A Strong And Perfect Plea
Shepherding & Preaching The Intercession of Christ
Introduction
The doctrine of the intercession of Jesus Christ is one that, as Mark Jones reminds us, we “cannot afford to be ignorant about.” (1) The simplest definition of intercession is that Jesus prays for His people. However, the doctrine is richer and deeper than that.
Question 55 of The Westminster Larger Catechism asks, “How does Christ make intercession?” The answer lists out several important truths: He appears in our nature before the Father; He intercedes based on the merit of His obedience and sacrifice on earth; He applies His will to all believers; He silences the accusations of the enemy and gives believers a clear conscience; He gives believers bold access to the throne of grace; and He accepts us and our service.
This answer alone deserves its own book. For the sake of space, let’s focus on two areas where this glorious doctrine may help our ministry: shepherding and preaching.
Shepherding
I recently read David Irving’s excellent booklet on prayer, Devote Yourself to Prayer. In it Irving reminds Elders, based on Acts 6:4, that they are to be devoted to preaching and prayer. Beyond our own prayer requests, we are ever cognizant of the needs of our members and issues facing the church. Meditating on Jesus’ intercession on earth may helps us to shepherd better.
Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, told Peter that Satan was trying to sift him like wheat. Jesus encourages Peter, saying, “but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Brothers, Satan has the same desire to do to you what he wanted to do to Peter. He would like nothing more than for Elders in Christ’s Church to make a shipwreck of their faith. He longs to ensnare us in sin and destroy us. The content of Jesus’ prayer, while immediately specific to Peter, is no less applicable to us. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. He prayed he would not make a shipwreck of his faith, even though he knew what was coming.
A few verses later, we see Peter denying Jesus for the third time. Luke writes, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to Him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times’” (Luke 22:61). If you were Peter, do you think your faith would be in danger of failing? Jesus, as the Larger Catechism informed us, applied His will to Peter. He prayed to keep his faith from failing. Ultimately, Peter’s faith would not fail, and he would be restored (John 21:15-19). Jesus even gives him renewed purpose, “when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Not “if” but “when.” Jesus knew Peter would find peace and forgiveness. He silenced the accusations of the evil one and gave Peter a clear conscience made possible by His sacrifice for Peter’s sins.
Brothers, as Jesus preserved Peter through prayer, so He will preserve you. As we are encouraged from Hebrews 7:25 that Jesus, “always lives to make intercession,” we may be assured he intercedes for us and for our ministry.
Jesus’ intercession keeps us from failing and strengthens us for shepherding. We are under-shepherds of the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13:20). Let us imitate the Great Shepherd and pray specific prayers for our people. We see Jesus pray specifically for Peter’s withering faith. In John 17, we see Jesus pray specifically for believers (17:9). He prays that they may have His joy in themselves (17:13). He prays they be kept from the evil one (17:15). He prays for their sanctification (17:17), for future believers (17:20), and for unity (17:21).
Brothers, as Jesus’ intercession was and is specific to the needs of the saints, so too should our intercessions be for our flock. We should know the trials, needs, and hopes of those whom we serve. Following advice from David Irving’s booklet on prayer, take your church directory in hand and pray specifically for each congregant. If you do not know what to pray, you now have a shepherding opportunity to call and ask, “How can I pray for you?” You will be honoring your calling as an Elder and caring for the flock the Lord has entrusted to your spiritual care.
Preaching
Growing up in the church, I knew what Jesus had done for me on the cross. I knew what He would do for me in the future. I wondered if He was doing anything in between those two events. I heard very little about what theologians call His “session.” Even when I became Reformed, I was more exclusively focused on His redemptive work on the cross while missing other vital tasks of His redemption. I paid little attention to the ongoing application of that work in my life.
Then I read Robert Letham’s Systematic Theology. In his chapter on Christ as High Priest, he discusses the intercession of Christ (579-580). It was the first time I considered that Christ was active now in heaven. Letham writes, “Christ’s priestly work continues now that he has ascended.” (2) His priestly work continues with His intercession. Yes, Jesus dealt with sin once for all at the cross (Heb. 9:26).
Scripture also teaches that He continues to apply that work to believers through His intercession. We already discussed Hebrews 7:25, which says He lives to make intercession for us. It may also be found in Romans 8:34, Jesus is seated now at the right hand of God the Father and is interceding for us! This is why nothing can separate us from the love of Christ—because He prays for us. Realizing the glorious truth of His intercession helped my preaching as I regularly reminded the Saints of this reality.
Hebrews is a wonderful book filled with many warnings for perseverance. These warnings may convict believers of sin or shake them from spiritual stupor. But if one is not careful in how they read it, it could also leave them feeling hopeless. They may ask, “How will I hold fast the confession of my faith? My hands are as weak as my prayers.” At those moments, I point them to this glorious truth: their faith may be weak, but their Savior prays for their faith.
As you may ask a fellow believer to pray for you, so does our Savior pray for us. It is as the hymn reminds us,
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Whoever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
You do not need to preach from Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34, or Zechariah 3:2 to encourage your flock’s faith that their High Priest prays for them. It may be the perfect application of grace in any text of Scripture.
Conclusion
I encourage fellow Elders to spend time reading more about this wonderful doctrine. It will be a fount of refreshment during a spiritual drought. It will energize your preaching. It will help you resist the evil one and his minions. Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote near the end of his life, “I ought to study Christ as an Intercessor. He prayed most for Peter, who was to be tempted. I am on His breastplate. If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million of enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.” (3) Brothers, though we cannot hear Him, it makes no difference; He is praying for you.
(1) Jones, Mark. Knowing Christ, 177.
(2) Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology, 574.
(3) Bonar, Andrew. The Memoir & Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, 154.