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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#34) He Is Interceding for Us

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It is probably true that we do not spend much time pondering the reality that Jesus intercedes for us with the Father. And, I suspect, we seldom, if ever, connect that intercession with the resurrection. However, the Holy Spirit, through Paul, makes that link:

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who is indeed interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

Paul connects the fact that Jesus rose from the dead with the fact that He is now present before the Father and interceding for us. Here we find another reason, in our growing list, for how far-reaching the resurrection is and why it was so prominent in the apostle’s preaching and teaching.

But what does this mean, that Jesus is “interceding” for us?

Well, let’s look at a few fundamentals.

“Intercession” means to entreat or petition someone on behalf of another. The word brings our thoughts to a courtroom and several implications:

1. A defendant exists who has had charges laid against him.

2. A judge exists who can either condemn him or eradicate the charges.

3. The defendant is unable to pay those charges nor able to defend himself. 

4. An advocate exists with the credentials to plead for the defendant.

5. The advocate brings entreaty to the judge.

This, of course, is exactly the case for those who are in Christ. 

On one hand, our sins have laid a great charge against us and have separated us from God, making us His enemies. We are unable to pay that debt against us. But Jesus has paid that penalty by His death and resurrection. Since He is God’s Son, He has the credentials to plead for us before the Father and He does so. The Father accepts His atonement and lays on Him the iniquity of us all. Paid in full. We are declared not guilty and His righteousness becomes ours. 

This is most remarkable and worthy of continual praise before God.

On the other hand, for those who are now justified before God by the propitiation of Christ, there are continual charges laid against us in all sorts of ways, chief of which is our adversary, the devil, whose name means “accuser”.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Revelation 12:10

We really don’t understand much of the details of this operationally, but the Scripture is clear that we have an accuser. He is identified in verses 7-9 by all his names and descriptions: dragon, ancient serpent, devil, Satan, deceiver of the whole world. Somehow, and we don’t know how, he accuses us day and night before God. But, those accusations are continually being tossed out of court by our advocate.

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1

And just to make sure we don’t listen to the accusations ourselves, that Jesus has gotten fed up with you and has washed His hands and left the courtroom and your advocacy, we are told this:

Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

The Greek word here for “always” is pantote, which means “at all times”. It is a “never halting, never failing” kind of word. Jesus uses it when He says that He “always” does the things that please the Father. It might be a good word for us to memorize and recall whenever the world, the flesh and the enemy try to accuse you: “pantote”… He is never halting, never failing in His advocacy for you. Never.

All of this was prophesized long ago by Isaiah:

He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

Jesus acts as our advocate, our intercessor and our mediator:

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

Dear brother and sister, is it possible for us to catch the tremendous weight of these verses? Can we sense the grace that they represent? Jesus is our Great High Priest. As such He intercedes for us, He advocates for us, He mediates for us. And if Jesus is the one who is entreating on our behalf, then who can bring any charge against us?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?... Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:31-34

No charge can be brought against us and therefore we are secure in His hands:

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:26

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The answer of course: No one and no thing: 

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

The writer of Hebrews brings us to a great conclusion:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

My, my!  Are you in need? Then come boldly before the throne of God. Because of the resurrection, your Advocate stands there interceding on your behalf. And when you draw near, you will find grace and mercy for whatever earthly trials trouble your soul.

Amen!

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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#1) the Seal Was Broken
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10
If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)
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