January 23, 2021 -- John 20:19 & various -- An Alien Righteousness

“And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.

Ezekiel 33:10-13 English Standard Version

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

John 13:31 English Standard Version

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:19 English Standard Version

Without the Old Testament believers cannot understand the significance of Jesus and His saving work. Ezekiel was called “son of man” because he was anointed by the LORD as the prophet sent to warn the people. The righteous will transgress. There is none who is righteousness in and of himself, not one! God is our righteousness.

The Gospel of John names Jesus or records Jesus naming Himself “The Son of Man” a total of 13 times. No one is righteous. All are warned of their sins—like Ezekiel the Watchman of Israel—Jesus warned the people of Israel not to trust their own goodness, their own efforts or in themselves. The sword of judgment will come and strike down all.

The Son of Man, Jesus, is glorified, because warns of the wrath of God which breaks against the prideful wicked. But greater glory is credited to Jesus because He also takes the place of the sinner, being the punished one Who bears this punishment for the sins of His people. Therefore Jesus is righteous. And He is the righteousness of all who believe in Him.

Jesus alone can speak peace to His disciples. On that first Resurrection Sunday, Jesus declared the peace of heaven on those sinful disciples—disbelievers, betrayers, those who’d abandoned Jesus at the Garden. He spoke to the wicked and became their Peace and their righteousness. Be warned, O sinner, be warned that you cannot save yourself. You need an alien righteousness—you need Jesus to take away your wickedness and given to you a righteousness that can withstand the scrutiny of God the Glorious.

This is also why church is essential in these turbulent times. So many people today are terrified of the virus. So many people are shut up in their home feeling confused and feeling as if they are being berated by health officials for not being compliant when that accusation non-compliance is indiscriminately shouted out against all citizens. Who can offer any consolation? Who can warn the wicked? Who can offer prayers to the Most High Who is Great with Mercy? It is among the people of God that such consolations can be found. Without the righteousness and peace of God given in Jesus Christ millions are marching to an eternity of hell and torment. Speak out, followers of Jesus Christ, and declare His righteousness and His peace to this Covid-weary world.

The prayer today is a psalm. Think of the one who prays it as one covered in the righteousness of Jesus:

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
    Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
    and does no evil to his neighbor,
    nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
    and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15 English Standard Version

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