Page 25 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

Our access to Him is unlimited – 24/7 His advocacy, for the Greek word contains
– as He is marked by an eternal and the idea of “comforter.” In the Upper
unchanging priesthood. Because of this, Room, our Lord promised to send another
“he is able to save to the uttermost [or, comforter, the Holy Spirit; and just as He
at all times] those who draw near to God promised, the Spirit came at Pentecost.
through him, since he always lives to make Thus, we have a Comforter above main-
intercession for them” (9:25 ESV). But our taining our link with the Father and a
Lord’s intercessions don’t always begin Comforter below who maintains us in our
when we approach Him. In Peter’s case, walk of faith. Christ’s advocacy for us is
Christ revealed to him that He had already ongoing and without failure, for He has
prayed for him that his faith would not paid a tremendous price to make us His
fail. His intercession had preceded the trial own and tenderly cares for us all along the
and temptation, and although Peter sadly way. He ensures our security in the fam-
failed his Lord, the Lord’s gracious inter- ily and seeks to maintain our enjoyment
cession ultimately preserved and restored of the Father.
him to a life and ministry of great blessing.
The Advocacy of a Righteous Christ The Guidance of a Loving Shepherd
Not only is Christ marked by interces- There are other aspects to Christ’s pres-
sion on our behalf, but He is also our ent ministry, but I need to add a brief re-
advocate with the Father in view of sin in minder of His ongoing work as the Good
our life. The only reference to this great Shepherd. His care and sacrifice for His
work is found in 1 John 2:1: “If any man own while here on earth is the theme of
[believer] sin, we have an advocate with our worship and praise, but is He not still
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” shepherding His flock? Part of that work
An advocate (Greek, parakletos) is one has been given to “under-shepherds”
who “comes alongside to help” at a time but, as we sometimes sing, “He tends
when sin has broken fellowship with with sweet, unwearied care the flock for
the Father. Our sin is never minimized which He bled.” Who has not been able
or disregarded, but because of who He to look back on life and appreciate His
is and what He has done, our Advocate faithful care, His tender compassion and
pleads the merits of His own sacrifice at His wonderful guidance? No wonder we
Calvary before the Father, for He is the love to sing,
“propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins.” All the way my Saviour leads me;
Because He is the “Righteous One,” our What have I to ask beside?
union with the Father is maintained. Cal- Can I doubt His tender mercy
vary is the place where propitiation was 2
accomplished, but here in 1 John 2, it is Who through life has been my guide?
the wonderful person of Christ Himself We love to thank our Lord for His fin-
who has satisfied the righteous demands ished work at Calvary, but do we bow with
of an offended God. What a tremendous worship and appreciation for His present
blessing to have One in the glory who is work for us in the glory? What we need to
both fit and willing to represent us as a remember is that we could not live here if
defense lawyer and plead our cause. He were not living for us there!
But there’s another focus in view with ² Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915)

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