New Life in Christ — In the Holy Place For Us
After Christ arose from the grave, He ascended back to the Father in heaven. When He entered into that Holy Place, Jesus Christ assumed the position of our eternal High Priest. One of the most amazing parts of Christ’s continued ministry is what He is doing for us in the Holy Place.
Hebrews 9:24 NKJV For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…
Consider what Christ is doing for us in heaven’s Holy Place.
Right now, Jesus Christ is in glory as both Man and God. As our eternal High Priest, He is there on our behalf to intercede for us before the Father. There is no doubt that the Father takes great pleasure in having His Son at His right hand. Jesus is His only begotten Son. The Bible does not say that Jesus ascended for the sake of His Father. Nor does it say He ascended to regain His glory.
Why is Jesus in heaven?
He entered into heaven on our behalf as our High Priest.
The Apostle John caught a glimpse of Jesus Christ in His eternal High Priestly glory.
Revelation 1:13 NKJV In the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
Jesus our High Priest is there in heaven. The Son of Man is clothed in the garments of the High Priest and He is in the midst of seven lampstands, which represents the full church. As your High Priest, Jesus ministers in glory on our behalf.
In the Old Testament, the Temple and ministry of the High Priest was a foreshadow of Jesus and His ministry.
Every sacrifice focused on Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. The Temple and every piece of furniture focused on Jesus. Every activity of the High Priest testifies of Jesus.
Exodus 30 gives a wonderful picture of this ministry.
Exodus 30:7-8 NKJV Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
The veil of the Temple was between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Standing before the veil was the altar of incense that stood three feet high and was eighteen inches square. Incense was burned on this altar continuously. Throughout Israel’s generations, a cloud of sweet incense was to arise toward heaven. The incense that was burning on the altar accompanied the prayers of the High Priest.
The burning incense on that altar in heaven represents the prayers of Jesus.
Jesus’ prayers are a sweet incense that continuously ascends to the Father.
John recorded one of Jesus’ prayers for you.
John 17:8-9 NKJV For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
Jesus prayed constantly.
He prayed often on the Mount of Olives. Often He went away from the crowds to pray. He prayed constantly in the morning and in the evening. Jesus said He did nothing without hearing it first from His Father.
In John 17:20, Jesus continued His prayer.
John 17:20 NKJV I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word…
His prayer includes everyone who puts their trust in Him and believes.
Centuries ago we were on His mind.
While He was walking on this earth, He was interceding for us in prayer to the Father! The incense of His prayer has been burning on God’s altar all this time. God the Father has accepted His Son’s prayer for us! Our salvation is the result of Jesus’ intercession and prayers and that is why we are His today. God answered Christ’s prayer for us!
Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Jesus Christ our eternal High Priest is making intercession for transgressors. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God through Him. Anyone who has been running from God will never get away from His prayers. Jesus is praying for you.
Jesus Christ your High Priest is always there before God interceding for you!
- 1 Peter 1:2 refers to the sprinkling of Christ’s blood.
- Romans 5:9 tells us we have been justified by His blood.
Jesus’ initial work of intercession was the sprinkling of His own blood on every bond and debt we owed.
Colossians 2:14 tells us that He “wiped out the handwriting that was against us and took it out of the way, having nailed it to His cross.”
A bond is “a sealed note of debt or obligation that is binding upon the debtor and his heirs.” As long as you live, the law obligates you to pay that debt. When you die, your children are obligated to pay it. Satan had a claim to you because you were dead in your own trespasses and sins. Right now those notes are due and you must pay with your life. The price is eternal death and damnation.
In the presence of the Father, Jesus sprinkled His own blood over every handwriting that was against us and contrary to us.
“The debt is paid in full — by the blood of Christ!”
1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
You have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. The wrath of God has been turned into mercy through the ministry of your High Priest! God’s holiness and justice that required judgment on all sin has been met with the blood of His Son. The blood of Jesus has satisfied the debt we owed. Now God can come out to us through the torn veil and show us His great mercy and grace!
There is a perfect illustration of Christ’s intervention in the Old Testament.
In Numbers 16, all of Israel rose up and began murmuring against Moses and Aaron. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and 250 leaders of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron and God.
Numbers 16:31-33 “The ground split apart under them and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all of their goods and they went down alive into the pit.”
After Korah, Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up, fire came out from God and consumed the 250 men. The very next day all of the congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” (Numbers 16:41) When the people complained, suddenly God appeared in a cloud. God told Moses and Aaron to “get away from the people, that I may instantly consume them!” (verse 26) Suddenly, a horrible plague broke out among the people.
Numbers 16:46 NKJV So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun.”
Numbers 16:48 NKJV And he (Aaron- the high priest) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
When Aaron did that, the incense went up throughout the camp.
Aaron, the High Priest, was a type of Christ here. Although 14,700 died of the plague, over 2 million people should have been destroyed, but God showed mercy!
What an incredible picture of God showing mercy by the prayers of the High Priest!
This is an image of Jesus running among rebellious sinners, sending up prayers to the Father on their behalf.
With each person Christ sprinkles, He cries: “Father, I have prayed for this one! I have sprinkled this soul with My blood. I’ve satisfied Your justice, Your holiness. So, Father, have mercy!”
Your eternal High Priest is your Advocate in heaven.
An advocate is one who tells the court what is legal, what is right, and what should be done. Jesus Christ your Advocate says, “I have fulfilled the law.” “I have paid the price to fully satisfy God’s justice.” “Satan can never accuse God of being unjust!”
We should have died because of our sin.
Christ has interceded for our sins and the Father has been merciful. Instead of judgment, we have been kept by His power. God loves mercy!
The Book of Zechariah reveals something about our High Priest in glory!
Zechariah 3:1 NKJV Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
The Angel of the Lord, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, was standing there to judge.
This Joshua was a real man; he was not a type of Christ. He was High Priest during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra 2:2 says, Joshua (Jeshua) came out of captivity along with the prophet Nehemiah. In Ezra 10:18 this Joshua and his sons married pagan wives. Joshua defiled his priestly office by marrying a woman who was unclean.
Zechariah 3:3 NKJV Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel of the Lord.
Consider the scene.
Joshua was standing before the throne of God in his filthy garments and Satan was at his side, accusing him.
In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night.”
Satan stood before the Lord and questioned Job’s righteousness. Here in Zechariah, Satan stood before the throne of God opposing Joshua the high priest. Satan stands before God to oppose you and me — to accuse us of sin and unfaithfulness!
Satan’s accusation against Joshua was correct.
Satan said, “God, You know all things. You know this man is unclean! He has sinned against You, and his heart is like filthy rags. He is unclean, evil, unworthy!”
Joshua sinned and was guilty, and his garments were spotted. Satan was opposing Joshua before God. He said, “He is filthy and living in darkness — and that is my kingdom!”
This is exactly what happens with us!
Many of Satan’s accusations are accurate. Our garments have been defiled by our sin and failures. Satan is before the throne of God accusing, opposing, and defaming us. He points at us and says, “Look at them! God, You know everything that is wrong in their life!”
That is when our High Priest and Advocate steps in on our account.
Jesus says: “It is true, Father — there is a blemish, weakness and failure here.”“Their garment is defiled, but there is faith in their heart in the power of My blood!”
Jesus has paid for every sin we have committed or will ever commit.
Jesus Christ our High Priest has sprinkled our heart with His blood — and all the iniquity has pass away!
Zechariah 3:4 NKJV Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
The Lord Jesus Christ interceded for him.
Zechariah 3:1 NKJV The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
What a picture of God’s mercy and grace! Satan was forced to leave defeated. Joshua walked away with a pardon, a new garment, and a crown of righteousness on his head!
1 John 2:1 NKJV 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.
Jesus our High Priest is ever interceding for us.
He prays for us as One Who has experienced what we experience. He has been tempted in every way we are tempted. Our High Priest has entered into heaven’s Holy of Holies where He understands our human frailty and experience. He can pray for us with tremendous sympathy.
Whatever you are going through, Jesus knows your pain.
He is a merciful High Priest that knows all about your pain and weakness. You are not going through anything that He has not felt. He is able to bring all your needs, pain, cries and prayers before the Father. He knows your thoughts, weaknesses, and pain and He hears your every cry. Take heart, beloved: Jesus is praying for you! Hallelujah!