Sunday after the Ascension – Thursday
Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. — Romans 8:34.
Our Savior makes intercession for us; He intercedes for us; He pleads our cause; He prays for us; He always implores God’s grace for us; He is our Advocate with the Father, the almighty God. Could we be better represented? Surely not! He is the eternal Son of the Father, God born of God. When He had become man, God the Father spoke these words from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). He gave His life for us and reconciled God with us and with the whole “world” (II Corinthians 5:19). And God exalted Him unto His right hand in heaven. We could not be better represented. We may rely upon Him fully; we may safely and confidently let Him plead our cause. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). We may rely upon His love and faithfulness. We may depend upon it, that His representation is efficacious with the Father. Our Savior firmly stands by us.
For the sake of those who remain in their sins through unbelief, the Savior pleads the Father to extend their time of grace and convert them, “that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Him]” (Acts 26:18). For us who reside in Him by faith, the Savior pleads the Father to remember the promise of His New Covenant and to continue to be merciful to our unrighteousness and continue to forgive us our sins (Hebrews 8:12). And the Father does what the Savior asks Him to do for us. And praying for us, our Savior pleads His death for us, as well as the fact that by raising Him and setting Him at His right hand, God ratified the full satisfaction which He rendered on “the cross” (Philippians 2:8). And the Father cannot deny Him anything. Being represented by Him, we are altogether safe.
How much we poor sinners do need a Representative with the Father! And we have Him; He, the Savior, represents us. Let me repeat it: being represented by Him, we are altogether safe. And with our Savior Himself, we have and need no other Representative (John 16:26-27). For He is our dearest Friend and Lover. Compared with His love and friendship, all other love and friendship in heaven and in earth are as nothing. Will you continue to rely daily and entirely upon your Savior, my dear Christian? Do so. Most assuredly, you will not be deceived.
PRAYER – If Thou, O Jesus Christ, represent me before God, and plead my cause, I am altogether safe. For Thou dost plead for me, a poor sinner, Thy all-sufficient merit, which Thou hast procured for me and given to me, and which God, Thy eternal Father, has fully acknowledged. Lord Jesus, I rely on Thee. Do continue to plead my cause. I know Thou dost plead it. I have no other Mediator, no other Intercessor, but Thou only. Amen.
“Hail the day that sees Him rise, to His throne above the skies!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, re-ascends His native heaven.
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Still for us He intercedes; His prevailing death He pleads;
near Himself prepares our place, harbinger of human race.
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There we shall with Thee remain, partners of Thy endless reign;
there Thy face unclouded see, find our heaven of heavens in Thee.”
(Hymn 213, st. 1, 5-6; TLH)
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