The King and Judge We Long For
Deep within the human heart lies a longing for a good and noble king – one who embodies truth, beauty, and goodness. We see glimpses of this ideal in beloved stories like The Lord of the Rings, the legends of King Arthur, and C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. These tales tap into our desire for a ruler who is just, compassionate, and worthy of devotion.
But what if such a king truly existed? What if the longings of our hearts point to a greater reality – a kingdom we were created for but have never experienced?
As we approach the season of Advent, we’re invited to reflect on Christ the King. But this isn’t just about looking back to his first arrival as a humble baby in Bethlehem. It’s also about anticipating his glorious return as Judge and Ruler of all.
For many, the idea of judgment evokes fear and anxiety. We may imagine an angry deity eager to punish. But what if judgment could actually bring peace? What if it could be transformational?
To understand this, we must know the judge, His character, mercy, and goodness. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes his return:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man” – a title from Daniel 7 that speaks of the essential human, the perfect Adam. Jesus is everything God created humanity to be, the very Word of God.
In all other religions and philosophies, judgment is based on an impersonal weighing of good and evil deeds. But here we have a judge who became our brother, shared in our suffering, and proved his love by giving Himself up for us. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” He was willing to drink the cup of wrath (Job 21) so we would never have to drink it. And now, the cup for us is a cup of blessing.
This changes everything about how we view judgment. Rather than something to fear, it becomes an occasion for hope and joy. The One on the throne knows us intimately and loves us completely.
But this doesn’t negate the certainty of judgment. Jesus is clear that there will be a separation – sheep on the right, goats on the left. Some will hear “Come, you who are blessed by my Father,” while others will hear “Depart from me.” There is no middle ground.
So how can we be sure which side we’ll be on? The key is in entering relationship with Jesus, in trusting Him, and accepting by faith that He has shouldered the burden and paid the price for your salvation.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). It’s about relationship, not performance.
Interestingly, in Jesus’ parable, the “sheep” can’t remember when they served. When told they fed the hungry and clothed the naked, they ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” They weren’t keeping score or trying to earn salvation. They simply acted out of who they were – those who knew and loved the Shepherd.
The “goats,” on the other hand, can’t remember when they didn’t serve. They protest that they never saw Jesus in need. They were focused on their own efforts and goodness, missing the point entirely.
This brings us to a profound truth: The certainty of judgment and the peace it brings for those who know Christ should transform us. When we grasp the magnitude of what Jesus has done for us, taking our judgment upon Himself, how can we not be moved to live differently?
We’re called to see Christ in “the least of these” – the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Jesus identifies so closely with the vulnerable that he says, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
This isn’t about earning salvation through good works. It’s about allowing the love we’ve received to overflow to others. It’s recognizing that the King of the universe often comes to us in the guise of a beggar, a refugee, or a struggling single parent.
As we contemplate Christ’s return as King and Judge, we’re faced with a choice. C.S. Lewis put it this way: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.'”
Which will we be? Will we embrace the loving rule of the Good Shepherd, allowing his transforming grace to work in and through us? Or will we cling to our own ideas of goodness and self-sufficiency?
The invitation is open to all. Jesus, the merciful Judge, stands ready to welcome us into his kingdom. He has done all the work necessary for our reconciliation. Our part is simply to trust him, to get to know him, and to let his love shape our lives.
As we approach Advent, let’s reflect on the King we long for. Let’s consider the Judge who loved us enough to take our place. And let’s ask ourselves: Are we living as “sheep” who know the Shepherd’s voice? Are we allowing his love to flow through us to “the least of these”?
May we find ourselves saying with joy and confidence, “Come, Lord Jesus!” For in him, we find the perfect King – one who is both just and merciful, both awe-inspiring and intimately knowable. He is the fulfillment of our deepest longings, the Judge we can trust with our eternal destiny.