the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Intercession (2)
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or in the sense of supplication, was not appropriate to the office of the Hebrew high-priest; he was the presenter of sacrifices on account of sins, and made intercession or atonement by sprinkling the blood of victims before Jehovah: this gave, as it were, a voice to the blood. Hence-if we attach a special idea to the term "intercession," as applied to the work of our glorious High priest, may we not say that it is equivalent to propitiation or atonement? In the holiest of all, "the blood of Jesus speaketh" (Hebrews 12:24). The dignity and merit, power and authority of the Messiah, in his exalted state, imply a continued presentation of his obedience and sacrifice as ever valid and efficacious for the pardon and acceptance, the perfect holiness and eternal happiness, of all who are truly penitent, believing, and obedient. Hence his intercession, or his acting as high-priest in the heavenly world, was represented by the Hebrew high- priest's entering into the most holy place, on the annual day of atonement, with the fragrant incense burning, and with the sacrificial blood which he was to sprinkle upon the mercy-seat, over the ark of the covenant, and before the awful symbols of Jehovah's presence. (See HIGH PRIEST).
"The need of an intercessor arose from the loss of the right of communion with God, of which Adam was deprived when he sinned. Before the fall, Adam was the high priest of all creation, and, as such, privileged to hold free intercourse with God; and this privilege, lost by Adam, was restored in Christ. Until the fullness of time came' a temporary-provision was made for man's acceptance with God in the sacrifices of the patriarchal age, and the ceremonies of the Mosaic ritual; but all these were shadows of the priestly function of the Son of God, which commenced from the time when he offered up himself as a sacrifice on the cross. The intercession of Christ is the exercise of his priestly office, which is carried on continually in heaven (Romans 8:34). He was fitted to become our high priest by the union of his divine and human natures (Hebrews 7:25; Isaiah 53:12). His manhood enables him to plead on our behalf as the representative of human nature, and so to sympathize with those needs and those sorrows which require his intercessions, that he offers them up as one most deeply interested in our welfare (Hebrews 4:15). His priesthood, moreover, requires an offering, and it is still his human nature which furnishes both the victim and the priest. His Godhead renders that sacrifice an invaluable offering, and his intercession all-effectual (Hebrews 9:14)."
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Intercession (2)'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/i/intercession-2.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
