One Mediator Series

One Mediator

Mediator is an important term, used 3 times in Hebrews to describe our Lord

8 v 6 He is also Mediator of a better covenant

9 v 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

12 v 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

so I want to take a bit of time to ensure that we understand it and its significance, as used here in relation to the New Covenant and elsewhere in the Bible.

Why is it important? Well, the OT covenant and law was given by angels through Moses – Deut 5:5, Gal 3:19. (Moses was its mediator.) The Jews revered angels and Moses, but the writer has already shown that Jesus is infinitely superior to both the angels and Moses. He now wants to make it clear that the New Covenant is superior to the old, not only because of the better promises that it embodies – as we saw last time, but because it was brokered and given by none other than the glorious Son of God.

A mediator

So what does the term mediator mean? The word translated mediator (mesithv) literally means a middle person. In other words someone who stands between two parties who are in dispute to bring them together – a sort of a peace-maker. We have mediators in many areas of life – between countries, businesses, individuals and within families. Mothers, in particular, know what it is to mediate between two warring Children.

We need to understand that, naturally speaking, there is a state of conflict between us and God. God is grieved by of our sin; offended by our indifference and unbelief; and saddened by our arrogance and ingratitude. As a result God sees us as rebels, traitors, and those who deserve the severest punishment and we are in no position to argue our case with God, as Job realised:

Job 9: 32 "For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. 33 Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.

However, rather than wiping us off the face of the earth God, in His great love, chose to restore us to His peace. So Jesus Christ was born and, gloriously, being both God and man, as we have seen earlier, both God and men can be reconciled in and through Him. But this reconciliation came at a high price – the cost of His life – as Heb 9:15 reminds us.

Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Too often, sadly, we even need mediators in our Churches. In all such disputes it is invariably the other person’s fault. It wasn’t me! In reality it is rarely so one sided. Even if we didn’t start the conflict we have a tendency to add fuel to the fire, instead of starving it of oxygen and fuel. Are we more concerned with our status, rights or honour than the Lord’s?

Rom 12: 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

One Mediator – the Man Christ Jesus

Paul reminds us that there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all – 1Ti 2: 5

Christ is the one and only mediator between God and man. This idea is alien to our modern world where political correctness demands that all religions are treated equally and frowns on any claim of exclusivity. But as surely as there is only one God, so surely there is only one Mediator between God and men. This is not a claim that Paul makes lightly, or off his own bat. Jesus clearly said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me John 14:6. So if anyone has a quarrel with this they have a quarrel not with me or even Paul, but with Jesus!