You have a Mediator

You have a Mediator. 1 Timothy 2.5-6



“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.”1 Perhaps that thought has run through your mind as you looked at your teen-aged daughter and thought, ‘We are not even speaking the same language!’ Then again, perhaps another strained relationship is uppermost in your mind—work? Quarreling adult siblings over your aging parents’ care or estate? A mediator is all about conflict resolution, and truly his services can be invaluable, saving folks time, money and heartache. A mediator can act as a go-between in matters of business, divorce, child custody arrangements and even health care issues.

But the fact is, it was not a frustrated parent who uttered that first statement, nor was it a husband, wondering if his marriage could be saved … it was Job. What he expressed was true –

“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.” In his trying situation, which only seemed to go from bad to worse, what he needed was a way to go directly before God! The entirety of the Old Testament was one collective sigh, expressing a desperate need to get to a holy God.

God knew that need, and God himself desired intimacy with the crown of his creation--mankind. You see, reconciliation began in the heart and mind of God the Father as soon as Eve pulled the forbidden fruit from that tree in the Garden. Enter one Jesus of Nazareth, born as a child to a humble family, raised in Nazareth in the home of Joseph and Mary, taught the trade of his father, carpenter. And at the age of 30, he begins his earthly ministry—building relationships, teaching about and spreading a love that had never before or after been seen, performing miracles to display the power of God . . . And then, when they could not shut him up, the Jews silenced him by demanding that Rome order his execution. But it had all been planned from the start—Jesus had been born to die.

Execution by the cruelest method possible: crucifixion, after being mocked and scourged—all in the place of mankind—all so that we could get to God, all so that we could be made right with God.

Paul wrote:

“For there is one God

And one mediator between God and mankind

The man Christ Jesus,

Who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

And yet, Jesus’ act of going to the cross was voluntary—Jesus gave himself. He said of himself, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”2 Willingly, Jesus came to die; in dying, he became our mediator. The Greek word Paul used in his letter to Timothy translated ‘mediator’ was mesites -- “one who stands in the middle,” that is, a “middleman.”

Jesus Christ is the mediator for whom Job longed … Jesus is our mediator, who came to make peace, and the only one who could bring God and man together, building a bridge between sinful man and holy God. A bridge. Clearly, I am not an engineer, but in order for a bridge to be strong, it must be firmly anchored on both sides--both sides of the chasm. Jesus is/was qualified to be our Mediator—the Bridge--because Jesus alone was firmly entrenched on each side—fully God, fully man.

A good mediator is wise, reasonable, a good listener, honest, trustworthy, encouraging, a good communicator, and interested in peace . . . that is a really good start in describing my Jesus! But then, my Jesus’ currency is love, and my Jesus was willing to pay the penalty I deserved, when I was found guilty. When my actions warranted judgment, he put himself in my place.

Keeping it real: Have you been looking to someone or something else to be your ‘bridge’ to God’s presence, rather than Jesus?

Christine Todd DiGiacomo

PastorWoman.com


1 – Job 9.33

2 - Mark 10.45