But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2.1b)
A life of following Jesus never happens in a vacuum. It so much easier to admire from a far, to love from a distance. Surely, it would’ve been easier for John to write his letters from his island in exile; easier to write about the importance of community alone in forced solitude. Yet his letters of love and the family of God are written while he was still among them. He was still in the thick of broken-down fellowship and sibling rivalries as He called the people of God to love one another.
It can seem like living out our life of faith would be far simpler if it were exclusively solitary, if there wasn’t a communal facet to it. Jesus understands that. How many times did the unbelief of the disciples push Him to the brink? Our righteous advocate Jesus Christ understands how easily our relationships with other followers can become strained. He understands how our frustration turns to sin and our unhealed wounds lead to painful recalcitrance. He sees our grief. He knows our pain. And as He stands before the Father and presents our case, seeking justice for the abused and oppressed, He calls us to forgiveness. He himself is the atoning sacrifice that purchased our entrance into the Father’s eternal light.
Our advocate, our Lord, is our perfect example. He is in the light and calls us to walk in His light. He brings other men, women and children around us to walk with us. It can be a struggle to love seemingly unloveable people and yet He modeled for us how to love first. He calls us to love.
Father, forgive me of my pain-turned-sin. Thank you for Jesus, my righteous advocate.