I added the picture above to message below. I would also like to point out that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God NOT Archangel Michael as many would believe. (emphasis mine)
[source: GotQuestions.org]
Question: "What is the purpose of Jesus interceding for us in Heaven?"
Answer: Speaking of Jesus, the writer to the Hebrews says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This verse (and others like it) tells us that although Christ’s work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, as evidenced by His cry “It is finished!” (John 19:30), His care for His redeemed children will never be finished.
Jesus did not go to heaven after His earthly ministry and “take a break” from His role as eternal Shepherd to His people. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10, emphasis added). If when humble, despised, dying, and dead, He had the power to accomplish so great a work as reconciling us to God, how much more may we expect that He will be able to keep us now that He is a living, exalted, and triumphant Redeemer, raised to life and interceding on our behalf before the throne (Romans 8:34). Clearly, Jesus is still very active on our behalf in heaven.
After Jesus ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1), He returned to the glory He had before His incarnation (John 17:5) to carry on His role of King of kings and Lord of lords—His eternal role as the second Person of the triune God. While this old earth continues to be “won” for Christ, Jesus is the Advocate for Christians, meaning He is our great Defender. This is the intercessory role He currently fulfills for those who are His (1 John 2:1). Jesus is always pleading our case before the Father, like a defense lawyer on our behalf.
Jesus is interceding for us while Satan (whose name means “accuser”) is accusing us, pointing out our sins and frailties before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:6-12). But the accusations fall upon deaf ears in heaven, because Jesus’ work on the cross paid our sin debt in full [We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ from the curse of the law. (emphasis mine)]; therefore, God always sees in His children the perfect righteousness of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His righteousness (perfect holiness) was imputed to us, while our sin was imputed to Him at His death. This is the great exchange Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5:21. That took away forever our sinful state before God, so God can accept us as blameless before Him.
Finally, it is important to understand that Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man. No one else—not Mary, not any previous Christian saints—has the power to intercede for us before the throne of the Almighty. No angel has that position. Christ alone is the God-man, and He mediates and intercedes between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
I added this picture to the message I shared with you.
—The High Priest’s present work
[source: SimplyBible.com Australia]
We have so far studied the book of Hebrews in lessons which were introductory and gave us an overview of the epistle’s teaching. We now move into a deeper study of Christ’s work as our great High Priest.
In this lesson, we focus on the topic of intercession which is an ongoing work of Christ our high priest. His sin offering (to be studied in a coming lesson) is a finished work which never needs repeating. Not all Christ’s work is finished, however, because he now continues to make intercession for us in heaven.
We study the same portions of Hebrews as for the lessons “Jesus a priest like Melchizedek”, but we now focus on his work as our intercessor.
The key verse for this study is...
Hebrews 7:25¶“6He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
1 What Intercession Means
The meaning of intercession is wrapped up in the phrase "draw near to God through him". As a "creature" (Hebrews 4:13), you cannot come to your Creator unbidden.
Furthermore, because the Creator knows his creatures utterly, they are "naked" before him. All their thoughts and deeds are laid open and bare before his eyes.
Mindful of that, we mortals should be ashamed, indeed terrified, to come before God on our own, even if we were bidden. Therefore we need Someone to intercede for us. The Macquarie Dictionary gives this definition: "intercede ...to interpose on behalf of one in difficulty or in trouble, as by pleading or petition..."
2 Who Can Intercede for Us?
Jesus Christ is able to be our go-between who can speak to God on our behalf. We can then "draw near to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25). The prophecy about Christ stated that "He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).
It stands to reason that someone who is in much the same position as ourselves, someone who needs an intercessor as much as we do, is not qualified in his own right to intercede for us. Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit are qualified to be our intercessors. (Romans 8:26,34).
There is only one priest among men who can can go to God in his own right and intercede for us, who himself does not need an intercessor. That man is Jesus Christ. That’s one reason why he said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
3 The Blessing of Intercession
We are greatly blessed in having a great High Priest one who ever lives to make intercession for us. John describes him as our "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus understands our weaknesses without himself being weak. There is no one closer to God than he. Through him we can come to God and find utmost grace.
Hence the encouragement, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). And again, "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith..." (Hebrews 10:22).
Catch the Fire Toronto published August 1, 2017: Breaking Curses' Legal Rights - Robert Henderson (Sunday, 30 Jul 2017)
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