“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” (Job 16:20-21)
Job was in a very difficult situation. God seemed to have left him and seemed to treat him unjustly. Job was wrestling with this. He was crying out to the Lord. He knew that God was good and righteous and faithful, so how could He allow Job’s suffering?
Job’s friends could not give him a satisfactory answer. They just assumed that Job had committed some hidden sin that was now being punished. The only one he could turn to, was… God himself! Job expresses his faith that there is someone who will plead for him “as one pleads for a friend”. And he was right. This intercessor is Jesus, the eternal Son of God. The New Testament gives us more details about His ministry: “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Since Jesus Christ has paid the price for human sin, nobody can bring any charge against God’s elect — not even when they have committed gross sin! What a friend we have in Jesus!
What does it mean to you, knowing that Jesus is pleading for you?