JESUS IS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE (Outline)
November 13, 2022 – Pentecost 23 – JOHN 5:21-29
INTRO: Judging is an unpopular term today. People do not want to be judged. “What gives you the right to judge me?” Each one of us make judgment calls every day. Many of us recently voted. We used our judgment. In colder weather we look at the temperature outside. We make sound judgment for what we will be wearing. It is imperative for us to be able to recognize right from wrong. Good from evil. "But solid food is for mature people, who have their senses trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil” (HEBREWS 5:14). Our God-given faith recognizes evil. Judges what is good.
JESUS IS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. I. We listen to Jesus’ words. II. Jesus gives us eternal life.
I. WE LISTEN TO JESUS’ WORDS
A. Verse 21. Jesus explained to the crowd that he, like his Father, has power to give life.
1. The crowd is not happy with Jesus. Jesus had healed a paralyzed man on the sabbath.
2. Jesus once asked: Can one do evil or good on the sabbath? Kill or heal? Crowd silent.
B. Verse 22. The Father entrusted all judgment to Jesus. Not Joseph but heavenly Father. God.
1. Verse 23. Therefore, all were to honor the Son (Jesus) as they honored the Father (God).
2. More trouble for Jesus. Claimed to be God. Whispers started accusing Jesus of blasphemy.
C. Verse 24a. Amen, Amen, are the Hebrew words Jesus used to emphasize an important truth.
1. Jesus told the crowd the importance of listening. Hearing the words of Jesus. And God.
2. “Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” Blasphemy charges.
D. Jesus and the Father are one. This is what he wanted to the people of his day to hear. Believe. It was a challenge for them. The people saw Jesus in the flesh. Looked like them. Talked with a similar accent. Hungry. Thirsty. Tired. Was a man. Did not look like God. When they listened to Jesus’ they learned. Believed. We know that faith comes by hearing the message. That message comes through the word of Christ. We are saved by Scripture, God’s Word, alone. How valuable it is for us gather together to hear Jesus’ words. To read Jesus’ words. To study Jesus’ words. "Everyone was so amazed that they began to discuss this with each other. They said, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him!’" (MARK 1:27). The crowds thought Jesus taught a new teaching. Jesus was teaching God’s Word. Authority of Scriptures. Some listened.
E. Whenever we hear God’s Word we grow in faith. The truth is, that a sermon on Sunday, is not enough for our daily lives. We need to hear more of Jesus’ words. We want to hear more of Jesus’ words. We are truly abundantly blessed to have unlimited access to the Bible. Physical books. Various translations on-line. The information age overwhelms us with messaging. What is true? False? It can be very hard to determine. God’s Word is always accurate. True. Life-giving. “And the seeds in the good ground are the ones who hear the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it tightly, and produce fruit as they patiently endure” (LUKE 8:15). Hold tightly to God’s Word. Patiently endure until Jesus returns.
F. Most of us like to learn. Learning adds to our wisdom. Being biblically educated adds to our quality of life. We find comfort in the pages of the Bible. Strength. Hope. Holding fast to God’s truth supplies us with spiritual blessings upon blessings. The Lord’s examples are clear. Jesus often used easily understood example of seed, sower, and harvest. "And he who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing, and will increase the harvest of your righteousness" (2 CORINTHIANS 9:10). The seed and harvest more than wheat. Corn. Milo. Spiritual righteousness!
JESUS IS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. The Lord opens our ears to listen to Jesus’ words6.
II. JESUS GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE
A. Verse 24. Those who listen and believe in the Father have eternal life. Pass from death to life.
1. Verse 25. The Lord is able to make the impossible possible. Even the dead will hear.
2. Those not listening, not believing were dead. Spiritually. Jesus still speaks to them.
3. Jesus will return as the righteous Judge in the future. Judge the living and the dead.
B. Verse 26. Reminder again: Jesus grants life just as the Father has life. Blasphemy charges grow.
1. Verse 27. The Father (God) has given Jesus (Son) the authority to judge.
2. Jesus used the title “Son of Man”. The crowd knew this title from the Old Testament.
C. Verses 28. “Do not be amazed at this…” Jesus speaks an amazing truth to the crowd.
1. The dead will hear Jesus’ voice and rise from the dead. Judgment Day.
2. Verse 29. Jesus will judge between believers and unbelievers. Divide sheep from goats.
a. Do good = listen and believe. b. Evil = not listen and not believe.
D. Jesus is the righteous Judge. A judge carries out justice for the accused. The guilty person is to receive the punishment as defined by the law. Sometime this happens. But not always. Earthly judges are not always righteous. Jesus is much more than righteous. Jesus forgives the sin. Jesus’ blood removes the guilt. We are sinners who deserve eternal punishment. We have earned an eternity in hell. We stand before the righteous Judge. There is no charge presented. No punishment. "The LORD does not treat us as our sins deserve. He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds” (PSALM 103:10). Jesus’ righteousness covers up our unrighteousness. Jesus’ sinlessness pays for our sinfulness.
E. Jesus gives us eternal life. A gift is unearned. Often undeserved. Free. Saved by faith alone. We truly do deserve the gift of being eternally separated from the Lord forever. Ransom is paid. Saved by Christ alone. It is Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that earned our forgiveness. There is no other name by which we can be saved. Jesus is that name. "…so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (ROMANS 5:21). Sin ruled and brought us death. Law (› sin). Righteousness of Christ brings us life. Gospel (› Savior).
F. Today’s Gospel (Luke 18:18:27) reminded us: “What is impossible for people is possible for God.” It is the Lord who makes the impossible possible. Yes, he can even make the dead hear. "Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD”’" (EZEKIEL 37:4). The prophet Ezekiel spoke God’s word to the dry bones. The bones came together with a clatter. The Lord put tendons, sinew, and flesh on those dry bones. They became an army of flesh, blood, and spirit. Then the Lord told Ezekiel to tell Israel this represented them. The word of the Lord revived them. It is this same word of the Lord that Jesus speaks to our dry bones. We listen. The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts. We have become the army of God. Chosen children. Jesus gives us a crown of eternal life.
CONC.: Jesus is the righteous Judge. We listen to Jesus’ words. He opens our ears to hear. Changes our hearts of stone into flesh to believe. Jesus gives us eternal life. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time" (1 TIMOTHY 2:6). Adam and Eve sinned. The Lord promised a Savior. Testimony given at the proper time. Paul fought the good. Finished the race. Preached gospel to Gentiles. Testimony given at the proper time. We have gathered together to hear Jesus’ voice. Testimony given at the proper time. Last Day = Jesus’ voice + eternal life. JESUS IS THE / OUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 23 rdgs.: DEUTERONOMY 10:12-22; 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18; LUKE 18:18-27
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