A little extra thought here.

How is it good news that Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead?

It’s actually good news for those who have suffered, those who have experienced oppression.

Look at what Simon Peter says about Jesus in Acts 10.

He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

In the same teaching about Jesus being the judge of the living and the dead, Simon Peter links this to the idea of Jesus going around “doing good” and ministering uniquely to the oppressed.

Justice is always good news for those who are oppressed.

The people who have the greatest problem with Jesus being the judge are usually the same people who’ve never really been oppressed.

Those who have experienced oppression, however, look to Jesus and ask, “How long, O Lord?” They see His judgment as a moment of vindication, an act of righteousness. They’re not offended by His judgment the way elite Westerners seem to be offended — offended by everything, by the way. No, just the opposite. The oppressed would find His lack of judgment to be offensive.

For those who have suffered, they long for a God of justice to hear their case and level the scales.