基督：我們的代求者
約翰福音十七20至26節
20我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，
21使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裡面，我在你裡面，使他們也在我們裡面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。
22你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。
23我在他們裡面，你在我裡面，使他們完完全全的合而為一，叫世人知道你差了我來，也知道你愛他們如同愛我一樣。
24父阿，我在那裡，願你所賜給我的人也同我在那裡，叫他們看見你所賜給我的榮耀；因為創立世界以前，你已經愛我了。
25公義的父阿，世人未曾認識你，我卻認識你；這些人也知道你差了我來。
26我已將你的名指示他們，還要指示他們，使你所愛我的愛在他們裡面，我也在他們裡面。
信息分享
代求者的工作，就是代表另一人辯護和求情，就如律師在法庭上代表當事人申訴一樣。那麼，耶穌基督的工作是甚麼呢？
聖經沒有詳細言明基督的代求工作具體是甚麼。祂已經藉著祂的受死和復活，完成了為我們代贖的工作。 然而，祂仍要幫助我們，與神有密切的交通。如猶大書所言，祂要「保守我們不失腳」（24節）。
新約中另有兩處提及祂的這項事工。在約翰福音十七章的主禱文中，基督禱告說：「聖父啊，求你因你所賜給我的名保守他們。」（11節）「求你保守他們脫離那惡者。」（15節）這無疑是基督今天不斷為我們所祈求的。
在路加福音二十二章31至32節，基督對彼得的告誡甚為沉重，但卻同時帶給他莫大的安慰。「我已經為你祈求，西門，叫你不至於失了信心。」撒但要試探所有的門徒以得著他們，但基督告訴他們，祂早已為他們禱告。祂說這話的時候似是早已逐一地為他們禱告，尤其是彼得。這也是今天祂在繼續為我們做的。
基督是在甚麼時候為門徒禱告的呢？是在試探臨到之前。今天為我們祂也一樣的在做嗎？是的。基督可以預見試探的來臨，祂為我們祈求，以至我們能面對試探和勝過試探。
基督就是這樣保守我們免於跌倒，直至我們將來上天堂。我們有何等奇妙的一位的大祭司啊！
CHRIST: OUR INTERCESSOR
John 17:20-26
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Message
The second word used to describe Christ's work for believers today comes from Hebrews 7:25. 'He always lives to make intercession for them.' What does the word - intercessor mean?
An intercessor is one who pleads on behalf of someone else, for example a lawyer who speaks in a law court on behalf of his client. What does Jesus Christ do?
The exact nature of Christ's intercessory work is not fully revealed. He is claiming for us all that He made possible by His death and resurrection. He wants to keep us in close fellowship with the Father. As Jude says, 'He wants to keep us from falling.' (v.24)
There are two other references or examples of this ministry in the new Testament. In His prayer in John 17, Christ said, 'Holy Father, protect them by the power of your Name.' (17:11) 'Protect them from the evil one.' (v.15) That is undoubtedly how Christ continues to pray for us today.
Then in Luke 22:31-32, Christ spoke strongly to Peter but gave him wonderful words of comfort. 'I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.' Satan had asked to test all the disciples but Christ said He had prayed for them. He spoke as if He had prayed for each of them, especially Peter. This again is what He is doing for us today.
When had He prayed for His disciples? Before the temptation came. Is that what He is doing today? He can see the temptation coming and He prays that we might be able to face it and win the victory over it.
This is how He can keep us from falling until we reach heaven ourselves. What a wonderful High Priest ours is!