Before the Throne: Esther and the Shadow of Christ’s Mediation
In the days of exile, when the Jewish people faced annihilation beneath a royal decree, God raised up an unlikely deliverer: Esther, a young woman whose courage and faith would alter the fate of her nation. When Mordecai urges her to act, he speaks words that echo through salvation history: “Who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”¹ Esther understands the danger—approaching the king unbidden could mean death—but she answers with sacrificial resolve: “If I perish, I perish.”²
The scepter becomes the symbol of this day because it is the sign of royal favour. Esther approaches the throne, and the king extends his golden scepter toward her, sparing her life and granting her petition.³ The Fathers saw in this moment a foreshadowing of Christ’s intercession: as Esther risked her life to intercede for her people, so Christ will offer His life to plead for ours. Esther prefigures the One who enters the true throne room—not at the risk of death, but through death—so that mercy may be granted to the guilty.
Her story also reveals the mysterious interplay between divine providence and human courage. God works through Esther’s boldness, prayer, and fasting, showing that deliverance often unfolds through the obedience of those willing to act at great cost. Her intercession becomes the instrument of Israel’s salvation and prepares the way for the Messiah’s lineage to continue unbroken.
As we place the scepter on the Jesse Tree, we remember that Advent is a season of intercession. Christ the King extends His mercy to us, and the Church—like Esther—stands before the throne of grace on behalf of a world in need. Esther teaches us that God delights to save through the humble and the brave and that every act of faithful intercession reflects the work of Christ Himself.
- Esther 4:14 (Douay-Rheims).
- Esther 4:16 (Douay-Rheims).
- Esther 5:2.
THE JESSE TREE REFLECTIONS
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