Jesus Our Advocate

Jesus Our Advocate

I love lawyer shows, don’t you?  The bad guys get caught.  The innocent go free.  Justice is done!

There is a courtroom in heaven, you know, where there’s a prosecutor, a Judge, a defense Attorney, and a defendant.

Revelation 12:10 says there is an “accuser of the brothers,” the prosecutor:

Revelation 12:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

According to this verse, the accuser never stops bringing our names and our sins before God for judgment.  Job 1:6-11 tells us this accuser of the brothers is Satan himself.

Fortunately, you and I have a Defense Attorney.  The Bible calls Him our Advocate, Jesus Himself:

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)
¹  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
²  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

So, Jesus speaks on our behalf before the Father.  But, what can He say?  Satan’s charges are true.  We are sinners.  According to 1 John 2:2, Jesus pleads innocent on our behalf because His sacrifice is the propitiation (payment in full) for any and all sins we have or will commit.

In Luke, we get a glimpse of just where Jesus’ heart is in defending us.  The scene is that John the Baptist is in prison and about to be killed.  He sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if He is truly the Messiah.  In short, John was beginning to doubt.  Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cured the blind.  Then He told John’s disciples to tell John what they had seen.

Many of those following Jesus at the time used to be John’s disciples.  Most likely, they were shocked that John, a true warrior of the faith, might doubt.  Look at how Jesus addressed this:

Luke 7:24-27 (ESV)
²⁴  When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
²⁵  What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
²⁶  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
²⁷  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

In fewer words, Jesus told them they were looking at a man of God.  Don’t judge him by his doubt but by who he is and what he’s done.

Today, Jesus stands in that courtroom in heaven defending you and me.  He’s saying, “Father forgive them.  Yes, they have sinned, but look at their love for you.  Your judgment of death is just, but that penalty has been paid.  They are now innocent in the eyes of God.”

Christ’s infinite love for us has paid it all.  Aren’t you thrilled to have Jesus as your Advocate?