An advocate is a person who comes to our aid or pleads our case (our defender) to a judge. Advocates offer support, strength, counsel and intercede for us when necessary.
The English word advocate has been translated from the Greek work parakleton, which means “comforter, adviser, intercessor or counselor.” Parakletos is “one called alongside or comforter.” In essense an advocate provides help when it is needed. For a Christian our advocate is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before going to the cross, Jesus talked to his disciples about sending the “Comforter” to them when he went to be with the Father. John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”
The Comforter, in verse 17, is also identified as the Spirit of Truth and in verse 18 Jesus said this: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The word comfortless means “orphans.”
The words that Jesus spoke shows the love of both the Father and Jesus toward believers and that they will never be alone. That, in itself, should truly be comforting especially in these times.
1 John 2:1 – “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.”
1 John 2:2 – “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Propitiation was accomplished through the blood of Jesus.
1 John 4:10 – “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Propitiation – Both verses are of Christ’s atoning blood which appeases, or satisfies, God’s wrath on all sin. By the sacrifice of himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate propitiation for man’s sin.
1 John 3:16 – “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Jesus satisfied the demands of God’s wrath against sin, so He advocates for us from a position of righteousness. He took our punishment on the cross and became the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Romans 3:24-25 – “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
Propitiation – Jesus was our appeasement (satisfying agent) which reconciled us to God. Jesus “covered” our sin with his blood.
Jesus experienced life in this world as a man just like you and me. He was tempted, rejected, misunderstood and physically abused yet He did so without succumbing to the evils that befall us. He refused to give in to temptation and became our High Priest because he perfectly fulfilled God’s law and purpose.
Hebrews 2:17 – “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (assist or aid) them that are tempted.”
In the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement each year, it was only the High Priest who could enter through the veil into the Holy of Holies (innermost sanctuary or room) of the Tabernacle. He would burn incense and then sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats to extinguish, or cover, the sins of the people. This was an annual occurrence until Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for sin.
For more detail regarding what Jesus accomplished read Hebrews 8, 9 and 10 and why he is identified as being our High Priest.
Romans 8:34 – “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
1 Peter 2:21-25 – “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins in willingly giving up his sinless life to go to the cross. He became the perfect sacrifice for sin to reconcile us back to God. When Jesus died, was buried and raised the third day many scriptures were fulfilled.
John 10:17-18 – “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
If you have any doubts about how much God and Jesus love you please read this teaching again … and again if necessary. Read the Bible for yourself. Jesus paid the price so you will not ever be alone. Give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to minister God’s love to you.
Take comfort with this concluding scripture in Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I trust and pray that God’s love and blessings come upon you and overtake you!