Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
“[Christ] always lives to make intercession for us. How good and truly mystical and generous to humans! For to intercede does not imply, as it ordinarily does for most mortals, to seek vengeance – there would be a hint of inferiority in that – but it is to act as a representative for us by virtue of His mediation, just as the Spirit also is said to intercede for us. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human…
Likewise, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, not in the sense that He prostrates Himself for us before the Father and falls at the Father’s feet like a slave – away with a notion so truly slavish and unworthy of the Spirit! For the Father does not require this, nor does the Son submit to it. Has anyone the right to think such a thing of God? But by what He suffered as human being, He as the Word and the Counsellor persuades me to endure. I think this is the meaning of His advocacy.”
Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) in “Theological Orations 4: On the Son” 2.9, translated by Stephen Reynolds (Estate of Stephen Reynolds) 86-87.
When life is hard, we must remember that Jesus is pulling for us. What a non-stop generous intercessor we have! As we journey with Christ, let us consider today what it would look like to generously intercede for others, to persuade them to endure.
It starts with slowing down, checking in, and asking people how they are doing. From there, we listen. I am learning to tune in beyond the words to the heart behind them. Is the person suffering, struggling, or searching? My tendency is to give answers and solve problems.
To be like Jesus, we advocate for them to the Father, not once but repeatedly. We pray that He will save and sustain them. We so truth into their lives at random times and just love them. I fail at this most of the time, but I think intercession is compassion at its best.