Jesus the High Priest Part 3
Now we look at His intercession
In Hebrews it says:
“There were many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:23)
I think this is a wonderful thought, that He is able to save completely.
Look at a rock solid statement of Paul's:
“Those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:30)
There are no if’s and but’s.
He saves completely, and those that are saved, will be with Him in Glory.
Why? Because He always lives to intercede for them.
To intercede means to plead and pray for another person.
Now, the High Priest in the Temple went into the sanctuary with only the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on his chest.
This pictorially shows Christ in heaven with only the names of those He has chosen before the creation of the world, upon His chest, and so they are next to His heart. (Ephesians 1:4)
In Jesus’ prayer He said:
“I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me.” (John 17:9)
And later in the prayer He says: “My prayer is not for them alone,” (that is His disciples) “I pray also for those who will believe in Me, through their message.”
Jesus intercedes only for the redeemed of the Lord, so that they will be saved completely.
But you could say, what about the times when Jesus prayed for people to get healed?
Yes, God is always giving out His temporal blessings of good things, but Christ’s intercession for His own people, is always ongoing, which will cause them to persevere, and in the end will result in them entering into Glory.
An example of Christ’s intercession is where He is talking to Simon Peter:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31)
Well, the sifting time came, and Simon denied the Lord three times.
But, because Jesus had prayed that his faith would not fail, he came back strong in faith, and he was able to preach to a multitude of people, and three thousand people got saved.
Jesus Christ the High Priest interceded for Simon Peter.
He was able to save Simon completely.
He is able to save us completely.
The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, is the fruit of Christ’s intercession.
For Jesus said:
“I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:16)
If God has called you, then Christ the High Priest has died for you, so that the Divine justice is satisfied, the penalty has been paid for, you are no longer condemned, you’ve come to be one of God’s children.
But also Christ the High Priest, continues to pray and intercede for you in heaven, and He never, never, never fails in all that He does.
Jesus Christ is going to save you completely, to bring you to Glory.
He’s given you the Spirit of Truth to live in you, a constant Helper, Counsellor, and source of strength for your life.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
“Therefore holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle, and High Priest whom we confess.” (Hebrews 3:1)
Jesus image: thanks to GSP 100,000 clipart CD.
© 2003 Bible Explained part of www.seeking-god.co.uk
