“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:33,34
Nineteenth-century Scottish minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; he is praying for me!” Did you know Jesus keeps a prayer list, and we’re on it? While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed many times for his people. In the upper room, he made this clear.
Jesus knew that Peter was about to face some severe trials in the coming hours. After instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus confided in his disciples that he was about to be betrayed, arrested, and put to death. Because he knew what was in Peter’s heart, he turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31,32). Jesus’ prayers for his friends didn’t end when he returned to heaven. Today as our High Priest, he is still interceding for us.
The supreme duty of the high priest was to enter the Most Holy Place each year to offer an intercessory sacrifice for the sins of all the people. This rite was carried out on the great Day of Atonement. When Christ as the ultimate High Priest was sacrificed on the cross, he interceded for us and the debt for all sin was paid. At the cross Jesus served us both as the priest and the sacrifice. That sacrifice was made once for all and will last forever.
Today as our High Priest, Jesus continues to intercede for his people. Hebrews tells us, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25). And again in Romans 8:34 he says, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In other words, we are still on his prayer list, as Jesus still prays for us. What comfort we can enjoy knowing that Jesus takes a personal interest in us. He still takes our prayers to the Father. He still intercedes on our behalf. Thank God we are still on his prayer list!
If you do not already have one, begin a written prayer list today.
For every soul in every need
He ever lives to intercede,
Presenting there within the veil
A sacrifice that cannot fail.
Samuel J. Stone
Recent Comments