Growing up in a Presbyterian church in Ottawa, I learned a lot about prayer. I memorized the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday School, repeated in every Sunday service. I also learned about prayers like Moses, Samuel and David, along with Mary, Zacharias and Simeon. At times, prayer seemed mechanical, far removed from the anxieties and pressures of the day. When I’m in the midst of it, I must confess I’m not meditating on the principles of Biblical prayer! This Easter, knowing that Jesus prays for me makes remembering His sacrifice and victory over death even more meaningful.
The writer to the Hebrews sought to encourage believers who considered giving up on the faith. They too needed reminding that Jesus is praying for them, and He lives forever to pray for us. But what does Jesus pray about, and how does He do it? “…Jesus has become surety of a better covenant. 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. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:22-26 NKJV)
Jesus can pray for us, because God the Father designed a new and better covenant, not one negotiated with God for, but one He drew up the terms of, which we can accept or reject. Who offers Himself as the surety of this contract, who offered Himself to bail us out? It is Jesus, and it depends not on what we do, but on what He has done. Even better, He goes on forever as our guarantor, and His salvation never changes, is permanent, and is always secure.
Do you feel like giving up on the Christian life, as if God doesn’t hear your prayers, or even care? The promise from the Holy Word will strengthen you, knowing that Jesus died on Calvary’s hill so He could continue to mediate and pray for you continually. He prayed for Peter that his faith wouldn’t fail, that when he returned to God he could strengthen his brothers. (See Luke 22:31-32) Jesus intercedes for us as High Priest, is our defender from every condemnation, and satisfies all of God’s righteous demands (Rom. 8:33-34). Celebrate Easter in joy this year, knowing that the Lord Jesus lives forever to pray for you!
Prayer: Dear Lord and Saviour, we praise You even as You lift us up in prayer to God the Father, so we can be encouraged, strengthened and enabled to life up our brothers and sisters in Christ, this Easter and always. Amen.
Shirley Moulton
