Project Description

2015/09

A Man in the Glory

As they watched Him ascend, the disciples were given a sight to encourage them along the way for He ascended with outstretched hands, blessing them (Luke 24:50-51). As the Great High Priest He entered glory, in the power of an endless life, to pray for those He came to save.  He prays as the God-man.  Christ returns to glory in a glorified humanity; eternally, very God and very man. The Man Christ Jesus is our Mediator. There’s a man in the glory, praying prayers in the will of God for the church of God. Being touched with the feeling of our infirmities, He knows what to pray for us.

It is difficult to be a young Christian. It is difficult to fight sin. It is difficult to avoid conforming to the world around. It is difficult to resist the onslaught of the evil one. We would do well to remember that the Lord knows all about our struggles, and He is presently praying for us.

He prays that His atoning work would be applied and effective in the lives of sinners.  “He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12) Christ’s prayers arise on the virtue of His shed blood. His prayers are heard for the salvation of sinners, as His blood was shed to secure that salvation. In this respect He prays that the Spirit would be poured out on the church for the advance of the gospel. (Acts 2:33)

Dear young Christian, Christ has prayed for your salvation and will bring you through, saving you to the uttermost.  Thus He prays for grace to be supplied in every time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16) The Father always hears His Son (John 11:42), and thus Paul links Christ’s intercessory ministry with the believer’s eternal security (Hebrews 7:25; Rom.8:34-39). If Aaron, the first High Priest, was to pray the blessing of God upon Israel, how much more does Christ, the Great High Priest, pray blessing upon us!

Appreciating that His prayers are always heard, the words of Numbers 6:24-26 ring true: The Lord shall bless and keep and be gracious to His blood-bought people! Too many look inward for strength and assurance. We must recognise that our security, our assurance, rest in the suffering and supplication of the Saviour of sinners.

Dr Stephen Pollock.