the second resurrection, people are going to be first condemned by their sins, and then they're going to be offered repentance. And of course, the third resurrection means that they're just going to wake up to being condemned with no chance. Those are the very few who are just the incorrigibly wicked. In Romans 14 9 through 10, Romans 14.

Let's read 9 through 10.

It says, For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. And so we are now standing before the judgment seat of Christ, because we have the opportunity to be part of the first resurrection and never be judged again. Just receive eternal life when Christ comes back.

So let's look at seven of the characteristics of Jesus Christ as the judge of all. Seven characteristics of Jesus Christ as the judge of all. And remember, Hebrews 13 8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He doesn't change. He's the same judge in the past as he is today, as he will be in the future. Those same characteristics never change. They will always be with him.

And so the first of those seven characteristics as Christ our judge is that he is love personified. He is love personified. First John chapter 4, in verse 8, it says, He who does not love does not know God, for God is love, agape, which is an outgoing, true concern and absolute concern for the welfare and well-being of others. So that's his main characteristics. How would you like to have a judge like that? Not some harsh judge in the world that we have with all of their hang ups. And many of them feel entitled to just throw the book at people or others are the opposite. There are a bunch of namby-pambis, milk toasts that just let people get literally away with murder. No, Jesus Christ is perfect love, love personified.

He has a true and absolute outgoing concern for the well-being of that person being judged.

He's on our side. Notice in Ephesians chapter 3.

Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 17.

Talking about Christ, Paul says that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. And you may be filled with all the fullness of God, so that love of Christ surpasses knowledge. We have such a merciful and loving judge, not like the world portrays this angry Christ just ready to strike out. Not at all. That's a false picture.

Notice the second characteristic of Jesus Christ. He is compassionate above all that can be imagined. He is compassionate above all that can be imagined. Look at Matthew 9 verse 36.

As he was then, so he is today. Matthew 9 and verse 36. It says that when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. He saw most of those people's lives are pretty miserable. Poor, icking out a living, controlled by the cruel Romans and greedy priests and self-righteous Pharisees as a whole. And so he really felt for them. Notice in Matthew 14 verse 14.

It says, and when Jesus went out, he saw a great multitude, and he was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick. He just always had that outgoing love and concern for them.

He was dead tired, as his disciples said. When it was evening, his disciples came to him saying, this is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the village and buy themselves food. But Jesus said to them, they do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. So he made another miracle, just because he knew they were hungry, tired, oppressed. He went out and fed them as well. In Matthew 18 verse 10.

This is talking about primarily his example, that he wants us to fall. Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven, their angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven. As these people that are misjudged and they're belittled and people don't consider them very important because they're not powerful or rich, God looks at them every day. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. He came, first of all, to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the 99 to go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the 99 that did not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. It's not just the compassion of Jesus Christ, it's the compassion of God. Many times we forget they are there for us to help us. In Hebrews chapter 2 tells us again what Jesus Christ went through so he could be a faithful high priest. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 17.

It says, therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation or sacrifice. For sins of the people, for in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted. So we don't have a hard-hearted judge at all. This judge lived a life where he suffered. He went through so much he saw so much oppression and yet he's the one who is able to judge us, giving us all the opportunities to overcome, to help us along the way. He's not going to ever abandon us, although we can abandon him. Thirdly, the third characteristic is he gave what was the most precious thing to him. That was his life, and he did it freely for all of us. In John chapter 10, John chapter 10 and verse 11, Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Verse 14, I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known by my own, as the father knows me, even so I know the father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. Verse 17, therefore my father loves me because I lay down my life for that I may take it again. So he's comparing himself to a shepherd that is willing to fight lions or bears, and many times even loses life, but he's not going to just run away. He's not a hireman, and he showed it with his life, his sacrifice for all of us. It says verse 18. That means 18. No one takes it from me talking about his life, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, to give it up, and I have the power to take it again. He didn't have to do it. This command I have received from my father, and so he did it freely, not obligated, not ordered by someone else. God the father gave him the decision to make.

And so he goes after the lost sheep. He doesn't want to lose one of them. That's the type of judge we have, because many times judges in the world, once they sentence somebody, they just say, good riddance, lock them up, throw the key away, whatever. Christ isn't that way. He works for the people, no matter what circumstances they are in.

The fourth characteristic is that he is meek and humble, not proud or overbearing. Matthew 11 verse 27. Matthew 11 verse 27.

Jesus said, all things have been delivered to me by my father, and no one knows the son except the father, nor does anyone know the father except the son, and the one to whom the son will reveal him. Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He's not going to beat us up. He's not going to pound us. He's going to give us rest, because he's loving and compassionate. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me that I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul, for my yoke is easy and my burden is life. So we don't have a harsh judge at all. In chapter 20 and verse 25, it shows us again the humility that Jesus Christ showed. And he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Matthew 20 verse 25.

It says, But Jesus called them to himself, and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and those who are given great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. What kind of a judge is that?

That was willing to go through everything for the love of us, to give himself as a ransom for each one of us. The fifth characteristic, yet although Jesus Christ is so loving and compassionate, he is not weak and will punish the wicked as they deserve. So just because he's compassionate and loving, what if some person comes and attacks him and rebels and everything else that just comes and tries to attack his flock? Well, as a shepherd, he's going to defend the flock. Notice in Isaiah 11, it talks about the prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 11 in verse 1, it says, there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, talking about Jesse being David's father, and out of David would come forth this Messiah.

And it says here, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom, and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, as the light is in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes. Not a judge that is partial or a respecter of persons, nor decide by the hearing of his ears.

Nobody's going to be able to bribe him, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.

Now you know why this judgment back in Revelation 20 is called the Great White Throne Judgment. It is a great one because of who is sitting on it. Jesus Christ himself, God, who was in the flesh, and white because of the purity and faithfulness of his judgments. There's no darkness. There's no spots in his judgments at all. They are pure and white and righteous. Notice in Jude going to the back of the Bible before Revelation.

Jude 14 talking about the judgment of Christ coming back to the earth. Jude 15 says that he is coming to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have committed in an ungodly way. So people are getting away with it, but when Christ comes back as judge, they won't get away with it. Notice, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Yes, throughout history, how many people have attacked Christ, have maligned him? I'm thinking also of this past century with all of these supposed scientists, evolutionists, just insulting Christ.

He's not the Creator, God the Father giving him that authority. All of these atheistic professors making fun of Christ. Boy, when Christ comes, let's see how brave they are then. Yes, they're going to be shaking in their boots. Don't be any haughtiness and pride then. So this is part of Christ's judgment toward those that have not repented, that are part of the world, that become the incorrigibly wicked. Notice in Revelation 11. Revelation 11 in verse 16, it says about his coming, and that 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who was and who is to come.

And certainly God the Father eventually will come without you, Jerusalem, because you have taken your great power and reign. The nations were angry and your wrath has come in the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants, the prophets, and the saints, that's all of the church members throughout history, and those who fear your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.

And so again, we see how Christ is going to come and take care of the wicked.

Now, the sixth characteristic is because Jesus Christ cares and loves us so much, He will, on occasions, step in to discipline us when needed. Notice in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 11. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 11.

Did I say Hebrews 12 verse 11? Hebrews 12. 1 says, Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, all of these who have faithfully completed their run, their race, and believe me, they went through a lot worse than COVID. Let us lay aside every weight in the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He began with the calling from the Father, and He is the finisher of our faith. He's alongside us, just like a wonderful coach. And you know, a coach loves his team, and he's very loving and patient with them. That's the way Jesus Christ is with us. Before the joy that was set before Him, all these people that were going to come into the kingdom, through His sacrifice, endured the cross, despising the shame, and had sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. No greater sacrifice was conceivable, because He humbled Himself to being nailed to a stake, and suffering all of these injustices. So, verse 3 says, For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls, with the different trials we go through. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. I don't see anybody with stripes on their backs yet, and striving against sin, or somehow being beaten up for the faith. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as two sons. My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, for whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. That's what happens in cases where the sons are illegitimate. They don't have any inheritance. The parents basically just leave them out there to do what He wants. But the ones who are going to receive the inheritance, they want to train them. They want to make sure that He faithfully backs the reputation of that name and what He does. Continuing on, it says, Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now, no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Focus on the word train. The Greek term is the same where we get the word gymnasium. That's where people train to become an athlete. And of course, they had to go through a lot of discipline. And so God is training us through the trials that we go through. And hopefully, we learn to be tough, to not give up, to go through and break through all of those barriers and continue running the race patiently. Finally, the last characteristic, those who trust and obey Christ to the end have no fear of His judgment, but have peace and faith in Him. Notice in 1 John 4, 1 John 4, in verse 13, this can be called the love chapter along with 1 Corinthians 13, because it's certainly talking about the love of God.

1 John 4, 13, it says, by this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit that gives us an attitude which unites us as it did during the feast. So wonderful to be all the brethren together. How many times was Psalm 133 mentioned, Behold, how lovely and wonderful it is for brethren to be in harmony.

And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him and He in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love and He who strives, abides in love, abides in God, and God in Him. So we know by trusting in Him. Then it says in verse 17, Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness or confidence in the day of judgment. Because as He is, so are we in this world. We're following His way of life. As He showed it during His life, so we are following His footsteps. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. That, oh, we haven't been forgiven. Oh, that guilt is all over. But He who fears has not been made perfect in love. Doesn't have that peace of confession, of being forgiven, of doing what God expects of us. We love Him because He first loved us. And then in Revelation 1, let's go there. Revelation 1 verse 4 also describes why we have that confidence. Revelation 1 verse 4 says, John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth, to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. So He's not only the judge, He's the high priest, and He's the sacrifice too. What a wonderful God we have.

And so that's one of the lessons that we can learn from the feast that we have completed, that we have such a loving judge in Christ. So let us rejoice about it. We will never be perfect in this life, and we need to get rid of needless fears because going to God, confession, and repentance, and the blood of Jesus Christ, washes all sin from us. As it tells us in Romans chapter 8, Romans chapter 8 verse 31, it says, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? If we're on God's side now, He's going to be with us. He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. So again, things that we need to remember all the time, and not just get so discouraged, and maybe some just aren't able to overcome as much as they want, but hey, we have a long road ahead. We've got a lot of things that we still can do right, just as in the first message told us about what overcoming is all about. In Philippians 2, verse 12, as we begin to wind down this message, Philippians 2, verse 12 and 13, it reminds us, although Christ is there, He's going to do His part, but as it says here in verse 12 and 13, therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Yes, we are not to become careless and turn grace into license, as some do. So we got the best judge in the world, the most merciful, loving God, and yet we have to do our part as well. So in conclusion, let's go to Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14. It says here, seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly or with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. So this is the judge that we have. This is the high priest that we have. So through his sacrifice, we can confidently go before God's throne and our loving Father.