He Ever Lives to Make Intercession

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. -- Hebrews 7:22-25

This week we are in John 17. Jesus is spending a final night with the disciples before His crucifixion. Judas has been dismissed from the group and is conspiring with the chief priests to arrest Jesus. Although He is about to suffer the greatest trial anyone has ever suffered, Jesus spends this final night ministering to His disciples - the very disciples He knew would soon abandon Him.

John 13-16 is a record of what Jesus said to His Disciples, and John 17 is a record of how Jesus prayed for His disciples on that final night. It is also a record of how He prayed for you and me.

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In John 17 we come full circle as we get a glimpse of the inner workings of the Trinity. Jesus is about to return to the former glory He had with the Father:

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. -- John 17:5

This is the same glory we read about in the opening chapter of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. -- John 1:1-2

John 17 also gives us a glimpse of how Jesus prays for His own. This was not just a prayer for the disciples, it was a prayer for everyone who would come to believe the Gospel of Christ:

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. -- John 17:20-21

We also see there is a special care Jesus has for His people:

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. -- John 17:9

Notice what Jesus desires for us in this prayer:

• That the Father would keep us (John 17:11)
• That we would have joy (John 17:13)
• That we would be sanctified (John 17:17)
• That we would be unified (John 17:21)
• That we would see the glory of Christ (John 17:24)

That is probably far different than how most of us pray for ourselves and others. Jesus is concerned with the things of eternity, and we are too often concerned first and foremost with the things of this world. There is certainly a place for praying about the things of this life. After all, didn't Jesus teach us to ask for our daily bread, and doesn't the Father know we have need of such things?

But how often do we neglect eternal matters in our prayers? How often do we seek the things of earth over the Kingdom of God? Seeing how Jesus prayed for us offers a needed corrective to our earthbound prayers.

Furthermore, it should give us exceedingly great comfort and assurance to know Jesus is praying for us. Consider how He prayed for Peter:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." -- Luke 22:31-32

We can be certain Jesus prays in a similar manner for us -- that our faith will not fail as well. J.C. Ryle comments:

The continued existence of grace in a believer's heart is a great standing miracle. His enemies are so mighty, and his strength is so small, the world is so full of snares, and his heart is so weak, that it seems at first sight impossible for him to reach heaven. The passage before us explains his safety. He has a mighty Friend at the right hand of God, who ever lives to make intercession for him. There is a watchful Advocate, who is daily pleading for him, seeing all his daily necessities, and obtaining daily supplies of mercy and grace for his soul. His grace never altogether dies, because Christ always lives to intercede (Hebrews 7:25).

If we are true Christians, we shall find it essential to our comfort in religion to have clear views of Christ's priestly office and intercession. Christ lives, and therefore our faith shall not fail. Let us beware of regarding Jesus only as one who died for us. Let us never forget that He is alive for evermore. Paul bids us specially remember that He is risen again, and is at the right hand of God, and also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34). The work that He does for His people is not yet over. He is still appearing in the presence of God for them, and doing for their souls what He did for Peter. His present life for them is just as important as His death on the cross eighteen hundred years ago. Christ lives, and therefore true Christians "shall live also."

Scripture is replete with promises about the love of Christ toward His own and His constant intercession on their behalf:

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 8:34

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. -- 1 Timothy 2:5-6

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. -- Hebrews 9:24

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

Jesus is not idle after His death and resurrection. Even now He is watching over us as the Great Shepherd of our souls, and He ever lives to intercede on our behalf.