THE ADVOCATE

(For the youth of the Church)

"We have an Advocate with the Father" (1 John ii. 1). 

     The word Advocate here means one called to help another. It is now chiefly used of one who pleads a cause. And in this sense, as well as in the wider one, Jesus is our Advocate. Have you ever been in a law court, I wonder? There you will see the judge upon the bench, looking very solemn but very calm : at the side, the culprit at the bar, looking very anxious and perhaps downcast ; and, in front of the bench, the advocate, busy with his papers, and very eager to make the most of his case. 

     Now, our text speaks of a case being tried. Who is the Judge? God, the Judge of all the earth, seated on His eternal throne. And who is the culprit? You, or I, who have broken God's holy law. And who is the Advocate? Ah, who? Not ourselves—not any other man: else there can be but one sentence - Death! But here there is One we can trust, Jesus—whom multitudes have trusted, and not in vain.             Men esteem an advocate who is able, earnest, fair, successful - and "Jesus Christ the righteous" is all this.

 1. He is infinitely wise. When any case is committed to Him, He can take in all its bearings at a glance, and knows exactly how to represent it. 

 2. He is entirely earnest, and pleads as though He were pleading for His own very life. 

 3. He is absolutely fair, and does not attempt to hide the very worst that can be truly said against those He argues for. 

 4. And He is always successful. Millions have looked to Him for aid, and He never once has lost a case He undertook. For He has an argument that cannot fail, and that is—Himself, as the sacrifice for sin. — Will you not commit yourself to Him, saying "Lord Jesus, be my Advocate?" 

    Not only will this give you boldness in the day of judgment—it will give you present peace. 

     By the Way, your Accuser, the Devil, will not be present for he is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone just before the White Throne Judgment: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelations 20:10-12