Grasping the significance of having Christ as our mediator is vital for realizing how blessed we are as Christians. A mediator is someone who reconciles two sides who are involved in a disagreement. The scenario for all mankind is this; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), God must punish wickedness (Ps. 145:20), and we are enemies of God if we remain in sin (Col. 1:21-23). One day we will stand before the Father and give an account of our deeds (Rom. 14:10-12). Without Christ, how would you fair? What do you think would be the outcome of God’s judgment without Christ’s blood to cover our sins (1 John 1:7-10)?
Mankind has always needed a mediator and in the Old Testament there were a few. Job was a mediator for his sons when he arose and sacrificed on their behalf (Job 1:5). What we see in the patriarchal time is that the head of a house was the mediator for their families. Noah sacrificed to the Lord for his family when they got off the ark (Gen. 8:20), Abraham created a covenant with God for his family (Gen. 15:1-17), Isaac continued that covenant after Abraham’s death (Gen. 26:24-25), and Jacob mediated between God and his children when they held on to their idols (Gen. 35:1-7). While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they asked Moses to mediate between them and God because they feared they would die (Deut. 5:22-33). Similarly, Samuel was a mediator between God and His people. Jeremiah wrote concerning the Jewish people of his time, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth’” (Jer. 15:1). What Jeremiah is saying is if Moses and Samuel were to attempt to mediate for the people of Jeremiah’s day, he would not change His decision of their coming destruction. Even though Scripture does not explicitly say Samuel was a mediator, it clearly shows by example that he was (1 Sam. 7:5-8). Although these men were all mediators, the problem is they were men. Sin was a problem in their lives as it is for every man and they could not live forever. Once they died, the people again yearned for someone to stand on their behalf before God.
Certainly, there were mediators at times; but there were also times when none could be found. Job longed for a mediator when he suffered and was afflicted. Job said, “Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both. Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me” (Job. 9:33-34). God desired for a mediator to arise during the time of Ezekiel, but there were none to stand in the gap. The priests, princes, and prophets should have been the bridge; yet, they had turned to wickedness and caused others to sin against God. For this, God brought indignation and wrath upon His people (Ezek. 22:23-31).
Christ has bridged the gap for all mankind, for all times (1 Tim. 2:5). With Christ as our mediator we live under a better covenant with better promises (Heb. 8:6). If one desires to have Jesus as their mediator, they must be a part of His Church (Heb. 12:23-24). Those who refuse the gospel also refuse to have Jesus as their mediator on the day of Judgment (2 Thes. 1:8-10). Will Jesus Christ bridge the gap between yourself and God when all mankind must appear before His judgment seat (2 Cor. 5:10)? Or will Jesus’ words stand as a prosecuting attorney against you because you ignored them (John 12:47-50)?
-Brandon Foresha
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