According to Dictionary.com, “Intercession” is defined as:

1) an act or instance of interceding;
2) an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person;
3) a prayer to God on behalf of another.

If you’re like me – and I’m guessing most Christians are – you tend to think of the 3rd definition as the most common to our understanding and how intercession is lived out in peoples’ lives. When we pray to our Father in heaven, it is often for/about another person – their health, their struggle, their safety, their future, etc. But for right now, I’d like to focus your attention on the second usage of the word. Have you ever considered that there is One who is interceding for YOU? One who knows you best, loves you the most, and who is right now pleading on your behalf?

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34 (ESV, emphasis added)

Have you ever felt a bit alone in the world? I mean, you may have family, friends, co-workers, and your church family that cares about you; but sometimes no matter who or how many we have around us, at times we still feel helpless, hopeless, or just less of who God has called us to be. Consider this passage from Isaiah:

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. Isaiah 59:15b-16 (ESV, emphasis added)

Maybe you’re paralyzed by indecision. There is One who is your Guide! Maybe you are in the grips of fear. There is One who is your Defender! Maybe you need an advocate. There is One who is by your side!

Maybe you’re suffering from some sort of loss. There is One who is your Comforter! Maybe you’re just feeling weak, or don’t even have the words to say. There is One who intercedes for you!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 (ESV, emphasis added)

We think we have problems in this world, but ultimately, we have a greater problem. The problem of our sin! Because of our sin we all are defenseless before God, the righteous Judge. But God the Father sent His Son Jesus to not only serve as our defense attorney (1 John 2:1-2), to stand next to us and intercede (Hebrews 7:25) for us, He actually stands in our place, taking the sentence of death upon Himself to the cross – the death sentence that we deserved – and we receive the pardon, the forgiveness of our sins. That’s GOOD NEWS! But it gets even better! God raised Jesus from the dead, and because He lives, we too will live…eternally and right now… with the assurance that Jesus will continue to intercede for us, who promised to never leave us or forsake us! He will be with us always to the very end of the age! PRAISE GOD, NOW AND FOREVER!!

By: DCE Jonathan Loesch, Faith Lutheran Church, Georgetown