He Still Prays for Us
Jesus defends us against Satan's accusations and prays for us, giving us a pardon and a new garment of righteousness.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the powerful intercession of Jesus as our Advocate, using the story of Joshua the high priest from Zechariah 3 to illustrate how Satan accuses us before God. Despite Joshua's sins and the accusations against him, Jesus steps in, reminding the Father of His sacrifice and clothing Joshua in righteousness. This act of grace shows that, like Joshua, we too are defended by Christ against the accusations of the enemy. Wilkerson reassures us that Jesus continues to pray for us, offering hope and redemption despite our failures.
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Zechariah 3 describes a high priest named Joshua standing before the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. Also present was an angel, who had to be Christ because angels do not judge.
Joshua was a real man, not just a type of Christ. He was the high priest during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. In Ezra 10:18 it appears that Joshua had married a heathen woman; at that time, the worst way a Jew could defile himself was by marrying a Gentile.
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel" (Zechariah 3:3). Joshua stands before the throne in his filthy garments, and the devil is at his side, accusing him. Satan argued: "This man has broken Your law and sinned against You." The devil's accusations were correct: Joshua had sinned and now Satan claimed Joshua for himself.
Beloved, this is exactly what happens with us. Satan comes before the throne of grace to accuse us. He points at us and says, "You know all things, God, and You see the compromise in this one's life. If You are just, You must give me his soul." In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called "the accuser of our brethren" and he stands before God right now to oppose you and me -- to accuse us of sin.
That is when Jesus, our Advocate, steps up and says, "It is true, Father. He has failed but there is faith in his heart -- faith in the power of My blood. I have paid for every sin he has or ever will commit." Jesus then turns to those standing by, "Take his filthy garments and put My robe of righteousness upon his shoulders."
Jesus said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan . . . Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Zechariah 3: 2). What a picture! The devil was forced to leave with a sound rebuke and Joshua walked away with a pardon, a new garment and a crown of righteousness on his head.
"If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Jesus has been in glory for these 2,000 years praying for us and He is still praying for us.
Sermon Outline
- I. Satan's Accusations
- A. Satan accuses us of sin before God's throne
- B. Satan claims us as his own
- II. Jesus' Defense
- A. Jesus acknowledges our sin
- B. Jesus highlights our faith in His blood
- III. The Result of Jesus' Defense
- A. Satan is rebuked and forced to leave
- B. We receive a pardon and a new garment
- IV. Jesus' Ongoing Prayer
- A. Jesus has been praying for us in glory
- B. Jesus is still praying for us today
Key Quotes
“Jesus then turns to those standing by, 'Take his filthy garments and put My robe of righteousness upon his shoulders.'” — David Wilkerson
“The devil was forced to leave with a sound rebuke and Joshua walked away with a pardon, a new garment and a crown of righteousness on his head.” — David Wilkerson
“Jesus has been in glory for these 2,000 years praying for us and He is still praying for us.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We can trust in Jesus' defense against Satan's accusations and know that He is praying for us.
- We should recognize the importance of having faith in Jesus' blood and the power it has to cleanse us from sin.
- We can have confidence in Jesus' ongoing prayer for us and know that He is always interceding on our behalf.