The Bible teaches that Jesus intercedes in heaven on behalf of the believers, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Some wrongly believe that Christ’s ministry for the believers ended at the cross. But a careful study of the Sanctuary reveals that the sacrifice of lamb was merely the firsts step that the priest performed on behalf of the sinner. The priest continued his ministry in the Holy and most Holy place interceding for the repentant ones.
In like manner, after His resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven, was seated at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1), and He became our high priest. Paul wrote, “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1).
Christ is our intercessor and advocate with the Father is clearly stated in Scripture (Heb. 9:24; Heb. 4:14–16; 9:11, 12). The apostle John affirmed, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). And the apostle Paul stressed the same truth “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
This doesn’t mean that God needs to be persuaded to bless His people, for it was His “will” (1 Tim. 2:4) that initiated the plan of salvation. It was He who so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). But the nature of Christ’s intercession can be illustrated by Christ’s intercessory prayer for His disciples (John 17:11, 12, 24).
As Jesus intercedes, He became the living link that connects humans to heaven (Genesis 28:12). “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Only through Jesus redeeming ministry can the sinner be reconciled to God (John 14:5–6; Rom. 5:1–2).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
