God’s TV station would mimic other shows, they would underpin a key scripture to help teach real truth to a culture that has been taught to doubt, question and render a verdict based on individual feelings, experiences and secular teachings. It’s from this seat of judgment, we tune into one of wife’s favorite genre of shows, Court TV. From Judge Wapner, Judge Judy and all the way to Judge Mathis, she loves them all. Unfortunately, I don’t share her enthusiasm. However, I do understand the fascination of sitting on the coach and trying to discern who’s telling the truth, who’s lying, what the verdict should be and what the punishment should be.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[a] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Court TV provides us an interesting metaphor for this piece of scripture. The background is that Jesus is talking to the Pharisee Nicodemus. Nick is asking all kinds of questions about Jesus and the message he is teaching. At one point, Nick asks how does a man be born again must he climb back into the womb? Nick is a literalist. He is definitely interested in becoming a follower but he has questions. Jesus in his most patient self lays out the basics of faith in some of the most power pieces of scripture. In many ways, Jesus is acting like a lawyer consulting his client where the client doesn’t understand what he’s up against. Jesus is succinct answering a question we all have had at one point: If God created the world, why wouldn’t he put safeguards in place to keep us from falling away? Did he create us to condemn us? Have we been set up by a bad episode of candid camera?
The answer of course comes in verse 17 and 18b which states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world…whoever does not believe stands condemned already..” God created the world with a full set of checks and balances. One only need look to nature to see the power of the systems all around us. God said when He finished creating that it is all was “very good “(Gen 1:31). At which point, He put man in charge to subdue and rule. After all, Man was created in his image. In so doing, man demonstrated the willingness to be more like God by making decisions with indifference to God. As result, man’s selfish, self-centered, ego-driven decisions, corrupted the world to the point, God needed to return to provide a way back to Him. God developed a balance and Man moved it out of balance. In effect, the world by its actions has and will continue to judge itself. The physical and spiritual laws were set long before us. However, Christ’s coming did not change the guidelines but changed in the outcome and/or penalty for those who chose Him.
This was huge for Nick. Remember, he was brought up as Jew thinking they were the only chosen people. He had been taught there was a scale for life of good and bad deeds and as long as you’d done enough as a Jew you would have a chance at heaven. Jesus words changed all of that. Specifically, the use of the word, “world.” Jesus makes a revolutionary change. The message is now for all who accept Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus becomes the cornerstone and moves from the role of lawyer to judge.
It reminds me of a story that might have been on Court TV a few years ago. The judge recognized the accused as his old friend. This was neighborhood friend he’d done family vacations, picnics and sport events with. They even made a commitment to take care of each other’s families should anything happen to one of them. He was a bit conflicted. Should he excuse himself from the bench because they were friends? He spoke to lawyers and because the case was pretty straight forward they agreed to let him stay as the judge. After hearing the evidence presented, the judge asked the man about the crime. The judge’s friend admitted to all of it. His only defense was that He was out of his mind and he wouldn’t do it again. At which point, the judge had no choice but render a judgment in favor of the state. A judgment so large the neighbor could never pay it all. After rendering the verdict, the judge stood up took off his rope, went over to the bailiff and paid the fine for him. Afterward, He threw his arms around His friend, walked out of the courtroom and asked him if he wanted a ride home.
Jesus is our defender. Jesus is the judge. Jesus has already written the check for our problem. The bailiff has already cashed it. Jesus thinks no less of any of us because Jesus so loved the “world,” He just wants for you to walk with Him on your way home.
Will You?
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