Awaken The Dawn

The High Priestly Prayer

The Savior’s Heavenly Intercession Jesus’ prayer in John 17 anticipates and explains His forthcoming intercession on our behalf when He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. This prayer is the bridge between His prayers of agony on earth and His prayers of glory in heaven. At this point, Jesus’ personal prayer and the Father’s will have become so synchro- nized that He now prays in perfected form the climactic prayer of His earthly ministry. So perfect indeed is His prayer that it becomes the link between His earthly and heavenly ministries. This is what the disciples heard: how the Son of God will be praying in heaven! As the high priest who has ascended into the heavenlies, Jesus becomes the mediator between God and men. 8 Here are some significant verses:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weak- nesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. 9 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 10

For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven

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