May 12
22
Doctrinal Standard #25 (Week 3 of 3)
- Q. How is Christ a priest?
- A. As a priest, Christ offered Himself up once as a sacrifice for us to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile us to God, and He continually intercedes for us.
Memory Verses
- “ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34, ESV).
Scripture
- Study Passage: John 17
- Support Passages: John 14:6; Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:23-8:3; I John 1:9-2:2
- Bible Story: Numbers 16
Thoughts
- According to John 17, while Jesus Christ was on earth he prayed for his current disciples and for those who would believe. Jesus prayed that the Father would “keep” all those who are His (assurance of salvation). Jesus prayed to the Father and asked Him to allow His followers to have His joy. He asked God to not take His followers out of the world but to “keep them from the evil one.” He asked the Father to sanctify, or, to set apart believers by the word of truth. Jesus prayed that all of His current and future followers might be of one mind in a loving community of faith. Jesus also prayed that His followers would one day return with Christ and witness His magnificent glory.
- Not only does Jesus Christ pray to and interact with God on our behalf, He also communicated to mankind on God’s behalf. Jesus mentions in His prayer (John 17) that He accomplished the work that the Father had given Him. Jesus mentions how He came from the Father bringing the truth of God to the world. Hebrews 1:1–4 explains it this way, “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
- Jesus Christ, as our High Priest, intercedes on our behalf before God the Father and He intercedes on God’s behalf before us. When we worship God the Father, Jesus Christ is the conduit or the door by which we are able to approach and be accepted before our Mighty Lord.
Discussion Questions
- Read John 17. Who is Jesus praying for?
- How does this make you feel?
- List and discuss the types of things Jesus prayed for.
- How does this make you feel?
- Why do we need Jesus to intercede or mediate for us?
- Jesus intercedes for us before God, but how does Jesus intercede for God before us?
