Knowing the Intercessor

“This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).

How well do we know the Intercessor? Do we need to know Him? Yes, according to Jesus it is a matter of eternal life or death. So, what details can we bring to mind that prove to our heart and mind that our personal Intercessor is holy and just before God and good to us? Who is your Intercessor? Who is mine? Is it Jesus, a tangible, personal Saviour, the only-begotten Son of the Highest?  Or, is it an invisible, intangible, impersonal entity, third member of a Trinity of Gods?

Who can we know best? Can we know a human? Or, can we know a spirit? Who can we really know, remembering that eternal life and eternal death teeter on knowing God and His Son? Does our knowing come by studying a doctrine or by witnessing, and being drawn to, a wonderful human life? Who is our wonderful counselor, our wonderful comforter, advocate, mediator, intercessor? Scripture declares for us who this is.

“For there is one God, and one Mediator^G3316 between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1Tim. 2:5). G3316 mesitēs From G3319; a go between, that is, (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor): - mediator.

An Internunciator stands between two alienated parties. The intercessor is a middle man. And when it comes to exceeding sinfulness and shame and guilt, we need a middle man of gigantic proportions. This exceeding Intercessor must speak for man and for God. And He can. He speaks for us and for the Father because our Intercessor is both God and man, divine and human. He can speak both languages and for both authorities, both of which have sovereign wills because God makes it so. He speaks from both dispositions of infinite perfection and infinite sin, infinite power and infinite weakness. Our Internunciator Intercessor thinks like God and He thinks like a human; He thinks like both a divinely begotten Creator and a humanly birthed creature. He was and has been the Propitiation for us; He assumed all the wrath of God upon sin. Therefore, God recognizes the mind of our Internunciator to be 100% loyal to the righteous Law of God’s kingdom. Therefore, all of His counsels to God are acceptable to Him and to His angelic hosts. And so God leaves us under the charge of His Internunciator.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate^G3875 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1Jn. 2:1). Our one Internunciator, Intercessor is our Advocate and our “another” Comforter, both English “Advocate” and “Comforter” translated from the same Greek word.

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter^G3875, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18). G3875 paraklētos An intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter.

“He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him…. If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:21,23).

So, how well do you know your Comforter? Do you see Him? Do you know Him like the disciples did who walked with theirs? Do you see Him, as He required for eternal life?

“And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life.” (John 6:40).

We must see in order to know our Comforter. Where there is no vision the people perish. And there is nothing recognizable to the human in the wispy, vaporous, vague third being of the erroneous Trinity doctrine.

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17).

But, how can we see our Comforter? In the same way that the disciples saw Him—through the things that appeal to God-forsaken humans—His righteousness and His love. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:4,5,9). We must see Him through faith. It is by beholding our Comforter that we become changed into His same image. The disciples, likewise, were learning to see Him through faith. They were seeing more than His enemies were seeing, and even more than the multitudes were seeing.

“Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:26,27).

By needing a friend in Jesus and looking for evidence of His friendship, through faith we can see Jesus in the New and Old Testament scriptures.

“God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.… Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1Cor. 2:10,13).

The scriptures are brightened by the presence of Jesus by the view of Him in the precepts and exemplary experiences of sacred history.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…. The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Ps. 119:105, 130).

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” (Ps. 89:15,16).

“How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.

For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.

O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” (Ps. 36:7-10).

“Hearken unto Me, My people; and give ear unto Me, O My nation: for a law shall proceed from Me, and I will make My judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; My salvation is gone forth, and Mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust.” (Isa. 51:4,5).

“The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Num. 6:25,26). His countenance means His very presence, as in the scripture, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” (Ex. 33:14).

“For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy countenance, because Thou hadst a favour unto them.” (Ps. 44:3).

In the faithful, redeemed people of His sacred history, and of today, we see Jesus.

“When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.” (1Sam. 17:42). [When the Pharisees looked about, and saw Jesus, they disdained Him: for He was youthful, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.]

“Abigail: …a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” (1Sam. 25:3). [Again, Jesus was a Son of good understanding and beautiful countenance.]

