Of the intercession of christ
John Gill
Secondly, another branch of
Christ's priestly office is his intercession; and this may be considered much in
the same method as the former, by showing,
1. That
Christ was to be an Intercessor, or was to make intercession for his people:
when Christ was called to the office of a priest, and invested with it, which
was done in the council and covenant of grace; he was put upon making request
on their behalf; he is bid to ask them of his Father, as his portion and
inheritance, to be possessed and enjoyed by him; which is promised him on
making such a request as he did, and they were given him,
#Ps 2:8 Joh 17:6 and he not only asked them, but life for them, spiritual and
eternal life, with all the blessings and comforts of life; which, upon asking,
were given; God gave him the desires of his heart, and did not withhold the
request of his lips: all blessings were bestowed upon his chosen in him; and
grace, which is comprehensive of all blessings, was given them in him before
the world began, #Ps 21:2,4 #Eph 1:3 2Ti 1:9 and this
asking, or requesting, is a species of Christ's intercession, and an early
instance of it, and of his success in it; and a specimen of what was to be done
by him hereafter. The intercession of Christ was spoken of in prophecy in the
books of the Old Testament; Elihu, in #Job 33:23 not only speaks of him in his
prophetic office, as an interpreter of his Father's mind and will;
but as an advocate, pleading on the behalf of the man to whom he shows and
applies his righteousness; that he be delivered from the evil of destruction,
from wrath and ruin; since he had found a ransom, a ransom price, and
redemption by it; as in #Heb 9:1-28 12:1-29 and therefore insists, in point of
right and justice, that he be secure from condemnation and death: again, in #Ps
16:4 which is a Psalm concerning Christ, whose dead body
would not be left in the grave so long as to see corruption; but be raised and
shown the path of life, #Ps 16:10,11 now two sorts of persons are spoken of in
it; one who are called saints, excellent ones, in whom was all Christ's
delight, #Ps 16:3 and another sort, that "hastened after another god",
another saviour, and not Christ; concerning whom he says, "I will not take
up their names into my lips"; that is, he would not
pray or make intercession for them; and has the same sense as the words in #Joh
17:9. "I pray for them; I pray not for the world": and saying that he
would not take the names of some into his lips, supposes that he would take the
names of others; that is, pray and intercede for them: but what most clearly
foretells the intercession of Christ, and is a prophecy of it, is a passage in #Isa 53:12 "and made intercession for the
transgressors"; that is, would make intercession for them, according to
the prophetic style used in that chapter; and which was particularly fulfilled,
when Christ upon the cross prayed for his enemies, #Lu 23:34.
The types
of Christ's intercession are many. As Abel's sacrifice was a type of Christ's,
so his speaking after his death was a type of Christ's speaking since his
death: it is said of Abel, that he, "being dead, yet speaketh", #Heb
11:4 so Christ, though dead, is alive, and lives for ever, and makes
intercession, and speaks for his people; as Abel's blood had a voice in it, so
has the blood of Christ; but with this difference, the blood
of Abel cried against his brother; Christ's blood cries for his brethren, on
their behalf: Abel's blood cried for vengeance on the murderer; Christ's blood
calls for, and speaks peace and pardon to guilty men, #Heb 12:24. Melchizedek,
as he was a type of Christ, in his kingly and priestly offices, so in that part
of the latter which respects intercession; he prayed for Abraham, that he might
be blessed both with temporal and spiritual blessings, with
blessings both in heaven and on earth, #Ge 14:19 so Christ prays and intercedes
for his people, that they may have all the blessings of goodness here and
hereafter bestowed upon them. Abraham likewise was a type of Christ in his
intercession, when he so warmly interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, at least for
the righteous in those cities; in which he so far succeeded,
that righteous Lot and his, were delivered from destruction in them. Aaron
being a good spokesman, one that could speak well, was a type of Christ, who
has the tongue of the learned, and can speak well on the behalf of his
distressed ones; and who can plead their cause thoroughly, effectually, and
infallibly: so was Moses, when the children of Israel had sinned in making the
golden calf, and were threatened with destruction, he
interposed in their behalf, and pleaded they might be spared; or otherwise,
that he might be blotted out of the book of life, or die: and such is the love
of Christ to the spiritual Israel of God, that he has died for them; and pleads
his death that they might live.
