The Names of God - Jesus, Our Advocate

The justice system in the United States is one of the most fair systems in the world for deciding who/what is right or wrong relative to the law. In the case of a criminal trial the defendant is presumed innocent until all of the evidence/testimony, both for and against, is heard by either the judge or jury.

Normally there is a prosecutor representing the people (i.e. the “state” or rule of law) in order to make certain all the laws in place are followed to the letter. On the other side of the courtroom there is a defense attorney, an advocate for the one being tried, to make sure that the defendant is given a fair opportunity to be heard.

In 1 John 2:1 Jesus is described as our “advocate with the Father.”

1 John 2:1 (ESV)

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.

Why would we need an advocate before the Father if we are Christians? Revelation 12:10 gives us one reason.

Revelation 12:10 (ESV)

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.

This one described as “the accuser of our brothers” is none other than the devil. Every time we fall short of the mark (sin) the accuser (prosecutor) brings this up to God, the Righteous Judge. The evidence is presented and a pronouncement of “guilty” is requested by the accuser.

Then the Advocate rises in our defense to intercede on our behalf. Look at a few definitions that will help us more fully understand what is happening. John uses the Greek word parakletos to describe the role of “advocate.” It means, “an intercessor or consoler.” We understand what it means to console, but what is this thing called intercessor?

Normally the word intercessor is used to describe someone who prays for another. That is certainly one aspect of the meaning, but it does not fully describe an intercessor. The Greek word for intercessor is: entynchano, which is made up of two other words: en – “a preposition denoting a fixed position in place, time or state” and topos – “to occupy a space.” When you put these words together it literally means “to take your place,” “or to stand in your place.”

So in response to the “accuser of the brothers” Jesus rises to “intercede” or take our place and say, “Father, they are guilty but I took the blame for this on the cross. Their debt is paid and they are free to go.” The Father (judge) responds with, “Your sins are forgiven!” In Christ, this is always the verdict! It’s called grace. We have been marked “forgiven” for eternity. This brings such freedom when you fully understand that we are no longer guilty because of the sacrifice of Jesus. It truly is finished!