What Jesus is praying over you may surprise you.
Tomorrow evening, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins, observed Thursday, October 2nd. This is the most holy of the seven yearly Feasts.
“For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minster as priest in the father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; the he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests, and for all the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” Leviticus 16:30-34
Christ has fulfilled this atonement, once and for all, for all time.
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For it the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:11-15
What Jesus interceded on earth is different from what He intercedes today at the right hand of God.
This was Jesus’ intercession on earth:
He [God] shall see the labor of His [Jesus’] soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11, 12
This is Christ’ intercession from heaven:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a chare against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:31-34
What is Jesus’ Intercession then today? Is He dealing with our sin? NO! He is dealing with our righteousness in Him. He has identified with our sin once; now He ever lives to identify us with His righteousness, to save us to the uttermost!
For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priest without and oath, but he with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,’”) by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:18-25
Today, we must believe what the Lord has given us – His glorification. We are being jointly formed into His image, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Jesus Christ’ intercession is to our glorification in Himself.
We shall be saved by His life.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:10, 11
Happy Atonement! His salvation to the uttermost! Full access into the holiest! Glorification into His image. His righteousness forever!
