Posted in , , ,

The Judgment Day

16 February 2012 by Tom Chantry

Q. 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?
A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, shall come again at the last day in great power, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, to judge the world in righteousness.

…but then, He never took the mock trials all that seriously. He “lifted not His voice,” but was this purely a matter of humility? Jesus never gave straight answers that day - not to Annas and Caiaphas, not to Herod, and not even to Pilate. Much later when Paul was struck for insulting an apostate priest, he apologized, acknowledging that even that “white-washed wall” had authority over him. But when Jesus was struck for the same reason, He rebuked the one who struck Him.

What is going on here?

When Charles I of England was brought to trial by Parliament, he refused to offer any legal defense, claiming instead that since he was a KING by divine right, no assembly had any authority to try him. He could not be guilty of treason because his own person was, in his twisted mind, the very embodiment of the realm.

Charles, of course was quite wrong - out of his mind. (Is it too cruel to say “he lost his head”?) No mere human king may claim immunity from every court. But what of the Son of Man, to whom “was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him... an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and [a] kingdom… that shall not be destroyed”?

Well, yes, one would have to admit that HE would have the right to use the “you have no authority to put me on trial” defense. And use it He did. Consider this exchange from Luke 22:67-71,
Chief Priests & Scribes: If you are the Christ, tell us.

Jesus: If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

CP&S: Are you the Son of God, then?

Jesus: You say that I am.
Jesus effectively said to them, “Don’t expect me to answer your petty little tribunal, because from this moment forward I sit in the judgment seat of Almighty God. I do not answer to you; it is quite the other way round.”