Jesus- The Defense Attorney
In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses told the children of Israel that God would raise up a prophet from them like Moses himself. This prophet was Jesus Christ who would save the world of their sins. Moses and Christ were alike in several respects, and a brief survey of Exodus will evidence this parallel.
Moses was a mediator between God and Israel just as Jesus is the mediator between God and man today. Understand before reading any further: a mediator is a negotiator who lobbies with an authority for the sake of another. Now consider Exodus 20:19. This passage follows the event of Moses descending from Mt. Sinai with the 10 commandments when God’s magnificent power and glory descended on the mountain. The passage reads, “Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’” Because the Israelites knew they had been unfaithful to God and felt unworthy to be in God’s presence, they asked Moses to be the mediator between themselves and God. In like manner 1 Timothy 2:5 says Jesus is our mediator and for good reason. Jesus became our sin sacrifice on the cross, and now whenever we sin and ask for forgiveness, Jesus goes before God to lobby for our forgiveness. Think of Jesus as the defense attorney in the court room, God being the Supreme Court justice, and the sinner being the guilty party on trial. The attorney lobbies to the judge on behalf of the guilty party with the end goal of forgiveness. Another Biblical example would be that of Abraham lobbying with God on account of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham negotiated with God, bringing the magic number for destruction down to 10 righteous people in Genesis 18.
Today, no man on earth or angel in heaven has this unique authority as defense attorney besides Jesus Christ. We may intercede for our brethren and sisters in prayer, requesting for forgiveness, healing, or blessing on their behalf; however, this is not the same as negotiating back and forth with the Father. Only Jesus has this privilege, because only Jesus is both man and God at the same time, able to equally represent both parties in the courtroom of forgiveness. Think about this heavenly scene ongoing in the highest of Supreme Courts the next time you ask for forgiveness.
Aaron Battey