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Keith O'Neal - Director

Heb 9:24… For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate. He did not go into the earthly place of worship, for that was merely a copy of the real Temple in heaven.  NLT

Rom 8:34… Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.   NLT

If you have gotten yourself in a “Spiritual Spot” and need a lawyer I have just the man.  Jesus Christ will represent you against the accuser of the brethren, Satan (Rev 12:10), before His Father, the one and only judge of your soul.   No, I am not talking about a legal matter in this world but rather a spiritual matter that occurred as a result of your sin. 

You can retain Christ as your counsel by asking Him to forgive you of your sins and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior.  He will then represent you well and it doesn't hurt that He is related to the Judge (Smile). 

From the point you retain Him I recommend you refer everyone who wants to discuss your past sins to Jesus, your Lawyer, and allow him to handle every matter on your behalf. 

Also, I recently found this article that may help ou realize that you are not standing alone.  God Bless!

Thursday, May 30, 2002

JESUS THE ADVOCATE

By Tom Gehring
Special to ASSIST News Service

LOS ANGELES, CA  (ANS) -- I’ve been a trial lawyer for 21 years. Slugging it out in the courts of life. Being an advocate for my clients. Being there to protect my clients, defend them, encourage them, intercede for them and, in short, to assist in any way possible. In the process, I studied many advocates over the history of time, the alleged best advocates. Some of those that are still alive I’ve either worked with, worked against, and watched in action.

But, I kept coming back to Jesus as the advocate to study, from a purely earthly and technical standpoint -- from a lawyer’s point of view. Along the way, I realized that Jesus was also the advocate to study from a heavenly point of view, I learned that Jesus was, and is, the best advocate for me while here on earth and, more importantly, for eternity. Each one of us, while alive, while on earth, while on this side of eternity, must choose our advocate for eternity. Once Jesus is chosen, He starts advocating for us right now, here on earth, and His advocacy for us is never ending. Jesus is the advocate I have chosen to protect me and intercede for me for eternity. Clearly, Jesus is the advocate to choose. Jesus is the only choice.

Pity the poor soul who does not realize that he or she needs an advocate for eternity. So many of us are out there every day doing our best to point the way to Jesus, the Advocate, our Savior. In this life, here, on earth, literally anybody I have known that has found himself in a real jam, a real problem, or a corporation in trouble, a professional in trouble, anybody in trouble, they will need a lawyer, even more so if there is a courtroom to be faced . . . a judgment to be faced. So many intelligent humans realize and know that they know that they need a human advocate to face the human organized and run courtroom and potential judgment -- but dilly-dally around in choosing an advocate for eternity. Suffice it to say that there is so much more at stake in eternity. Better to go it alone here on earth, but make the all-important decision to choose Jesus as your advocate for eternity. And then, of course, as soon as you make that choice, He starts advocating for you right here and now, the process begins, and it only gets better. And some of you would say - - that He doesn’t even charge for His time.

Having come to be in such awe of Jesus the Advocate, I have come to break down some of the reasons as to why He is just so good. This was an advocate who knew what to say, who know how to say it, and who absolutely, positively, knew who He was and what His message was.

Jesus Knew What to Say

Who, oh who, would even think of going up against Jesus, the Advocate? What man on earth? What devil? If someone really studied Jesus as an advocate, as a debater, as someone to argue with, as someone to try to outshine, who, throughout eternity, would go up against Him? In an earthly sense, pity the poor fool who would be Jesus’ adversary in a court of law. That person would have to know that he or she would be going up against an incredibly humble advocate, extremely knowledgeable and well studied, eternally skilled in the art of advocacy, and one who would go through every possible sacrifice to defend his clients. Even to the point, as it is written, of sacrificing his own life. Now, who would go up against this man? This is one advocate I want on my side.

