Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
(John 12:47-50 (NIV))
Did this passage catch anybody off guard?
Think about that for a moment.
How many people, including believers, have this notion that Jesus is to be our judge? This is easy to come to this false realization if you picture Jesus as He is during the Second Coming. We see Him dishing out justice on the world as He defeats the armies of the world in the Valley of Megiddo. Still, He is not the judge. There is one piece of information that we fail to bring to mind.
Jesus is wielding the Word of God as His sword. It is the Word of God that judges.
Perhaps we should think of Jesus as our defense attorney, and I know that I need one.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))
For those who call upon His name, Jesus is our Lord and savior. He is our defense attorney for when we stand before God to be judged. He knows God’s Laws and our sins, and He will stand in the gap for our benefit. He will claim the true believers as His own.
He will get our sentence pardoned.
Looking back at this passage, would you rather have Jesus as your judge or defense attorney?
I know that I want Him on my side.
Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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