Advocate

"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. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).

It's good to have an advocate. Someone to stand with you. Someone who is on your side. Someone who believes in you. We all need advocates.

An advocate is a champion of a cause. Sometimes we think of that in legal terms, of having a lawyer to defend our case. Or other times we think of it in legislative terms, when a representative or a senator stands up for a bill they are sponsoring or a cause they believe in—like William Wilberforce standing up to Parliament on behalf of the slaves. Very often, advocates speak for those who seem to have no voice—neglected children, abused women, workers unfairly treated...or many others.

Rarely do we think of "advocate" in theological terms. And yet, it is in the spiritual life where we most need an advocate. John tells his readers he hopes they will not sin. However, he's already told us that we will sin—in fact, if we say we don't sin, we are a liar (1:10). So if anybody does sin (in light of what he just said, he probably should have written, "when anybody does sin..."), what do we do? Who do we turn to?

Well, we turn to the last person we would think we should. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, the one who has every right to judge us, to turn his back on us—John says that's who we should turn to. And more than that, the best news is this: when we turn to him, he will be our advocate. The one who most has the right to judge us will, in fact, stand up for us, pay the fine for our sins, and declare us not guilty.

That simply does not happen in this world. Watch the political debates. Observe when any pastor "falls." See how the person who mis-speaks is treated. The people who are co-sinners with that person are the first to turn, attack and devour them. Advocate? Standing with the sinner? Don't bet on it. And yet, turn to Jesus, the one we expect should and could attack us or condemn us, and what do we find? We find amazing grace, mercy abounding, hope unending. We find an advocate. Jesus is our advocate because he reflects the character of his father.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8).

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

abounding in love to all who call to you" (Psalm 86:5).

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).

Need an advocate today? Need someone to stand with you this minute? Turn to Jesus. He is the Righteous One, but he is also your advocate. He will welcome you. He will love you. He will save you.