Christ the perfect intercessor

The Father “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Eph. 1:11). “Who hath resisted His will?” (Rom. 9:19). “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” (Dan. 4:35).

Jesus, placed next to Lucifer, proved at the cross and before the whole on-looking universe, that His nature was infinitely superior to the boastful and self-exalted fallen angel. No amount of grief, condemnation and shame from Satan wooing the Jews and Romans, could destroy the peace and forgiveness Christ had residing in His soul. Even the prospect of eternal separation from God could not remove His joy in the Holy Ghost, which He had lived with since conception, a joy in the Spirit without measure.

After His ascension, Satan has tried to replace Christ, with himself as our intercessor. But although he has largely succeeded at this with us inferior humans, he has yet to learn that his Creator is not to be contended with, especially when using, of all the worlds God has made, the children of His most beloved race as hostages and lures.

With sinners it’s not the same as Jesus was when facing Satan’s wintry blasts of separation from God; sinners cannot give the obedience Christ gave in Gethsamane and on Golgotha. Condemn us and we automatically reject the authority of the condemnation. Even though some condemnation rightfully comes from God, but much comes as provocation from Satan, we automatically think all comes from God. This causes our pride to rise up and say to Him, “Who do you think You are to condemn me?” All reproof, correction, instruction, encouragement to change—even in the Spirit’s warm, conducive manner—we all perceive as rejection, condemnation, and then anger and rage reciprocate from our evil-thinking hearts back to the Father. In short, the law worketh wrath; because “where no law is, there is no transgression,” thus, where there is law, there is transgression and condemnation, and then rebellion from the sinner’s heart. (Rom. 4:15).

Thankfully, God has provided us a Mediator other than ourselves. Looking in ourselves, we will never witness a perfect subjection to the Father’s rightful condemnation. In Christ we can stand before God and His condemning Law. We can look to One suffering infinite condemnation on the cross, yet suffering humbly and lovingly, wholly committing His soul to God. We can’t surrender like the Son of God did under infinite condemnation, but He did. To behold Him remaining loving and caring is God’s provision for us. Let us take full advantage of it, or we will take on Satan’s character and never see life, now or in eternity with Jesus.