“…he always lives to intercede for them.”

                 Assurance is a wonderful thing.  To feel certain, secure or safe never hurts.  In fact, assurance guarantees the opposite of being hurt, shocked or deceived.  In essence that is the result of what Hebrews chapter 7 is all about.  Based on the high priestly work of Jesus, as well as his character (v. 26), we have the “guarantee of a better covenant” (v. 22).  Among other things, Jesus’ resurrection is proof to us that “he always lives to intercede for [us].”  If he had only risen ‘spiritually’—not physically and bodily, as many claim—how would we know that he was still alive at all?  How would we know that he intercedes for us to this day?  We wouldn’t!  That is why Paul wrote in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”  The life he speaks of here is after his resurrection, not before.  His death already brought about reconciliation.  If we are already reconciled, requiring his death to obtain it, why wouldn’t he be interceding on our behalf?!  We would fully expect that what he died to obtain, he maintains by his intercession.  Because “Jesus lives forever” (Heb. 7:24), his intercession will never stop and never fail.  And that brings assurance.

But there is something even greater to learn about our intercessors that should move us beyond the sense of assurance.  Yes, that’s right, intercessors—plural.  Let’s go back to the book of Romans, but this time let’s read in chapter 8.  Two verses are key, 26 and 27, which say, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”  So the Holy Spirit is our other intercessor.  These verses are a fantastic glimpse into the inner workings of the Trinity.  But to fully understand and thus appreciate what these verses are saying, we’ll need to establish the context.

In verse 18 Paul says that “glory” is not only intended for us, it will also “be revealed in us.”  Because of that, we should not make such a big deal about our “present sufferings.”  Glory and suffering should not be in the same category.  The former is eternal, the latter, temporary.  It’s like comparing an ocean liner to a one-inch piece of driftwood.  Why would anyone talk in the same terms about these two objects?  In verse 19 Paul says that all of creation is eagerly awaiting the day this glory is revealed.  It is coming!  Next in verse 20 we find that “the creation was subjected [by God] to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.”  Have you ever felt frustrated?  Don’t we all!  Some of this comes from our own selfishness, but most of it comes because the entire physical creation is under God’s curse due to sin.  In other words, there will always be some kind of frustration, a lack of fully achieving and attaining all that we want and are designed for.  This could include a physical handicap, having the “wrong” kind of parents or spouse, a debilitating disease, problematic neighbors, a bad economy, accidents, etc.  Paul says that one day “the creation itself will be liberated from [this] bondage and decay” (v. 21).  That takes us to the groaning part.

Verse 22 says, “…the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth…”  Experts agree that the most painful of all experiences comes in childbirth.  The point?  That our experience on earth in a fallen and judged universe is like a painful birth.  The baby is still “in process,” under enormous pressure.  It has not arrived nor matured nor found success.  This “groaning” that accompanies childbirth is the earnest desire of the mother to have this part done so that she can get on to the good part—holding, loving and raising her child, fulfilling her dreams for it.  Likewise, verse 23 tells us, we Christians “groan inwardly” for the same thing—“the redemption of our bodies”—the fulfillment of our dreams.  That brings us to verse 26: “In the same way…the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”  This means the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with the same groaning desire that is too deep for words.  This means two things.  First, it shows how deeply the Spirit longs to see the day when we stand in perfect glory before God—the one who “searches our hearts [and] knows the mind of the Spirit (v. 27; see 1 Chr.28:9).  Second, it means that our future is a key part of the unspoken communication in the Trinity!  Talk about intimacy and security!  That is exactly how much God keeps us “as the apple of [his] eye” (Ps. 17:8).  He, too, is eagerly anticipating the fullness of all his children.

Jesus suffered and died to become our intercessor.  The Spirit groans with desire in his intercession.  This should take us well beyond the mere sense of assurance.  It ought to launch us into worshipping the Almighty triune God.  As intercession is made for you today, are you worshipping in response?