“You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me.” Luke 22:28 (NIV)
If you were grading the disciples on their performance during Jesus’ trials, how would you grade them?
You would have to include in your evaluation: 1) The storm when Jesus said: “Where is your faith?”; 2) The feeding of the 5,000 when Jesus said: “Do you still not understand?”; 3) The conflict with Peter when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!”; 4) And the fact that just a few hours later they would all run for their lives in the Garden of Gethsemane!
If we were writing their report card, we would have to comment: “Could do better.” Yet Jesus says, “You are those who have stood by me in my trials.” This reminds us of something very wonderful: The generous judgment of Jesus. Here we find Jesus taking what is good, and focusing his whole attention on it.
When you look at your service to Christ and wish you had done better, remember the generous judgment of Jesus. When Jesus looks at the service we offer, he does not evaluate it with the eye of an examiner, but with the eye of a father who knows the heart of the child who offered it to him. He sees the beauty of what was offered more than the faults that might have been in it.
So he says to the disciples, “I confer on you a kingdom.” They must have wondered what he was talking about. But apparently they know now. And one day we will too.
What does the generous judgment of Jesus mean to you?