When I was a teen I had a good friend that was often getting into trouble.  Nothing to serious but given a number of choices he often chose the wrong ones.  His parents, and in particular his mom, really loved me and encouraged him to hang out with me all the time.  I often found myself interceding on his behalf to his mother to get him out of trouble.  It typically worked because at that point in my life I was a pretty good kid who loved Jesus and tried to get him to do the right thing (most of my bad choices as a teen happened earlier).  Typically he would do something to get in trouble and I would come over because he was grounded and I was the only person allowed over.  I would sit down with his mom and strike a deal where I’d keep him out of trouble if we could go do something.  It usually worked.  The author of Hebrews reminds us in chapter 7 that Jesus fulfills this very same role for us.  He is constantly interceding on our behalf to God.  Let’s look at the passage together today.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Jesus’ death on the cross means that our sins are forever taken care of but the Bible paints a picture of Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding to God on our behalf.  Praying for us, talking about us and helping us to be more like Him. How good to know that Jesus loves us and is at work to see the very best happen in our lives. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave