My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2
Jesus has many names in the Bible and in continuation of the Names of God study, one name is one that is very popular and that is that Jesus is our Advocate. The question is, what is an advocate and what does that mean? Advocate is a legal profession. Or by literal definition, it is someone who publicly supports or recommends a cause. So why did John in 1 John, say that we have an “Advocate” with the Father?
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people would have the high priest as their mediator. The priest would take an offering for sin before God but before they could, they had to purify themselves. The common person could not go themselves before God in their sin. For us as the modern church and New Testament believers, we still cannot go before a holy and righteous God on our own. If we have sin in our lives, that can separate us from God. However, there is Jesus. Jesus who fulfilled the law, lived a sinless life, and has taken up that role of mediator for us.
Jesus can be our advocate. Someone who goes before the Father and says “Father, I know they’ve sinned, but they’re one of mine!” or “Father, hear their cries. They might have sinned but they are repenting of it and seeking your forgiveness.” This is what an advocate does, or rather, our Advocate does. He goes where we cannot and pleads on our behalf.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need an advocate. We all struggle and we all will make mistakes and sin. I’m beyond thankful that when I do and when you will, we can cry out and Jesus will be our advocate. Advocates are lawyers who speak up for someone who is unable to do so for themselves. Maybe they are underprivileged or unable to speak on their own. The advocate can take the case and represent them.
It is a reminder that we are not completely alone in our sin. God did not save us or send Jesus to say “Alright, you have a way, now figure the rest out on your own”. Jesus came, died, rose again, ascended back to Heaven and sits by the right hand of God as our Advocate, a mediator, but most importantly our Savior.
When we feel like we are alone, or have sinned and failed God; stay encouraged because we have an Advocate that is going before the Father on our behalf. Even when we do fail, we can cry out to God. Jesus, our Advocate, will take our cries to God on our behalf. Even when we do not have the words to express, any and all of our attempts to repent or cry out to God will be taken by Jesus our Advocate before the Father.
Author Nick Dyson is the host of the Modern Age Christian Podcast.
