Jesus Christ, the Advocate

The One who pleads on my behalf

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

“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.” (1 John 2:1, NIV)

The sinfulness of man

With the loving care and heart-felt concern of a father, John, the once-disciple of Jesus, implores his spiritual flock to live lives without sin. John knows that sin alienates the heart of man from the heart of God and that sin prevents the Christian from living into the life that God desires. More0ver, sin cost Jesus dearly, demanding that He suffer and die even though He, Himself, did not know sin.

Yet, despite his prompting, and even their best efforts, John knows that sin, for man, is inevitable. It’s part of who we are, after all, our DNA, if you will, as sinful human beings. Sinners do one thing quite well – they sin. This is not meant to be an excuse, but a fact as it pertains to our fallen selves.

The sinlessness of Christ

One man, however, never sinned – never a lustful glance, nor an errant word, never a judgmental gaze, nor a selfish thought. Jesus lived a life of perfection and stands righteous before our Heavenly Father. And, because Jesus died for us, we can live eternally through Him.

John rightly identifies Jesus as our advocate. He is our go-between, our intercessor, the One who speaks for us. Jesus pleads on our behalf, and He bleeds in our defense. And our Father sees Him, when He looks at us. Jesus has become our righteousness, and we are, therefore, right with God.

Believe this day, that you share Christ’s righteousness, not because you are holy on your own, but because you have the Holy One who is your advocate – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Prayer

Holy God, thank you for sending Jesus to live a life I could not live and to die a death I could not endure. Thank you for my forgiveness, won for me by Jesus’ death on the cross. In His holy name I pray, Amen.