May 4 – LD 18, Day 5: Our Advocate is in Heaven
by Rev J. Kortering
Hebrews 9:24, “For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us:”
The catechism lists three
advantages for us by Christ’s ascension into heaven. The first one we consider
here, “That He is our advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven.”
An advocate is the term
for a lawyer who has the right to represent clients before the courts. Such a
person needs a license to do this and must display qualifications that enable
him to pursue such a high position.
Jesus as our advocate was
qualified through His earthly ministry; He bore our guilt before the law of
God. In the resurrection, God certified that Jesus had the right and ability to
practice as our advocate before His bar of justice in heaven; He gave Him His
license to practice. That was no ordinary graduation exercise; it was
accompanied by the earthquakes, resurrections of the dead, and the tearing of
the veil in the temple. Before that divine speech, we look to our
representative who is now in heaven and functions as our mouth piece before the
Father.
And what does He say on
our behalf?
He told us before He
left, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where
I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou has given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” These are
the sweet words of the high-priestly prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17:24.
That legal plea before
the Father says it all.
Sorrow turns into joy
when we meditate upon this. He is not here. Look heavenward, He is gone away
FOR US, on account of our good. Jesus represents us before God’s throne and
speaks day and night this great petition - Father, I care about my people, take
care of them on earth, gather them by my Word and Spirit, so conduct the
affairs of history, that in the end they ALL may be with me in this heavenly
glory.
The Father’s answer to
this plea is all comprehensive. The plan that He has for them, laid down in the
foundation of eternity, will be carefully executed and realized. He will do
this through the exalted Christ. All things work together for that final good.
What an advantage.