Jesus Judges
St. John 8:42-59
April 7, 2019 anno Domini – Redeemer
Judge not, that you be not judged. Next to John 3:16 that is probably the most memorized and repeated verse in the Bible. John 3:16 says “God loves the world” and Matt 7:1 says “Don’t judge.” From that most people conclude that the central message of Christianity is “Since God loves everyone we shouldn’t judge anyone.”
There’s one little problem with that interpretation – what do you do with the cross? If God loves everyone why is His own Son sacrificed? If we shouldn’t judge anyone why does God judge His own Son guilty and damn Him to hell? The preaching of Christ and Him crucified proclaims that God loves everyone, but that He loves them in a particular way. He loves us in Jesus, by giving His only-begotten Son for us. The preaching of Christ crucified not only tells us that God judges, but calls us to judge others as we ourselves have been judged – guilty for our sins and not guilty for Christ’s sake.
This Fifth Sunday in Lent is Judica Sunday. Judge Sunday – not the noun “judge” like Judge Judy, but the verb “judge” as in the first words of the Introit “Vindicate me (Judge me), O God.”
If God loved everyone and didn’t judge anyone the Gospel reading for today would not be in the Bible. Or it would be completely different. It would go something like this.
Jesus said to the Jews and the Pharisees, “I guess we disagree about who God is and what He thinks, but who knows? What is truth? Even though I have existed from all eternity and God the Father sent Me, how dare I claim to be truth? The truth can be lies and lies could really be the truth. Once again you accused me of being in league with Satan. Maybe you’re right. Satan is God and God is Satan. Even though that makes absolutely no sense at all, let’s call evil good and good evil and tolerate each other. Then Jesus and the Pharisees went to the Temple bar, drank some Kosher wine, and went on their merry way. In the end they all died like everyone, but who knows maybe death is life since evil is good and God is Satan and there is no truth except lies.”
If that is what the Bible taught it would not be the #1 bestselling book of all time. It would be a textbook for the Diversity course at your local high school or college. If that is what the Bible taught I’d have nothing to say at your baptism, your funeral, or in my sermons – nothing you couldn’t hear from Jimmy Kimmel or Steven Colbert.
In today’s text Jesus is judged by the Scribes and Pharisees and Jesus judges them. But there is a great difference between their judgments.
Jesus levels some serious charges against the Jews. “If God were your Father, you would love me … You are of your father the devil.” Then Jesus lays out the evidence. “You cannot bear to hear my word. Your will is to do the Devil’s desires.” Jesus flunked the seminary course at Saint Louis on how to win friends and influence people. If you want people to get really mad tell them God disagrees with them, tell them their deeds and desires are wicked and evil. Call them liars and insist there is objective truth and not only do you know it – you claim to be the truth. That’s what Jesus did.
When it comes to judging turnabout seems to be fair play – just watch our politicians and our culture wars – you judge me and I judge you. It is interesting that Jesus makes a statement of fact, “You are of your father the devil,” while the Jews make their accusation with a question, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” The reason they ask a rhetorical question is they have no evidence. Yes, there were questions about Jesus’ birth but his mother was a Jew, his “apparent” father Joseph was of the house and lineage of David. How was he a Samaritan? They had accused Him before of being in league with Satan, but He had been fighting Satan, beating Satan, casting out demons, relieving people of all sorts of sickness and trouble.
So each side has made their case. Jesus against the Jews. The Jews against Jesus. What’s the verdict? Well, the Jews judge Jesus guilty. He has spoken intolerable lies not the truth. He has claimed to be God but He is not. He has dissed their father Abraham claiming God is His Father. Guilty. So they picked up stones to throw at him.
What’s the verdict from Jesus? Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Jesus verdict on the Jews is “not guilty.” He hid Himself at this time, because His time had not yet come. He would soon carry their lies and hatred and unbelief, along with the wood for His sacrifice, to the cross. Jesus did not judge the Jews liars and Satan’s offspring because He was better than them. He did not hate the Jews. He judged them because He loved them. They were sinners who were dying in their sins and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, for sinners to be forgiven, for the guilty to be acquitted, for the damned to be saved.
Why does Jesus judge you? Because He wants to save you. Many people judge others to feel better about themselves. But Jesus declares, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing.” The truth hurts, especially when you are on the wrong side of it. What do you do when you can’t fight the truth? You fight the person. Your dad is waiting at the door because you missed curfew. “You’re late.” How do you respond? You’re so strict. Your pastor confronts you with the truth. You’re absent more Sundays than you are here. You’re worshiping too often at Saint Soccer of the Field or Saint Sandy by the Beach. How do you respond? Easy for him to say he’s a pastor.
The Jews killed Jesus, but not really. God did Father Abraham one better. He sacrificed His only Son, whom He loved, as the substitute for us sinners. Jesus is judged guilty that we might be declared righteous. Remember that, when Jesus gets on your case, when His truth hurts, when His Word ticks you off. In this same chapter of John Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What is the truth? You’re a sinner. If you hold on to your sin you be damned and die with it, but Jesus has taken your sin to His cross and been judged for you. Believing in Him you are declared “Not guilty” or righteous. You need not fear God’s judgment. In fact you can invite it like the Psalmist did today. Vindicate me, O God, judge me, O God. You already know His verdict – He rules in your favor. You’re not guilty. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm