From Genesis to Revelation, the unanimous and abundant testimony of Scripture is that Jehovah hears and answers prayer. Humanity’s entreaties, offered by faith and in accordance to God’s will, arise as a sweet-smelling aroma to the One who sits in utter sovereignty upon the throne of the universe. Humbly casting all your care upon Him who cares for you is the expectation of the great “I AM” (1 Peter 5:6-7). To be heard, prayer does not need a cacophony of vain repetitions, just a secret place where a simple expression of one’s reverence, submission, consecration, trust, and needs can be made (Matthew 6:7-13).
When the Messiah exclaimed “You have answered Me” (Psalm 22:21), it meant that His agonizing and excruciating baptism of suffering had been completed. He had fought His final spiritual conflict of His earthly ministry with the adversary of God and humanity. His atoning work on earth as the Lamb of God was accomplished. The debt of sin had been paid in full. “It is finished” (John 19:30) was His victorious proclamation.
The good news of His spiritual triumph and its power to save everyone who believes its historical facts which fulfilled predictive prophecies and obeys its simple commands must be sounded out into all the earth, in every nation, to every creature, to the ends of the world, until the end of the age. All authority in heaven and earth has been given unto Christ (Matthew 28:18). He is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and to Whom belong honor and everlasting power (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Because of His victory, there is now one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Because He is our Advocate when we sin (1 John 2:1) and our High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), let us “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) so that we can join our joyous voice to His in declaring the wondrous truth “You have answered me”.
