Dear Friend,

Before Jesus' First Advent, the Jews were looking earnestly for a Messiah. But not the Messiah heaven sent. Why?

The Old Testament described the one true Messiah in two very different roles: a majestic, conquering King and Judge, and a lowly, humble, suffering servant. Under Rome's oppressive rule, the rabbis overemphasized the first aspect and downplayed or ignored the latter. So, when Jesus visited Israel as Isaiah's suffering servant Messiah, many Jews didn't recognize Him. They envisioned a very different Anointed One.

Fast-forward twenty centuries. In our postmodern world, everything has changed, yet everything is the same. Christians today are repeating the error of the first-century Jews because our ministers are repeating the error of their rabbinic counterparts. We are eagerly awaiting a Messiah, but not the one heaven is about to send. Why? We haven't heard much about that Jesus.

In our preaching and teaching, we've emphasized Jesus' amazing grace, tender love, and enduring forbearance and de-emphasized His unbending righteousness, uncompromising holiness, and sheer almighty power over our lives to send us to heaven or hell. We present Him as a slain Savior, yet ignore Him as a slaying, conquering General. We describe His words being ignored by the Jewish and Roman courts, but not as the supreme Jurist having the last word in heaven's trial of every soul. We are without excuse for this grave error.

Our New Testament unquestionably identifies Jesus as the Judge of all: "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). (See 2 Timothy 4:1-2; James 5:8-9.) That's right, Jesus will return not as a misjudged victim of Pilate's court but as the divine Judge who never errs in His "judgments," or decision-making processes. If we've read our Bibles at all, this should not surprise us.

The Scripture presents Jesus in judgment mode during His First Advent, His Second Advent, and in between His Advents. Let's review these revelations of Judge Jesus.

During His First Advent, Judge Jesus:

  1. Judged the Jewish temple, not once but twice; these were disruptive interventions aimed at restoring His Father's order in His Father's house.
  2. Ceased ministering in three cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum) because, despite seeing many miracles, their citizens did not stop sinning; this was judgment by divine withdrawal.
  3. Parabolically gave a fig tree (representing Israel) three more years to bear fruit or be cut down; this parable explained the judicial forbearance He was showing Israel during His three-year ministry and warned of its coming judgment for spiritual barrenness.
  4. Summarily cursed and killed another fig tree for barrenness; this anticipated Israel's coming penal judgment at the hands of Rome (AD 70) for rejecting Him and continuing to persecute His followers.
  5. Pronounced divine judgment on Israel's apostate religious leaders (Matthew 23:13-36); this was a sentence of capital punishment for their impenitent hypocrisy, rejection of His Messianic claims, and misleading of God's people (see vv. 32-33).
  6. Refused to answer wicked Herod Antipas, who had silenced God's voice by killing John the Baptist; this was judgment by divine silence.
  7. Prophesied to the Jews in Jerusalem of the coming Roman invasion and siege (Luke 19:42-44; 23:27-31); this was another judicial warning.

Jesus' Second Advent is filled with His judicial acts:

  1. Releasing the "wrath of the Lamb" in the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl judgments of the Tribulation
  2. Evaluating and rewarding translated and resurrected Christians at the Judgment Seat of Christ in heaven (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12)
  3. Judging Antichrist and his armies when He returns to earth in power and glory (Revelation 19:11-21)
  4. Examining the Gentile Tribulation survivors (goats, sheep) for punishment or reward (Matthew 25:31-46)
  5. Examining resurrected righteous Jews as they enter His kingdom (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Daniel 12:2)
  6. Judging the resurrected wicked dead to determine their punishments in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)
  7. Judging all the fallen angels to determine their punishments in the lake of fire (2 Peter 2:4)

Between these Advents, John saw Jesus in judgment mode, examining the seven churches of Asia and commending, correcting, rebuking, warning, and promising rewards to each according to their life works (Revelation 2-3).

So, we see, as Malachi and Hebrews assert, Jesus has never changed and will never change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). He is heaven's abiding chief Jurist. What does all this mean to us today?

Jesus is coming in this, His awe-inspiring, all-authoritative judicial role when we next see Him! What should you do?

Here are some simple but effective instructions. Live under Christ's all-seeing examination daily. Remember His nature: He is uncompromisingly righteous, yet also very patient with us all. He is gracious and forbearing, yet never fooled or to be taken lightly. Let the unchanging truth of God's Word - the standard by which we will all be ultimately judged (John 12:48) - be a guiding light to your faith and conduct. Let His Holy Spirit's prompts lead you in obedience and His conviction lead you, when necessary, in confession and repentance. Never try to hide anything from Judge Jesus - wrong motives, emotions, desires, or secret sins - because nothing can be hidden from His all-seeing eyes. Grow your relationship with the Judge by fellowshiping with Him, soaking in His Word, thanking Him over every blessing, praising and worshiping Him with songs, and fulfilling the calling He has placed on your life daily. Build intimacy with Him by talking to him throughout the day. Cultivate and perfect (complete) your love for Him. Perfect love will dispel all fear of our coming Judge, whose essence is perfect, holy love.

Or, in Paul's words, "If we would judge [examine and correct] ourselves, we should not be judged [chastened for ongoing sins]" (1 Corinthians 11:31). So, if we will voluntarily examine ourselves, we will never have the slightest fear of Jesus' examination, now or at the Judgment Seat.

We know the first-century Jews didn't recognize the Messiah heaven sent them. We study their egregious error. We teach it. We criticize them for it. Yet many millions of Christians, and their pastors, are at this very moment in danger of repeating their error. They're looking only for a Lamb, not a Lion. They're expecting a meek Carpenter, not a mighty Judge. Don't be one of them! Recognize your Messiah in the role He is about to fulfill. "The Lord's return is near . . . look! The Judge is standing at the door" (James 5:8, 9, CJB).

Recognizing Judge Jesus,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries