HEBREWS 7:25-28 – Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE CREATOR, REDEEMER AND INTERCESSOR. It is a staggering truth that a holy and righteous God would save rebellious and unworthy sinners. To think that God would so love us to send Jesus to save us from sin, Satan, ourselves, and even His wrath overwhelms the heart. The Creator becoming Redeemer should bring us to our knees in humble adoration. But there is more . . . in today’s scripture, the Creator, Redeemer becomes Divine Intercessor praying for His people. As we consider the Lord Jesus constantly praying for us, what would those petitions look like?
Here are four possibilities. First, as Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith may not fail, we may rest with confidence He prays for us as well and the prayers of Jesus are fully answered by His Father – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).
In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, we may discover three other things He would pray for us. As He did for the disciples, the Lord prays for their protection against the devil, and oh, how important is that in the evil days we live – “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Further in His prayer, He petitions His disciples to be set apart, and this would be for His service and from the world – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). This, too, is a vital prayer for us. We are bought by Christ, set apart for Christ and His purposes. It is incompatible with the Gospel for a professing believer to be held by the affections and attachments of the world. Our Lord prays we would not fall prey to these tactics of the devil and world.
Finally, the Lord would pray for His people to be unified to give the world a true picture of Himself – “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). Like worldliness, disunity in God’s people is contrary to the unifying love coming forth from the Gospel. And it is important to see behind why Jesus would pray for unity. Though we are Christians, indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and have the Word of God, there still dwells within us the “powder keg” of remaining sin ready to explode and destroy unity among God’s people. How thankful should we be for the Lord interceding for our unity!
The Creator becomes Redeemer and then intercedes for His redeemed people. What an amazing and soul-humbling truth that should so deepen our love for Him!
PRAYER: “Father, thank you for not only giving me Your Son to save me but also pray for me.”
QUOTE: “Be overwhelmed and in awe that the Creator/Redeemer would stoop to pray for us.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim