Holy Week 2023 - The Judge
Christ Seen as The Judge
Posted by: CDFWarrington on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 8:18PM
Jesus is often seen in the capacity as the judge within Scripture. This is because, according to the Bible, He will return at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. But that is not all that Scripture shows. As the Judge, Jesus has dominion and authority over nature as well. This idea of Jesus as the Judge serves as a reminder that our actions on earth have eternal consequences and encourages us to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
Authority Over Nature
The Barren Fig Tree
Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered. Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the fig tree wither all at once?" (Matthew 21:18-20)
Healing
And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?" (Matthew 21:14-16)
At first it may not seem apparent how these passages demonstrate Jesus' role as judge over nature until you see that His authority over nature is portrayed by His very words and actions when the fig tree withered and illnesses were healed. This supernatural authority unfortunately was not welcomed; but seen as a threat to other leaders of His time.
Despite the opposition He faced, Jesus continued to heal daily in the temple. The chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonderful things He had done and the children shouting ""Hosanna to the Son of David" in the temple. They questioned Him about the children's praises, and Jesus replied by quoting Scripture to support His authority. His teachings and miracles were a supposed threat as the religious leaders were afraid of losing their power and influence over the people. They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and became determined to put an end to His ministry. Despite their efforts, Jesus remained steadfast in His mission to bring love and compassion to all people, regardless of their social status or background.
Authority Over Man
Clearing the Temple
He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Luke 19:45–46)
As Jesus entered the temple and saw people selling goods, He became upset at the sight. He knew that the temple was meant to be a house of prayer, but instead it had become a place for people to make a profit. By driving out the sellers, Jesus was trying to restore the holiness and sacredness of the temple. This act showed His dedication to upholding the values set by God and the importance of respecting holy spaces. This act was a powerful message to all who witnessed it, reminding them of the importance of respecting the sanctity of God. In many cultures today, religious spaces are considered to be some of the most sacred and holy places on Earth. By protecting these spaces, we are honoring our faith as well and showing respect to the God.
THE FINAL JUDGE
These actions of Jesus before His crucifixion showed His authority and foreshadowed His role in the coming judgement.
The Final Judgement: What to Expect
In the Final Judgement, those who have been saved [a] will be judged alongside non-believers [b] and angels [c], with Jesus presiding as the judge [d] and the redeemed will play a role [e]. The justice of God will be made known and felt [f], and it will satisfy our innate need to see justice done [g]. Moreover, the outcome of the Final Judgement should encourage us to forgive others [h], live righteously [i], and share the gospel with others [j].For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:26-29)
Final Thoughts
How should we live in light of this information?
In addition to the authority to execute judgment that the Father gave the Son, it is important to note that the Son also has life in Himself. This means that not only is He able to judge, but He is also able to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him. This passage also highlights the importance of deeds in determining the type of resurrection one will experience. Those who do good deeds will rise to a resurrection of life, while those who commit evil deeds will rise to a resurrection of judgment. Though this is not specific to salvation, this does emphasizes the significance of living a righteous life and doing good toward others. It is a reminder that our actions have consequences and that we should strive to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
References
Below is a list of referenced biblical passages:
- [a] - Romans 14:10, 12; Revelation 11:18
- [b] - Romans 2:5-7; Luke 12:47-48
- [c] - 2 Peter 2:4, 1 Corinthians 6:3
- [d] - 2 Timothy 4:1; Acts 10:42
- [e] - 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Matthew 19:28
- [f] - Romans 3:19; Revelation 19:1-2
- [g] - Colossians 3:22,25; Revelation 20:12
- [h] - Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 2:22-23
- [i] - Matthew 6:20
- [j] - Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9
Related Posts
- Holy Week - Introduction
- Sunday - Palm Sunday
- (This post) Monday - The Judge
- Tuesday - The Teacher
- Wednesday - The Betrayed
- Thursday - The Example
- Friday - Good Friday
- Saturday - Anticipation Saturday
- Sunday - Easter Sunday
Social Posts
@thechristianchain Today is a day during Holy Week where we remember Jesus as The Judge. Jesus is the judge in Scripture and will return to judge the living and the dead in the Final Judgement. This should encourage us to forgive others, live righteously, and share the gospel. Jesus has the authority to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him, a truth that is seen throughout the Easter Story. Read more on our blog at: https://thechristianchain.org/blog/holy-week-2023-the-judge He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." (Luke 19:45-46) #HolyWeek2023 #TheJudge #ClearingTheTemple #Easter #JesusQuotes #ChurchUnity #ChurchTikTok #ChristianTikTok #ChristianTok #Christian #Christianity ♬ original sound - Christian Chain