Jesus, My Intercessor Forever

Hebrews 7:25.

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

My eyes were opened this morning. This is a truth of the Gospel that has always been before me, and now it makes perfect sense. Before we can truly understand what Christ did for the world, one must first wrap his/her mind around what God's people went through on a daily basis to get to God.

The typical church goer will have somewhat of an understanding regarding the concept of "tithe." It is typically as a tenth of all our gross income which we give back to the church. This concept has its roots in the practice of offering the "first fruits," or "tenth" of one's wealth taken to the High Priesthood. Upon receiving the offering, the priest goes into the Temple of God on behalf of the people. 

So this was the way of life. One brings an offering, a priest offers it to God, then comes out and essentially says, "Thank you for your devotion to The Lord. You are now free to go... for now. See you next time." It goes on and on for generations, until God decides it is time to do something no one expects. He comes to earth in the form of a man.

Enter Jesus.

The only people who seem to have a problem with this intelligent, witty, and authoritative "nobody" are the priests. Christ was a kind of mirror showing these puffy teachers of the law that their place of intercession was coming to an end. They were jealous. 

Yet, as the story concludes, we see not an ultimate grain offering, not a sheep or a ram, not a "tenth" or a "first fruit" from the fields. We look up and our eyes behold the Christ, who being the very likeness of God himself, is pouring out his own blood on the very same day that the rest of Israel is offering their own ritual "tithes." Coincidence?

Upon his death we read that there is a an earthquake, the sky darkens, and the temple curtain behind which the priest offered "tithes" before God is TORN WIDE OPEN. What, I ask, do you think that represents?

That was the sacrifice, then three days later... Christ is alive and will never die again.

He appears again to his followers and, after being with them a while, returns to the Father as their Intercessor Forever. No more priests, no more temple curtains dividing the people from God. Now everyone who confesses, "Jesus Christ is Lord," never again has to rely on a priest to get access to their Eternal Creator. This is what it means when the author of Hebrews writes, "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Because he was not only the ultimate sacrifice, but now, yes even this very moment, he intercedes for you before a True and Just judge!

More on this to come!