Those of us that have studied and know Jesus know that anything that went up against Him lost. Satan went up against Him in the desert, when some would say Jesus was at His weakest, but Satan lost. And in human trial lawyer terms, he lost pitifully. He didn’t even score a point. He was left to come back and try again later. Intellectuals went up against Jesus , the government, the weather, demons, even death, and Jesus won. Jesus was an advocate that could literally say to any adversary -- anytime, anywhere, under any conditions, come at me if you dare. When a client of Jesus’ had his or her soul or life on the line, watch out. Don’t even think of going up against Jesus. Don’t try and trap Him, don’t give Him a silly little puzzle to solve, don’t try and mess with His mind, there is no hope. Jesus would stick to His role as your Advocate even when He was put on trial. But more about that later.

Can you imagine the Pharisees in all their studied brilliance sitting around plotting up a question to Jesus, such as whether or not it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? (Mt 22:15-17) What a puny little question to ask an advocate like Jesus. For me, as a human advocate, with my humble little 21 years of experience (seven times longer than Jesus), I wouldn’t have known where to go. If I said it was unlawful to pay taxes to Caesar, I risk arrest by the Romans for sedition. If I said it is lawful to pay taxes, I risk outraging many Jews and risk losing much of my following because I know the Jews believed that God alone was Israel’s king, and therefore, it is high treason against Him for His people to recognize any Gentile ruler by paying him tribute. I would have been in big trouble. Not Jesus. Jesus said, "Show me the coin used for paying the tax." (Mt 22:19). They gave Him a denarius, a Roman coin with Caesar’s likeness and inscription on it. Roman taxes had to be paid with Roman money. Jesus then declared, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s." (Mt 22:21). That was it. Debate over. Discussion over. In one stunning statement, Jesus delineated the proper balance between honor to God and responsibility to the State. At the same time, He showed that using Caesar’s money to pay Caesar’s taxes did not violate God’s law for His people. The Book of Matthew says that when they heard Jesus’ one line response, "they were amazed, so they left him and went away." (Mt 22:22). Again I say, who, oh who, knowing Jesus, having studied Jesus, would take him on in a debate, a battle, an argument, or make any kind of attempt whatsoever against one of His clients?

I think of another statement made by Jesus that, again, stopped the so-called "teachers of the law" and Pharisees in their tracks. One line, discussion over, debate over, period. A woman had been caught in adultery and her accusers brought her before Jesus. The law required that both parties to adultery be put to death (Lev20:10; Deut 22:22), however, the accusers only brought the woman. And, again, the "teachers" and Pharisees in all their studied brilliance thought they had another perfect trap for Jesus. But Jesus was immediate with his help to this accused woman. How many times have I been not immediate in helping someone that God places in my path? The teachers asked Jesus: "In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" As a human advocate, I wouldn’t have known where to go. If I said the woman should not be stoned, I would be accused of violating Moses’ law. If I urged them to execute her, I’d be reported to the Roman leaders who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions. But Jesus only needed one sentence. He said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (Jn. 8:7, NIV) The Book of John says that when they heard Jesus’ one-line response, "Those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there." (Jn. 8:9, NIV)

I have often thought that, if the Ten Commandments were ever allowed in an earthly court of law, I’d like to see a plaque right next to it that says, "He who has not sinned, cast the first stone." I get weary of being in courtrooms where people are so quick to accuse another without even slightly considering their own lies and deceptions. Courtrooms are places for posturing and positioning and trying to get others to believe your position. Rarely are courtrooms an actual search for the truth. The truth in Jesus’ one-line response clearly permeated the hearts of the accusers and they left, one by one. This woman was set free in so many ways in just one statement. As an earthly advocate, a strong and committed search for the truth in a trial situation is not always what my clients want. Instead, I am requested to advocate a "position" without giving an inch. My only comeback to that is the strength of my relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I have to be prayed up, I have to pray for wisdom, and I have to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with His words, His advocacy so that the truth can be known and God’s resolution in the case be determined. I know at times that I might be the only person in a huge trial filled with a judge, a jury, witnesses, spectators, etc., one person trying to bring God into the situation. But it seems clear to me that Jesus was only one person in a situation presented to Him with the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. And Jesus, one person, turned it around.

