Here comes the Judge!

When I was growing up in Santa Clara, our neighborhood was full of kids – probably 10 kids about my age who all went to the same elementary school. We’d play kickball, dodgeball, and hide-and-go-seek as long as we could on those warm Fall nights. It was great fun to play on our street and a good memory that many children today cannot enjoy.

But at some point in time Mom or Dad would inevitably call out, letting me know it was time to come in. Depending on where we were in a game, I would sometimes “hear” that call, but not HEED it. I might have even said, “I hear you!”, but I didn’t really comprehend with appreciation what was being communicated. Eventually another call would go out from my house with a different tone that communicated that consequences to my disobedience were now in play. (Yes, it happened more than once!)

Jesus talked about this in John 5:25 when he said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Those who recognize and appreciate Christ’s invitation are far different from those who will hear and obey Jesus only because they HAVE to. Romans 14:11 says, “For it is written: ‘As I live’, says the Lord, ‘to Me every knee will bow, And every tongue will give praise to God.’” Some will bow the knee with joyful adoration of Christ on their lips, while others will struggle to bow and with grinding teeth reluctantly utter, “Jesus is Lord”, only because they have to.

Jesus Christ as the absolute, ultimate, and supremely righteous Judge of all humanity is not a popular picture. Most people would rather visualize a docile shepherd walking with lambs, bunnies, and children in a pleasant green meadow, while telling people to “Love your neighbor.” But the Biblical record is clear – Jesus himself said, “the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son”. John 5:22. This concept is hard for some people to believe. How could anyone have the audacity, let alone the authority, to hold people accountable for a prescribed set of ideas of right and wrong, good and evil, even forgiveness and unforgiveness?

Join us on Sunday as we explore the claims of Christ to be the only capable and competent Judge of the universe. No one else is as uniquely qualified as He is!

In Christ,
Kurt

P.S. Remember, all of our services are now indoors at 10:45 am on Sunday. See you there!