Collins English Dictionary (1974)
tells us that the word ‘mediator’ is the noun of the verb, ‘to mediate’ which
means ‘to bring peace or an understanding (usually between people who are not
on friendly terms).’ This meaning approaches but does not fully reach the
meaning assigned to the Greek word, mesites - ‘a go-between, reconciler or
intercessor’. A mediator is some one who effects, or attempts to effect,
reconciliation between two estranged parties. A successful mediator is
acceptable to both parties because he or she understands well the position of
both parties and by careful conduct and tactful reasonableness gets them to
relinquish any position that is unreasonable or unjust. He gets them to agree
on issues of common concern and to accept that for the cause of peace and
cooperation the gaining of all of one’s demands or desires are just not
possible. It may be that there is a misunderstanding between the two parties,
of each other’s true position as opposed to what is initially believed to be
the other’s position.
So down the ages there have been
many mediators who have attempted, sometimes quite successfully, in bringing
about peace and understanding between opposing parties.
WHO IS GOD’S MEDIATOR?
But we are interested here in the
necessary one mediator who can bring about peace and unity between God most
holy, and us frail, sinful, mortal people. Who is God’s mediator? Only the Holy
Scriptures, written by inspiration of God can reveal this. In the New Testament
the Greek word for mediator, mesites, occurs some seven times. Three times in
Galatians 3/19,20, where the Apostle Paul speaks of a mediator to whom God gave
the Law-Covenant at Sinai (the Law of Moses) to Israel, God’s chosen people.
That mediator was the High Priest of Israel. Under the Mosaic Law, Aaron of the
tribe of Levi and his successors mediated between God and Israel so as to
effect atonement. This at-one-ment was necessary for both himself and Israel,
and was effected annually on the Day of Atonement, (Leviticus ch. 16). Paul’s
point in the Galatians references above is that the High Priest’s Law mediation
did not and could never bring about true unity with an holy God. This is only
possible through "the faith of Jesus Christ", v. 22 - emulated, or copied
by all who like Jesus, believe God’s promises and are baptized, vv. 22-29. The
other four times ‘mediator’is used in the N. T. are in 1 Timothy 2/5, quoted
above, Hebrews 8/6; 9/15; and 12/24. The Apostle reveals who is God’s true
Mediator - "the man Christ Jesus" - our risen Lord, who mediates a
new covenant which is better than the old Law-covenant of Moses because it
involves faith in God’s Word and trust in His redeeming grace.
Jesus Christ our Lord is the one
and only Mediator between God and men. He represents
God because, as the Son of God, God
sent Him to live an exemplary life of holiness and be obedient unto death. He
represents mankind because he is "the man Christ Jesus" and once bore
the same mortal nature with all its weaknesses as we now bear, and he died as
an acceptable offering for our sins. God raised Him from the dead, granted Him
God’s own nature, immortality, and made Him "high priest after the order
of Melchisedec",(Hebrews 5/5-10), and "the one mediator between God
and men", (1 Timothy 2/5).
WHAT CAUSED THE NEED FOR GOD’S ONE MEDIATOR?
The sin of Adam and Eve commenced a
long trail of sin involving the whole world and reaching right down to us in
our day. Sin manifests itself in many evil forms but under any one or all of
three heads: "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of
life", (1 John 2/16). No one since Adam, except Jesus the Son of God, has
escaped the poison of Adam’s sin, for "all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God", (Romans 3/23; 5/12). And because all mortals have been
‘stung’ with the sting of death which is sin, all are alienated from God and
all need to be reconciled back to God. God has provided in His Son, Jesus our
Lord, a suitable mediator who can help us to be reconciled back to God.
HOW DOES JESUS’ MEDIATION WORK?
To qualify for his role and
represent us, Jesus needed to be as man, a member of our human race. And this
He was, (Hebrews 2/9-18; 4/14-16; 5/7-9). But He also needed to represent God.
And this He did by being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and by
living a godly, obedient life as the Son of God, (Luke 3/21,22; Romans 1/3,4;
Hebrews 4/15; Philippians 2/5-11). In submission to God’s will, Jesus laid down
his life voluntarily as a necessary sacrifice for sin – mankind’s, not his own.
Yet being a man he fully experienced the trauma of temptations, which mightily
appealed to the lust of his flesh, the lust of his eyes and the pride of his
life, (Matthew 4/1-10). But by trust in God and His sanctifying word, Jesus conquered
sin. When God raised Him from the dead and granted him immortality, He also
conquered death.
So Jesus is God’s example to us of
what God can do in the one who fully and unreservedly trusts in Him. Jesus can
therefore appeal to us to "come - take up your cross and follow me"!
God gave Him victory, and if we truly follow Jesus’ example God is able to
grant us victory also. In Jesus’, victory at-one-ment, peace and fellowship of
God with man is made possible. We need to avail ourselves of God’s offer in
Jesus, to be reconciled to Him, in the reconciliation that true faith makes
sure, (Romans 5/10; 2 Corinthians 5/18-20).
THE EFFECTS OF JESUS’ MEDIATION ON US
When we believe the gospel or good
news of the Kingdom of God and are baptized (immersed) into the name of Jesus
Christ, we enter into the reconciliation, the mediation that Jesus has already
effected for mankind. Then God forgives us all our past sins, and the anger
that He had for them is removed and we are now counted, not as enemies, but as
friends; and more - sons and daughters of the living God! Thereafter we seek
always to please God. But sometimes we fail and again sin. Knowing that Jesus
is in heaven at God’s right hand and is our High Priest, we can confess and
turn from those sins and in prayer seek reconciliation by God’s forgiveness of
our sins. We will "come boldly unto the throne of Grace that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need", (Hebrews 4/14-16).
