Jesus Came to Give His Judgment Context (Advent 20, 2024)

Have you ever noticed how people jump to excuses or spin lies when caught doing or saying something wrong? It’s almost automatic. People don’t like to be caught with wrongdoing. But people also don’t like being judged without knowing what charges they’re facing.

So, we can see Visitation Principle 20: Jesus Came to Give His Judgment Context.

No one to be judged will have any excuse that stands. We all know the mortality rate for human beings is 100%. If people want to imagine we just decay like leaves on the forest floor, it doesn’t explain how Jesus returns. They can live in denial. He won’t be stopped from returning by any person’s unbelief in His abilities.

Romans 1:18-20 tells us that “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities– his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”.

They deny because they choose to do deny, not because they have a legitimate reason. So, no excuses when Jesus returns. Yet, He wants to give His Judgment a clear basis–important context–so no one will doubt His Judgments are right and fair in the end.

>>No claim we didn’t know about the crime. (Jesus: Yes, you did. Sin. In fact, sin is so bad, I came the first time. In almost 2000 years since My death/resurrection, you still didn’t care.)
>>No claim that Jesus didn’t know what it was like. (Jesus: Yes, I did. I walked in your shoes but lived sinlessly in a world of sin. Do you think it didn’t have an impact on Me?)
>>No assertion that sin isn’t bad (Jesus: Not that bad??? It cost My life’s blood to pay for it).
>>No claim to preferential treatment, playing favorites. (Jesus: Nope, My forgiveness has always been open to everyone and there’s only one way to the Father. That’s through Me. John 14:6)

All of that in these two verses below, putting His righteous Judgment in context:

Hebrews 9:27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think it’s important that no excuses will stand?
What does that do to the possibility of making a mistake? Does God make mistakes?
What things in your life make it easy to believe there is a God?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for all of creation that testifies You are God. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You didn’t come in Judgment the first time, but in Your mercy, You provided a way out for sinners. We praise You as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We give You all the glory for the wondrous gift of our world and the amazing heavenly future in the place You are preparing for us. We love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.