One of the most comforting truths in Christianity for me is the intercessory ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:25 states, “but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Accordingly, one has to first come to God through Jesus, or belong to him, before he/she can benefit from his intercessions. The significance of Jesus’ intercession is illustrated in his statement to Simon (Peter) in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Please take time to prayerfully read the passage again. Note that Jesus’ intercedes for Simon -He said to Simon, “But I have prayed for you”- in response to Satan’s request to sift Simon “as wheat” as he did Judas (cf. Matthew 27:1-10). Thanks to Jesus’ intercession (1) Satan did not get to sift him as wheat and (2) Simon’s faith did not fail. True, he denied Jesus but did not lose his faith on that account. He bounced back spiritually and we can all thank God that he did.
It is important to note that Satan’s sifting Simon as wheat was not about his denial of Jesus but Simon’s reaction to it in terms of guilt and shame. The power of Jesus intercession for Simon overcame the power of guilt and shame over Simon so that he could bounce back to Satan’s shame and God’s glory forever. Interestingly we later see the same Simon as Peter in Acts 4:19-21 boldly defying the council of rulers, elders and teachers of the law that met in Jerusalem: He said to them, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Wow! No wonder Satan asked to sift him as wheat….
I believe that once Jesus prayed that Simon’s faith may not fail there was nothing that could have caused it to fall, not even the threat of death.
I pray that you reading this message will begin to appreciate the blessing of having Jesus interceding for you. The only condition to qualify for Jesus’ intercession is to belong to him, or come to God through him.
For anyone who does not belong to Jesus and reading this message, let me urge you to seriously consider belonging to him as the battles for life often happen in the spiritual realm, unbeknown to us. Hence, you cannot afford to not avail yourself of the intercessions of Jesus on your behalf.
May God help us all, in Jesus Christ’s name.
