the only one qualified to judge


The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 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 5:22-24 ESV]


Most of us really do not like to talk about judging, the judgment day or anything like that.
I think that is because we all know ourselves and the things that we have done, said and thought.
We all know that apart from grace we would be lost.

Apart from the intervention and the intercession of Christ we are without hope.
So when we think about judgment our focus turns to verses like these.
Words like these, that speak of faith and eternal life, give us so much hope.

I find it interesting how Jesus says that he alone is the judge.
Perhaps this position was granted to him because he is the God-man?
In a sense Jesus is the only one qualified to judge man because he was a man who was tempted as we are yet did not sin.
In these verses Jesus speaks of not being judged and having eternal life.
Perhaps that is something that we all need to hear?
In honoring the son we have eternal life and we are not judged.

Lord, thank you for not judging me and for giving me eternal life.


... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.