Names of Jesus Advent: Righteous Judge (November 28)
This advent blog series will help draw you closer to the Person of Jesus, the lover of your soul.
November 28: Righteous Judge
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)
Miracle on 34th Street is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Surprisingly, there is a bit of political commentary in a Christmas film from the 1940s. In particular, judicial corruption. In the movie, Judge Henry Harper is tasked with the role of either committing Kris Kringle to a mental institution or providing a verdict that declares, “Santa is real.”
Charlie Halloran, a ward heeler of sorts, is placing immense pressure on Judge Harper to make the “right” ruling, which in all reality is self-preservation at best. Mr. Halloran shows that if Judge Harper wants to be re-elected, he will have to validate Kringle as Santa Claus. The judge clearly doesn’t want to do it, but Mr. Halloran tells him he must, or he won’t be a judge much longer.
Sadly, this judicial corruption has been around since the dawn of the justice system.
When we read that God is a Righteous Judge, we must understand that He cannot be compared to earthly judges. At the end of time, the rewards of heaven are not passed out in an arbitrary manner. They are given because they ought to be, or simply put because God is righteous and just in doing it.
Jesus, our Righteous Judge, cannot be bought or persuaded. No man will be admitted to heaven unless he is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. In the same right, no one will be excluded who ought to have been saved. Salvation is a sure reality, a done deal in every sense of the word.
John 5:30 (NKJV) reads, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” The judgments of Jesus are righteous and final; there is no appeal system in Heaven. This is a life-altering reality.
In this advent season, let’s offer thanksgiving for the coming of the Righteous Judge, the One with the authority to pass judgment over death itself. He is the one who delivers His people from all sorrow and suffering into everlasting joy and peace.
If you would like to display a 30-day Advent wall calendar in your home, check this out!
Keep Jesus as the center of Christmas with these easy-to-read, simple printable cards that look beautiful. You can display them on your wall, string them across the mantle, or use them as unique tree ornaments.
Enjoy the printable cards and a devotional pdf for this Advent season!