Jesus’ Continual Work of Intercession and Our Continual Connection
October 24, 2021
Jesus’ Continual Work of Intercession and Our Continual Connection
By Julia Phillips
“… but [Jesus] 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 7:24–25
As our high priest, Jesus mediates between broken people and a holy God. When we participate in Communion, celebrate church seasons, or spend time in personal prayer, we remember how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection atoned for our sins. We pause to consider that Jesus is our eternal high priest. He mediates for us through his work of intercession.
Jesus’s death on the cross makes sinners acceptable to God. His resurrection raises us to new life with him. Have you ever felt like you’re not enough? Jesus is enough. He is a priest forever with the power to “save to the uttermost.” Have you ever felt like you don’t know how to pray? Jesus prays for you with unceasing prayer. Have you ever felt like your worship is weak and tainted by your shortcomings? Jesus makes your worship acceptable. Our great High Priest mediates our worship and makes it pleasing to God because of his relationship with the Father, not because of our merit.
With grateful hearts, we thank God for the connection we have to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit. Without this connection, worship becomes a performance, not a relationship. But in Christ our striving can cease, and we can rest in the great High Priest, “a Son who has been made perfect forever” (Hebrews 7:28).
Reflection:
How is Jesus inviting you to center your life on him today? Meditate on the truth that he is the only perfect one. Confess areas where you are sinfully striving in your strength and thank him for interceding for you. Ask for faith to trust him more. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Let's face it, the Christian life is hard. Relationships take work. Christians forget. Sometimes it is tempting to go back to the days when God was not the center of our lives - to backslide. We are all faced with tremendous pressures to drift away from intimacy with Jesus and the community of the Church. However, the Lord invites us to pay attention, to move forward, to draw near, and to live lives of worship. Draw Near: Hebrews on Christian Worship is a small group Bible study on the Book of Hebrews intended to lead participants into a deeper intimacy with the living God in the context of New Testament worship. Draw nearer to God in authentic worship today!
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