Sermon -- 2nd Sunday of End Times (November 11, 2018)

JOHN 5:19-24

ALL JUDGMENT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO JESUS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Our Lord has taught us: “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22)  We despise judgment, no matter who is doing it.  Judgment usually means that you have your faults pointed out, only to be looked down upon or rejected for those faults.  When a teenage boy walks down a hallway and sees two or three girls giggling, he assumes that they are talking about him.  He hates it, because he assumes it is ridicule and rejection.  If you go on a job interview, you know that you are being judged.  They are not only assessing your resume, they are assessing your personality, your intelligence, and your ability to work with others.  Their judgment—whether fair or not—determines if you will be employed by them.  If you post a photo of yourself on Facebook and you do not get enough “likes,” you wonder what is wrong with your friends … or with you.  You make judgments about them, assuming that they are making judgments about you. 
     We don't want to be subjected to judgment; we all long to be accepted, praised, and liked.  Still, you will never avoid being judged.  Or at least, you will assume you are being judged.  The way we cope with judgment is to condemn others for doing it.  Even people who have no use for the Bible know this verse: “Judge not, and you will not be judged.” (Luke 6:37)  But it is impossible not to judge.  We assess actions as good or evil.  Murder is bad.  So is lying.  So are drunkenness, fraud, and bigotry.  And even if you insist that you are open-minded enough to tolerate immoral behavior, you certainly recognize sin when it is done against you, and you judge the one who does it.
     Judgment is unavoidable.  Behavior is either good or bad.  Motives are either innocent or evil.  The question that needs to be answered is this: What determines your standard of judgment?  Too often, our judgment is assessed on what we like, what we hate, and what effects us personally.  Last week, a murderer killed a dozen or so people at a night club in Thousand Oaks, CA.  We all agree that this was evil.  But if it happened down the street, our sense of justice would be heightened.  If your brother had been among the victims, you would seek vengeance.  So, our judgment is skewed.  If your friend boasted how he defrauded the IRS, you might laugh with him that he was so clever.  In other words, you would feel like the IRS deserved such treatment and call it good.  If he defrauded you, you would call it evil.  Our judgment is skewed and selfish.
     Not so the Lord.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.  For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.  ...The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son...” (John 5:19,22)  All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus.  And since he is in full agreement with the Father in heaven, he enforces the Commandments justly.  In other words, everyone who is guilty will be condemned accordingly.
     All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus.  He will come again the judge the living and the dead.  He will enforce God's Law.  That is what a fair judge does.  Your judge, Jesus Christ, however, is not a vindictive man.  Even though he has us dead to rights for our sins, he does not delight in vengeance or damning people.  He delights in showing mercy.  And God in heaven is not a tyrant who cannot wait to smite people.  He is your loving Father who desires that you live rather than perish.  The one who has been entrusted with all judgment has also been entrusted with your salvation.  That is why he says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)  
     All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus.  If you want to know your verdict at the judgment, listen to Jesus.  Of course, as a just judge, he cannot and does not merely dismiss the Commandments.  The Law must be upheld, and the obedient will be praised for it.  Jesus not only enforces the Ten Commandments, he also fulfills them.  But Jesus credits his holy, obedient life to you.  In your baptism, Jesus dresses you in a garment of salvation.  The robe of his righteousness is yours.  Through Jesus, you are found innocent because he is your righteousness. 
     All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus.  As a just judge, he cannot and does not merely dismiss the charges.  The guilty must be found guilty and pay the price.  So, to be just, Jesus assumed our guilt.  When he was condemned to die by crucifixion, he was also condemned for our sin and guilt.  Having been made sin for us, Jesus died the cursed death of the guilty for us.  Every bitter drop of God's wrath was consumed by Jesus.  Every hellish torment for sin was absorbed by Jesus.  The guilty one was condemned; for Jesus took your guilt and died your death.  In turn, you are declared “Not guilty;” yours has been taken away.  You are redeemed from death and hell; for the Lord does not punish the innocent.
     This is what delivers you from death to life.  Death was destroyed by Jesus when he rose from the dead.  And now you who believe in him and have been baptized into is name have already received your sentence.  The one who comes to judge the living and the dead is on your side.  All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  Your verdict is full pardon and your sentence is everlasting life.
     Therefore, you do not have to fear your death bed or even a tragic, unexpected end to your life.  You do not have to worry if God likes you or will accept you.  And you do not even have to labor to find a word of praise from God.  He loves you dearly and says so.  He declared it with words and actions.  And he promises: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
     The world will still judge you, and many will find fault with you for some reason or another.  Don't let it bother you.  The judgment of sinners is always skewed and selfish.  We are always better at offering criticism than compassion, sarcasm rather than sympathy.  The only judgment that matters is from him who is coming to judge the living and the dead.  The only standard that endures is God's word.  Everything is measured by that.
     So, when you examine yourself by God's standard and find you have fallen short, flee to Jesus to hear your verdict again.  All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  He who lived for you to fulfill God's Law, and he who had God's Law enforced against him for you—he is your judge, and he is on your side.  So flee to Jesus where he speaks to you.  Confess your sins so that your pastor, in Jesus' stead and by his command, can proclaim: “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Flee to the altar where Jesus gives you his body and blood and declares: “For you, for the forgiveness of sins.”  Here, he repeats his judgment: You have passed from death to life.
     All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  He accepts you as his own.  He pardons your offenses and praises you as his redeemed.  He likes you.  He gave himself into death to have you.  And he wants you to dwell with him forever.  Therefore, honor the Son by rejoicing in his verdict of salvation.  And in this way, you also honor the Father who sent him for you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.