Jesus the Judge

Who is Jesus?

We could say Jesus is the eternal son of God.

We could say he is the second person of the Trinity.

We could say he is the savior of humanity.

We could say he is the baby that was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.

All these things are true about Jesus - but Jesus has other important roles that are revealed in the Bible.

In fact, how many times have you thought about Jesus in terms of him being the judge of all mankind?

We are comfortable in thinking about Jesus as the savior, the one that was crucified, the good shepherd, the friend of sinners, the one who gives his life for his friends.

However, in the Book fo Revelation, Jesus is revealed as the judge of all mankind.

Some people wrongly believe that God the Father is the Judge and Jesus, the son of God, has to appease the father.

Jesus is the one who is kind, loving, good and merciful, whereas the God the Father is vengeful and full of anger.

This is an incorrect view of God.

In fact, the Bible reveals Jesus as the one who will bring judgement upon all of humanity.

In the Bible, the final judgement is compared to a great harvest.

During the planting season, farmers will plant seeds in the ground, they will water the soil, fertilize the ground, care for the sprouting plants, until it is finally time to harvest the crop.

The ultimate harvest will occur at the end of time when Jesus himself will come and gather up believers to himself and gather unbelievers to be cast into the lake of fire.

Well, John describes this scene in the book of Revelation.

Apocalipsis 14:14–16 ESV

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

We know this is Jesus because of how the Bible describes him.

Coming in a white cloud.

Like a son of man.

With a golden crown on his head.

An angel cries out to him to tell him that it is time for him to put his sharp sickle into the earth to gather up the harvest.

A sickle is what farmers would use to cut wheat and gather it in bundles.

So as you can see, it is Jesus of Nazareth, who will come to bring judgement upon the earth.

So, as you can see, the same Jesus who…

Is the eternal son of God.

Is the second person of the Trinity.

Is the savior of humanity.

Is the baby that was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.

…is now revealed to be the judge of all mankind.

It is important that we realize this important fact.

For if Jesus is not our savior, our Lord, the one that has rescued us from our sins…

He will surely be our judge who will pour out God’s judgement upon those who did now bow their knees before him.