According to Romans 8, "The Spirit makes intersession for us according to the will of God". I don't wish to be contentious, but Romans 8:26-27 is not about the Holy Spirit (in spite of any Greek subtexts in the passage). The context is about Jesus and His role in sustaining our walk of faith. Thus Paul opens the chapter saying, "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ", whilst adding later, "if anyone has not the spirit of Christ, He is none of His." It is Christ's indwelling life that sustains us in our journeys of faith, thus bringing about the transformation of our minds that ultimately reconciles us to the Father's will.
Therefore the interceding Spirit is Christ and the text is not an argument for speaking or praying in tongues. According to a number of New Testament writers (1 Timothy 2:5), there is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Christ. He alone is the great High Priest so adequately described by the writer to the Hebrews. To that end, Hebrews 2 argues that He had to be made like Hs brothers (verse 17) so that He might become a merciful and faithful High priest. No one else was more qualified to intercede between us and the Father, than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Having made a sacrifice for our sins, He also pierced the veil that separated us from God and there made atonement for our sins, so that through His torn flesh He might make a new and living way of access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19). That access is through one of a few thrones in heaven, notably the throne of grace, which God has provided for us as an escape from the judgement throne.
Now, what we see is that Jesus, having passed into the heavens, makes intercession for us. The model used by Paul is a replica of the tabernacle, but aligned vertically (not across the ground), by which He passed not into the sacred chamber at the other side of the tabernacle, but into the very presence of God who is seated in the most sacred of all places: the throne room of glory above us, in the heavens.
His presence there is for the purpose of intercession. That has a passive and active implication. His passive presence, which bears before the Father the perpetual witness of the wounds of Calvary, literally intervenes on our behalf and stays the judgement of God. It is a line that the Father can never cross without invalidating the sacrifice made for our sins. Though the Father may at times be angered by our life choices, the presence of a wounded priest restrains His hand and stays His judgement. That said, never underestimate our ability to step beyond Christ's covering - which will expose us to the wrath of God. It is truly a fearful thing to fall into the hands of such a just, awesome, living God. We do well to fear Him.
The active role of Christ involves "groanings that cannot be uttered", whereby Jesus implores God, as He prays for us and bears us up through all our struggles. That brings me to the crux of this article. As He prays for us, does He too experience the hits and misses we experience in prayer? Do His deepest yearnings go unanswered and unfulfilled?
I would like to leave the question hanging there, but let me bring some perspective.
We must believe that Jesus contends with the Father, else His intercession is just a self-fulfilling act, devoid of the substance of those prayers and groanings that Paul wrote about. If He merely mouths the Father's predetermined will, His prayers are a sham. Rather, Jesus stands between us and the Father. He serves the Father's will, but relates to our weaknesses and serves to reconcile those two poles. Thus He wrestles with many real contradictions.
Okay, that is controversial enough and I think I have said enough for now. However, although I will work through subsequent articles to develop a more comprehensive position, I would love to hear your views, especially as this is a meaty and very relevant debate.
(c) Peter Eleazar @ http://www.4u2live.net/
Image source; The cone Nebula, Hubble - the best and most reverend portrayal of the Great Intercessor I can find
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