God pleads the cause of his people.
How can God, it may be asked, be at once Judge and Advocate? Can he plead at his own tribunal; entreat himself to show mercy; deprecate his own anger? if not, before what tribunal does he plead? whose mercy does he entreat? whose anger does he deprecate? The prophet himself could, perhaps, scarcely have explained his own words; but the Holy Spirit who inspired them knew exactly in what sense they were true. The riddle has to be solved by the consideration of the distinction of Persons in the Godhead. God the Father is the Judge of man, before whose tribunal all men must one day appear. God the Son is the Advocate (1 John 2:1), who pleads with the Father on their behalf, intercedes for them (Hebrews 7:25), deprecates the Father's wrath, implores his mercy, entreats for and obtains their pardon. Satan, on the one side, accuses (Revelation 12:10); but on the other, the Lord Jesus Christ defends. He defends his own, and he overcomes by his own blood (Revelation 12:11), wherewith he has washed away their sins. He "justifieth" (Romans 8:33), and then "who is he that condemneth?" Assuredly, no one.
HOMILIES BY E. JOHNSON