Why is Jesus Interceding for us?

1. "Why is Jesus Interceding for us? – 27th
August 2017
“Therefore he is ableto savecompletely those whocome to Godthroughhim,because he alwayslives
to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).
Intercessoryprayeristhe act of prayingfor otherpeople.The Lordinstructedustopray not onlyforour
ownpersonal needsbuttoreach outand pray for othersaswell.We findanexample whenPaul says
in1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, firstof all,that petitions,prayers,intercessionand thanksgivingbe
made for all people— 2
for kingsandall thosein authority,that we may live peaceful and quietlives in
all godlinessandholiness. 3
Thisis good,andpleases Godour Savior, 4
who wantsall people to be
saved andto come to a knowledgeof the truth.” Where we are toldto pray and to make intercession
for all men… As muchas we mayintercede forothers, JesusChristintercedes forandbehalf forHis
believers. We canlearnwhere the writertothe Hebrewssays,“Therefore he is able to save completely
those who come to Godthroughhim,because he alwayslivesto intercede for them.”(Hebrews 7:25).
JesusChristintercedesforthose whocome tohimin faith.
The above verse andotherslike it foundinthe bible,tellsusthatjustasmuch Christ’swork isto secure
the salvationof the elect,He alsointercedesforusat ourtime of need. AfterHisearthlyministry, Jesus
didnot “take a break”fromHis role as eternal ShepherdtoHis children.Assinnerswe were againstGod
and Hisways butthroughthe sacrifice made byJesusChrist,we are reconciled withGodsothatwe may
be saved. We can learnfrom Romans5:10, “Forif,while we were God’senemies,we were reconciled
to him throughthe death of hisSon, howmuch more, havingbeen reconciled,shall we be saved
throughhis life!” Fromthe gospelswe canlearnthat whenHe was humbled,despised anddying,He
had the powerto accomplishsogreata work as reconcilingustoGod. Inthe lightof this,as Christianwe
can understandasto how muchmore we can expectasthe living,exalted,andtriumphantRedeemer,
raisedto life,whocan intercede onourbehalf beforethe throne of God.We can readfrom Romans
8:34, “Whothen is the one who condemns?Noone. Christ Jesuswho died—morethanthat, who was
raised to life—isatthe right handof Godand isalsointerceding for us.”
AfterJesusascendedtoheaven,He returnedtothe gloryHe had before Hisincarnation,tocarryon His
role of Kingof kingsandLord of lords—Hiseternalrole asthe secondPersonof the triune God. We can
learnfromwhere Jesussaidin John17:5, “Andnow, Father, glorifyme inyour presence withthe gloryI
had withyou before the world began.” While thisearthcontinuestobe “won” witheverincreasing
people seekingJesusChristasone’ssaviour,we needtounderstandthatHe is alsothe Advocate forthe
believers. He isourgreat Defender.Thisisthe intercessoryroleHe currentlyfulfills,forthose who,one
wayor the otherfall shortof Godscommandsfor us.We can learnfrom 1 John 2:1, “Mydear children,I
write this to you so thatyou will not sin.But ifanybodydoes sin,we have anadvocate with the
Father—JesusChrist,the RighteousOne.” Due to His love forHischildren,Jesuspleadsourcase before
the Father,like adefense lawyeronourbehalf. He intercedesforus!

2. Jesusisintercedingforuswhile Satanisaccusingus,pointingoutoursinsand frailtiesbeforeGod,just
as he did with Jobas statedin Job 1:6-12. As believers, whenJesus’ presence iswithus, the accusations
broughtforthby the deceiver fall upondeaf ears,because Jesus’workonthe crosspaidour sindebtin
full…Therefore,GodalwaysseesinHischildrenthe perfectrighteousnessof Jesus.WhenJesusdiedon
the cross, Hisrighteousness wasimputedtous,while oursinwasimputedtoHimat His death.Thisis
the great exchange Paul talksaboutin 2 Corinthians 5:21, “Godmadehimwho had nosin to be sin for
us, sothat in him we mightbecome the righteousnessofGod.” That tookawayforeveroursinful state
before God,soGod can acceptus as blamelessbefore Him. AsChristianswe know thatthroughfaithin
JesusChristas one’ssaviour, repentance forthe sinful livesledbyusand willingly seeksalvation,we are
savedfromthe wrath of God and thus can begina new life asa new entityable tocome to God’s
presence.Butwe needtoknowthat itdoesnot endthere because we needtolive inkeepingto the
“newlife”giventousthroughthe sacrifice made by Him. We needtounwaveringlymoveawayfromsin
and sinful ways.
Furthermore,asChristianswe are requiredtointercede forthe fellow believers. We canlearnfrom
Ephesians6:18, “Andpray in the Spirit onall occasionswithall kindsof prayers and requests. Withthis
in mind,be alert and alwayskeep on prayingfor all the Lord’s people.” It isimportantto understand
that Jesusisthe only mediatorbetweenGodandman. As Christianswe canintercede andprayfor
another’sneedsdirectingourprayertoJesusChrist. Noone else—neitherMary,not any previoussaints,
not angelsnorthose whoclaimto have a special gift tointercede forusbefore the throne of the
Almighty.Christalone canmediate andintercede betweenGodandman as we learnfrom 1 Timothy
2:5, “Forthere is one God,andone mediator alsobetween Godand men, the man ChristJesus.”