INTERCESSION (in'ter-sesh'un), (Heb.
pazv-g.ah', to come upon; Gr. ivrtryxdvco, en-toong kkan'o, to meet with, to come between).
(1) Intercession of Christ. His interposing for sinners by virtue of his being a AIediator.
0) As to the fact itself, it is evident, from many places of Scripture, that Christ pleads with God in favor of his people (Rom. viii :34; Heb.
vii :25; John ii :I).
(2) As to the manner of it : the appcarance of the high-priest among the Jews, in the presence of God, on the day of atonement, when he of fered before him the blood of the sin-offering, is at large referred to by St. Paul as illustrating the intercession of Christ (Heb. ix :t 14, 22, 26; x :13, 21).
(3) Christ's intercession is not to remind the Divine Being of anything which he would other wise forget, nor to persuade him to anything which he is not disposed to do; but it may serve to illustrate the holiness and majesty of the Fa ther, and the wisdom and grace of the Son ; not to say that it may have other unknown uses with respect to the inhabitants of the invisible world. He is represented, also, as offering up the pray ers and praises of his people, which become ac ceptable to God through him (Rev. viii :3, 4 ; Heb. xiii ; I Pet. ii :5). He there pleads for the conversion of unconverted ones; and for the consolation, preservation, and glorification of his people (John xvii ; John ii :1, 2).
(4) Of the properties of Christ's intercession, it may be also observed: (a) That it is authoritative. He intercedes not without right (John xvii :24 ; Ps. ii :8). (b) Wise; he understands the nature of his work, and the wants of his people (John ii :25). (c) Righteous; for it is founded upon justice and truth ( r John iii :5 ; Heb. vii :26). (d) Compassionate (Heb. :17 ; v :8 ; Is. lxiii :9). (e) He is the sole advocate 0 Tun. ii:5). (f) It is perpetual (Heb. vii :25). (g) Efficacious (I John ii :I, 2 John xi :42).
(2) Intercession of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost makes intercession for us with groan ings that cannot be uttered ; he excites to prayer, directs what to ask, and enables us to offer our requests to God in a duly earnest manner (Rom.
viii :26).
(3) Intercession of Believers. We make in tercession for men, when we plead with God on their behalf, and for his gifts and graces to them (I Tim. ii :1). In a time of universal apostasy, God wondered that there was no intercessor, none to stand up in behalf of religion, and wrestle with him for the. turning away of his wrath (Is. lix :t 6).