Photo Credit: Jack Sharp on UnsplashIntercession is the act of pleading on behalf of another person. When applied to prayer, the petitioner may be asking God to bless another person. For example, Paul requested of the saints in Colossae: “Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; withal praying for us also…” (Colossians 4:2, 3). Paul desired the prayers of his brethren on his behalf. “The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working” (James 5:16).
Many other examples could buttress the truth that the prayers of godly people on our behalf are to be sought. It is wonderful for humans to plead to God for others! However, it simply cannot compare to the Holy Spirit and Jesus interceding on our behalf!
“And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).
Note that the Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force, but rather a divine Personage. And it is “the Spirit himself” and not merely a representative performing this intercession. And this blessing is “for the saints.” What a humbling thought to contemplate the Holy Spirit assisting on our behalf to the Father.
“It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). “For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
The passages in Romans, affirms that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede, while here we learn that only Jesus is our mediator. There is no contradiction. The Divine Word “became flesh” (John 1:1, 14) and therefore can uniquely identify with both God and man. Jesus is our Perfect go-between!
God’s love for His spiritual children is exemplified in the fact that the Holy Spirit and Jesus intercede to the Father for them!
In Christ’s Service,
George Jensen