SermonStudio

Heads bowed, hands clasped, the words are spoken softly and gently. A prayer is lifted up for this need, for that person, for those in trouble or affliction. There is need, want, despair -- for someone or for many. A hope is voiced that God will intervene, help, safeguard, or assist. Then, with these needs and wants laid before God, the prayer ends, "In Jesus' name we pray. Amen." That's it; that's the assurance that God will hear us, for this prayer is being offered in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the one interceding for us before the throne of God.

To offer sacrifice was one of the primary roles of the high priest, standing there before the very throne of God in the temple. To stand on the edge between the sacred and the profane and to serve as the intermediary between God and his people was an essential part of their work. To offer up prayers and supplications for all in need was a vital part of their office. But once again, the author of Hebrews comes along to remind us that such high priests were only human and that eventually death would claim them as indeed it would claim all those who are wrapped in this mortal coil.

But there is one high priest, a great high priest, who holds his priesthood permanently. But if this priesthood is permanent, it means that he never dies, and if he never dies, then he lives forever. If he lives forever, it means that he can continue his priestly work without ceasing. But what work is this? The eternal sacrifice has been offered once for all upon the cross, making the daily ritual no longer necessary. The gap between the sacred and the human has been bridged by Christ's ascension into heaven, there to be seated at the right hand of God. This leaves the role of intercession, the lifting up of the needs and hopes of God's people before the very throne of God, himself.

In the midst of our assemblies gathered in worship, indeed most often in the middle of that most holy moment when the elements are consecrated and we declare Christ's presence on the altar, we proclaim that most ancient of acclamations -- "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." We hold to the truth of Jesus having lived among us, fully human and fully divine. We hold to the truth that indeed this man died on the cross for us. We cling to the hope of the promise from that same Jesus that he will come again in power and great glory.

But between the coming and the coming again, where is this Jesus and what is he doing? Living in the immediacy of these between times, the early church struggled with this question and the crisis of faith it caused. It is left to the author of Hebrews, among others, to bring assurance to the people of faith, to let them know that this Christ has not abandoned them, neglected them, forgotten them, or even ignored them. This Christ is not idle while seated at the right hand of the Father nor is he resting on his laurels after his great victory over sin and death. Rather, this Christ remains actively involved in the life of those whom he has redeemed, precisely because he has shed his precious blood for them. While he lives in glory as befits the one who is the king before whom every knee in heaven and on earth shall bend, he also serves as priest, continuing that work which remains for him to do, to intercede with the Father on behalf of those whom he has claimed in love.

Transcending the limits of time and space, living now between the extraordinary past and the even more extraordinary future, this risen Christ stands now before the Father offering up his intercessions for us unceasingly. And that transcendence of time and space is seen in no better place than in our worship. At the heart of our weekly celebration lies the holy eucharist itself.

Here, on this altar, all the barriers of time and space are erased. Here, on this altar, the church on earth of which we are a part and the church in heaven are joined together in the one, mystical body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here, on this altar, Christ comes once again as the perfect risen Lord, to participate in that perfect sacrifice that he has offered once for all on our behalf. Here, on this altar, Christ lives risen among us, interceding for us once more before the throne of God. For we come to this table not because we are worthy, not because we are perfect, and not because we are free of sin. We come precisely because there is one who, having offered himself for us, now intercedes for us before the throne of God so that in our unworthiness, in our imperfection, and in our sin, we might receive the gift of forgiveness and the promise of new life.

In our Lutheran Book of Worship the conclusion to one of our eucharistic prayers gives voice to this understanding of Christ's intercession and to the breaking of those barriers between time and space so that Christ can continue such intercession without ceasing before the throne of God. "Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and place and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until He comes as victorious Lord of all." The voices of all the saints down through the ages until this very day are raised into the presence of our God who lives in the eternal present. Lifting up such prayers, our Lord Jesus Christ then intercedes for us without ceasing, continually, unrelentingly, passionately before the throne of God.

So are our prayers offered up to God. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord because he has said that whatever we ask in his name will be given to us. "In Jesus name we pray." This is not a cheap phrase, one to be used lightly, as though it were some sort of magical formula which will guarantee God's receptivity to our prayers. Rather as we pray in the name of Jesus we recall his unceasing work on our behalf interceding for us before the throne of God. Having been called to serve as the great high priest by God, Jesus now, in this very time and in this very place, continues to make intercession for us so that all who approach God may be saved through the precious work he does for us. Christ, as intercessor, does not lessen the role of Christ as king. For Christ serves as king seated at the right hand of the Father and as priest forever standing before the throne of God lifting up our prayers to him, interceding for us so that we may be heard, unceasingly petitioning for us so that we may be saved. For this saving work of Christ we give thanks to God as we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.