# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1928_S34
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

34 Proceedings of the thirty-first convention

The Epistle to the Hebrews also calls attention to the way in which Christ thus
intercedes for us. He does this not merely in words of prayer, to which the
passages cited so far point, but also precisely by pointing to his sacrifice of
reconciliation. Heb. 12:24 says that we are come to the Mediator of the new
covenant, Jesus, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than
that of Abel. Yes, Jesus' blood speaks. "Blood" here is another name for
suffering and dying. The blood of Jesus lifts up its voice, as it were, and
speaks better than Abel's blood. For while the blood of the latter cried for
vengeance, Christ's blood cries: Mercy, forgiveness! The Father in heaven will
not resist this.

This latter expression also helps us answer the question: For whom does this
intercession of Christ take place? That he pleads for us Christians is said
clearly enough in the words we have considered. But the statement that Jesus'
blood cries better than Abel's gives the impression that Jesus does not leave
it at intercession for his disciples. His blood cries in general for mercy.
If we then also take in the word spoken on the cross for his tormentors:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" the prayer that is
already mentioned in the prophecy of Isaiah, where it says: "He made
intercession for the transgressors," then we surely do not err if we say: Jesus
now intercedes also for the unbelievers, namely that they may come to faith and
obtain God's reconciliation also for their own person.

Second, to the high priest of the Old Testament also belonged the blessing. At
the close of the service he lifted up his hands and pronounced the blessing. So
we must think of our High Priest also not merely as interceding but as
blessing. It is a twofold thing that we can set before ourselves in this
connection from the Epistle to the Hebrews. It teaches us that Jesus as our High
Priest brings us to faith. As we have heard, through faith we become partakers
of God's reconciliation for our own person. But this faith we cannot give
ourselves. Of ourselves we can do only one thing: not believe, reject Jesus'
Word and grace. He, the true High Priest, works in us the acceptance of divine
forgiveness. We read, namely, in Heb. 12:2 that Jesus is the author and finisher
of faith. Jesus is the beginner, the originator, of faith. He creates in us,
to be sure not without means but through Word and Sacrament, in which his Spirit
works, the joyful assurance that through his work we have a reconciled God.

And further, as our High Priest he keeps us in this faith and helps us in our
weakness generally. He is not merely the beginner but also the finisher of our
faith, as we have just heard. If we remain faithful, we have to ascribe it to
him alone. There are, as we well know, many dangers and enemies that want to
tear faith from us. And how weak we are! How easily we succumb to the
temptations that come upon us! Here Scripture gives us the great comfort that
our High Priest Jesus stands at our side and helps us. It is a glorious piece
of divine truth to which the Epistle to the Hebrews calls attention with
emphasis. As we heard briefly already under the second thesis, the sacred
writer shows that Jesus can help us very well, because he himself became a man
like us, only without sin.