“And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down  to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.” (Gen. 24:15). [Jesus is fair and pure, and full of service to everyone He ever met, family members, friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike!]

“And [Potiphar] left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured…. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.” (Gen. 39:6,22,23).

[Jesus is faithful, trustworthy, intensely righteous, efficient, intelligent, and a good manager of people. Doesn’t the picture of Him through Joseph start our wheels turning to see more details of Jesus? Don’t we begin to look around us at good managers, efficient employees, intelligent, trustworthy, faithful people, and look for the perfection of Jesus in every respect of human capabilities. And doesn’t that make this life interesting and adventurous and hopeful, and filled with the presence of Jesus in our hearts everywhere we go?]

“God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” (Gen. 46:2-4).

[Didn’t Jacob’s beloved son Joseph put his hand ever so loving on the eyes of his long lost loving father? Do we see Jesus testified of here? Wouldn’t Jesus be as gentle and loving when He lays His hand on us?]

“Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great.” (Ps. 18:35).

“I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps. 16:8-11).

“Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” (Ps. 31:5).

[When Jesus’ presence is tangible to our faith and sight, can’t we surrender our spirit to Him and commit  our souls to His keeping? “Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence.” Desire of Ages, p. 331.]

“Though [the justified person] fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” (Ps. 37:24-26).

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.

Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.

Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips:

When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.

Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.

My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.” (Ps. 63:1-8).

“Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Ps. 77:20).

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; Thou savest me from violence.” (2Sam. 22:2,3).

[How about the Son of God’s earthly father, David? Didn’t David reveal Jesus more than anyone in sacred history?]

“When he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” (1Sam. 18:1-3).

In life and in death for our second birth, we see the only true Intercessor. The third person of the trinity dogma never died. Only the eternal Father died with us when He died with His only begotten Son.

“And … Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.” (1Sam. 4:19,20).

“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.” (Gen. 35:16-18).

“The scriptures … testify of Me.” (John 5:39). “My words... they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

Do you see your Comforter in people who He redeemed from sin and selfishness, who offered their lives in order to give life to others? Do you see Jesus in Rachel and Phinehas’ wife, dying to bring a new life into the world? Don’t you see Jesus through them, when He was caught in the storm of saving us, and finally died to bring new life to a world of sinners? Do you here see Jesus, the Master Teacher and wonderful Counselor, the mighty Healer and Great Physician, the meek and lowly Lamb of God? Are you getting to know your Intercessor through the redeemed children of the scriptures? Can you see “the Man Christ Jesus” (1Tim. 2:5) through His workmanship in those men and women?

“[Aaron] ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” (Num. 16:47,48).

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39,40).

Will we come to Jesus for comfort? Do you have on your eye salve? Are you seeing and getting to know the only true God and Jesus Christ who He sent? Don’t wait for the mysterious, invisible third person of the Trinity doctrine to ever show up to get acquainted with you. Don’t wait for that post-apostolic, Babylonian construct to move your deepest yearnings for righteousness and liberty like Jesus can, by using His written word as the medium for the transmission of Himself. The love for righteousness and liberty comes from “the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:17) Jesus Christ who gives us a new heart that is freed in obedience. “The Lord is that Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:17). The Spirit is Jesus. Only Jesus has come to us in the flesh, to enable us to see God as He really is. Therefore, it is Jesus who has been working overtime since the beginning to reveal Himself to us and to spiritually bring us home again to His Father. The sole biblical Mediator/Advocate/Intercessor is Jesus, the beloved only begotten Son of God. The greatest news ever was the promise that a precious Child born to us would be called, “Wonderful, Counselor” (Isa. 9:6).

All that Jesus did in the flesh on earth is not what the third person of a Trinity does for us. Rather, all that Jesus did in the past He is doing now. The whole reason for His incarnation into human experience and the details of that 33 year life written from four perspectives is for humanity to know exactly what He would continue to do for them until He returned. His visible, tangible life was written out in order for us to know exactly how He would be toward us until He would return. Jesus was to be the Comforter who was supposed to get all the attention, “and not another” (Job 19:27, cf John 14:16). That was the plan for our salvation. 

“I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” (John 12:32).

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.” (1Pet. 2:6).