Jesus Christ - the Merciful Judge

The judgment of God is a sadly a taboo topic in the Western Church. Many dodge the subject, some over-emphasize, while others dismiss it altogether. More baffling than the wide spectrum of opinion is the idea that people instinctively understand what 'judgment' is.

My goal in this post is to wipe away the confusion of this topic and to highlight Jesus. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, we will "consider the goodness and severity of God". Knowing Him is the only way to ensure a correct understanding of His judgments. The only reliable path in knowing Jesus is through His Word, the Bible. Therefore, that will be the exclusive source I will quote from. No other book, transcript, movie or person is sufficient.

In approaching this theme, I will break down His 'judgment' into three categories, followed by a brief definition and will end with a more thorough Biblical definition of each.

What is judgment? Judgment is the method by which Jesus' cleanses and purifies the world in order to create a context for love and right living before God (righteousness) to abound.

Why does Jesus judge? Jesus judges because He is committed to love. Wickedness is essentially the opposite of love. Jesus removes wickedness to ensure love comes to its fruition.

How does He judge? Jesus judges in every way that removes wickedness from our lives, whether individually or corporately - no matter the cost at times.

I will write a separate note (blog post) concerning each point. However, in starting this series, I want to magnify Jesus and His tender heart as He mercifully cleanses the Earth of its filthy stain of sin.

A true judge must be dedicated to justice. This attribute is at the center of the heart of Jesus. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He desires that the orphan and the widow are taken care of and that the poor of the Earth would be provided for. He sets His face against the prideful and resists the oppressor. He is the premier example of what justice looks like. He is the model of human aid. He is love.

Peering deep into the heart of Jesus, we now turn our gaze towards the Bible. One of the most famous passages in the whole of Scripture is also one of the most misunderstood practically. About 3,400 years ago, Moses asked God a question that forever changed how humans understand Him. The prophet cried out from the depth of his heart, "Show me Your glory!" In remarkable humility, God quickly responded. In the midst of Israel's grumbling, complaining, and adultery, God gave His most descriptive and transparent self-discloser of Himself yet: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Most of us have been in a relationship before, or are currently in one. Do you remember the vulnerability you felt when you were about to tell your loved one the dearest and most intimate aspect of your life? You were sharing the most valuable pearl of yourself with them. It is so precious that only a few people are invited to partake in that knowledge. This analogy, although poorly, paints a picture that depicts the stirring emotions within God during these precious and history-making moments. Before this real day, mankind had not yet known His personal Name. The people of Israel knew Him as the God of their fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). This would be the same as knowing your father only as "Dad" instead of "Walt", for example. This was much more than a dry, emotionless and stoic conversation; God unveiled His very unique character to fallen men. We have to catch the reality and the emotion of Jesus revealed in the Bible!

Looking at His statement, we find ten unique aspects that describe who God is and what He is like. It is within knowing Him that we find clues that help us understand His judgments.
His personal name (Yahweh)
He is compassionate
Gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding in love
Abounding in faithfulness
Maintaining love to thousands
Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin
He does not leave the guilty unpunished
He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.
Look at your life as you read this stunning qualities about Jesus. He gave one of His most precious gems to a people who He knew would reject and scorn Him throughout history. Within that context, He remained compassionate to her. His heart was continually filled with grace towards her. When she ran and committed adultery with the 'gods' of other nations, He was slow to anger. While she hated Him, He abounded in love for her. While she was faithless, He remained faithful and proving this by maintaining love towards many. He is one who loves to forgive, and remove the filth of wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Most of us shelter and keep hidden the precious gems of our hearts, especially from people who we know would hurt us. In the midst of pain, most of us would respond in hurt and lash out. We quickly forget compassion. Instead of looking at the reach of weak love from our closest friends, our gaze can quickly switch into looking at what we can blame them for. We can despise giving grace. If we are cut off driving the road, many of us would respond in frustration, not patience. Do we see how different Jesus is than us? More than 'choosing the right' way to respond, this is Jesus. He is, the very definition, of love. This is His delight. This is His desire. It brings Him joy to suffer long with broken humanity. This is what makes Him the merciful judge!

Now - pretend your in a court room. Your case is being decided. Your were mugged and your car was stolen. The man who did it stood to your right. Giving the evidence, he is clearly guilty. The light shifts to his direction. He admits he beat you up and stole your car, but does not blush, show embarrassment, or consider it wrong. From his response, everyone can clearly discern the desire in him to continue doing wicked acts is thriving. The judge looks at the information given him. Tension builds in the room as the verdict is mere moments away. The case is clear: the man is obviously guilty and must be punished for his wrong doing; especially in his lack of sorrow. In deep expectation, the judge raises his mallet, looks to the defendant and says, "Guilty, but I will not see that you are punished." While slamming his wooden instrument on the table, he ends the meeting by shouting, "Court dismissed!"

This judge is no judge at all. By releasing this criminal back into society, he would continue wreaking havoc on future victims. The man should have been put behind bars, to ensure the safety of the public. If justice is, in part, ensuring the safety of the general public, this judge is the one who is guilty of crime.

Praise Jesus He is not like this corrupt judge! While being merciful beyond understanding, He desires that justice is played out in every sphere of live and in society. While forgiving sin and wrong towards those who turn to Him, to the unrepentant (meaning, to those who do not change their ways), He punishes them - for their own sake and for the sake of others.

The last character that Jesus revealed of Himself is difficult to initially understand 3,500 years estranged from its context. Let me illustrate: crime is more than rebellion against a law, but against God Himself. This is called sin. Sin is disobedience towards God. The reason why children are included in punishment is because of the effects of sin. Sin is not personal, it is corporate. Sin effects land (animals, even), entire gatherings, and your children. In the same way that some illnesses are passed down through family lines, so are common strings of sins, and their just due: punishment.

There is a reason why there were seven positive attributes and only two negative given. Jesus is highlighting His pleasure in being patient, slow to anger, and forgiving sin. There does come a point where an individual, or a group of people, come to a point in which they refuse Him and His ways. In that context, He, because He loves, removes them from the scene to protect others and to allow love to once again flourish.

This is an elementary look into the gentle heart of Jesus that burns with passion for justice.