Even in His coming He will be our advocate and our judge. How close then Jesus stands to us. He came into the world to enlighten the world, that they might learn to know God and Jesus Christ {307} whom God sent; He laid down His life as a voluntary sacrifice to redeem the world from the original sin; now He sits at the right hand of God the Father and intercedes for those who believe in Him; and ere long He shall come again in clouds of glory, again to minister to men, that they may have the better chance to gain eternal life. The love and anxious sympathy of Jesus know no bounds. "Listen to Him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before Him, saying, Father, behold the sufferings and death of Him who did no sin, in whom Thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of the Son which was shed--the blood of Him whom Thou gavest that Thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe in my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." THE REFERENCES Matt. 21:33-41. 1 Tim. 2:5, 6. 1 John 2:1.2. Rev. 11:15. Mark 16:19. John 14:1-3. Acts 7:56. Acts 1:11. Heb. 7:25. Mark 14:62. Rev. 8:34. Matt. 24:29,30. Mark 28:18. Mark 8:38. Doc. and Cov. 45:3-5. {308} THE QUESTIONS 1. Interpret the parable of the householder and the wicked husbandmen. 2. What is the position of Jesus in heaven? 3. In what sense is Jesus our advocate with the Father? 4. What did Jesus mean by many mansions in His Father's house? 5. What power is given to Jesus? 6. How do we know that Jesus is to come again? 7. What is to happen when Jesus comes again? 8. In what way may we sense the nearness of Jesus? {309} {310} PICTURE: THE ASCENSION, Biermann {311} XXXIX THE LIVING CHRIST [Sidenote: Jesus the living Christ.] From what we have learned in the preceding lesson, it is plain that Jesus, the son of Mary of Nazareth, is in truth the Living Christ. Jesus was from before the beginning of this world, and will continue in power and glory throughout the endless eternities. In the great council in heaven, He volunteered to become the Christ and to save the children of God without force. He fulfilled His noble but agony-filled mission without faltering. He gave up His life with a prayer on His lips for those who brutally persecuted Him and killed Him. He was approved of the Father, and exalted to sit on the right hand of the throne of power. He is worshipped by untold millions, to whom He has brought consolation, hope, and love. And it is not only on the so-called common people of the earth that Jesus has made so wonderful an impression that He is worshipped as the very Son of God, but also over the greatest intellects in the world has He wielded so powerful an influence that they bow in admiring adoration. Poets, artists, philosophers, scientists, and statesmen alike acknowledge Jesus, the Living Christ and Advocate with the Father. [Sidenote: The testimony of Napoleon.]