Christ Our Intercessor

What a solemn commitment.

Someone once wrote: "To speak to men for God is a great privilege; to speak to God in behalf of men is even a greater privilege." As a prophet, Samuel took the message God gave to him and in turn shared it with the people. As a priest, he took the sins, failures, burdens, anxieties and infirmities of the people and shared these with God. Samuel was an intercessor.

Following Israel's grievous rebellion and idolatry Moses prayed, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written" (Exodus 32:31-32). Moses was an intercessor.

To the Christians in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote: "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved" (10:1). To the Ephesians he wrote: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" (1:17). Paul was an intercessor.

To have had any of these men pray for us would have been a great honor. They were righteous, devout and godly. They were God-made men, God-led men and men made mighty in prayer. When they spoke . . . God listened. Things happened when these men talked with God.

Having our name mentioned in prayer by an earnest Christian is a benevolence without comparison. He who knows the worth of prayer covets the intercessions of God's people more than anything else, for he knows the "prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

In recounting the circumstances of his conversion, revivalist Duncan Campbell said the night he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ he discovered both of his parents praying for him.

Following an evening of partying he happened by his home church. He saw the lights on and decided to enter. The congregation was in prayer and he heard a voice he recognized as that of his father's. He instinctively knew his father had been in prayer for him.

Campbell decided to leave the service and returned home. When he arrived he discovered his dear mother on her knees praying for the salvation of her son. By this time he was under such deep conviction for his sins he could no longer withstand the pressure of the Holy Spirit. He walked out to the barn, knelt down and made his confession to God and got up a new man. All because of the mercy of God working through his parents' importunate intercessions.

But what about having our name called by Christ in prayer? What about Christ's intercessions for us?

In John 17 we hear Him interceding for His disciples:

Warning Simon Peter prior to his three-fold denial, Jesus says, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you. . ." (Luke 22:31-32). Think of it, Christ praying for this weak follower!

The Bible affirms four things regarding Jesus Christ as the believer's intercessor:

1. Our Intercessor has direct access to God.

Romans 8:34 "Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

2. Our Intercessor is always on the job.

Hebrews 7:25 "He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them" (The Message).

3. Our Intercessor is our friend.

Job 16:19-21 "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

4. Our Intercessor is acceptable to God.

1 John 2:1 "My children, I am writing this to you so that you should not commit sin. But if anybody does, we have in Jesus Christ one who is acceptable to God and will plead our cause to the Father" (REB).

It is the privilege of every Christian to intercede for others. However, the prayers of God's people are only made effective because of the Intercessor who presents them to His Father and our Father. Having died a vicarious death for sinners, having lived a perfect life of obedience, having been exalted to the Father's right hand, Jesus is the believer's Intercessor with the Father. Hallelujah! What a Savior, what an Intercessor! In the words of Charles Wesley: