“JUDGED INNOCENT IN JESUS”
Saint John 8.46-59
Judica - The Fifth Sunday in Lent: 28 March Anno Domini 2004
Fr Watson
Truth enfleshed: Christ Jesus, speaks the truth.
The Church Catholic today seems to have lost the ability, the will, the clarity of confession, to recognize that there is "THE" TRUTH. Yes, there are many truths...but only One "THE TRUTH." Only "THE" TRUTH is the WAY and the LIFE. All that is contrary to "THE" TRUTH must therefore be out of the way, off the path, in the wrong direction.. .and of DEATH. Sadly, many who call themselves Christians seem to have also forgotten that the church is called MILITANT, for a reason. The Church is involved in a battle, a war, daily skirmishes and fire-fights. What Our Lord encounters from His enemies in this morning's Gospel is the norm, the standard operating procedures for Him and for His disciples & soldiers... then-- the 12 and their respective flocks in the first century.. and now-- His Church, its' Ministers, and their respective flocks in the 3rd millenium.
Those who are God's family hear.. .and understand. Even as the lamb knows its shepherd's voice, the dog the distinct scent of its' master, and the newbom babe the embrace of its' mother.,. so too.. .the siblings of Jesus (and that's all of you) the brothers & sisters of Christ hear His words. In His family, you understand His special language of love. By Grace, the Spirit translates the depth of the meaning of the Gospel and of the Holy Sacraments.
His enemies do not believe, then, or now. Our old-adam natures reject as well. The opposition to Christ, to Truth, isn't passive, benign or non-judgmental......quite the contrary. Non-belief is vicious in its' attacks. The adversaries of God and His Word, (The Father and His Son) will always attack, lie, slander, and call names. You've seen it and experienced it. From the media, to the school, to the government, to the mainstreet and market...the culture of the world, the culture of death and darkness will always try to smother Life and Light. The follower of the Light is expected to be involved in these attacks. But it is sad when they come, now more often than not, from within our own midst. It's tragic that much of the rejection of Christ's Word and Supper, comes from behind us, those who claim to be our brothers. But, such is to be expected in war. The enemy is wiley. He fights by all means at his disposal, including spying, treason, the use of ignorant dupes, and guerilla warfare.
Evil speaks blasphemy. It calls the Redeemer a Samaritan. Now, of course, Jesus was not a Samaritan, he was a Jew, (admittedly not born of Judean Jews, but born of Jews who had re-located to gentile influenced Galilee), but a Jew nonetheless. By calling Him a Samaritan His enemies were calling him a bastard--an illegitimate outcast. They were questioning His paternity. They thought they were simply smearing Jesus and the carpenter Joseph.... in reality they were insulting God the Father. By calling Jesus a devil, no greater untruth could ever be spoken.
Jesus came to destroy the devil and all his wicked works. Jesus came to the Jews, but He also came for the lost sheep of Samaria, and all others sitting in darkness. Indeed only Jesus is the "Good Samaritan" who treats the whole world as His beloved neighbor.
In the face of this unmitigated sacrilege, in response to this rabid evil, the Lord simply stands His ground and speaks more truth: "I honor My Father, and ye do dishonour Me, And I seek not Mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you. If a man keep My saying. He shall never see death..."
Two truths. There is One that Judgeth. Who is He? What is He? And, secondly, what is"the saying" that one, if he keeps it, will never die?
Today is Judica Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent. So named for the first word of our Introit. Judica means Judge. Judge me 0 God we cry. Vindicate me! That is, don't try me and condemn me, and kill me, and damn me..... .but rather, try me and aquit me, declare me not guilty, save me from death and hell. How does the Lord Judge? By becoming the guilty criminal Himself. He's already judged all of you at the Cross. That is. He judged you all 2,000 years ago on the blood-soaked cross, in the blood soaked, and caked. Body of Jesus. You're declared 'not-guilty' because the Only Innocent One was convicted in your stead. You daily plead to Jesus for forgiveness because you know that He constantly pleads your cause to the Father's throne of Judgment with His own blood... the blood of the final passover lamb.
So, Who judges? The One that the Father has sent to Redeem. For in the judgment of Sin, in the slaughter of the Nazarene, vindication and redemption are acomplished.
This Jesus states: "If you keep My saying, You shall never die." Jesus' saying is both His invitation to faith, and His gift of faith. Believe in Me He says. Believe that the carpenter's son is really the Son of God, the Messiah. Believe that through Jesus' works, obedience, and death, all is set right with the Lord.
The hypocrites reject this gift. They reject even the truth that Father Abraham is still alive. Which, by the way, he of course is!!! NO Saint taken to be with the Lord at the end of his/her earthly pilgrimage is dead... they are alive in the Lord... their spirit sweetly reposing in His bosom awaiting the day of the resurrection of their body.
The hypocrites, (and your own enemies and detractors) , cut to the heart of issue... WHO IS THIS MAN? "Just Who do you make yourself out to be?"
The Rabbi answers them with His Name, the very same Name which He once shared with Moses from the midst of the burning bush. Jesus speaks to them simply, clearly, and says: I AM. Before Abraham was, I AM.
That's the only truth you need for Lent. For any time, any situation. This Jesus that you worship is GOD...otherwise to worship Him would be idolatry, and you would be worthy of being stoned. Who He really is... that's why His enemies today attack Him. His claim still stands, although now it has been vindicated; Judged true by His own Resurrection on the Third Day; defended as true by the Saints, Martyrs and Confessors who gave their witness, their own sufferings, and even their blood, to stand upon the truth, the rock, the Christ Who is I AM... God in the Flesh.
And that's why even some who claim to be your brothers and sisters hate you so, and slander your names, motives, and actions. Because you believe. You believe that Abraham isn't dead. That Jesus is not dead. You believe He is alive and here. Here right now. You believe His words: "take eat This IS MY BODY," and "take drink THIS IS MY BLOOD of the New Testament." You believe that, "THAT JESUS" is here... the Great I AM, God in the flesh. Believing so in your heart, your actions naturally outwardly reflect your inner faith.
You believe He's here to convict you of your sin, to remind you that of yourself you too would be only a pagan, only a minion of the old foe. But you also believe He's here FOR YOU. To forgive you your Sin-- by His Word of Absolution, by HIS GOSPEL, By His BODY AND BLOOD.
What more do you need to know this Lent? This day? What more is there?
"Judge me, 0 God: and plead my cause."