He’s Praying for You and Me!

“Therefore he [Jesus] is able also to save for ever and ever those who come to God through him, since he is always alive, to offer prayers for them.”
Hebrews 7:25 (Williams 1949)

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Robert Murray McCheyne.

How about the rest of us, do we really understand that Jesus ever lives to intercede for us before our Father in prayer? What if we were actually able to listen to those prayers, how would that make us feel, as Jesus mentions us by name before our Father? That just about makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!

Notice how the Message translation renders Romans 8:34, “The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.” That’s the kind of friend we have, one who sticks to us through thick and thin, one who will not become a fair weather friend or leave us in the lurch. He’s the one who encouraged his disciples, and us, with the words, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).

We might also consult John’s first letter in chapter 2 and verse 1 (NLT) where he says, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” This was a High Priest’s responsibility, even in a physical sense, in the nation of Israel—he was in office to represent and mediate for the people before God. But our Great High Priest, Jesus, does not minister in an earthly sanctuary but in heaven itself. Hebrews 9:24 (NLT) tells us, “For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.”

The High Priest was known as “the One for the many,” but what does that mean? Well, it means that we, the many, can see ourselves accepted by grace in Christ, the one mediator between man and God, who fulfils God’s purpose to gather together all things in Himself—the High Priest of all humanity. Through Him we come boldly into God’s presence—the One who is our eternal Friend! 

Prayer
Thanks to you, Father, for the One you have given us to be our Saviour, Redeemer, High Priest and Friend—the One who prays for us daily before your throne.
Amen

Study by Cliff Neill

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About the Author:
Cliff Neill is an Elder in Grace Communion Church Luton.

Local Congregation:
Grace Communion Church Luton
Farley Hill Methodist Church
North Drift Way
Farley Hill
LUTON
LU1 5JE

Meeting Time:
Saturday 10:30am

Local Congregational Contact:
Harry Sullivan
Phone: 01908-582222
Email: harry_sullivan@wcg.org.uk