No 21

B) The Trinity (Intercession)

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never- ceasing intercession for us. “I have prayed for thee…..” Luke 22:32a When we pray, He pleads for us; and when we are not praying, He is our advocate “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1 and He shields us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter “Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but” (Luke 22:31) what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would be good advice, but that is not what is written. Neither does he say, “But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved.” That would be a great blessing. No it is “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” We know very little of what we owe to our Saviour’s prayers. When we reach heaven and look back upon all the ways that the Lord our God has led us, how we shall praise him who undid the mischief that Satan did on earth? How shall we thank Him because he never held his peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon His hands and carried our names upon His breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt us, Jesus has anticipated him and entered a plea on our behalf in heaven. He checks Satan even in his very desire and nips it in the bud. He does not say, “But I have desired to pray for you.” No, but “I have prayed for you”. He has done it already; He went to court and enters a plea even before an accusation is made. What a comfort it is that He has pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.