Jesus, Our Great Mediator
"Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:23-25)
Jesus continues forever. O how beautiful and comforting these words are!
God always intended that there would be one high priest who would serve God's people but it would not be in accordance with the levitical priesthood as the Jews would suspect. This priesthood would only serve their purpose for a short time and would come and go as each priest would eventually die. But God sent His one and only Son into this world to be the perfect High Priest who would taste death for us by choosing to lay down His own life as the sin offering once and for all.
Before Christ died and triumphantly rose again, His heart toward us was revealed as He prayed to the Father on our behalf in this High Priestly prayer:
He prayed...
v.11 - that they may be one as We are
v.13 - that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves
v.15 - that You should keep them from the evil one
v.17 - that they also may be sanctified by the truth
v.22 - that they may be one just as We are one
v.23 - that they may be made perfect in one
v.24 - that they may behold My glory
v.26 - that the love…which You loved Me may be in them
How marvelous it is to be the subject of the Lord's prayers and to be ever on His lips and in His mind and on His heart!
Although God sends His ministering angels to comfort us, confirm a promise, or rescue us in danger, there are also certain times when God comes to us Himself. Whenever God comes in various forms, we call it a 'theophany', like the burning bush. But whenever God comes in the appearance of a man, we call it a 'Christophany', which is a pre-incarnate appearing or manifestation of Christ.
Melchizedek seems to be one of those times where God chooses to come to one of His servants. Melchizedek is introduced as the King of Salem, which means "king of peace" and of the city of Jerusalem, and is called the priest of the most High God, and his very name also means "king of righteousness". Furthermore, he has no record or geneology of his past and no beginning or end of days, we see that this unknown king serves continually "as a priest forever." This is THE REAL KEY to this mystery...since ONLY JESUS continues forever as the priest of God's people.
This mysterious king comes on the scene to Abraham right after a crucial battle where Abraham and 318 of his trained men fought against the kings of the region and won and rescued his nephew Lot and his family. He comes to him with blessing to remind Abraham of God's faithfulness to His covenant and he comes bringing 'bread and wine'.
This should get our attention since 'bread and wine' are the elements of the Lord's table in communion. We see here that God always knew His gospel plan of redemption and was giving us 'sneak peaks' of this mountain peak of Christo-centric revelation in our salvation. For we all know that Jesus would later come in and usher in the New Covenant with the bread and the cup of wine, signifying His body and His blood being poured out for us on the cross of Calvary to make us new creations in Christ.
Since everything culminates at the cross of Christ, let us see that Christ is our one true Mediator. He is the singular 'go between' allowing sinful man to approach a holy God. He is the only hope for humanity "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2:4-6).
Jesus not only paid the price for our sins but He continually upholds each of us in prayer every moment of every day. He is praying for us to stand strong and to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and to resist sin and temptation. He "ever lives to make intercession for us" and this is why we are able to have daily victories and to be saved to the uttermost.
Jesus showed us how powerful His intercessory ministry truly is when He says this to Peter:
“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).
Even more mysterious than this figure of Melchizedek is this revelation of Jesus interceding for His people. God is actually praying to God to help the people of God stay close to God and to eventually become one with God. It doesn't get more amazing than that!
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. 8:26-27).
THIS WEEK’S “New Covenant” EXHORTATION:
ASK God to show you what is your greatest need at this present time.
Thank the Lord for His continual intercession and AGREE that God has already given you the grace needed to OVERCOME!
Jesus continues forever. O how beautiful and comforting these words are!
God always intended that there would be one high priest who would serve God's people but it would not be in accordance with the levitical priesthood as the Jews would suspect. This priesthood would only serve their purpose for a short time and would come and go as each priest would eventually die. But God sent His one and only Son into this world to be the perfect High Priest who would taste death for us by choosing to lay down His own life as the sin offering once and for all.
Before Christ died and triumphantly rose again, His heart toward us was revealed as He prayed to the Father on our behalf in this High Priestly prayer:
He prayed...
v.11 - that they may be one as We are
v.13 - that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves
v.15 - that You should keep them from the evil one
v.17 - that they also may be sanctified by the truth
v.22 - that they may be one just as We are one
v.23 - that they may be made perfect in one
v.24 - that they may behold My glory
v.26 - that the love…which You loved Me may be in them
How marvelous it is to be the subject of the Lord's prayers and to be ever on His lips and in His mind and on His heart!
Although God sends His ministering angels to comfort us, confirm a promise, or rescue us in danger, there are also certain times when God comes to us Himself. Whenever God comes in various forms, we call it a 'theophany', like the burning bush. But whenever God comes in the appearance of a man, we call it a 'Christophany', which is a pre-incarnate appearing or manifestation of Christ.
Melchizedek seems to be one of those times where God chooses to come to one of His servants. Melchizedek is introduced as the King of Salem, which means "king of peace" and of the city of Jerusalem, and is called the priest of the most High God, and his very name also means "king of righteousness". Furthermore, he has no record or geneology of his past and no beginning or end of days, we see that this unknown king serves continually "as a priest forever." This is THE REAL KEY to this mystery...since ONLY JESUS continues forever as the priest of God's people.
This mysterious king comes on the scene to Abraham right after a crucial battle where Abraham and 318 of his trained men fought against the kings of the region and won and rescued his nephew Lot and his family. He comes to him with blessing to remind Abraham of God's faithfulness to His covenant and he comes bringing 'bread and wine'.
This should get our attention since 'bread and wine' are the elements of the Lord's table in communion. We see here that God always knew His gospel plan of redemption and was giving us 'sneak peaks' of this mountain peak of Christo-centric revelation in our salvation. For we all know that Jesus would later come in and usher in the New Covenant with the bread and the cup of wine, signifying His body and His blood being poured out for us on the cross of Calvary to make us new creations in Christ.
Since everything culminates at the cross of Christ, let us see that Christ is our one true Mediator. He is the singular 'go between' allowing sinful man to approach a holy God. He is the only hope for humanity "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2:4-6).
Jesus not only paid the price for our sins but He continually upholds each of us in prayer every moment of every day. He is praying for us to stand strong and to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and to resist sin and temptation. He "ever lives to make intercession for us" and this is why we are able to have daily victories and to be saved to the uttermost.
Jesus showed us how powerful His intercessory ministry truly is when He says this to Peter:
“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).
Even more mysterious than this figure of Melchizedek is this revelation of Jesus interceding for His people. God is actually praying to God to help the people of God stay close to God and to eventually become one with God. It doesn't get more amazing than that!
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. 8:26-27).
THIS WEEK’S “New Covenant” EXHORTATION:
ASK God to show you what is your greatest need at this present time.
Thank the Lord for His continual intercession and AGREE that God has already given you the grace needed to OVERCOME!
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