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Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for
today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)
Bible Verse
"But if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1).
Devotional
The work of our Lord as Priest is two-fold—atonement and intercession. He accomplished the first upon the cross. He now transacts the other upon the throne. "After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3).
Under the Law, after the high priest had slain the sacrifice, he took the blood; then, passing within the veil, he sprinkled it on the mercy-seat, so making intercession for the people. "The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing" (Heb. 9:8 NIV). "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:11–12).
And what is he now doing? Presenting his own blood each moment before the mercy-seat on behalf of his redeemed people! "He ever lives to make intercession for us" (Heb. 7:25).
Oh, do not forget this, dear saint of God! This is spoken for the comfort of the mourners in Zion—for those who, knowing the plague of their own hearts, and deploring its constant tendency to break out, are humbled in the dust with deep godly sorrow. Look up!
Does sin plead loudly against you? The blood of Jesus pleads louder still for you.
Do your backslidings, and rebellions, and iniquities, committed against so much light and love, call for vengeance? The blood of Jesus "speaks a better word" (Heb. 12:24).
Does Satan stand at your right hand to accuse you? Your Advocate stands at God's right hand to plead for you.
All hail! you mourning souls—you who smite on the breast, you broken-hearted, contrite ones! "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Rom. 8:34).
Jesus is a glorious and a successful Advocate. He has never lost a cause entrusted to his advocacy, and he never will. He pleads powerfully. He pleads eloquently. He pleads prevailingly. Why? Because he pleads in behalf of a people unspeakably dear to his heart, for whom he "loved not his own life even unto the death" (Rev. 12:11), and presses his suit, on the ground of his own most precious blood and accepted person, and with his father and their Father, his God and their God.
Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off thy guilty fears:
the bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears.
Before the Throne my Surety stands,
before the Throne my Surety stands,
my name is written on his hands.
He ever lives above,
for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love,
his precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for ev'ry race,
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds he bears,
received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me.;
"Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
nor let that ransomed sinner die!"
The Father hears him pray,
his dear Anointed One;
he will not turn away
the pleading of his Son;
his Spirit answers to the blood,
his Spirit answers to the blood,
and tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled;
his pard'ning voice I hear;
he owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and "Father, Abba, Father!" cry.
(Charles Wesley, 1742; alt. LEW, 2006)
Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.
Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.
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