Throughout the Bible God is seen both as humanity’s creator and supreme judge (Ps. 50:8; Isa 33:22). But the New Testament is equally clear that God has appointed Jesus to be the judge of humankind.
In the Old Testament the leadership of Israel under Moses was through the elders, or heads of the tribes (Deut.29; Josh. 23). Because of the strain on Moses that this involved judges were appointed to assist him (Exo.18). For 460 years the judges were the civil rulers of Israel until Saul was anointed as the first king. The judges continued their rule as magistrates in civil matters eventually becoming a judicial council, the Sanhedrin. It was before the Sanhedrin that Jesus was condemned.
In the early days of the nation the judge was frequently a prophet of God (e.g. Samuel), and often the General of the Army (e.g. Gideon). In the New Testament Jesus is seen as the judge of humankind both in His teaching and that of the early church.
In the gospels Jesus is seen as judge – the great prophet, deliverer and magistrate of men. There is a score of parables to illustrate this (Matt. 13: 18; 21; 22; 25). In Acts, Peter declared in his preaching that God made Jesus to judge both the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). In the epistles Paul repeats this (Rome. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10,2 Tim. 4:8); James stresses it (5:9); Hebrews has it as a fundamental part of Christian teaching (5:2); and Peter reiterates it (1 Pet. 4:5).
In the New Testament church His role as judge featured strongly in the early preaching, teaching and creeds. Both the Apostles and the Nicene Creeds emphasize it.
The judgement of Christ would be associated with His second coming. It would involve both the living and the dead, be both of individuals and nations, and the judgement is not only to come but has already started according to each person’s reaction to the claims of Jesus.
For Today
Many people feel happy with the thought that judgement may come in a future life for they bank upon the fact that it just may not! Jesus, however, stresses that judgement is already among us and in one sense we judge ourselves. It is our reaction to Him that determines our judgement (John 12). Christians are assured now that they do not come under God’s judgement because of their response to Jesus (John 5:24). There is a note of judgement that needs to be sounded in this generation when God is everybody’s pal. In our stress upon the nearness and love of God we have tended to overlook His awesomeness and His judgement.
Jesus both saves and judges and we must keep the balance both in our preaching and in our response to Him. So many extempore prayers in this conversational era, with its chatty sermons and dialogues, need the backbone of the concept of God’s judgement.
Forty-seven different preachers conducted services in the White House during the period of the Watergate mess. Somewhere along the line the note of judgement, of warning and prophetic counsel should have been made. What a difference to the moral state of a nation today had preachers back then included the concepts of God’s judgment upon our deeds starting now.
Christians need not fear the judgement of Christ. Charles Wesley’s great hymn (No. 562) expresses this: – “Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus, the Judge, shall come
And take His servants up to their eternal home;
We soon shall hear the archangels’ voice;
The trump of God shall sound: Rejoice!”
REV THE HON DR GORDON MOYES AC MLC