The human Judge upon the Divine throne.
Many are the offices which it is appointed for the Son of man to hold. Yet they are all consistent one with another, and only a complete view of them can present Christ as he really is, and can elicit towards him all those sentiments which are justly due to him. If he is the Saviour of sinners and the Friend of his people, he is also the Lord of the earth and the Judge of all mankind.
I. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CHRIST AS JUDGE. As represented by himself, these are two.
1. His Divine ability of knowledge, of authority, of justice, in virtue of his nature as Son of God. This is asserted in the claim he makes in John 5:22 of equality with the Father, and of a consequent right to the same honour which is accorded to the Father.
2. His participation in our human nature implied in the designation "Son of man" in John 5:27. This true humanity of our Lord ensures that all judgment shall be conducted not only with Divine knowledge and equity, but with human sympathy and consideration.
II. THE PERSONS OVER WHOM CHRIST EXERCISES HIS JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS. All mankind must stand at his bar; God hath committed all judgment unto him, and a day is appointed in which God will judge all men by the Man Christ Jesus. Friends and subjects, enemies and rebels, alike must receive sentence from his lips.
III. THE PRINCIPLES WHICH DIRECT CHRIST'S JUDGMENT. Of these two may be mentioned.
1. The thoughts and intents of the heart are considered as well as outward actions.
2. With respect to those who have been privileged to hear the gospel, the all-important question is—Did they receive or reject the Divine Mediator, the offer of Divine mercy?
IV. THE INSTINCT PERIODS OF CHRIST'S JUDGMENT.
1. There is judgment here and now, as seems implied in John 5:22. Christ is ever passing judgment upon men, criticizing their character and their action, discriminating between the evil and the good, making allowance for human infirmities on the one hand, and for human endeavours on the other. It is well for us that Christ judges his people now; that when necessary he has a controversy with them; that he has words of reproach for the unfaithful, and words of encouragement for the depressed; that he chastens his people in kindness and with purposes of love. It is for them to submit themselves to their Lord, to bow before his chastising hand, to profit by his correction.
2. There is judgment hereafter. Life has to be considered, not only in detail, but as a whole. When it is finished, then is the time for it to be duly estimated and justly recompensed. Now, our Lord himself assures us that retribution in the life to come is his peculiar work. The anticipation of this process should quicken our spiritual diligence and solicitude. The sinner may well repent and seek acceptance, so that he may recognize his Saviour upon the judgment seat; and the Christian may well prepare to render in his account "with joy and not with grief."—T.