15 March 2026

CHRIST’S INTERCESSORY MINISTRY

(Biblical Teachings on The Christian Life.: BTCL 25)

The Gospel Writers tell us that when our Lord Jesus was on earth, He prayed a lot. His habit was “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and was off to a solitary place, where He prayed” (Mk 1:35). Luke tells us that “He often withdrew to lonely places to pray” (Lk 5:16) and sometimes spent all night in prayer (6:12). Luke also tells us that it was when the disciples saw the way Jesus prayed that they requested Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (11:1). If our Perfect Lord needs to pray so much, how much more need we!

One of the things Jesus did was to pray for His disciples. He knew their weaknesses and asked the Father to help them. In His High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed several times for His disciples and for those who would believe through their witness – the future disciples. That implies that He is also praying for us today. How He prayed for them is seen in the way He prayed for Simon Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:31-32). I am sure He is praying the same way for us – all those who truly know and love Him like Peter. So let us be encouraged and thankful for His intercession for us!

Christ is now risen and exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on High. What is He doing there by the Father’s side? The Bible says that “He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always live to intercede for them” (Heb.7:25). Those who sincerely come to Christ and acknowledge His Lordship in discipleship will never be lost “because He ever lives to intercede for them” (KJV), just like He prayed for Simon Peter. I am sure He also prayed for Judas Iscariot but Judas was not committed to the Lordship of Christ. Christ would want to save him “completely” but Judas had his own will and way and ended disastrously. Judas lacked the “surrendered life” that Peter and the rest had. So be warned!

The Apostle Paul reiterated the powerful intercessory work of Christ in these words: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 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” (Rom.8:33-34). Those whom God has called and chosen to live to serve Him, will walk in victory because of our Lord’s intercession.

What if we fail God occasionally, which most of us will at one time or other? John tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is because Christ is our “Adocate…Who speaks to the Father in our defense” (2:1-2), pleading on our behalf by the Blood He shed for us. What a wonderful Savior and Lord He is indeed! Christ’s intercession keeps us strong spiritually so that our “faith fail not” and keeps us fully committed to Him because of our love and gratefulness. But that does not release us from the responsibility of living a holy life!

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