SATURDAY 22nd
John 17
NIV (20) – ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, . . .’
ESV (v20) – ‘I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, . . .’
As I came to John 17 for today, I have chosen rather than to write a whole new devotion to revisit what I shared from this chapter back on April 8th as it is a reminder again of our Great High Priest.
This is the longest prayer that we have recorded that Jesus made, it is almost the last prayer he made before he went to the Cross. Jesus was a man of prayer. He often went to a solitary place to pray, for example, Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12.
In this prayer, we find that Jesus prays for himself, for his disciples and for those who would believe, that is you and me. This should be a great comfort to us that even before Jesus went to the cross, even before we even came to believe – that Jesus prayed for us.
Today I want us to be encouraged to know that Jesus is still in a place of intercession for us. After he ascended to the Father he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high and took up his High Priestly duties! The book of Hebrews covers much of this for us and it is from here we will look at what this means for us.
Hebrews 2:17-18 ‘Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.’
Hebrews 4:14-16 ‘Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’
Hebrews 7:23-28 ‘The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 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. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.’
Hebrews 9:28 ‘So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.’
To summarize: Our Great High Priest: Jesus,
He has been where we are – he has known temptation, he has been through suffering, therefore he knows what it is like to go through the things that we are facing, so he can intercedes for us and help us when we are tempted and tried.
He is a sympathizing Priest.
He is a merciful High Priest.
He is a faithful high Priest.
He is a sinless Priest
He is a Priest who made a once for all sacrifice for sin.
He is a Priest who offered himself for our sin.
He is an Exalted Priest.
He is a sin forgiving Priest.
He is an Eternal / Permanent Priest.
He is the Priest who has been appointed by God.
He is a welcoming Priest – we are welcome into his presence.
He is a Returning Priest – He is coming again to take us into his eternal presence.
This is far better than going and talking through a confessional to a man who himself is a sinner, who has no power or authority to forgive sin!
We come to the Great High Priest and in coming he has the power to forgive and to grant eternal life, we come to the Priest who has been appointed by God himself, we come to the Priest who has provided a better and a new and living way. We come not to a priest but to THE Priest! His name is Jesus.
And for him to become that Great High Priest he need first to go the way of the Cross and we close this devotion with what is nearly the last prayer he uttered ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done’. (Luke 22:42)
Thank God he was an obedient Priest!