Christ Is Interceding For Us
By Rich Carmicheal
“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25).
This month’s issue focuses on Christ’s intercession for us, and our intercession with Christ and through Christ. With these themes in mind, I draw your attention to some wonderful truths about Christ’s intercession for us which I hope provide much encouragement to you:
• Through Christ’s intercession for us, we are more than conquerors in adversity. No matter how dire our situation may be, no matter how great the trial, the fact that Christ is interceding for us means that we can overcome in times of trouble through Him. Nothing can separate us from His love. As the Apostle Paul writes: “…It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:34-39).
Christ is absolutely all-sufficient to meet the needs of all who look to Him. He is the faithful Son over us (Heb. 3:6), our great Shepherd (13:20), and the author and finisher of our faith (12:2). He is the One who upholds all things by the word of His power (1:3), and He is able to sustain us! So no matter how great your weakness may be, or your discouragement, or sorrow, or suffering, or want, or struggle, or dilemma, He has the resources you need – even more, He Himself is all that we need!
• Through Christ’s intercession, we overcome temptation. Christ shared fully in our humanity (Heb. 2:14), was tempted in every way as we are, and yet was without sin (4:15). In all things He had to be like us, “that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest” (2:17). He sympathizes with our weaknesses (4:15), and because He Himself suffered when tempted, He is able to help us when we are being tempted (2:18). He is not only able to help, but desires to help, and invites us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).
• Through Christ’s intercession, we are forgiven and cleansed from sin. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22), but because of the sacrifice of Christ, we can now through His blood be forgiven and purified from all sin. As the Apostle John writes, “…The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. …If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9). John adds that “…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…” (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus is able to deal completely with our sin! Seek Him for any forgiveness and cleansing you may need. And if you are struggling with sin, look to Him for the grace and power to overcome all sin. He is the Holy One who makes us holy! (Heb. 2:11).
• Through Christ’s intercession, we overcome the evil one. One aspect of Jesus’ prayer for us is for the Father to keep us from the evil one (John 17:15). His intercession for Peter reveals His heart and His power to preserve us from the devil’s attacks: “…Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). The Apostle Paul gives us testimony of how the Lord undertook on his behalf: “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:17-18).
Jesus shared in our humanity “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15). And the victory He gives us over the devil and over fear is not just based on what He did through His death, but what He does now on our behalf. “…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6). With all of this in mind, we can pray with great faith, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matt. 6:13).
• Through Christ’s intercession, we boldly enter into God’s presence. Jesus is our great High Priest who has passed through the heavens (Heb. 4:14) and has entered the inner sanctuary behind the veil on our behalf (6:19-20). He entered the Most Holy Place once for all with His own blood (9:12), appearing in the presence of God for us (9:24). And by His blood and through His body He has consecrated a new and living way for us to boldly enter into the Most Holy Place (10:19-20). And because of His present ministry as High Priest over us, we are now able to draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith (10:21-22). What a sacred privilege! Andrew Murray’s description of the blessedness of entering the Most Holy Place seems a most fitting way to conclude:
“Here the Father’s face is seen and His love tasted. Here His holiness is revealed and the soul made a partaker of it. Here the sacrifice of love and worship and adoration, the incense of prayer and supplication, is offered in power. Here the outpouring of the Spirit is known as an ever-streaming, overflowing river, from under the throne of God and the Lamb. Here the soul, in God’s presence, grows into more complete oneness with Christ, and more entire conformity to His likeness. Here, in union with Christ, in His unceasing intercession, we are emboldened to take our place as intercessors, who can have power with God and prevail. Here the soul mounts up as on eagle’s wings, the strength is renewed, and the blessing and the power and the love are imparted with which God’s priests can go out to bless a dying world. Here each day we may experience the fresh anointing, in virtue of which we can go out to be the bearers, and witnesses, and channels of God’s salvation to men, the living instruments through whom our blessed King works out His full and final triumph. O Jesus! our great High Priest, let this be our life!”