By David ReayTuesday 4 Jan 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
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)
It might be easy to conjure up a picture of Jesus forever on his knees, pleading our cause each and every time we displease God. That would be not only utterly impractical, but also a sad misunderstanding of what Jesus is really doing.
He has done his earthly work and is now where he belongs, a position of honour and privilege. He has taken on himself all that kept us estranged from God. So those who have embraced him in faith and trust no longer face condemnation. They are acceptable in God’s sight because Jesus has made them so.
How then is Jesus pleading our cause? Simply by being there at God’s right hand. His very presence is a reminder that sin has been dealt with, that the way to God is now open, that the estrangement has ended. Jesus has made this possible and the fact that he is now seated where he is indicates the mission has been accomplished.
Jesus doesn’t have to die again each time we sin. He doesn’t have to step in and ask God to forgive us each time we go astray. When he said from the cross that “it is finished”, it was a statement of achievement and not despair. He had done what he came to do and doesn’t have to do it all over again.
Jesus is a constant reminder to God that the problem has been fixed. No further action is needed. It is finished.
Blessings,
David