James Durham
Commentary on Revelation
Vol. 2, pp. 253-254.

If our Lord was Intercessor before His incarnation.

It will be some difficulty to clear if Christ, before His incarnation, did execute this part of His [Mediatorial] office, and with what difference He does it now.

The Scriptures indeed of the New Testament do speak of Christ’s intercession, as not only posterior to His incarnation, but also to the whole state of His humiliation—which is often spoken of as that which does qualify and fit Him for this office. Yea, the Scriptures do ever presuppose His resurrection and ascension. Yet as it cannot be denied that Christ was Intercessor on earth, though He was not in the aforementioned manner appearing in heaven, so it cannot be denied, that Christ did execute this office [of intercession] before His being man. For He was Mediator, King, Priest, and Prophet before His incarnation. Neither can anyone warrantably say that believers then did lack this consolation. And in Scripture we will find some grounds bearing forth all the essentials of intercession, as:

Proof that the Son of God interceded for His people prior to His Incarnation.

1. First, in that parable of the wine-dressers interceding with the master (Luke 13), we have the Mediator’s reverent interposing represented to us—and that before His Incarnation. Besides, what is held forth by the typical services: as praying towards the holy temple, the holy oracle, the high priests making intercession as well as offering sacrifices, and such like, do evidence that respect is had to Christ’s intercession.

2. We will find His sympathy and being affected with the condition of His people [in the Old Testament]. That is a great word in Isaiah 63:9, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and in his love and pity he redeemed them, and he bore them and carried them all the days of old.” This speaks a sympathy flowing from a covenant-relation, even before He was incarnate. Again, in Proverbs 8:31, He speaks of His delight and rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth—that is, in these that were given Him, and even in the places in a manner where they were to reside, which sympathy seems to flow from the very appointment of Him to be Head to such a number.

3. He being then Mediator, could not but be Advocate, and have His judicial appearances (to say so) for His people, there being no less need then than now.

4. As what concerns His willingness to have His people well in that time, cannot be denied from that one place of Isaiah, just now cited (Isa. 63:9), so neither can His intercession be denied.

The Difference Between Christ’s Intercession in the Old vs. the New Testament.

If it be asked, where the difference lies? We answer, especially in these three or four:

1. In the ground of the intercession. It was then done in virtue of the sacrifice to be offered. Now it is performed by, and grounded upon, the virtue of the satisfaction that is already given and finished upon the cross.

2. There is a difference in respect of the blessed Intercessor, who, being then God, has now taken a new relation to Him, by assuming our nature in one person to His divine nature—whereby He is not only capable in a more suitable way to sympathize, but actually has submitted Himself to suffer for this very end, as was formerly hinted. So that though He cannot be more compassionate than He formerly was, yet He now has a new experimental way of being affected with our griefs, and of being provoked to heal them.

3. There follows a difference in His manner of interceding, which is now done in our nature, for in it He appears before God; also touches of our ills, and His sympathy with us, are more suitable to our nature, and do more experimentally impress and affect Him than before.

4. Lastly, there is this difference, that though before there was consolation to His people from His intercession; yet it is much more now, and therefore it is so often and fully insisted on in the New Testament, besides what was hinted—that then His sympathy flowed from His deputation and appointment, but now from His human nature and the experience thereof.