Christ's Intercession
(Romans 8:34) Who also makes intercession for us.
When Aaron entered into the holy place, his bells gave a sound; so Christ having entered into Heaven, his intercession makes a melodious sound in the ears of God. Christ, though he be exalted to glory, has not laid aside his bowels of compassion, but is still mindful of his mystical body; as Joseph was mindful of his father and brothers, when he was exalted to the court. Who also makes intercession for us. — To intercede is to make request in the behalf of another. Christ is the great master of requests in Heaven; Christus est Catholicus Patris Sacerdos, Tertul.
Question: What are the qualifications of our Intercessor?
Answer 1. He is holy (Hebrews 7:26). For such a High Priest became us, who is holy, undefiled, separate from sinners. Christ knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21); he knew sin in the weight, not in the act. It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others, should himself be without sin. Holiness is one of the precious stones which shines on the breastplate of our High Priest.
2. He is faithful (Hebrews 2:17). It behooved him to be like to his brothers, that he might be a faithful High Priest. Moses was faithful as a servant, Christ as a Son (Hebrews 3:5); he does not forget any cause he has to plead, nor does he use any deceit in pleading. An ordinary attorney may either leave out some word which might make for the client, or put in a word against him, having received a fee on both sides; but Christ is true to the cause he pleads; we may leave our matters with him, we may trust our lives and souls in his hand.
3. He never dies. The priests under the law, while their office lived, they themselves died (Hebrews 7:23). They were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but Christ ever lives to make intercession (Hebrews 7:25). He has no succession in his priesthood.
Question: Who does Christ intercede for?
Answer: Not for all promiscuously (John 17:9), but for the Elect. The efficacy of Christ's prayer reaches no further than the efficacy of his blood; but his blood was shed only for the Elect, therefore his prayers only reach them. The High Priest went into the sanctuary with the names only of the Twelve Tribes upon his breast; so Christ goes into Heaven only with the names of the Elect upon his breast. Christ intercedes for the weakest believers (John 17:20), and for all the sins of believers. In the law there were some sins the High Priest was neither to offer sacrifice for, nor yet to offer prayer (Numbers 15:30). The soul that does ought presumptuously shall be cut off. The priest might offer up prayer for sins of ignorance, but not of presumption: but Christ's intercession extends to all the sins of the Elect. Of what a bloody color was David's sin, yet it did not exclude Christ's intercession.
Question: What does Christ do in the work of intercession?
Answer: Three things.
1. He presents the merit of his blood to his Father, and in the virtue of that price paid, pleads for mercy. The High Priest was in this a lively type of Christ; Aaron was to do four things: 1. Kill the beast; 2. to enter with the blood into the Holy of Holies; 3. to sprinkle the Mercy Seat with the blood; 4. to kindle the incense, and with the smoke of it cause a cloud to arise over the Mercy Seat, and so the atonement was made (Leviticus 16:11-16). Christ our High Priest did exactly answer to this type; He was offered up in sacrifice, that answers to the priests killing the bullock: And Christ is gone up into Heaven, that answers to the priests going into the Holy of Holies: And he spreads his blood before his Father, that answers to the priests sprinkling the blood upon the Mercy Seat. And he prays to his Father, that for his blood's sake he would be propitious to sinners, that answers to the cloud of incense going up: And through his intercession God is pacified, that answers to the priests making atonement.
2. Christ by his intercession answers all bills of indictment brought in against the Elect. Believers do what they can; sin, and then Satan accuses them to God, and conscience accuses them to themselves; now, Christ by his intercession answers all these accusations (Romans 8:33). Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? it is Christ who makes intercession for us. When Aesculus was accused for some impiety, his brother stood up for him, and showed the magistrates how he had lost his hand in the service of the state, and so obtained his pardon. Thus when Satan accuses the saints, or the justice of God lays anything to their charge, Christ shows his own wounds, and by virtue of his bloody sufferings, he answers all the demands and challenges of the law, and counter-works Satan's accusations.