Jesus Knew How to Say It

Lawyers sometimes have to give examples. Jesus was the best "example" giver. Jesus spoke in so many ways to get his point across. Sometimes He spoke in parables, sometimes directly, sometimes to establish relationship, and sometimes with razor sharp precision. "You blind guides; you strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel!" (Mt. 23:24) The Pharisees considered a gnat an unclean insect and therefore strained their water so that they wouldn’t accidentally swallow one. They were obsessed with details of ceremonial cleanliness, but had no inner purity. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like white washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean." As Jesus explains, "On the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Mt. 23:27-28)

As an earthly advocate, I am amazed at Jesus’ forceful directness to those faced with following Him. The Book of Mark talks about a rich young lawyer who Jesus looked at with love and said, "One thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mk 10:21) Jesus loved the rich young lawyer, but would not compromise His requirements. And Jesus would not accept excuses, but, once again, in one line, would dismiss them. A disciple said to Him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Presumably, afterwards, the disciple would follow Jesus. But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (Mt. 8:21-22) Jesus made sure any potential disciples set aside any conditions they might have for following Him. How about Jesus’ response to Paul’s pleading with the Lord to take away a thorn in his flesh? Jesus simply said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:7-8) The thorn kept Paul humble which God, in His infinite wisdom, must have felt important. But we all have the same grace that was sufficient for Paul and is sufficient for us.

Jesus left no one uncertain as to His meaning, "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am." (Jn. 8:58) "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed Him." (Jn. 6:66) These scattered disciples understood what Jesus said, meant and required, but rejected it. "At this the man’s face fell, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mk 10:22) The rich young lawyer understood what Jesus said, meant, required, but was unable to make the sacrifice. "Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against him." (Mk 12:12) The chief priests, teachers of the law and the others sought to kill Jesus because they understood what He said, meant, and required, but they rejected it. Jesus had told the parable of the wicked tenants. Jesus referred to himself as the stone rejected by the builders. But the stone the builders rejected became the capstone, the cornerstone of a new building which was the church. "The stone builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Ps. 118:22, 23; MK 12:9)

Jesus used parables to get His message across in a different way, a way that compelled listeners to discover the truth for themselves. Still, even though the message was clear, some would not listen. Such is the same with the parables of the king’s ten servants. This parable told Jesus’ followers what they were to do during the time between Jesus’ departure and His Second Coming. Jesus expects us to use our God-given talents so that they multiply and His kingdom grows. He will ask us to account for what we do with His gifts. Jesus ended the parable by saying: "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." One of the many messages in this parable is that those that have been good stewards of the gifts God has given them will receive even more, because they have shown their good stewardship.

Jesus has taught me so much about how to be an advocate. "Simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no, ‘ ’no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Mt. 5:37) "Simply let . . . ." is so simple. This is a lesson as to how to be an advocate, how to tell your client and witnesses to be advocates for their case, and how to live our life. Here, Jesus is teaching people how to tell the truth. He was teaching us not to swear, not to make vows or takes oaths casually, giving your word when you know you can’t keep it. Jesus said, "Do not swear at all; either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black." Every trial I go into I tell my clients to simply say, "yes" or "no" to the cross-examiner’s questions. Explanations are not trusted. It is rare that an explanation is necessary. Live your life with yeses and nos, tell the truth, and no explanations will be necessary.

