By David ReayThursday 23 Jun 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 1 minute
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (NLT)
We can get rather confused about this business of Jesus interceding for us. We may mistakenly imagine that each time we sin, Jesus falls on his knees and pleads with the Father not to reject us. In which case, Jesus knees would be thoroughly worn out by the countless sins being committed by his people.
The better and more realistic way of understanding this heavenly intercession is that the very presence of Jesus is a reminder that our sins are forgiven. Jesus has been placed in a position of honour and privilege because of what he did on earth. My sins are not condemned because Jesus has already borne that condemnation on the cross. His work on the cross was effective, shown by his being at the right hand of God.
It is not as if each time I sin I have to be forgiven all over again, or that Jesus has to make some extra intercession for me. The fact that he is seated indicates the work has been done once for all. His work has been accepted once for all. Nothing more to do. There is no relentless cycle of my sinning, Jesus pleading, God forgiving.
When Jesus cried out “It is finished”, he meant it.
Blessings,
David