Just
Just
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”
John 5:30-31
Take the following two statements and decide which one you would like to be said of you;
I was just a man.
I was a just man.
You see, the word “just” can have two uses, however, they have entirely two different meanings.
In the first sentence “just” describes that I am only a man. Nothing more. “Just” describes me as being exactly and simply, a man.
For most of my life, my titles, accomplishments, relationships and positions defined me. People knew me for what I did in my career, who I associated with, what I had achieved. People were proud of me for the position, not the person.
Most of my life has been about me being just a man. There really wasn’t more too it. I lived in the flesh, for the flesh and toward the flesh.
When we “just” exist, everything is of our will. We think of what we want, what we can decide, what we can opine, it’s all about us. We are nothing more than living for ourselves.
Sure we may want to please others - but that is still about us. We wouldn’t please anyone else if it wasn’t because we wanted to. Most importantly it is always about pleasing ourselves. Even describing and declaring that we aren’t being selfish is selfish in itself.
Without the titles, the positions, the relationships, accomplishments and career - I am just a man.
Jesus wasn’t just a man. He was God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was a just man.
Many people want to break down Christianity by saying that Jesus wasn’t God.
Some will use the verse above to say that Jesus couldn’t do anything outside God’s will. In actuality, it’s just the opposite. Jesus was seeking the Will of God for His Will. He wanted to live a life that was in the Will of His father.
You see, Jesus lived a righteous life. Every single day of His life He lived to do the Will of His father. He prayed for His Will to be done, as it was on Earth and in Heaven.
A little word history;
The word “just” comes from the Greek word - “dike” which means “right”. When they added “en” (in) in front of it, it formed the Greek word “endikos” - “in right”, which later became righteous.
Being just - means to be righteous. A state of right conduct or being right. This is either measured against the Divine standard or the human standard. When Jesus spoke of being “just” - I assure you He was speaking of the Divine standard.
When Jesus was “just”, it was because all that He did was complete and in the Will of God.
Jesus wasn’t just a man. He was a just man.
One day I hope to be called a just man.
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7