Jesus Knew Who He Was

I am a member of a tribe. A tribe of trial lawyers. A tribe of earthly advocates. And we are the most oppressed, beaten, addicted, frazzled, time deprived humans on the face of the earth. The American Bar Associate says that at least 25% of us are clinically addicted to drugs or alcohol or some other substance that we abuse. Another 25% of us are in the gray area somewhere. A large percent of us are depressed, burnt out, distraught. Going into this thing, earthly advocacy, you better know who you are, and you better know how to stay grounded. Once again, I’m amazed at Jesus, the Advocate. He knew exactly who He was and knew how to stay grounded. I know, I know, some of my cynical lawyer friends would say, "But He is God!" No, I say, He was man, just like us, who came to show us how to do it, how to live our life, and when He was in trouble, He quoted scripture, or He prayed to His Father in heaven. Jesus did not sit around consulting Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, or other gurus of His day. He went straight to scripture, or to His Father in heaven. That’s it. No exceptions. Jesus was not an advocate that sat around testing His feelings or schmoozing with His disciples about life in general. Jesus knew His mission (more about that later) and knew who He was:

"I am the resurrection and the life." (Jn. 11:25)

"I am the bread of life." (Jn. 6:35)

"I am the way, the truth and the life." (Jn. 14:6)

"I am the good shepherd." (Jn. 10:11)

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt. 20:28)

The bottom line is that Jesus became man to show us how to do it. He took advice and guidance from His Father, and we should take advice and guidance from Jesus. Similarly, when in trouble, we should consult scripture, just as Jesus did, or we should pray to Jesus or to our Father in heaven, just as Jesus did. I love, for example, that there are 31 Proverbs. In essence, one for every day of the month. The stated purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to impart skillful and godly wisdom. And in the Book of Proverbs, "Wisdom" is always capitalized to remind us of its divine implications. Wisdom, with a capital "W." If you study Jesus as an advocate, you know that He studied scripture and you know that you must study Wisdom with a capital W. This is not complicated stuff. This is just faith in action. This is just a function of studying the best advocate, and doing what He does. And the lessons of Jesus are simple. Very simple. Even the best of the earthly trial lawyers can’t complicate it. They just need to work on their faith to follow it.

The Mission of Jesus, the Advocate

Every trial lawyer in trial, has a theme or mission for the trial; similarly, we should have a theme or mission for our life, our life’s purpose.

Jesus was (and still is) such an incredible advocate. And I mean that from both a purely earthly standpoint, and from a heavenly standpoint. So then why, oh why, when it came to defending Himself, did Jesus -- put up no defense. Christians know that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for all of our sins, He came to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mt. 20:20) But here again, I say look at how He did it.

Jesus never answered any of the confusing and conflicting accusations against Him, whether at trial before the high priests or at trial before Pilate. -- But, if it was a question regarding His mission here on earth, He answered it, and He answered it clearly. When the high priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?", Jesus said, "I am." Jesus further replied, "and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mk 14:61-62) When Pilate asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?", Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say." (MK 15:2) When more accusations came against Jesus by the chief priests and the elders, Jesus gave no answer. And Pilate asked Jesus, "Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge - - to the great amazement of the governor." (Mt. 27:11-14) And the Book of John reports that Pilate stated to Jesus, "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." And Pilate asked, "You are a king, then!" And Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." In the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus never gave answer to the many accusations against Him. But He, clearly and succinctly made clear His mission here on earth. His advocacy for us, for eternity, was clear, if we choose Jesus as our advocate.

The Bible says that Jesus is "our Advocate." First John 1:1 states as follows: "My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father -- [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought and action]." (1 Jn. 1:2:1 AMP B)

The Book of Hebrews tells us that our Advocate is not one "who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Because He, like us, was tempted in every way possible -- but He was without sin. But because He is our Advocate, we can approach the ‘Throne of Grace’ with confidence." (Hb 5:14-16)

As where is Jesus, our Advocate right now? The Bible tells us that also. He is "at the right hand of God and is interceding for us." (Rom. 8:84) As the Book of Romans says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Choose your Advocate now, while on this side of eternity.

An afterthought. Would I have denied Christ like Peter? Yes, probably. But I have one advantage over Peter. We all have one advantage over Peter. The book is finished. All 66 Books, and nothing can be added. And nothing can be taken away. (Rev. 22:18) The evidence is in, all in. And there is no evidence that can top This Evidence.

Thomas Gehring is an attorney in West Los Angeles, specializing in the areas of business, entertainment and mediation.