John 5:24-30 CSB
"Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. [25] "Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. [26] For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. [27] And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. [28] Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice [29] and come out-those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation. [30] "I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
Matthew 11:28-30 CSB
"Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Just Judge
It seems like from the moment we are born and start to walk until the day we lay our head on the pillow for the final time, we are being judged. It starts in the nursery: “Our baby is already walking,” or “I wish my baby were walking by now.” Then comes school. From kindergarten through high school, everything is performance-based, driven by tests and peer pressure. You are constantly asked: Do you measure up to the ‘cool kids’? If not, you might be relegated to a different slot, cowering into submission like so many of us did under those who ruled the halls—teachers and students alike.
For many, this trend only accelerates in college, the private sector, or the military. Life becomes a series of yearly evaluations and whispers about work performance. Every project is a test: did it turn out good or bad? We often feel we are only as good as our last success or failure. We hear the tally of our shortcomings: How many times have you shown up late? You need to work harder. Or, if we succeed: You’ve done an outstanding job; we are pleased to promote you. Life is a constant evaluation.
It doesn’t even end at the office. Those outside of work judge whether your life is “successful.” Do you have enough money? Do you belong to the right clubs? Life stays under a microscope, and this pressure extends even into retirement. The problem is that our ego and our perceptions are tied to people who judge us without knowing the intent of our hearts or our whole story—people who often feel the need to lift themselves up at the expense of others.
Jesus came to show us a different way: a way of love. The love of the Father is nothing like the judgment of the world. Jesus offers a safe port for the ships that have been ravaged by the storms of others, as well as for those of us who have caused the damage ourselves.
Anyone who believes in our loving Father through His Son is no longer under the judgment of this world. While we all eventually come before the judgment of Jesus, we can rest knowing He always judges justly. Those who believe are forgiven and given the Holy Spirit to guide us, helping us become more like Jesus every day. Those who do not believe remain under the judgment of the One who knows all things. We have all fallen short of who we were designed to be—whether through the good we failed to do or the harm we caused others.
In Jesus, there is life. The Son has life in Himself and grants this life to all who follow and learn from Him. He is not a taskmaster; He is humble in heart and offers rest for our souls. He is the One who gave His life for us precisely because we have fallen short. Making Him the Lord of our lives is an “easy burden.” We have a choice: we can serve the standards of this world—which lead to eventual death—or we can honor and follow the Giver of Life.
It is so freeing to shake off the shackles of worldly judgment and replace them with the one who cared enough to give everything He had for me. No greater love exists than that a man would die for another, and that is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus changes the narrative of our lives. We are translated from earthly slavery into a life of truly being loved, which allows us to turn and serve others in that same love. This love extends into eternity because Jesus is the Giver of Life. For those who follow Him, death no longer has its sting.
Reflection Questions
- Where in your life do you feel the most “under the microscope” right now? How does Jesus’ “easy burden” change your perspective on that pressure?
- It was mentioned that Jesus is a “safe port” for both the victims of storms and those who caused the damage. How does it feel to know that Jesus’ just judgment includes total forgiveness for our past?
- What are some “shackles of judgment” you need to shake off today so you can serve others out of love rather than performance?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You that You do not judge us the way the world does. Thank You for providing a safe port for our weary souls. Forgive us for the times we have judged others to lift ourselves up, and help us to live in the freedom of being Your children. Teach us to take up Your yoke and learn from Your humble heart, so that we may find true rest.
Amen.
