Jesus calls us to be ready for his return. He will be the judge, so we don’t need to judge anyone. And as we put our hope in him, our hope increases because he has done all things for us. In him, we win!

Like Pontius Pilate, we too shall be judged. But unlike Pilate, we know who our judge really is. He is Christ the King who judges us with his love and mercy.

We all want to be noticed. What is behind this desire? Jesus shows us that if we are not careful this desire can become twisted. He offers us the attention we seek from the world.

John records, “Jesus was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” The original Greek means he was highly agitated. As one commentator writes the verb “indicates an outburst of anger.” Jesus approaches Lazarus’ grave mad as hell and at hell. God did not create human beings to die like this. Sin brought death into the world, and Jesus has come to undo what humanity has created by following the leading of Satan. Jesus is not mad at Lazarus or any person. He directs his anger at Satan. 

The vision of the coming Kingdom of God from Revelation is less about your personal salvation than your social fellowship with all the saints who worship Jesus.