Let’s start with a trivia question: What do baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, Olympic sprinter Florence Joyner (remember Flo Jo?), and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway all have in common?
The answer: They all became champions, then retired.
And doesn’t that seem good, right, and natural? After enduring a grueling test of talent, willpower, and endurance, they reach the pinnacle of success and then step away to enjoy a well-earned rest.
Frodo of the Shire was no different. After the epic battle between good and evil, he’s left wounded—both physically and psychologically. So what does he do? He leaves Middle-earth, sailing to the Undying Lands for what is presumed to be eternal rest.
There’s something in us that resonates with this. It makes sense. A glorious victory should earn an epic rest.
Then we read Romans 8 and see Christ—after His glorious victory over sin—doing something shocking.
The Victory That Didn’t Lead to Rest
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Rom. 8: 34)
Through the cross and resurrection, Christ has crushed sin’s dominion. He has shattered the chains of death, led a host of captives free (Ephesians 4: 8), and triumphed over every power and authority. Paul tells the Romans, “Christ Jesus died and was raised and is now seated at the right hand of God.”
Unlike us, sitting down doesn’t mean He’s grabbing the remote and kicking up His feet. His sitting signifies something far more profound:
• His sacrifice was accepted by God.
• His heavenly reign had begun.
• The Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in believers.
But here’s the unexpected twist: Christ’s work didn’t stop. His seating actually launched a new phase of activity.
Theologians call this “The Session”—which simply means “the act of sitting.” But in Christ’s case, His session isn’t passive. It marks the beginning of His next role: Intercessor!
Christ, Our Intercessor
Intercession simply means praying on behalf of another person, standing in for them, mediating for them.
To understand this, we need to look back at the Old Testament temple.
The high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, carrying the names of God’s people on his shoulders (Exodus 28:12). He would intercede for them, offering sacrifices so their prayers could be accepted by God.
Likewise, Christ—our Great High Priest—has entered heaven on our behalf:
• He carries our names into God’s presence.
• He intercedes for us daily.
• He ensures our prayers are acceptable to the Father.
What Christ’s Intercession Means for Us
1. We Have an Advocate
Life in a fallen world means we feel accused, ashamed, and condemned.
It’s why Romans 8:34 asks, “Who is to condemn?” The reality is, we do experience condemnation—whether from:
• Our own hearts (“I’ll never measure up…”)
• Other people (“You’ll never change…”)
• Satan himself (Revelation 12 calls him ‘the accuser of the brethren’).
We all know the weight of these accusations.
But here’s the good news: “If anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous.” (1 John 2:1)
An advocate is someone who:
• Defends us when we are accused.
• Represents us before the Judge.
• Speaks on our behalf when we have no words.
And our Advocate isn’t distant. He’s not working remotely from some heavenly retirement home. He’s seated next to the Father, pleading our case, defending us against every accusation, and interceding for us day and night.
Think of it this way: If you were on trial for your life, who would you want defending you? Someone who’s indifferent? Or someone who would fight for you with everything they have?
Jesus—our Advocate—gave His life for us and now spends every moment in heaven interceding for us. Every time Satan accuses, every time we stumble, every time we feel unworthy, Jesus is praying us back to our feet.
And guess what? The Father always listens to the Son.
2. We Have an Invitation to Be Heard
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14–15). Because of Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and present intercession, we have an open invitation to be heard in heaven. We can “ask anything according to his will” because Christ has opened the way for our prayers to reach the Father.
Christ praying for us is proof that God’s plan of reconciliation has worked. In Gethsemane, Jesus received the silence we deserved as he prayed for the cup to pass. Then, on the cross, he entered the forsakenness our sins had earned. He was shut out so the door could be opened to us.
Now, because of our Advocate, we receive what Christ deserved: a full hearing before our loving Father. We are not beggars hoping heaven might notice us. We are beloved children invited to make our requests known to God (Phil. 4:6). Christ was forsaken so we could be heard. His advocacy means our prayers reach the throne.
So pray with confidence. Bring your needs honestly. Ask boldly, not because your words are impressive, but because your Advocate is already welcome in heaven.
Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash
