As we slow down after the celebration (and busyness) of Easter week, what do we do now?
The last sayings of Jesus that world-changing day give us a path to tread. Watch this progression:
- “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:32-38)
- “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
- “Woman, behold your son! . . . Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
- “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-50)
- “I thirst.” (John 19:28)
- “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
- “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46)
The first thing he does on the cross? He prays for others. Even on the cross, praying for others leads to loving them, in this case with his dying gasps for air. Seeing to them by talking to them from the cross, he is loving them. From words of truth and comfort to the criminal, to loving his mother and seeing to her livelihood, Jesus is helping them while being the ultimate intercessor.
But then, note, Jesus' intercessory prayer gives birth to worship. Intercessory prayer loves people; that’s why we have prayer cards on it. With prayer cards to help us, we slow down and look at people in our mind's eye. We think about what their world is like, and what they are going through. The prayer card helps us capture that. So our prayers for them become truly meaningful, not trite.
In Jesus, this was the final path on the cross. The last six hours on the cross began with intercessory prayer for others, and his life ended with the ultimate prayer of surrender. That is worship. In Jesus’ pattern, intercessory prayer becomes the door to complete surrender.
Bob Allums
Director of seeJesus Seminars: A Praying Life
Twitter: @_APrayingLife
P.S. Visit us at seeJesus.net.
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