Christ Our Intercessor

The Lord’s timing is that it would be our first Sunday lighting advent candles as we talk about the altar of incense that was burned before His presence as a reminder of the prayers and offerings that God’s people bring.

Join me in Ex.30:1-10 this morning.

The Imperfect Intercession Of Incense

First, some observations we make about the incense:

The altar itself is made with acacia wood and overlaid with gold (Exodus 30:3 “You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it.”) As we’ve mentioned before, this is symbolic of the value and lasting nature of what was made.

The incense should be offered both day and night (Exodus 30:7–8a “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it…”) This offering is one that is to be continual.

This offering is to be made throughout their generations (Exodus 30:8b “…he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.”) This is something that abides, practiced and handed down from one generation to the next.

Interestingly enough, the altar needs purification (Exodus 30:10 “Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.””)

I find it fascinating that all of these connect in some form or fashion to the idea and themes of prayer and atonement. First, working our way backwards, are our offerings even valid without the gift of atonement? It is necessary for our prayers and gifts to be received.

Then, has there been a generation where prayer has not…or should not…be a regular part of faith?

And, how does Paul commend prayer to us? As something to be done continually! (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”)

Now, continuing on with the altar and the incense, it sits between the Table of Showbread and the Menorah. What a beautiful picture?! Remember…high level:

The showbread reminds us of both God’s sustaining presence and provision, and

The menorah is a reminder of God’s glory and guidance.

Situated right between them is this symbol of intercession and prayer rising up to the throne of God. Are you seeing the dots connect? In order for us to know God’s sustaining provision and glorious guidance, God gives us the gift of intercession and prayer!

As a representation of the prayers of God’s people, and that idea carries over all the way into the Book of Revelation if you think back to our time there, it was this living illustration of prayers constantly rising to the throne of God.

Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!”

Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

But, we mentioned this briefly earlier, the altar had to be atoned…once a year…on the Day of Atonement. The cleansing of the altar makes these prayers acceptable to God. John Calvin noted that are prayers are only acceptable through atoning sacrifice.

Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Isaiah 1:15 “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.”

The truth is, even the priest himself was imperfect. Death interrupted his please before God. He took the time to halt was he was doing to atone for the altar year after year, and even he himself could not maintain that role forever.

Further, we are imperfect and sin often interrupts our pleas. How often do we beg and plead and plea with improper motives? How often does sin drag us away from God, to the point of where we’re not even asking in the first place? And, how often does guilt consume us and convince that we are crying concerns are unwanted by God?

The altar of incense was imperfect, which is why we need…point number 2…

The Perfect Intercession Of Christ

This is exactly what Romans says Jesus is doing for the believer (Romans 8:34 “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.”)

So, let me make a couple of quick notes about what Jesus is up to as He is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Intercession is Jesus’ right now work.

Again, Romans 8 tells us Jesus is currently interceding for us. A great deal of our focus goes into Jesus’ “back then” work (and rightly so!) — His death, burial, and resurrection. This focuses on what Jesus does to justify us…declare us right before God. And, without faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the rest of this is a moot point, so I’d be remiss not to at least encourage you to respond to the gospel.

But, that’s not all the scripture tells us about Jesus’ work — we don’t have to speculate on His right now ministry. Just as He was for us in His death, so too is He for us in His life. Whereas in the gospel He was the Life-Giver, in His role as Intercessor, He is Life-Sustainer and Sanctifier!

Now intercession in and of itself is simply coming between two parties to argue the case between the two. Applying this to Jesus, what’s the case He is pleading? His own! That His sacrifice was absolutely sufficient and that we are completely welcoming in the presence of God.

Now, before we think we’re in danger of being left out or forgotten by God (we’re not!), and before we think that there is some deficiency in the Father’s memory (there isn’t!), let us pause and reflect on what’s going on.

Jesus is moment-by-moment, day and night, night and day applying the truth of the gospel to our case.

His pleading lines up with the Father’s will…after all, Jesus always does the Father’s will

Therefore, it is the Father’s delight to answer, “YES!” to the Son pleading our acceptance before the Father.

Intercession saves us to the uttermost.

Hebrews 7:23–25 “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

If intercession is what Jesus is up to right now, then let us think for a moment on what it accomplishes: salvation to the uttermost! This means that His work is comprehensive and complete…exhaustive wholeness. There isn’t a rock left unturned in His work of redemption!

Because we sin to the uttermost, He saves us to the uttermost. There is nothing beyond His reach or impossible for Him to forgive and heal!

According to this passage, intercession does more than just help us…it is used by Christ to save us! It’s yet one more example of His marvelous and magnificent grace…the grace that saves us completely and reminds us that there is absolutely no work that we bring to table to plead our acceptance. That’s His work, and He gets the glory!

So, I want to plead with you this morning. Listen again to Calvin…he says Jesus “turns the Father’s eyes to His own righteousness to avert His gaze from our sins. He so reconciles the Father’s heart to us that by His intercession He prepares a way and access for us to the Father’s throne.”

So let me plead with you…what sin are you carrying around? What thing is it in your life that the enemy berates you with? What guilt keeps you broken and convinced that Christ either cannot forgive you or will not forgive you because the sin is just to great? What secret sin does Satan whisper in your ear to keep you beat up and beat down by the weight of unforgiveness, sneakily speaking subtle lies like no real christian would struggle with sin like you do?

Again I ask, what sin are you carrying around? Do you realize that Jesus lives forever pleading our case so that He might save us to the uttermost? And there is nothing…nothing…nothing in the believer’s life that cannot be healed by His grace?

Would you offer your imperfect pleas of rescue to a perfect Savior and Intercessor this morning, that He might continue to save you to the uttermost today?