Just As…

Are you looking for justice?

There are certainly times and situations where we have all wondered when there would be justice. When someone wrongs us, we look for justice. When we see someone mistreat another person, we look for justice. But is it right for us to “look for justice.”

Usually when we think of justice, we are thinking of it as a judgment of a person by a judicial process. We think of fairness and we seem to believe that life ought to be fair. But this is not how Jesus lived His life. Perhaps instead of looking for justice we should instead looked to live our lives “just as” Jesus did.

Let’s consider a few verses that tell us how Jesus lived His life…just as.

Matthew 20:28: “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” We like to be served. For example, we see this when we go out to a restaurant. If the table server makes a mistake or spills our order, we raise quite a ruckus. We may even call for the manager. We are out for blood. But where is our forgiveness? Where is our grace? Jesus certainly did not live this way. He did not come to serve but to serve. He would be the first to pick up a towel and clean up the mess. He demonstrated this attitude when He washed the feet of His disciples. Our testimony would be much better if we showed the same grace toward people that Jesus showed. Jesus said, “…whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant…” Instead of seeking justice, we should serve just as Jesus served.

John 5:23: “…that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” We often think we know best what judgment is necessary. We call for justice and often it does not come. But in this, we err. Judgment comes from God. But God the Father judges no one. He has committed all judgment to Jesus. We honor God by honoring the Son. If we do not honor the Son, we do not honor the Father. Instead of seeking justice, we should honor the Son by allowing Him to be the judge. In that way, we honor the Father just as Jesus honored Him.

John 12:50: “And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” Often when we call for justice, we do it in our own vanity. We do not rely on the Word of God. We neglect to consider that the message God gave Jesus was a message of everlasting life. This is the message Jesus has for us. We tend to get all wrapped up on issues that really have no eternal significance. The message Christ has given us is the message of eternal life. Instead of seeking justice, we should speak the message of eternal life, just as Jesus spoke.

John 15:10: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” We far too often get to involved with the laws of the land. We forget that the laws of the land are there to keep the peace; the law does not produce righteousness. So, instead of seeking justice through the law, we should obey the commands Jesus gave us. Only then will we be living the life of love God wants for us. Instead of seeking justice, we should keep Christ’s commands—and abide in His love—just as He has kept the Father’s commands—and abides in His love.

John 17:22: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:” When we seek justice—even justifiable justice—the natural outcome is division. Justice seeking is divisive. No matter how kind we might try to be, when we seek justice on our basis, disunity occurs. Jesus and the Father exist in perfect unity…they are one. By basking in the glory that Jesus passed on to us from the Father, Christians can also be unified. Instead of seeking justice, we should become one just as Jesus and the Father are one.

I hope you see that life is not about justice; rather, it is about living “just as” Jesus lived. By focusing on Him, we don’t need to seek justice. We can trust Him, the final judge, to take care of all retribution. We can then focus on living as Jesus did.

How are you doing? Can you say that you are living “just as” Jesus did?