Wrong About Judgement

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

Serious questions concerning the administration of justice have been raised by rulings and charges brought against people in Canada and the United States. Just because a judicial ruling is made against an individual does not mean that the ruling is just. Serious doubts linger about cases brought against Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, and Pat King, leaders of the Freedom Convoy in 2022.

It seems to many that the prosecution of J6 protestors in the United States is political rather than being motivated by a desire for justice. It appears to be akin to the federal persecution of anyone protesting abortion clinics, or federal prosecution against those who dare speak out against the trans-mafia, or government officials compelling social media to stifle opposition to federal policies.

And then there is the lawfare administered against Donald Trump and others who worked with him in the previous American administration before the Biden cartel took over. If these events were not enough to raise questions in the minds of people watching these events unfold, the sweeping pardon issued for an admitted criminal, Hunter Biden, leaves people throughout the world wondering whether anyone can expect to receive justice in the American system. The once pristine judicial reputation of Canada and the United States as just and righteous seems almost in tatters. Well might we ask whether justice can be found in contemporary North America when we differ little from nations mired in the slime of the third world.

Though we may question whether justice can be found in our western world, we who know the Living God know that justice will be ultimately served. You may recall a parable Jesus told concerning prayer. Listen to the parable Jesus delivered and the surprising notation He added at the conclusion of the parable. “[Jesus] told [His disciples] a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth’” [LUKE 18:1-8]?

We long to know the reality of Jesus’ promise when He assured His disciples, “[God] will give justice to [His elect]!” We know all too well that justice is too often a façade on earth. And even when we imagine we have received justice in an instance in this day, the reality too often immediately fades, leaving us worse off than ever.

“Nothing?” Did Jesus really, “I can do nothing on My own” in today’s text? Bear in mind that these words were spoken by the Son of God! Did we witness Jesus saying, “I can do nothing on My own?” Worshipping with the saints gathered in the New Birth Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, I would hear the choir sing,

“God can do anything, anything, anything,

God can do anything but fail.”

How that song did stir my soul, as it did the soul of all present as the choir sung the song! But some might say that the message conveyed by that song is at variance with Jesus’ own words as recorded in our text. Nevertheless, I am certain that the message conveyed by the song is correct, and I am confident that the words Jesus spoke as recorded by John are also correct. In delivering the message this day, I trust I will be able to clarify what is going on, encouraging all who are followers of the Risen Lord of Glory to hold fast the words of the Master and to dare believe that God can do anything but fail. And because this is true, Jesus, Who is the Son of God, can save to the uttermost anyone who comes to Him in faith, believing that He will receive all who believe.

CHRIST AS JUDGE — “As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” [JOHN 5:30]. This affirmation follows on what the Master has just said. Religious leaders were seeking to kill Jesus. Religious passions can drive people to such extremes. Jesus wasn’t honouring their authority, and that enraged these paragons of Jewish religion.