Being Saved Completely

... he is able for all time to save completely those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25 NRSV)

In his book Rediscovering New Testament Prayer (Harper San Francisco, 1992), John Koenig draws attention to an activity which both the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus are doing: interceding for us (Ch. 7). The word intercede comes from the Latin intercedere, a combination of two other words: inter-between, and cedere=to go. Along with other scriptures, Koenig also refers to Hebrews 7:25 where the writer of the letter to Hebrew believers opens a door for us and reveals what is going on in spiritual realm: Jesus serving us as we approach God, acting as our go-between, always interceding on our behalf. He is always for us. And his being there for us makes our complete salvation possible. Our ongoing spiritual formation is bound up with Jesus praying for us, being present for us. As we keep walking, keep working, keep waiting for his second coming and the renewal of all creation, we are being prayed for continually--by Jesus.

Koenig invites us to reflect on a hymn by Martin Luther which can help us visualize and hear Jesus as he prays for each one of us:

"Stay close to me, I am your rock and castle. Your ransom I myself will be; For you I strive and wrestle; For I am yours and you are mine, That where I am you may remain. The foe shall not divide us." from Lutheran Book Of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1978), no. 299, stanza 7.

This month the lectionary readings invite us to be faithful until Jesus returns. Another church year ends, and the new season begins. In the midst of endings and beginnings, work, stress, and yearning as we do the priestly work of intercession (Rev 1:6), take some time to simple appreciate and listen to Jesus interceding for us.

Wendy Miller Eastern Mennonite Seminary