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!
Jesus’ role as mediator is illustrated by the tearing of the veil of the temple – the curtain which sealed off the holy of holies. This was torn in two when Jesus died. This showed that the barrier was taken away by His death and sacrifice. DV we’ll look at this in more detail later on, as it is referred to in both chapters 9 and 10.
This statement clearly excludes all other possible mediators, such as saints and angels, who Roman Catholics place between God and man. RCs call Mary a mediatrix or co-mediatrix. Theologically sophisticated RCs will tell you that Christ mediates between God and humanity; Mary assists Him, but she herself does not mediate.
Second Vatican Council: Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from, nor adds anything to, the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator.
Pope Pius XI: “Trusting in her intercession with Christ, who whereas He is the ‘one mediator of God and men’ (1 Timothy ii, 5), chose to make His Mother the advocate of sinners, and the minister and mediatress of grace
Of course there is no shred of support for any of this teaching in Scripture and it is absurd to suggest that the Son of God who was, and is truly both man and God needs any such assistance. The same is true of the RC belief that Christians can ask the saints in heaven to mediate for us. Again, the educated Catholic does not believe that the saints act as mediators, but intercessors – ie they pray for us in the same way that we pray for each other. Again there is no support in Scripture for this practice and Catholics misuse the term saint. – They use it to mean super-Christians that can leap tall problems (theological or moral) with a single bound! The Bible uses it to mean all Christians.
There is a grain of truth hidden within the error, however, because if you look at 1 Tim 2 and the context of verse 5 you will see that it is all about prayer and intercession of one believer for another and for the lost that they might be saved.
1Ti 2: 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle––I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying––a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting
As Jesus gave Himself as our sacrifice and lives to be our mediator we should pray for others. Our intercessions do not make us mediators, Jesus is the only mediator. When we pray for one another we must pray to God through Christ alone. Of course this passage was written to the living, not the dead! So we should use the privilege and responsibility of prayer diligently, while we live on earth. God wants us to pray for all men, because our Mediator welcomes all who to come to Him in faith.
I suspect that one reason that Catholics interpose Mary and the saints between us and Christ is that they think of Him as stern and scary. Mary, in particular, is seen as much more homely – a mother figure – something that they repeatedly emphasise when talking about her. This is really sad because Jesus, although truly God, is very approachable.
Perhaps that is why Paul emphasised that the Mediator is the Man Christ Jesus. He had to be a man, that he could suffer and die, but also so that He could fully represent us as our High Priest and understand our frailties –again as we have previously seen. (For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15) He also had to be truly God or He could not have drawn near to the Father on our behalf nor could His sacrifice have cleansed us from sin, procured our pardon or make peace with God.
One Mediator for everyone
This one Mediator gave himself a ransom for all, so if someone perishes under the gospel, it is not because no ransom was paid for them, nor because the ransom was not sufficient. Equally no one is ever condemned because God wants it to be so, for He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This mediator is both the lifter and leveller. He lifts all those who put their faith in Him into God’s family as His joint heirs. But He also levels all of them, for all of us must come to God through Him. He is the one and only way. It doesn’t matter what our race, family, intellect or wealth.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Ro 10:12
We must all come to Him as needy sinners and then we are all brothers and sisters with equal value in His sight, all equally loved.
So?
We need to understand this truth to be saved. Have you seen Jesus as your mediator. The only one who can stand between you and God’s holy anger because of your sin? The only one who can reconcile you to God and bring you safe to heaven.
If we understand this truth it will also transform our prayer life. We come to God not in our own strength or relying on our eloquence, but we come to Him through His beloved Son. We rely on Him to take our weak petitions, work them up and argue them powerfully before His Father. It is like getting a great lawyer to speak on your behalf, but a lawyer who also has personal influence with the judge.
It will also transform our attitude to ourselves and to other Christians. We are neither their superiors to lord it over them and belittle them, nor their inferiors to be walked on like a mat. We are sinners who have been saved by Grace through our heavenly mediator’s sacrifice. They are our brothers and sisters and should seek to help, support and encourage them. This means in practical ways and in our prayers as well.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time – 1 Tim 2
So let’s pray:
• For all men, we shouldn’t show partiality. Although we naturally want to pray for those who are closest to us we should not forget the rest of the world.
• For our government and other governments around the world. We, and our brothers and sisters around the world want to be able to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence though many do not enjoy such privileges at present. Conversely many of us who do not take advantage of them although we enjoy them!
• For the lost that they might come to know the wonderful joy that is only to be found in knowing Christ.