3. Christ by his intercession calls for an acquittance; Lord, let the sinner be absolved from guilt; and in this sense Christ is called an Advocate (1 John 2:1). He requires that the sinner be set free in the court. An advocate differs much from an orator; an orator uses rhetoric to persuade and entreat the judge to show mercy to another: but an advocate tells the judge what is law: thus Christ appears in Heaven as an advocate, he represents what is law. When God's justice opens the debt-book, Christ opens the law-book: Lord, says he, you are a just God, and will not be pacified without blood, lo here, the blood is shed, therefore in justice give me a discharge for these distressed creatures. It is equal that the law being satisfied, the sinner should be acquitted. And upon Christ's plea, God sets his hand to the sinner's pardon.
Question: In what manner does Christ intercede?
Answer 1. Freely; he pleads our cause in Heaven, and takes no fee. An ordinary lawyer will have his fee, and sometimes a bribe too; but Christ is not mercenary: How many causes does he plead every day in Heaven, and will take nothing. As Christ laid down his life freely (John 10:15, 18), so he intercedes freely.
2. Feelingly; He is sensible of our condition as his own (Hebrews 4:15): We have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmity. As a tender-hearted mother would plead with a judge for a child ready to be condemned — O how would her heart work, how would her tears trickle down, what weeping rhetoric would she use to the judge for mercy. Thus the Lord Jesus is full of sympathy and tenderness (Hebrews 2:17), that he might be a merciful High Priest. Though he has left his passion, yet not his compassion. An ordinary lawyer is not affected with the cause he pleads, nor does he care which way it goes. It is profit makes him plead, not affection. But Christ intercedes feelingly; and that which makes him intercede with affection is, it is his own cause which he pleads. He has shed his blood to purchase life and salvation for the elect, and if they should not be saved, he would lose his purchase.
3. Efficaciously. It is a prevailing intercession. Christ never lost any cause he pleaded, he was never non-suited. Christ's intercession must needs be effectual, if you consider,
(1.) The excellency of his person; if the prayer of a saint be so prevalent with God: Moses's prayer did bind God's hands (Exodus 32:10): Let me alone; and Jacob as a prince prevailed with God (Genesis 32:28); and Elijah did by prayer open and shut heaven (James 5:17). Then what is Christ's prayer? He is the Son of God, the Son in whom he is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). What will not a Father grant his Son? John 11:42: I know that you always hear me. If God could forget that Christ were a Priest, yet he cannot forget that he is a Son.
(2.) Christ prays for nothing but what his Father has a mind to grant. There is but one will between Christ and his Father: Christ prays, Sanctify them through your truth; and this is the will of God, even your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3). So then, if Christ prays for nothing but what God the Father has a mind to grant, then he is like to speed.
(3.) Christ prays for nothing but what he has power to give. What he prays for as he is man, that he has power to give as he is God (John 17:24): Father, I will — Father, there he prays as man; I will, there he gives as God. This is a great comfort to a believer, when his prayer is weak, and he can hardly pray for himself, Christ's prayer in heaven is mighty and powerful. Though God may refuse prayer as it comes from us, yet not as it comes from Christ.
4. Christ's intercession is always ready at hand. The people of God have sins of daily incursion; and besides these, sometimes they lapse into great sins, and God is provoked, and his justice is ready to break forth upon them; but Christ's intercession is ready at hand, he daily makes up the breaches between God and them; he presents the merit of his blood to his Father to pacify him. When the wrath of God began to break out upon Israel, Aaron presently stepped in with his censer, and offered incense, and so the plague was stayed (Numbers 16:47). So no sooner does a child of God offend, and God begins to be angry, but immediately Christ steps in and intercedes: Father, it is my child that has offended, though he has forgotten his duty, you have not lost your compassion — O pity him, and let your anger be turned away from him. Christ's intercession is ready at hand, and upon the least failings of the godly, he stands up and makes request for them in heaven.
Question: What are the fruits of Christ's intercession?
Response 1. Justification. In justification there are two things: 1. guilt is remitted, 2. righteousness is imputed (Jeremiah 23:6): The Lord our righteousness. We are reputed not only righteous, as the angels, but as Christ, having his robes put upon us (2 Corinthians 5:21). But where does it come from that we are justified? It is from Christ's intercession (Romans 8:33-34): Lord, says Christ, these are the persons I have died for, look upon them as if they had not sinned, and repute them righteous.
2nd Fruit. The unction of the Spirit (1 John 2:20): You have an unction from the holy one. This unction or anointing is nothing else but the work of sanctification in the heart, whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Such as speak of the philosopher's stone suppose it to have such a property that when it touches the metal, it turns it into gold; such a property has the Spirit of God upon the soul — when it touches the soul, it puts into it a divine nature, it makes it to be holy, and to resemble God. This sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's intercession (John 7:39): The Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Christ being glorified and in heaven, now he prays the Father, and the Father sends the Spirit, who pours out the holy anointing upon the elect.
3rd Fruit. The purification of our holy things. It is Christ's work in heaven, not only to present his own prayers to his Father, but he prays over our prayers again (Revelation 8:3): Another angel came, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar. This angel was Christ; he takes the golden censer of his merits, and puts our prayers into this censer, and with the incense of his intercession makes our prayers go up as a sweet perfume in heaven. It is observable (Leviticus 16:16): Aaron shall make atonement for the holy place — this was typical, to show that our holy duties need to have atonement made for them. Our best services, as they come from us, are mixed with corruption, as wine that tastes of the cask (Isaiah 64:6) — they are filthy rags. But Christ purifies and sweetens these services, mixing the sweet odors of his intercession with them, and now God accepts and crowns them. What would become of our duties without a High Priest? Christ's intercession does to our prayers as the fan to the chaff — it winnows it from the corn; so Christ winnows out the chaff which intermixes with our prayers.
Fourth Fruit: Access with boldness to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, let us go. Come boldly to the throne of grace, we have a friend at court that speaks a good word for us, and is following our cause in heaven, therefore let this animate and encourage us in prayer. We think it too much boldness; what? such sinners as we to come for pardon, we shall be denied: this is a sinful modesty. Did we indeed come in our own name in prayer, it were presumption, but Christ intercedes for us in the [reconstructed: force] and efficacy of his blood, now, to be afraid to come to God in prayer, is a dishonor to Christ's intercession.
Fifth Fruit: The sending the Comforter (John 14:16). I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter. The comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the anointing; this comfort is very sweet, sweeter than the honey drops from the comb; it is the Manna in the golden pot, it is Vinum in pectore; a drop of this heavenly comfort, is enough to sweeten a sea of worldly sorrow. It is called arrhabo the earnest of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22), an earnest assures one of the whole sum. The Spirit gives an earnest of heaven in our hand, from where is this comforting work of the Spirit? Thank Christ's intercession for it. I will pray the Father, and he shall send the Comforter.
Sixth Fruit: Perseverance in grace (John 17:11). Keep through your own name those which you have given me. It is not our prayer, or watchfulness, or grace that keeps us, but it is God's care and manu-tenancy, he holds us that we do not fall away; and, from where is it God preserves us? It is from Christ's intercession, Father, keep them. That prayer of Christ for Peter, is the copy of his prayer now in heaven (Luke 22:32): I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. Peter's faith did fail in some degree, when he denied Christ, but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail. The saints persevere in believing, because Christ perseveres in praying.
Seventh Fruit: Absolution at the Day of Judgment. Christ shall judge the world (John 5:22). God has committed all judgment to the Son. Now sure, those that Christ has so prayed for, he will absolve when he sits upon the bench of judicature. Will Christ condemn those he prays for? Believers are his spouse, will he condemn his spouse?
Use 1, Branch 1: See here the constancy of Christ's love to the elect. He did not only die for them, but intercedes for them in heaven: when Christ has done dying, he has not done loving; he is now at work in heaven for the saints; he carries their names on his breast, and will never leave praying till that prayer be granted (John 17:24). Father, I will that those whom you have given me, be with me where I am.
