Our Advocate with the Father

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."  1 Jn 2:1-2 (NIV)

Last week I wrote about the accuser of the brethren standing before God, the Judge of all the earth, like a prosecutor accusing the saints of their sins and unrighteous acts.   This week, I want to introduce another personage in heaven, Jesus Christ, our defense lawyer or advocate with the Father.  He is the One who has taken the penalty for our sins, and not only ours but that of the whole world.  When Christ pleads on our behalf before God, He would point to His shed blood on the cross that has atoned and forgiven us of our sins.  His death on the cross has brought the peace of God to mankind by making man and God one.  No longer does God see the horrible stain of sin in our lives but the purity that comes through our cleansing by Christ's blood.  As saints of God, we overcome the accuser of the brethren by pleading the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:11). 

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb 3:1).  Jesus in fact is the Moses and Aaron of the new covenant but far greater than them.  Just as Moses was God's ambassador to the Israelites in the OT time, likewise Christ is God's ambassador (apostle sent from God) to the world in the NT era.  And just as Aaron presided over the high priestly duties on behalf of the Israelites in the tabernacle of Moses, likewise Christ is the believers great High Priest representing us in the court of heaven (Heb 9:24).  As long as we confess Jesus as coming from God and has offered His blood for our sins, He remains our faithful High Priest who always lives to make intercession on our behalf (Heb 7:25).

What a privilege to be encouraged and interceded by the Son of God! The feeling of being encouraged is very much different from feeling condemned.  Satan stands in heaven to condemn us but Christ is seated at God's right hand, interceding for us.  Often times in life, when we have problems or needs, we will approach someone to pray for us and we will feel much better.  But know for a fact that when we are down, we can draw near to God personally and find courage through Christ's intercession on our behalf.