The Righteous Judge (Watch Animated Bible Story)

The Righteous Judge recreates the events that surround Jesus in teaching the principles of  love, forgiveness and righteous judgment. In the story of the adulteress Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the simple phrase, “let him without sin cast the first stone,” and thereby teaches us of God’s immense mercy and grace. Caiaphus, who unrighteously judges a blind man sinful, is contrasted against the gratitude of the blind man when Jesus freely heals him.

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

– John 8:7b (NIV)

Who is qualified to judge, and by what standards? In The Righteous Judge Christian video, Jesus demonstrates the Father’s wondrous mercy, invites each of us to experience  His forgiveness, and then says, “Go and sin no more.”

Main Characters:

Jesus and the Disciples, Caiaphas and his men, Aaron and his parents, and the condemned woman.

Scriptural References:

John 7:1-36, John 8:3-11 and John 9:3-38

Overall Theme:

Jesus had to struggle with authorities who saw His message as a threat.  Caiaphas, the high Judge, tries to trick Jesus into making a judgment against the legal and moral authorities.  Jesus responds with the great command: “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

Summary:

The inevitable question, “Does suffering come from God? “is answered in the animated story of Aaron, a poor blind beggar. AfterJesus anoints Aaron’s eyes with clay, the news travels to Caiaphas,the high judge of Israel, that Jesus has healed a man on the Sabbath—even though no work is to be done on that day (according to Jewish law). Caiaphas angrily sends men to arrest Jesus, and they find Him teaching in the temple. Jesus turns aside Caiaphas’ men, saying  that  they do not judge righteously.

On the street we see Aaron, a poor blind beggar. As two men pass him, one expresses the belief that Aaron’s blindness is a punishment from God for his sins or the sins of his parents.  Aaron is convinced in his heart and souls that Jesus can heal him. His good parents set off to try to find Jesus.

Caiaphas, the high judge of Israel, considers himself to be enormously wise – wiser than Solomon.  He sentences a woman, who has been disloyal to her husband, to be stoned to death.

News comes that Jesus has healed a man on the Sabbath even though, according to Jewish law, no work is to be done on the Sabbath.  Caiaphas angrily sends men to arrest Jesus and they find Him teaching in the temple.  He turns aside Caiaphas’ men, saying they do not judge righteously.

Caiaphas and his men then plot to trick Jesus.  They bring the condemned woman to Jesus and ask Him to judge her.  If He frees her, He is breaking the law of Moses; to sentence her to be stoned is to break Roman law.

Jesus says, “Let him who has no sin cast the first stone.”  The members of the mob who gathered to punish her drop their stones to the pavement and disperse.  Jesus tells the woman, “Go, and sin no more.”

When Aaron finds Jesus, Jesus anoints his eyes with clay and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  Aaron does so and his blindness is cured.  Caiaphas questions Aaron, who replies that he was healed by Jesus.  Caiaphas now knows that Jesus is a greater judge than he.

Background:

What is the meaning of suffering?  Is it a punishment by God?  Who is qualified to judge and by what standards?  Jesus tells us that as all men are sinners, God alone can judge us.  He does so righteously, with His eternal wisdom and love.

In The Righteous Judge, Jesus demonstrates God’s  wondrous mercy.  None of us could throw the first stone because we are all guilty of sin.  But Jesus invites each of us to experience His forgiveness and then says, “Go and sin no more.”