Blessed by Jesus

Jesus Christ proved to be the answer to the longing in Job's heart.  When this God-fearing man suffered greatly in a trial, he mused in Job 9:32-35:  "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. ³³ If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, ³⁴ someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. ³⁵ Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot." (NIV)  Job realised God is infinitely greater than man and he lacked a mediator or advocate between himself and God.  Job felt he was being unjustly treated, not realising God's intent to show Himself merciful, compassionate, and to doubly bless him in the end (James 5:11).

What Job observed God also acknowledged by the word of the LORD through the prophet in Isaiah 59:16:  "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him."  God saw fit to provide the Man and Mediator man lacked by putting on human flesh and coming to earth.  The living God sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to seek and to save sinners and to provide intercession for them after His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.  God Himself brought salvation for sinners, and He provided the required payment for sin by shedding His own blood.  Because Jesus is our great High Priest, He is the one we ought to rely upon to effectively communicate our prayers--not priests, elders or pastors.

Paul explained this important role Jesus continues in to this day in 1 Timothy 2:1-6:  "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time..."  God heard the longings of Job and the desire of every human being for justice, help and hope in troubling times, and when we pray to God Jesus is our Mediator and Advocate.  This truth is echoed in 1 John 2:1-2:  "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."  Scripture tells us Jesus lives to make intercession for us, dedicated to our salvation and every need (Hebrews 7:25).

As we pray for ourselves and others, Jesus also prays for us.  Knowing Jesus Himself is handing our case, we can rest assured He will communicate our desires clearly for our good.  God also blesses us by filling believers with the Holy Spirit who helps us as it is written in Romans 8:26:  "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  Unlike courts that operate with limited hours and plan hearings months in advance, we are invited to enter the LORD's presence in our moment of need by prayer.  Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Little children may not always be permitted in the presence of an earthly king, but Jesus commanded the little children not be hindered to come to Him.  He took those little ones in His arms and blessed them, and in heavenly glory He lifts us in His arms to the Father so we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.