基督：我们的代求者
约翰福音十七20至26节
20我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，
21使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。
22你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。
23我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全的合而为一，叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。
24父阿，我在那里，愿你所赐给我的人也同我在那里，叫他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀；因为创立世界以前，你已经爱我了。
25公义的父阿，世人未曾认识你，我却认识你；这些人也知道你差了我来。
26我已将你的名指示他们，还要指示他们，使你所爱我的爱在他们里面，我也在他们里面。
信息分享
代求者的工作，就是代表另一人辩护和求情，就如律师在法庭上代表当事人申诉一样。那么，耶稣基督的工作是甚么呢？
圣经没有详细言明基督的代求工作具体是甚么。祂已经借着祂的受死和复活，完成了为我们代赎的工作。 然而，祂仍要帮助我们，与神有密切的交通。如犹大书所言，祂要「保守我们不失脚」（24节）。
新约中另有两处提及祂的这项事工。在约翰福音十七章的主祷文中，基督祷告说：「圣父啊，求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们。」（11节）「求你保守他们脱离那恶者。」（15节）这无疑是基督今天不断为我们所祈求的。
在路加福音二十二章31至32节，基督对彼得的告诫甚为沉重，但却同时带给他莫大的安慰。「我已经为你祈求，西门，叫你不至于失了信心。」撒但要试探所有的门徒以得着他们，但基督告诉他们，祂早已为他们祷告。祂说这话的时候似是早已逐一地为他们祷告，尤其是彼得。这也是今天祂在继续为我们做的。
基督是在甚么时候为门徒祷告的呢？是在试探临到之前。今天为我们祂也一样的在做吗？是的。基督可以预见试探的来临，祂为我们祈求，以至我们能面对试探和胜过试探。
基督就是这样保守我们免于跌倒，直至我们将来上天堂。我们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!