Judging like Jesus!
Been meditating on the concept of how Jesus judges. Watched the movie, ‘The Shack’ recently, and it got me to thinking. I remember one scene in the movie, where God the Father (appearing as a wonderful black woman) was asked “Why don’t you judge them?”
With raised eyebrows she said: “Judge?”
The overwhelming theme of the movie is how incredibly complex human lives are, and how far God will go in love to reach out and heal and redeem shattered people.
Clearly God is love, and hates evil, yet operates in love above and beyond all evil.
Got to thinking about some Scriptures.
Remember the woman caught in adultery?
Let’s look at it together:
John 8:
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
We see in this reading, that Jesus was called to judge in the case of the woman caught in adultery. Many have commented on His great mercy towards the woman, and the wisdom of His judgement on her behalf, standing against the corrupted judgement of the religious leaders of the day. Obviously, for adultery to have occurred, there had to be two participants, and the man was conspicuously absent from this mock trial and potential stoning.
Yet, Jesus was able to render true judgement in this case, and in His judgement, I believe there was grace imparted to the woman, power from God, to empower her to be able to do, what He told her to do: Go, and sin no more.
Yet, today as I meditated upon the Word, seeking the will of our Father for my life, I see something here that I suspected for many times, and that is the relationship between personal holiness and purity of heart, and the power of God displayed.
Normally, judgement is rendered out of the mouth of two or three witnesses. The question logically might be: How do we know if the witnesses are telling the truth? Secondly, what do we do if the society has become so corrupt, that no honest witnesses can be found?
Jesus heart was revealed in His relationship with our Father, in this:
John 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Jesus walk with our Father, was from birth to the cross, in absolute purity, and sinless perfection.
I believe that we are called to walk this way also.
The question is how do we get there, and how do we judge or make decisions?
What about these verses?
Matt 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Here we see a direct commandment not to judge people.
Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
How on earth, are we supposed to do that?
Answer? This is only possible by correctly applying the Word of God, and accurately hearing the voice of Jesus in the earth, the Holy Spirit!
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
In all of these Scriptures, we see that we are forbidden to judge other people, yet what about these verses:
Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Does Jesus still have authority to judge? Surely.
Question is, as His representatives and ambassadors in the earth, how do we judge?
1 Cor 4:1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
I believe there is a place in obedience to the Holy Spirit, whereby Jesus reveals to us, as leaders, His judgments and decrees in the earth, and that these must be received by direct revelation from the heart and lips of our Father in heaven.
The challenge is what to do with what He shows us?
Are we to pray, prophesy, preach, confront?
This takes wisdom, because sometimes, because He loves us, He simply shows us things, to protect or bring understanding to us, and our families.
Sometimes the best I can do in these situations, where others are set in THEIR ways to do against the revealed will of God, is to quietly walk away and remove myself from them.
I have learned to seek purity of heart and motive.
Why?
Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
I, like you, need to see God, clearly, so that I might know the will of the Father. Only when I see and hear Him, can I honestly obey, with a right motive, and judge correctly. He is Lord, I am not, I am nothing but a steward over His work, His Creation. Yet, there are times, when I must stand bold against sin, sickness, demons, and the constructs of the agendas of men and their worldly agendas.
Our job is always to endeavor to obey Him, no matter what!
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
As we obey, we will see more and more power of God manifest in the earth:
Ac 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
As a witness, I need to see something: either His plan, purpose, presence or revealed will in a situation, or perhaps to an event that He performed, a sign, wonder, miracle, that I can testify about. When I witness the Holy Spirit bears witness, and He graciously shows up in my life, as I obey Him!
This, and this alone allows me to judge situations, people, and even governments!
When this happens, I can take His authority, and war for His will in the earth, declaring His decrees and watching as He establishes these in power, as I believe His Word!
You can too!
Let’s Pray:
“Father, I believe that all judgement still belongs to Jesus. He is Lord, and I am His. Jesus, show me your will for my life, my family, my church, my community, my state, and my country. In every area these are not in alignment with your will and your Word, anoint me to arise in violent faith, and to blast every enemy, and to establish your kingdom through your Word declared. Thank you for signs, wonders and miracles establishing your Word in the earth. Amen’
https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/
I snapped a picture of the hand-out sheet given us in seminary, by Dr. Brad Young. Incredible insight in it, as you look at the Hebrew language of the text.
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