Jesus As Intercessor

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” – Hebrews 7:25

“The safest conception . . . that we can have of the intercession of Christ . . . is his continual appearance for us in the presence of God.” – John Owen

We often think of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices through his death, and of the tabernacle and temple through his incarnation, but he also fulfills the Old Testament role of high priest—not simply the sacrifice, but the one who through his position offers that sacrifice in intercession. Making the sacrifice was not enough. Someone had to bring that blood into the holy presence of God, and once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was the only one able to do this by entering the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood on the altar.

The remarkable thing is that this role is ongoing. Jesus’ sacrifice was once-for-all, but his intercession continues forever, and that is part of how our salvation works. Don Carson writes, “the complete salvation of his people turns on the efficacy of his perpetual intercession, and the efficacy of his perpetual intercession turns on the once-for-all sacrifice he has offered, and on his own everlasting life.”

What exactly is this intercession? It is not the intercession of a pleading Son before a reluctant Father; our salvation is the will of Father, Son and Spirit. It is not intercession with any element of uncertainty, as we might pray. It is something far more complex and glorious. To paraphrase the answer to question 55 of the Westminster Larger Catechism, Christ’s intercession is his appearing in our nature continually before God in heaven, upon the merit of his own earthly obedience and sacrifice, through which he answers all accusations against us, quiets our conscience, and gives us continual access to grace. But it is more: Jesus also continually and actively prays for us. To paraphrase John Owen, Christ requests and offers to God his desires and will for us, with care, love, and compassion. 

Our salvation is not static. It does not end with some decision we made in the past. This very day, we are being saved by the eternal intercession of Jesus for us in heaven. Unlike the high priests of the Old Testament, he will never die. He will continue to do this work for us forever and ever.