Scripture: John 5:22 (ESV) – “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”
Having just declared that He gives life like the Father, Jesus now asserts another divine prerogative: judgment. Not only does He raise the dead, but He also sits in authority to judge the living and the dead. The Father, in His sovereign will, has entrusted all judgment to the Son.
This is a staggering truth. In Jewish theology, God alone was Judge—He would vindicate the righteous and punish the wicked. But now, Jesus declares that He will carry out that judgment, not as a secondary agent, but as the appointed Judge of all humanity.
William Gouge observes that this delegation of judgment is not due to any insufficiency in the Father but is an expression of the Trinitarian economy—a display of order, trust, and divine harmony within the Godhead. The Father judges through the Son, and in doing so, glorifies the Son as the One in whom all truth and justice are manifest. Gouge also reflects that this should strike both holy fear and deep comfort into the heart of the believer. Fear, because we will all stand before Christ. Comfort, because the Judge is also the One who died for us.
For the Christian, this means judgment is no longer abstract. It is personal. We will stand before the nail-scarred Lord—the One who knows our weaknesses and bore our sins. For the unbeliever, it means there is no neutrality with Jesus. To reject Him is to reject the appointed Judge.
This verse compels us to take Christ seriously. His words are not mere teachings—they are the words of the Judge of all the earth. But unlike any earthly judge, He is both just and justifier of those who believe in Him (Romans 3:26).
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean that all judgment has been given to Jesus?
- How does knowing Jesus is both Judge and Savior affect the way you approach Him?
- How can this truth deepen your reverence for Christ and your urgency in witnessing to others?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we tremble and rejoice to know that You are the Judge of all the earth. Thank You for bearing our judgment on the cross so that we could stand before You without fear. Help us to live with holy reverence, knowing that every life will one day answer to You. Give us boldness to proclaim this truth with urgency, love, and clarity. In Your name, Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:22, drawing from Pastor Chris Cousine’s sermon and supported by William Gouge’s Puritan theology on divine judgment and the office of Christ.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 