Christmas Sentences

Notes

Christ Is All, a Puritan prayer…

May I read the meltings of thy heart to me

in the manger of thy birth,

in the garden of thy agony,

in the cross of thy suffering,

in the tomb of thy resurrection,

in the heaven of thy intercession.

…

Thou has loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,

may I love thee as I am loved;

Thou hast given thyself for me,

may I give myself to thee;

Thou hast died for me,

may I live to thee,

in every moment of my time,

in every movement of my mind,

in every pulse of my heart.

May I never dally with the world

and its allurements,

but walk by thy side,

listen to thy voice,

be clothed with thy graces,

and adorned with thy righteousness.

------------

(Manger of Thy Birth) At Christmas time, we think about gifts, and one of the great gifts that God gives to us in Jesus is the gift of His incarnation.

(Garden of Thy Agony) At Christmas time, we think about gifts, and one of the great gifts that God gives to us in Jesus is the gift of His obedience.

(Cross of Thy Suffering) At Christmas time, we think about gifts, and one of the great gifts that God gives to us in Jesus is the gift of His suffering for us.

(Tomb of Thy Resurrection) At Christmas time, we think about gifts, and one of the great gifts that God gives to us in Jesus is the gift of His resurrection.

(Heaven of Thy Intercession) At Christmas time, we think about gifts, and one of the great gifts that God gives to us in Jesus is the gift of His intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25)

How wonderful to think that Jesus is praying for me! When I feel like I can’t pray, Jesus is praying for me! Even when I am sinful, Jesus is praying for me! When I am busy, Jesus is praying for me! When I am asleep, Jesus is praying for me!

This is good news because sometimes I don’t know what to pray.

This is good news because sometimes my prayers are imperfect.

The babe in the manger who grew to agonize in the garden, die on the cross, and rise from the dead—He is praying for me!

Why does He pray for me?

Because I am His, and He is mine.

Where does He pray for me?

At the Father’s right hand, the position of all authority in heaven and earth.

What does He pray for me?

He prays knowing prayers for me.

This is good because sometimes my prayers are ignorant.

He prays perfect prayers for me.

This is good because often my prayers are imperfect.

When does He pray for me?

I am convinced that Jesus often prays for me because I am convinced that I often need His prayers.

How does He pray for me?

He prays for me in His name. Out of His fullness He prays for me, and I receive grace and peace (John 1).

Notes on Intercession

Characters of the OT were intercessors

Priests in the OT were intercessors

Prophets in the OT were intercessors

NT on intercession

Intercession is a specific part of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer generally and specifically a man of intercession.