This week an incident took place at a football game which serves as an example of a role we should all play. While the Los Angeles Rams battled against the San Francisco 49ers, a man interrupted gameplay by running onto the field brandishing a smoke flare emitting an unknown substance. He alluded security and it was unclear if he was posing a threat or just trying to get attention. A line backer on the sideline intervened and tackled the man, enabling security to take it from there. It turns out by dramatically hijacking the game, the man was hoping to call attention to the inhumane treatment of pigs. My point is that when something isn’t quite right, like the line backer, if possible we each have a responsibility to help in some way. This is especially important in matters of life and death. Let God show you and empower you to intercede for others so they might be saved.
Centuries ago the nation of Israel was facing judgment from God for rebelling against him. In his mercy God looked for someone to stand in the gap, which was a breach in Jerusalem’s wall, to help prevent them from destruction. Tragically, no one was found. Therefore, Babylon later conquered Jerusalem and took Israel captive. Israel’s physical gap represented a more dire spiritual chasm of sin which separated them from God and his protection. Just as God sought someone to physically stand in the gap of the wall, he is looking for someone to intercede in the lives of people to steer them away from the deadly results of their sin and point to salvation in God. Jesus is that person and anyone who follows him will also participate in that vital role.
Jesus Stands in the Gap
The Bible explains that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He formed the first man and woman to live in loving fellowship with him. Sadly it wasn’t long before they rebelled, choosing to live for themselves instead of for God. This brought spiritual death to them separating them from God, and gradual decay to all creation. Fortunately God loves people more than their egregious defiance. He sent Jesus, God the Son, to live as a man among us, to die a sacrificial death, and to rise again on our behalf. Anyone who trusts and obeys Jesus can be forgiven of their wrongdoing and receive everlasting life.
In other words, as eternal God from his watchtower of foreknowledge looked across the battlefield of human history, he saw that humankind would need a gentle warrior to stand in the gap for them or they would die from their rebellion which cuts them off from God who is life and the source of all that is good, right, and loving. Within his triune nature of Father, Son, and Spirit, God choose Jesus, the Son, to uniquely fill that role. Jesus is described as the logos in Greek. The term captures his unique nature as the originator, the universal reason and purpose, and the destiny (John 1). Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one, anointed by God to save the world. Anyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In lovehe predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:3-6). “He [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:9).
Jesus came to us as a good shepherd who stands in the gap to protect, guide, and nurture people who are like sheep (John 10). He left the majesty of heaven and took on the frailty of man to seek and save lost sheep (Luke 15:). King David recognized Jesus’ standing in the gap for him. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-6).
Jesus taught, “I am the the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He is the only mediator to God and intercedes daily for those who trust him. The apostles realized this, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Because Jesus died, rose again, ascended back to heaven and reigns with God, he singularly serves as the high priest standing on our behalf in heaven and enabling us to know God intimately. “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Others Have Stood in the Gap
Although Jesus is the only one to stand in the gap to save people from their sin, in a more limited scope, believers have also stood in the gap out of love for God and others. Abraham interceded for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33). Moses pleaded with God to take his life instead of wiping out Israel when they rebelled at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:9-14). Esther put her life at risk to expose a heinous plot to exterminate all Jews (Esther 4-7). Stephen prayed to God to forgive angry religious leaders as they unjustly stoned him to death (Acts 7:54-60). Barnabas accepted Saul (later know as Paul) when others were wary of Saul who had been persecuting believers before he became a Christian (Acts 9:26-27). Paul was willing to lose his life if it meant his beloved fellow Israelites would recognize Jesus as their savior (Romans 9:2-4). Even in our 21st century, every day Christians are persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and killed for standing in the gap to share the life giving truth they know and the hope they have in Jesus.
You Should Stand in the Gap as Jesus’ Representative
If you have come to trust and obey Jesus as your savior, he is calling you to stand in the gap also. Pray about how to do this. Be open to opportunities to inspire people to turn from sin and to God, to strengthen the weak, to seek and accept the outcast, to protect the vulnerable, and to intervene for those in danger. Listen to God’s Spirit alive in you as he gives you discernment and prompts you to act. Proclaim the truth. Serve those in need. Make things right where you can. Extend mercy. Promote peace. Forgive. Be salt and light in a decaying and dark world. May others see your good works and give glory to God (Matthew 5:13-16). Point others to Jesus so they see that only Jesus can fill their void. Only he can answer their deepest needs. Only he can restore them. Only he can give them victory over sin, Satan, and death. By God’s grace and power you are Jesus’ hands and feet at work in this world. People need a helping hand to pull them out of the water as the current of carnal culture and the riptide of pride try to carry them farther and farther from the shore of God’s love and salvation.
Conclusion
Caring for others and intervening is not easy, but it is necessary and eternally significant. It requires you to be humble, reliant on God, vulnerable, transparent, committed, available, teachable, and faithful. It takes courage, strength, and wisdom. It involves laying down your life to help others. It’s difficult and messy at times. But that’s what love does. It steps into the quagmire and provides a way out. That’s what Jesus did. He stepped down from heaven and became a man in a fallen world of broken people. He gave his life for people who were his enemies–hateful, hostile, and hard-hearted, yet lost, helpless, hopeless, and headed for hell (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-18). He bore the sin of the world so that anyone who trusts in him can be made right with God (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). He is calling you to also stand in the gap by his Spirit at work through you. As you are involved in his mission of reconciliation, God saves people and he transforms you to become like Jesus. Nothing is more noble, worthwhile, rewarding, or adventurous. So as he enables you, stand in the gap for others in Jesus’ name.
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