“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name,
whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Acts 10:43 (NKJV)
Series: His Name is Jesus
Years ago, I was involved in an automobile accident that totaled my car and caused some bodily injuries. Because of the significant financial loss, I secured an attorney to advocate for me. The insurance company scheduled mediation so a neutral third party could help negotiate a settlement. Eventually, a judge ruled that the losses I sustained be restored.
I never stepped into a physical courtroom during that experience; however, the legal services of an advocate, a mediator, and a judge were employed in my case. One day, each of us will stand in a heavenly courtroom before the Judge over all.
Peter taught about Jesus as our Judge in Acts 10:42 (NKJV):
And He (Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV):
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Jesus is our Judge, and He is also our Advocate and our Mediator. An advocate supports or defends a person, pleading his or her cause. A mediator acts as an intermediary between parties, helping agree through compromise, reconciliation, and the removal of misunderstandings
All of us have sinned. All of us are guilty. We deserve the penalties for the sins we have committed. Jesus, as our Advocate, stands with us as our defense attorney. He presents Himself as the sacrifice for us. The price is paid. In 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT), John said:
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
As our Mediator, Jesus reconciles us to the Father. Sin separates us from God. Our relationship with the Father is only restored because of Jesus. Timothy wrote in 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NKJV):
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus is the Mediator between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. He fulfilled the Law of Moses and established the New Covenant through His own shed blood. His death sealed the redemption for all who will believe in Him. Hebrews 8:6 (NKJV) says:
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Through the name of Jesus, all who believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with the Father. Jesus—His name is Advocate, Mediator, Judge. He provides the way for every sinner to be pardoned, and He brings perfect order to every heavenly trial.
Job cried out to God as recorded in Job 16:19-21 (NLT):
Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.
May we know Jesus as our Advocate on high, may we know He is the Mediator between God and us, and may we be secure in His perfect sacrifice for us as we prepare to stand before Him as our Judge.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Acts 10:42-43; Job 16:19-21; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 8:6,9:11-15, 12:24; John 5:22
