Jesus as our High Priest

Let me start by first saying that our God is awesome. His love continues to amaze me each day. Not only did He die for us, but He LIVES to make intercession for us every moment of every day. Isn’t that amazing?! But wait, it gets even better! He live to make intercession for us, but He also invites us to take part in His plan; He allows us to share the Gospel with others, and to intercede for them in prayer. What an unmerited blessing!
In the past two years of praying for Ryan and the hockey team, God has taught me a lot about Himself. One part of His character that I have truly fallen in love with is His persistence in intercession. Intercession is emotionally taxing! Truly interceding for someone and submitting them fully and completely to the Father’s will requires such a raw trust and vulnerability that I was previously not familiar with. Yet that is one of the characteristics of the Trinity. And God lets us partake in a glimpse of that! Hebrews tells us “in the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:7-10). Later, Hebrews 7 says “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” (Hebrews 7: 24-25).
When Jesus was here on earth, He prayed to God with passion and emotion. He didn’t offer up stoic prayers about meaningless things. He was open and honest with His Father. He submitted to His Father’s will. He trusted His Father. THAT is how we are called to pray! Honestly, genuinely, trusting in the goodness of our God. Jesus also was named our high priest forever; not only did He know how to pray to God on earth, but He continues to talk to Him even today! There is such amazing communication within the Trinity. Jesus is interceding for us, God is always listening to us, and when we aren’t sure how to pray, the Holy Spirit is there with groans that we can’t even comprehend!
Additionally, we are able to be involved in intercessory prayer for others. God has been so patient as I’ve learned about this. While praying for the hockey team, God has had to teach me a lot. I wish I could say that I have always been mature and a fast learner- but that would make me a liar. I have thrown so many temper tantrums, questioned and doubted God, and tried to make my own plan more times than I care to admit. God has been SO patient as He’s taught me to trust in Him. His plan is not always identical to mine (in fact, it is rarely even SIMILAR to mine!), but I know that His plan is always better. No purpose of His can be thwarted, and He fights valiantly for His children. He is so worthy of our trust and affection!