A Word For Today | Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews chapter 7 develops the theme of Christ’s eternal priesthood, pointing out his supremacy over the Levitical priests of the Old Testament. The author of Hebrews compares Christ to Melchizedek, the mysterious priest of Genesis 14, who appears in Scripture with no record of his parentage or his death. Melchizedek is depicted this way as a picture of Jesus, who performs an eternal priesthood because He lives forever in his resurrection life. For this reason, believers in Christ can know that for all eternity to come we will have Jesus sitting at God’s right hand making His priestly intercession on our behalf. “Consequently,” he concludes, “Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).
The implications of Christ’s eternal priesthood give us great comfort during times of distress like the coronavirus epidemic. First, the permanence of Christ’s priesthood guarantees our salvation. The nation of Israel often suffered because of unfaithful priests who offered polluted sacrifices so that the people fell under God’s wrath. But Christians will always have Jesus presenting the perfect sacrifice offered on His cross, fully satisfying God’s wrath and atoning for our sins forever. Therefore, should you contract the coronavirus and fear for your life, you can be sure through faith in Jesus that your perfect high priest has atoned for your sins and brought you into God’s salvation – and that He will always be there to intercede for you.
Second, the permanence of Christ’s priesthood guarantees our salvation to the uttermost. What wonderful language it is to find that Jesus’ on-going intercession means that we will have everything we need for life and godliness. Intercession means that Jesus is representing us before the Father and is pleading for our acceptance and blessing. Do you need peace in your soul during our pandemic? Do you need patient to endure an indefinite period of “social distancing”? Do you need courage and wisdom to share the gospel to a family member? For all that we need to prosper spiritually and serve our Lord, Jesus ever lives to intercede, ensuring the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
When we pray “in Jesus name,” we are saying that our prayers are submitted through the mediation of God’s Son. Remember, then, that the Jesus in whose name we are praying is still alive! He is our eternal high priest at the right hand of God! He is interceding for you as you intercede for others and ask help for yourself. In all eternity – both in this life and beyond – you will never know a single moment when your loving Savior is not interceding for your salvation, bearing on His hands the marks of His death for your sins. He will surely save you to the uttermost! Remember this so that in times of distress your heart will draw near to the Father through His Son.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Phillips