The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Pray Like an Intercessor!

Jesus: the name above all names. He is the Word made flesh, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world. He holds the offices of prophet, priest, and king, and He has given us the ascension gifts so that we can continue His work on earth. He is the Prophet of whom Moses spoke; He is the soon-coming King, whom every eye will see; He is also the great High Priest seated at the right hand of God. Let’s focus on this role, as He is thus fulfilling the function of intercession.

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If we’re going to talk about famous intercessors in the Word, we can’t leave out the greatest intercessor of all time: the Lord Jesus Christ. Everywhere Jesus went, people saw ministry happening. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and set the captives free. He taught the Scriptures to people. We can read all this in the Gospels. But we also see Him in prayer. This was so evidently important that His disciples were moved to plead: “Lord teach us to pray.”

Jesus embodies the qualities of each intercessor named in the previous devotionals. He was obedient, like Abraham. He was humble and meek, like Moses. He found favor with God, like Esther. He was wise, like Daniel, always giving glory to God. He wept over the sins of the nation, like Samuel. Jesus perfectly embodied the love of God. In John 17, He prepares His disciples even while He knows the cross awaits Him. He prays for them. And on the cross, He prays and asks God to forgive the very ones who have demanded His death. Even if His death, burial, and resurrection weren’t enough to prove His love for us, He is interceding for us right now. That’s right, Jesus is praying for you. You may ask: Why do I need an intercessor? Another word for intercessor is mediator, one who stands and communicates between two parties. We have an advocate named Jesus, whose blood speaks on our behalf.

But we also have an accuser who tries to approach God to condemn us whenever we fail. Picture Jesus as a lawyer defending those whom His blood has redeemed and then clothing them with clean garments, as Joshua the high priest stood in filthy garments and was then newly clothed (see Zechariah 3:1–5). Aren’t you thankful to have His intercession and mediation? I know I am!

All intercessors are mediators. Abraham was a go-between for Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses, Daniel, Samuel, and Esther were all mediators for God’s nation. They stood in the gap pleading with God. We are to do the same. If we say we love this nation, shouldn’t we be interceding? Reading the Gospels and especially Jesus’ prayers can guide us on how to intercede.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us. Thank You for Your blood that “speaks a better word” on our behalf. You died in our place. Even now, You pray for us, and what’s more, You invite us to labor with You in intercession. We come before You and confess that at times our prayers look nothing like those that You prayed. Help us; teach us to pray more effectively. Teach us how to intercede for nations, for people, for churches. We don’t want our prayers to be the focus. We want Your kingdom to come, and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Read and meditate on how Jesus instructed His disciples to pray (see Luke 6:27–28; 11:1–13). How do your prayers look in comparison? Maybe there are changes you could make to pray more like Jesus. Seek Him in your personal devotion time.

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IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Olivia Snow on Unsplash.