Jesus' Intercession for Our Faith: The Power and Comfort of His Prayers

Jesus’ Intercession for Our Faith

When we think of Jesus’ prayers, we may often think of the Lord’s Prayer or his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. However, there is another prayer that Jesus prays for his people that may not be as well-known, but is just as powerful: his intercession for our faith.

In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples and all those who would come to believe in him through their message. He prays that they would be kept from the evil one, sanctified in the truth, and united in love. But the heart of his prayer is found in verses 20-23:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Jesus is praying for the unity of believers, that they would be one as he and the Father are one. He prays not just for his disciples, but for all those who would come to believe in him through their message. This includes us today. Jesus is praying for our faith.

What Does Jesus’ Intercession Mean for Us?

Jesus’ intercession for our faith means that he is actively praying for us. He is not a distant God who is unaware of our struggles and temptations. He is not a passive God who is indifferent to our spiritual growth. He is a loving Savior who is constantly interceding for us before the Father.

Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus’ intercession is not a one-time event, but an ongoing ministry. He is always advocating for us before the Father, pleading our case and presenting his perfect righteousness on our behalf.

Jesus’ intercession also means that our faith is secure. In John 10:27-29, Jesus says:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Jesus’ intercession guarantees our salvation. He has prayed for us, and his prayers are always answered. We are secure in his hands, and nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39).

How Should We Respond to Jesus’ Intercession?

First, we should be encouraged by Jesus’ intercession. We can take comfort in the fact that he is praying for us, and that his prayers are powerful and effective. When we are struggling with doubts or fears, we can look to Jesus and know that he is interceding for us.

Second, we should be motivated by Jesus’ intercession. If Jesus is praying for our faith, then we should be diligent in pursuing him. We should seek to know him more deeply, to love him more fervently, and to obey him more faithfully. We should not take our faith for granted, but should strive to grow in it, knowing that Jesus is cheering us on from heaven.

Finally, we should be inspired by Jesus’ intercession. If Jesus is praying for our unity, then we should be passionate about building relationships with other believers. We should seek to love one another as Christ has loved us, and to work towards the unity of the church. We should not be content with superficial relationships, but should strive to build deep, meaningful connections with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus’ intercession for our faith is a powerful and comforting truth. He is actively praying for us, guaranteeing our salvation, and motivating us to pursue him with all our hearts. Let us be encouraged, motivated, and inspired by his intercession, knowing that he is with us always, even to the end of the age.