The Judge Is Still Alive!
What does it mean that Jesus presently lives in Heaven, at the right hand of the Father?
While looking at Judges in Sunday School last week and the contrast between Israel with a judge and Israel without a judge, we all agreed that if it was up to us, we would be born at the beginning of Ehud The Lefty’s reign, since he was judge for 80 years and would probably cover our life span.
Comparing Jesus to the judges of Israel, we see one major difference: our Judge is still alive!
Acts 25:19
…but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
1 Peter 3:22
It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
1 Corinthians 15:3-7
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
That’s a big, blaring contrast to the bland language the author of Judges uses:
Judges 3:11b
Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Judges 4:1
When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Judges 8:33
So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god.
Judges 9:55
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimilech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.
Judges 10:2
Tola judged Israel 23 years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.
Judges 10:5
And Jair died and was buried in Camon.
Judges 12:7b
Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried…
Judges 12:10
Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.
Judges 12:12
And Elon the Zebulunite died…
Judges 12:15
Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died…
Samson died in the basement of the temple.
We’re starting to see a pattern. The Israelites enjoy freedom and peace with God while their judge is alive. When their judge dies, and each one did, the people are handed over to rebellion and slavery. When Jesus died, however, He gave His people freedom from sin, and victory over death because He rose from the grave.
Because our Judge is alive forever, we can and will always enjoy peace with God. It doesn’t matter what year we’re born- we live under the rule and protection of our Living Judge.