Particularly the entrance of the high priest once a year, with the blood
of beasts, with a censer of burning coals, and an handful of
incense, was an eminent type of Christ's entrance into heaven, and his
intercession there; who went in thither, not with the blood of beasts, but with
his own blood; and so to a better purpose: the burning coals were emblems of
his painful sufferings; and the incense put upon them represented his powerful
mediation and intercession, founded upon his sufferings and death, and
satisfaction for sin made thereby. Likewise the high priest
going into the most holy place, with the names of the children of Israel on his
breastplate, and bearing their judgment before the Lord, and taking away the
sin of their holy things, typified Christ as the representative of his people
in heaven; appearing in the presence of God for them, presenting his sacrifice
for the taking away of their sins, even those of their most solemn
services; see #Le 16:2,12-14 Ex 28:29,30.
2. Christ is an intercessor;
he has executed, he is executing, and will continue to execute this office; and
the inquiries to be made concerning it are: where, when, and in what manner, he
has made, or does make intercession? for what he intercedes, and
for whom; and the excellency and usefulness of his intercession?
2a. First, Where, when, and in
what manner his intercession has been and is performed? And it may be
considered as,
2a1.
Before his incarnation: that he then interceded, and was a
Mediator
between God and man, is evident from that access to
God which was
then had: upon the sin and fall of our first
parents they
were driven from the presence of God, and no
access could
be had unto him, nor communion with him, on the
foot
of works; none, but through Christ, the Mediator, who
is the only
Mediator between God and men; there never was,
nor never
will be any other; through him both Jews and
Gentiles, Old
and New testament saints, have access to God;
those under
the former dispensation put up their prayers to
God
through Christ, and for his sake; and through his
mediation and
intercession they were heard and accepted. So
Daniel prayed
to be "heard for the Lord's sake"; that is for
Christ's
sake, #Da 9:17. Christ was then "the Angel of
God's
presence"; who was not only in the presence of God,
but
appeared there for his people, and by whom they were
introduced
and admitted into the presence of God, had
audience of
him, and acceptance with him, #Isa 63:9. We have
an instance
of Christ's intercession for the people of the
Jews, when in
distress, who is represented as an angel among
the
myrtle trees in the bottom; signifying the low estate
the Jews were
in; and as interceding and pleading with God
for them;
"and the Lord answered the angel that talked with
me, with good
and comfortable words": his intercession was
acceptable,
prevalent, and succeeded, #Zec 1:11,12,13. But
a
more clear and full instance of Christ's intercession for
his people in
distress, through sin, is in #Zec 3:1-4 where
Joshua, a
fallen saint, is represented as greatly defiled
with sin; and
Satan standing at his right hand, to accuse
and charge
him, and get judgment to pass against him; when
Christ,
the angel of the covenant, appears on his behalf,
rebukes
Satan, and pleads electing and calling grace in
favour of the
criminal; and, on the foot of his own
sacrifice to
be offered, satisfaction to be made, orders his
filthy
garments to be taken away, and him to be clothed with
change
of raiment, his own righteousness, and dismissed.
2a2. Christ
acted as an intercessor in his state of humiliation.
We often read
of his praying to God, and sometimes a whole
night
together, and of his offering up prayers and
supplications,
with strong crying and tears, especially in
the garden
and on the cross; which might be chiefly on his
own account,
though not without regard to his people: at
other times
we find him praying for particular persons; as
at the grave
of Lazarus, where he wept and groaned in
Spirit,
and inwardly put up supplications, which were heard;
for he thanks
his Father for hearing him; and declared he
always heard
him, #Joh 11:41,42. And he prayed for Peter
particularly,
when tempted, that his "faith" might "not
fail",
and was heard; for though he fell by the temptation,
he
was at once recovered, #Lu 22:32. He prayed for all his
disciples, in
#Joh 17:1-26 which is a specimen of his
intercession
in heaven for all his elect: yea, he prayed for
his enemies,
and such of his elect who were then in a state
of enmity;
and who, in consequence of his intercession, were
converted
and comforted; though they had been concerned in
taking away
his life, #Lu 23:34 Ac 2:36-41. Such virtue
is there in
his blood, and in his intercession founded upon
it!
2a3.
Christ is now interceding in heaven for his people; he is
gone to
heaven, entered there, and is set down at the right
hand of God;
where he ever lives to make intercession,
#Ro 8:34 Heb
7:25 for so his intercession is sometimes
represented,
as after his death and resurrection from the
dead,
and session at God's right hand; and which is
performed,
perhaps not vocally, as on earth; for as he could
request and
intercede before he assumed an human nature,
even in the
council and covenant of peace, without a voice,
so he can now
in heaven; though it is not improbable but
that
he may make use of his human voice at his pleasure;
though it
cannot with certainty be affirmed, yet it is not
to be denied:
however, it is certain that he does not
intercede in
like manner as when on earth, with prostration
of body, cries,
and tears; which would be quite inconsistent
with
his state of exaltation and glory, being set down at
the right
hand of God, and crowned with glory and honour;
nor as
supplicating an angry Judge, and entreating him to be
pacified, and
show favour; for peace is made by the blood of
Christ's
cross; and God is pacified towards his people for
all
that they have done: nor as litigating a point in a
court of
judicature; for though Christ has names and titles
taken from
such like procedures, as counsellor, pleader, and
advocate; yet
not as engaged in a cause dependant and
precarious:
but the intercession of Christ is carried on in
heaven,
by appearing in the presence of God there for his
people; it is
enough that he shows himself, as having done,
as their
Surety, all that law and justice could require; by
presenting
his blood, his sacrifice, and righteousness:
Christ is
gone with his blood into the holiest of all, and
sprinkled
it on the throne of mercy, before God; and where
he is in the
midst of the throne, as a Lamb that had been
slain; his
sacrifice being always in view of his divine
Father, and
his righteousness always in sight; with which
God is well
pleased, because by it his law is magnified and
made
honourable, and his justice satisfied: all which, of
themselves,
speak on the behalf of his people. Moreover,
Christ
intercedes, not as asking a favour, but as an
advocate in
open court, who pleads, demands, and requires,
according to
law, in point of right and justice, such and
such
blessings to be bestowed upon, and applied unto such
persons he
has shed his blood for; he speaks, not in a
charitative,
but in an authoritative way, declaring it as his
will, on the
ground of what he has done and suffered, that so
it should be;
a specimen of this we have in the finishing
blessing
of all, glorification, #Joh 17:24. Christ performs
this his
office also by offering up the prayers and praises
of his
people; which become acceptable to God through the
sweet incense
of his mediation and intercession, #Re 8:3,4
#Heb 13:15
1Pe 2:5. Once more, Christ executes this office by
seeing
to it, that all the blessings of grace promised in
covenant, and
ratified by his blood, are applied by his
Spirit to the
covenant ones; and so he sits as a Priest on
his throne,
and sees the travail of his soul with
satisfaction;
when, as those he engaged for are reconciled by
his
death, so they are saved by his interceding life; are
effectually
called by grace, and put into the possession of
what was stipulated
and procured for them.
2b. Secondly, The next thing
to be considered is, what Christ makes intercession for more
particularly? For the "conversion" of his unconverted ones:
"Neither pray I for those alone", says he, meaning his disciples that
were called; "but for them also which shall believe on me through their
word", #Joh 17:20. And for the comfort of those that are convinced of sin,
distressed with a sense of it, and need comfort; in consequence of his
intercession, he sends the Comforter to them, to take of his things,
and show them to them, and shed abroad his love in them, and so fill them with
joy and peace in believing; insomuch that they have peace in him while they
have tribulation in the world. And particularly for discoveries and applications
of pardoning grace and mercy; "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with
the Father"; not that he pleads for sinning, nor that any may be connived
at in it; but that he may have a manifestation and
application of the pardon of it, in consequence of his blood shed for it. And
as Christ has a fellow feeling with his people under temptations, and helps
them that are tempted; this is one way of doing it, interceding for
"strength" for them to bear up under temptations, to be carried
through them, and delivered out of them; and so that they might have
"persevering grace" to hold on, and out, unto the
end; he prays not that they be taken out of the world, but that they may be
kept from the evil of it, #Joh 17:11,15. Lastly, he intercedes for their
"glorification"; one principal branch of which will lie in beholding
his glory, #Joh 17:24. This was the joy set before him, and which he kept in
view in all his sufferings; and for the sake of which he endured them so cheerfully; and it is that which is uppermost in his heart, in
his intercession for them; nor will he cease pleading till he has all his
people in heaven with him.
