The path taken by Jesus was one of constant prayer. Most of his prayers were for others. They include his friends and foes alike. Those who loved him and those who hated him, those who crucified him and those who helped him carry the cross, those who walked with him and those who betrayed him. For Jesus everyone was close to his heart.
In the hours before he voluntarily entered his passion, Jesus was praying for his disciples. In the cross too he was praying. ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing’ (Lk 23:34).
Passion, crucifixion, and resurrection; mission accomplished and Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. What is he doing there? Paul the apostle, who was once ‘caught up to the third heaven’(2 Cor 12:2), describes Jesus as interceding for us in heaven. ‘It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us’ (Rom 8:34). In other words, Jesus still continues what he was doing here on earth; interceding for us!
We are called to follow Jesus. Thus it becomes the primary duty of a Christian to pray for others. Abraham, the father of believers, is before us as a perfect model for intercessory prayer. When the appointed time to punish Sodom for its sins approached, we see Abraham interceding for them. The Israelites won the battle against the Amalekites not because of their military power in the plains, but because Moses was interceding for them on the mountain till dusk. The priests in the Old Testament era too were standing between God and His people; an act of perfect intercession. ‘ ….The high priest goes into the second (tent), and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people( Heb 9:7).
The sacrifice of Jesus who was the fulfillment of the law, was but an act of a unique and eternal intercession. ‘For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..’ (Heb 9:15).
James reminds us of our duty to pray for others. ‘Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord’ (Jam 5:14). John also advises us to pray for sinners. ‘If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one’ (1 Jn 5:16).
Is there any reward for intercessory prayers? The Scripture says a good reward awaits those who intercede for others. ‘Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it (Eze 9:4). This mark inscribed by the angel of God protects us in the days of chastisement. God’s order to the angel of destruction was clear. ’Touch no one who has the mark’ (Eze 9:6).
The book of Revelation also tells us about a mark to be affixed on the foreheads of the servants of God. ‘Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads’ (Rev 7:3). Once this marking is completed, God’s wrath will visit the earth, but those with the seal of God on their foreheads will escape it. ‘They were told not to damage the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads’ (Rev 9:4).
Our days demand tens of thousands of holy souls to sigh and groan about the abominations that take place around us. Let us not waste the precious time granted us to ‘cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches, and to pour out our heart like water before the presence of the Lord, and to lift up our hands to him for the lives of our children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street’ (Lam 2:19).
A day is coming when even the prayer of the righteous for others will not be answered. Ezekiel has prophesied that in those days even Noah, Daniel and Job would find it impossible to save their sons and daughters (Eze. 14:12-20).
May more intercessory prayers rise before the hand of God’s mercy is withdrawn and in its place His hand of justice appears. We are being granted time ‘before Lord our God brings darkness and before our feet stumble on the mountains at twilight’ (Jer 13:16) to intercede for others. Remembering Jesus Christ the eternal mediator who sits at the right hand of the Father and interceding for us constantly, let us also resolve to intercede for others and submit our petitions before God.
