I pass judgment on no one

“You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.” (John 8:15)

 

A clear subjectivity is a desirable posture for anybody to have to take. However, it is not desirable to criticize others under own subjectivity. The Pharisees were habitually consistent with a critical attitude to others. They didn’t hesitate to criticize Jesus either of course. Pharisees’ such the judgment was based on the view of human standards. In response to the Pharisees’ argument, Jesus clearly stated His subjective position. And He said that He pass judgment on no one. Jesus represented own identity clearly, but not judging others. As it was flawless for Jesus, no one dared to make objections to His honest and open move.

 

People say it is cool a person who courageously reveals own subjectivity. However, there are many the first cool appearance withers away and it doesn’t last long. The reason is that there was a lack of pure substance in the original appearance. Positive education philosophy to boost confidence are often emphasized these days. It teaches us that even if it is a false smile, we can cultivate positive consciousness and facial expressions by making us laugh repeatedly. Those things may have their own value, but rather, the real value is created by the maturity of the inner person. It’s Jesus who has a complete inner person. The outward appearance of Jesus was only a very small part of what was inside. Jesus is the perfect light of the world, so those who follow Him can live in the light of life.

 

The Pharisees criticized Jesus for not being true because He testified by Himself about oneself. There isn’t anyone in the world who can testify truth about oneself. According to such a logic, the Pharisees’ words are not wrong. Nevertheless, such a point does not apply to Jesus. Because Jesus is Christ, who came down to this world into a man but He is God in origin. Jehovah is the existential name of God. As the meaning of the name Jehovah is ‘I am that I am who is the one Himself’, God is the one who exists by Himself. All men and animals or plants other than Jehovah God are creatures that have been created by God. Therefore, their meanings of existence can be only manifested rightly when God testifies them. Unlike the creatures, God is the One who can’t be testified by someone. That is, only Jesus can testify Jesus Himself.

 

By the way, since Jesus said that He passes judgment on no one, what does that mean? The premise of the words that ‘no one judges’ is that ‘you judge according to human standards’. Which means that Jesus doesn’t judge according to human standards. In truth, Jesus is the qualified who can judge anything. But He refused to judge by human standards. Judgment according to the Holy Spirit does not make occur any prejudice and errors. But judgment following the human standards makes may go against the will of the Holy Spirit. To be regret, people enjoy judging others commonly. If then, you can see that the attribute of a person is against the Holy Spirit. If you go against the Holy Spirit, you can’t reach salvation. Matthew 12:31~32 says, “If you defame the Holy Spirit and disobey the Holy Spirit in words, you will not be excused.”

 

Jesus said that His judgment is true because He does with God, the Father. The lessons of Jesus Christ aren’t confirmed as like one of truth by persons’ studying. Those who do not stand in the position of faith in Christ try to study the lessons of Jesus by using knowledge. They are mistaken as if they are the main characters who sort out the jade stones. He who tries to judge how great Jesus is as a saint is so far from God’s salvation. In Luke 9:18~20 Jesus asked His disciples who I was. Common people said that John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the old prophets, but Peter answered that Jesus was the Christ of God. We can see, the thoughts and attributes of those who don’t know who Jesus is correspond each other in the past or now.

 

Those who belong to the flesh never realize the work of the spirit. As Romans 8:5~7 said, “The thoughts of the body not only do not yield to God’s law, but cannot do it,” they do not know the work of the spirit, so those people have no choice but to go on the path of spiritual death against the Lord back. But the redeemed man follows Christ, the true light, on the path of life. I hope you will be convinced of your identity in Jesus and live with dignity while keeping away from the judgment of human standards as a person of the spirit.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on July 16th 2023)