Branch 2: See from where it is that the prayers of the saints are so powerful with God. Jacob, as an angel, prevailed with God; Moses's prayer tied God's hands; Precibus suis tanquam vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum; Let me alone (Exodus 32:10). From where is this? It is Christ's prayer in heaven makes the saints' prayers so available. Christ's divine nature is the altar on which he offers up our prayers, and so they prevail. Prayer, as it comes from the saints, is but weak and languid; but when the arrow of a saint's prayer is put into the bow of Christ's intercession, now it pierces the throne of grace.
Branch 3: It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his eye when he comes to prayer, namely, on Christ's intercession. We are to look up to the mercy seat, but to hope for mercy through Christ's intercession. We read (Leviticus 6) that Aaron made the atonement as well by the incense as the blood. We must look to the cloud of incense, namely, the intercession of Christ. Christian, look up to your advocate, one that God can deny nothing to: a word from Christ's mouth is more than if all the angels in heaven were interceding for you. If a man had a suit depending in the court of Chancery, and had a skillful lawyer to plead, this would much encourage him. Christ is now at the court appearing for us (Hebrews 9:24), and he has great potency in heaven; this should much encourage us to look up to him, and hope for audience in prayer. We might indeed be afraid to present our petitions, if we had not Christ to deliver them.
Branch 4: The sad condition of an unbeliever, he has none in heaven to speak a word for him (John 17:9). I pray not for the world. As good be shut out of heaven, as be shut out of Christ's prayer. Christ pleads for the saints, as Queen Esther did for the Jews, when they should have been destroyed, Let my people be given me at my request (Esther 7:3). When the Devil shows the blackness of their sins, Christ shows the redness of his wounds. But how sad is the condition of that man Christ will not pray for? Or rather, that he will pray against? As Queen Esther petitioned against Haman, and then his face was covered (Esther 7:6), and he was led away to execution. It is sad when the law shall be against the sinner, and conscience, and judge, and no friend to speak a word for him: there is no way then but jailer take the prisoner.
Branch 5: If Christ makes intercession, then we have nothing to do with other intercessors. The Church of Rome distinguishes between mediators of redemption and intercession, and say, the angels do not redeem us, but intercede for us, and pray to them. But Christ only can intercede for us Ex Officio. God has consecrated him a high priest (Hebrews 5:6). You are a priest forever. Christ intercedes Vi pretii, in the virtue of his blood, he pleads his merits to his Father; the angels have no merits to bring to God, therefore can be no intercessors for us: whoever is our advocate, must be our propitiation to pacify God (1 John 2:1). We have an advocate with the Father. Verse 2: And he is our propitiation. The angels cannot be our propitiation, ergo, not our advocates.
2. Use of Trial: How shall we know that Christ intercedes for us? They have little ground to think Christ prays for them, who never pray for themselves. Well, but how shall we know?
Response 1. If Christ be praying for us, then his Spirit is praying in us (Galatians 4:6). He has sent forth his Spirit into your heart, crying, Abba Father. And (Romans 8:26) the Spirit helps us with sighs and groans; not only with gifts but groans. We need not climb up into the firmament to see if the sun be there, we may see the beauty of it upon the earth: so we need not go up into heaven to see if Christ be there interceding for us; let us look into our hearts, if they are quickened and inflamed in prayer, and we can cry, Abba Father, by this interceding of the Spirit within us, we may know Christ is interceding above for us.
Response 2. If we are given to Christ, then he intercedes for us (John 17:9). I pray for them whom you have given me. It is one thing for Christ to be given to us, another for us to be given to Christ.
Question. How do you know that?
Response 3. If you are a believer, then you are one given to Christ, and he prays for you. Faith is an act of recumbency, we do [in non-Latin alphabet], rest on Christ, as the stones in the building rest upon the cornerstone. Faith throws itself into Christ's arms; it says, Christ is my Priest, his blood is my sacrifice, his divine nature is my altar, and here I rest. This faith is seen by the effects of it, a refining work and a resigning work; it purifies the heart, there is the refining work; it makes a deed of gift to Christ, it gives up its use, its love to him (1 Corinthians 6:19). There is the resigning work of faith. Those that believe are given to Christ, and have a part in his prayer (John 17:20). Nor do I pray for these alone, but for all them that shall believe on me.
3. Use of Exhortation. Branch 1. It stirs us up to several duties. 1. If Christ appears for us in heaven, then we must appear for him upon earth: Christ is not ashamed to carry our names on his breast, and shall we be ashamed of his truth? Does he plead our cause, and shall not we stand up in his cause? What a mighty argument is this to stand up for the honor of Christ in times of apostasy; Christ is interceding for us. Does he present our names in heaven, and shall not we profess his name on earth?
Branch 2. If Christ lays out all his interest for us at the throne of grace, we must lay out all our interest for him (Philippians 1:20): That Christ may be magnified. Trade your talents for Christ's glory, there is no man but has some talent to trade, one part another estate; oh trade for Christ's glory! Spend and be spent for him. Let your head study for Christ, your hands work for Christ, your tongue speak for him: if Christ be an advocate for us in heaven, we must be factors for him on earth; every one in his sphere must act vigorously for Christ.
Branch 3. Believe in this glorious intercession of Christ! that he now intercedes for us, and that for his sake God will accept us. In the text, Who makes intercession for us. If we believe not, we dishonor Christ's intercession. If a poor sinner may not go to Christ as his High Priest, believing in his intercession, then are we Christians in a worse condition under the gospel, than the Jews were under the law: they when they had sinned had their High Priest to make atonement, and shall not we have our High Priest? Is not Christ our Aaron, who presents his blood and incense before the mercy seat? O look up by faith to Christ's intercession! Christ did not only pray for his disciples and apostles, but for the weakest believer.
Branch 4. Love your Intercessor (1 Corinthians 16:22). If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. Kindness invites love; had you a friend at court, who when you were questioned for delinquency or debt, should plead with the judge for you, and bring you off your troubles, would not you love that friend? So it is here; how often does Satan put in his bills against us in the court, now Christ is at the judge's hand, he sits at his Father's right hand ever to plead for us, and to make our peace with God: O how should our hearts be fired with love to Christ! Love him with a sincere and superlative love, above estate, relations; Bern. Plusquam tua, tuos; and our fire of love should be as the fire on the altar, never to go out (Leviticus 6:13).
4. Use of Comfort to believers: Christ is at work for you in heaven, he makes intercession for you. Oh but I am afraid Christ does not intercede for me?
Question. I am a sinner; who does Christ intercede for?
Response. (Isaiah 53:12) He made intercession for the transgressors. Did Christ open his sides for you, and will he not open his mouth to plead for you?
Question. But I have offended my High Priest by distrusting his blood, abusing his love, grieving his Spirit, and will he ever pray for me?
Response. Which of us may not say so? But, Christian, do you mourn for unbelief? Be not discouraged, you may have a part in Christ's prayer (Numbers 16). The congregation murmured against Aaron; yet though they had sinned against their High Priest, verse 46, Aaron ran in with his censer, and stood between the dead and the living. If so much compassion in Aaron who was but a type of Christ, how much more compassion is in Christ, who will pray for them who have sinned against their High Priest? Did not he pray for them that crucified him, Father forgive them?
Question. But I am unworthy, what am I that Christ should intercede for me?
Response. The work of Christ's intercession is a work of free grace; Christ's praying for us is from his pitying of us. Christ looks not at our worthiness, but our wants.
Question. But I am followed with sad temptations?
Response. But though Satan tempts, Christ prays, and Satan shall be vanquished: though you may lose a single battle, yet not the victory. Christ prays that your faith fail not; therefore Christian say, Why are you cast down, O my soul? Christ intercedes, it is man that sins, it is God that prays: the Greek word for Advocate, [in non-Latin alphabet], Comforter. This is a sovereign comfort, Christ makes intercession.