2c. Thirdly, The persons
Christ makes intercession for are not the world, the men of it, and all that
are in it; for Christ himself says, "I pray not for the world"; but
for those that were chosen and given him out of the world;
and who, in due time, are effectually called out of it by his grace: the
objects of Christ's intercession are the same with those of election,
redemption, and effectual calling; to whom Christ is a propitiation, for them
he is an advocate, #Joh 17:9 1Jo 2:1,2. The high priest bore upon his heart, in
the breastplate of judgment, only the names of the children of Israel;
and they are only the spiritual Israel of God whom Christ bears upon his heart,
whom he represents and intercedes for in the holiest of all; and not for those
only who actually believe, but for those who shall hereafter; even who are, for
the present, enemies to him, and averse to his rule over them; as his prayers
in the garden, and on the cross, show, #Joh 17:20 Lu 23:34. It is for all the
elect Christ intercedes, that have been, are, or shall be,
scattered up and down in each of the parts of the world, and in all ages and
periods of time, that they be partakers of his grace here, and be glorified
with him hereafter; hence says the apostle, "Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect?" since not only God justifies them, Christ died for
them, is risen again, and is at the right hand of God; but makes intercession for them, and answers to, and removes all charges brought
against them, #Ro 8:33,34 and for those even though and while they are sinners
and transgressors; for so it is said of him in prophecy; "and hath made
intercession for the transgressors", #Isa 53:12 and as he died for such,
yea, the chief of sinners, and calls them by his grace, and receives them into
fellowship with himself, it is no wonder that he should pray
and intercede for them.
2d. Fourthly, The excellent
properties and use of Christ's intercession. Christ is an only intercessor;
"there is but one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus", #1Ti 2:5 though the Spirit of God makes intercession for the
saints, it is within them, not without them, at the right
hand of God; and it is with groans unutterable; not so Christ in heaven, saints
in heaven are no intercessors for saints on earth; they are ignorant of their
persons and cases, and therefore cannot intercede for them; nor angels, as say
the papists, who distinguish between mediators of redemption and mediators of
intercession; the latter they say angels are, and Christ
the former: but the Scripture knows no such distinction; he that is the
Redeemer is the only Intercessor; he that is the Propitiation is the sole
Advocate; and he is every way fit for it: being the Son of God, he has interest
in his Father's heart; being the mighty God, he is mighty to plead, thoroughly
to plead the cause of his people; and having offered up himself as man, to be a
sacrifice for them, he has a sufficient plea to make on
their behalf; and having the tongue of the learned, can speak well for them;
and being Jesus Christ the righteous, the holy and harmless High Priest, is a
proper person to be the "advocate" for those that sin; as such he is
with the Father, at hand, and to be called unto; is ready to defend {1} the
cause of his people, and deliver them from their adversary: and he is a
"prevalent" advocate and intercessor; he is
always heard; he was when on earth, and now in heaven; his mediation is always
acceptable, and ever succeeds, #Joh 11:41,42. And he performs this his office
"freely", willingly, and cheerfully; he never rejects any case put
into his hands, nor refuses to present the petitions of his people to his divine
Father; but is always ready to offer up the prayers of all saints with the much
incense of his mediation, #Re 8:3,4. And his intercession
is "perpetual"; though he was dead he is alive, and lives for
evermore; and "he ever lives to make intercession for them" that come
unto God by him, #Heb 7:25. Many are the benefits and blessings of grace
derived to saints from Christ's intercession for them; such as access to God
through him, acceptance with God in him, both of persons and services,
communications of grace from him, the application of every
blessing of the covenant to them; for though the impetration of them is by the
death of Christ, the application of them is owing to his life, #Ro 5:10.
{1} "Advocatus
appellatur, etiamsi nihil dicat, neque agat, sed qui tantum paratus sit defendere", Vallae Elegantiar. l. 4. c. 12.