The JUSTICE of Jesus

Series — Christ likeness — Called to pursue justice

““This is what the Lord said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’” Zechariah 7:9-10

What comes to mind when you hear the word justice?

— Justice for those who are treated unjustly...judgement for those who treat others unjustly

The umpire strikes back

While just saying the word justice is politically charged…the justice of Jesus was never meant to be political.

“Jessica Nicholas (God Loves Justice) — “In her church background, social justice had a reputation for being secular and theologically weak. Challenged by God, she found the most powerful, practical, Christ-centered and unbiased message about justice in God’s word.”

(S2) — For Jesus, justice was always centered on God’s will and lived out in his life...

Doing justice, meant not only not doing wrong, but also actively doing right and restoring what is broken.” Jessica Nicholas

When it comes to administering justice, I believe these are most familiar to us and perhaps the easiest to do

Defending the vulnerable — widows, orphans, foreigners, poor, marginalized, oppressed...

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Compassion for the hurting —

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 (NIV)

Love made visible — more than a feeling — Love is a verb

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35 (NIV)

The need for just action — poverty, the vulnerable, mental illness, human trafficking, immigration, racial equality...

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King

(S2) — To Jesus justice was more than just about doing right, but restoring what is broken

Doing what is right to SAVE a life

...Seek and save the lost — Restoring the relationship between God and people meant addressing the injustice of sin...

PRAY

(S) — Jesus understood what it was like to face injustice…

14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him and he healed all who ill. Matthew 12 (NIV)

Notice the dichotomy in Matthews narrative — Jesus was doing what was just while being unjustly treated — The cause of their unjust actions?

Jesus’ words (11:21) — His claimed identity (11:27) — His just ways (12:1) — Healing (12:13)

Who would no better about justice then one who was unjustly treated? Why Jesus knows and hears the cries of the afflicted...

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29 (NIV)

How do we recognize injustice? How do we know when we are living the justice of Jesus?

(S) — Three distinct characteristics of Jesus’ justice found in Isaiah’s words

““Look at my servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. Matthew 12:18a

Jesus’ baptism...Humble servant...No one expected God would appear on earth as a servant, yet that is exactly what happened.

He gave up his divine privileges; took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:7–8 (NLT)

Why many did not recognize Jesus

Violinist story pg 132

(S) — Responding to injustice with a humble spirit, means we are often unrecognizable, so that Jesus is made visible

I. Jesus’ justice is marked by HUMILITY!

It is never self directed or done for personal gain — It is always OTHER oriented

“Many aspire to be leaders; few seek to become servants. Upward mobility is more appealing descending to servant status.” (pg.134)

Politicians, religious leaders...who started out that way…seeking to serve but get wrapped up in a cause or an agenda of serving self

We must never forget, like Jesus, that there are always people behind any injustice —

Woman facing being stoned

(S) — Jesus justice is always marked by HUMILITY

“ I will put my Spirit upon him, a he will proclaim justice to the nations Matthew 12:18b

Isaiah's words point us to the fact that Jesus is not left to do what God is asking him to do alone…he is enabled by the Holy spirit — The very presence of God

“No other religious movement can claim the social impact of Methodism across the globe. its early membership came mostly from the poorest and most marginal social classes of society...

Hospitals — Universities — prison reforms— Racism — immigration — sanctity of life — Justice and peace

The Methodist Church's responses to injustices in society are embodiments of our Wesleyan traditions of mercy and justice.

(S) — It grew so quickly because it was a movement of spiritual reformation of heart and life — fueled by the presence of God

II. Jesus’ Justice is FUELED by the PRESENCE of God

“Jesus did not come to lead a political revolution, but to initiate a spiritual reformation.” The Wesleyan Bible Commentary.

As the H.S. was with Jesus, so first we muist be sure it is with us before we go into the world and bring justice

Pray — Is this God’s will?

Jesus’ Justice is FUELED by the PRESENCE of God...

(S) — How do we know when we are living the justice of Jesus?

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. Matthew 12:19 (NIV)

Jesus’ approach to injustice was not to appease those who wished only to incite and rial up the crowd…stop his message...

but to show they way to bring justice, to influence and move people to want to follow his ways...

(S) — The same is for us when we seek to bring act against injustice

III. Jesus’ justice is meant to INFLUENCE not INCITE

How we do justice is as important as doing it. In other words how you do the right things matters. Does it influence and help or hurt the cause?

2 famous actors in the news — Words unjust? — What kind of example was the outcome?

The apostle Paul spoke to this...

1 Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

That doesn’t mean we don’t speak up when we see injustice — We want the message to be clear and influential not inciteful.

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King

“Jesus’ ministry would not be defined by conflict and words spoken to incite uprisings or riots.”

(S) — ...but to influence and move the person to himself

How do we know when we are living the justice of Jesus?

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. Matthew 12:20 (NIV)

Picture a Bruised reed — Broken but not fully separated from it’s source of growth.

Metaphor for one who has been damaged spiritually, corrupted by worlds cry for justice, that does not have its foundation in Christ.

One who is almost a christian, as John Wesley called himself after doubting even his own faith.

Matthew 11:7 “As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?”

(S) — “A smoking flax represents a state in which there is only a little good. Burning; but dimly light.

There is a spark of good within the heart, yet only little faith; little commitment to work for the Lord.

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘ye of little faith,” he was not casting condemnation, but saying that in even the weakened of faith there is hope.

Justice/judgment/Grace

We don’t want to count ourselves among the Pharisees...

Ever have a desire to be better, to please God — Wanting to be more like Jesus...but falling short of the mark.

(S) — Jesus does not give up on the broken, bruised and barely lit…because there is always hope.

IV. Jesus’ justice is always for the purpose of bringing SALVATION

Story book pg 149

In restoring what was broken, God had to deal with sin. Jesus obediently took justice into his own hands — broken, weakened and dimly lit to the point of human death.... The justice toll the weight of sin — The spark of grace...

“They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted him..

The weakest reed became the way of salvation

“Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.” Charles Spurgeon

Jesus Justice is not be political its biblical — Have we become a church that has stopped speaking for the unborn…that has stopped speaking for the unsaved?

What kind of church/followers of Jesus are we going to be? One that does the practical — Defending the vulnerable — Compassion for the hurting — Love made visible?

YES! But just as Jesus observed that there is yet a little fire in you, a spark of grace — That you and I are worth saving…so should justice bring hope in Jesus

To Save a life — Movie

(S) — How do we know when we are doing the justice of Jesus?

When its marked by HUMILITY — Fueled by the presence of God — Meant to INFLUENCE not Insite — Is for the purpose of SALVATION

Justice is not only about doing what is right, but doing what is right to SAVE a life

Jesus did that for us as an example of what we are to do for others — Good news