In John 5:22 Jesus declares, “The Father judges no one. Instead, He has given to the son absolute authority to judge.”

According to this verse, God the Father delegated and relinquished all judgment to His son. So, what judgment does Jesus make? What is His verdict?

On the cross, during the most wicked and rebellious act in human history, when the evil and depravity of mankind reaches its final apex and the human race in league with the satanic powers of spiritual darkness conspire together in the brutal torture and murder of the Son of God — the One to whom all judgment has been assigned — at that very moment as He gasps his final breaths, He declares from the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.

And in that moment, Jesus Christ, the Father’s delegated judge of all who have ever lived, issues an unconditional and universal pardon to the entire human race. The only One with the authority and right to condemn us all is the very One who pronounces us now forgiven and reconciled.

“For God sent his son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself and not counting men’s sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

– Lee O’Hare