HIGHLIGHT
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
EXPLAIN
Melchizedek is a curious figure in the Old Testament whose appearance is extremely brief, but whose example is extremely important for us today in understanding who Jesus is.
Little is known about Melchizedek. We don’t know who his parents were, when he was born or when he died. Melchizedek was a priest of God, and in Abraham’s time received tithe offerings from the great father of our faith.
The Hebrews writer used Melchizedek then as an illustration of Jesus, the Son of God, who is eternal without beginning or end, who was not part of the Levitical priesthood, but made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
The statement of our highlighted text is at once glorious, and shocking. Jesus is able to save to the uttermost, but also … Jesus always lives to … in order to … make intercession for us.
APPLY
Was Jesus’ victory over death limited to the purpose of intercession for us, strictly? Did not Jesus conquer death because God found in him the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world? Was not Jesus the Son of God who is eternal? Could death ever have truly hoped to keep Christ in the grave? Does not Jesus live today in anticipation of being recognized fully as King over all the universe in the near future?
Then again, it is mind-boggling to us to understand how Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, could ever die.
Consider again that the whole reason for Jesus’ sacrifice and death of himself was an intercession for us before God that we might receive God’s pardon and be restored in relationship to him. Furthermore, Jesus continues to make intercession for us. We are weak and human and fail God from time to time, but his one-time sacrifice still pleads the blood before the Father.
It seems audacious to say, to hope, to believe…, but Jesus lives eternally to make intercession for me and you.
He ever lives above / For me to intercede / His all-redeeming love / His precious blood to plead. / His blood was shed for all our race, / And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
– Verse 2, “Arise, My Soul, Arise”
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son who became one of us so that he might experience our life fully, yet without sin. Thank you for his obedience in suffering and dying on the cross. Thank you for raising him from the dead, victorious over sin, so that he might ever live to plead for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.