We are told that Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. What Does that mean?
My initial thought was that an advocate represents us. Jesus Christ, as our Advocate with the Father, is our court appointed legal representation. He is someone who speaks on our behalf as an intermediary. That thinking is incorrect. He is much more than that.
My pure denotation the term advocate is more than a just a stand-in or go-between. He is our champion and our promoter. Doctrine and Covenants 38:4 says that he pleads for us.
I say, even as many as have believed in my name, for I am Christ, and in mine own name, by the virtue of the blood which I have spilt, have I pleaded before the Father for them.
Jesus Christ represents us and he is wanting the best for us. His is not keeping a checklist of how many bad deeds it will take to bar us from Eternal Life; in fact He is looking at the best in us, He looks on our heart and sees our Eternal Potential. That is how He represents us to the Father and how we should be regarding ourselves to empower our self-esteem. A quote from a blessing I received once says “If you could see yourself as you truly are, there would be no room for self doubt”
He Isn’t Only Our Advocate for Judgement Day
One of the synonyms used on thesaurus.com when I looked up Advocate is crusader. How many times are we asked to be Crusaders for Christ? How appropriate is it that He is crusading for us Eternally. Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Advocate with the Father for us. In Hebrews 7:25 it says that He liveth to make intercession for us. The was before He even born in the flesh. This has been His mission before He was born and it continues after his resurrection.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
One thing I am reflecting on is ‘what kind of case as I preparing Him to enable Him to represent me?’ Am I giving him a file full of unkind deeds and casual obedience? Or am I showing Christlike love to all? Do I represent the best in Him as I hope he will represent the best in me? Do I honor my commitments made to God and my neighbor?
A Challenge from President Nelson
A challenge by President Russell M. Nelson caused me to learn more about this topic. He gave the challenge during his 2017 Worldwide Devotional. He invited all to “consecrate a portion of your time each week to studying everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the [scriptures]”. The guide for this is to search the Topical Guide for references under the topic “Jesus Christ.” So I am starting with Jesus Christ, Advocate. I’ll post the other topics as well. I’d love to know your observations and experiences.
President Nelson also followed up with a blog post about his own experience. President Nelson shared one of his own observations about Jesus Christ as our Advocate with the Father.
He really is your Advocate with the Father. He will take your side. He will stand up for you. He will speak on your behalf, every time, as you choose to be more like Him
You can also see some of the other Scripture Commentaries I’ve done.
