How Christ Relates to the Church: Our Mediator

CHURCH ARTICLE | Brian Sullivan | Jordan, Ontario

The final words on the cross were “It is finished” (John 19:30). Indeed, very little remained for Jesus to accomplish on earth before His return to heaven. After the three days in the tomb (see Luke 24:21), He came forth a victor over death and the grave (Actts 2:27, 30-33; Revelation 1:18); was seen by witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8); spent 40 days with the apostles further schooling them concerning the kingdom (Acts 1:1-3); before ascending on high (Acts 1:9-11) on His return to heaven. Jesus returned to heaven to be given “dominion and glory and a kingdom” (Daniel 7:13-14). As He stated in His prayer to the Heavenly Father before the cross, “I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which you have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:4-5; NKJV). Yes, without a doubt the things associated with His role on earth in order to be our Savior (John 1:29); Redeemer (Ephesians 1:7); the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and the means of our Propitiation (1 John 4:10) had been lived, experienced, and fulfilled through Him. He did not return to heaven to sit in a comfortable recliner and await the day when He would return visibly in the skies to resurrect, redeem, and judge.

John 14:1-6 has much within it that appeals to a wide spectrum of Christ’s followers, each finding some element of its promises that helps them through the struggles of life and loss of loved ones.  One part of that great promise that has always intrigued this writer is found in the words: “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2, latter part of the verse). You may have reached a different conclusion and that is fine, but in my mind, it has suggested that the work which Christ had begun by being physically present on this earth is now continuing in heaven on our behalf.  Though there may be some linking between them, each of these roles is worthy of study and consideration.  Think of Christ as His work continues in heaven on our behalf.  After the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-3) He is both King (Daniel 7:13-14) and High Priest (Hebrews 6:20 and 7:1) on the same throne (Zechariah 6:12-13, one Person serving in two capacities, resulting in peace and harmony between the offices); and He is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5); and our Advocate (1 John 2:1-2). Though every life has days in which discouragement, trials and tribulations seem to overwhelm, when it looks like being defeated by the enemies of God is a real possibility, I can open my Bible and know with assurance that He who died to saved me, is living to help me get through these challenges (over the mountains, through the dark valleys, across the raging rivers), and He is the same help of my younger years, my middle years, and now my aged years. He was there for the generations in my family before me and will be the same One in the unfolding of those generation that may yet be in our family of those who choose to follow and serve God. Even when I have made the most pitiful mistakes, committed sin or engaged in shameful conduct I can come in repentance and with a contrite heart and know that He is there to help, to comfort and to encourage my return to faithfulness (Acts 8:20-24; 1 John 1:5-10).

God’s plan is designed to lead me all the way home (John 14:6). It astounds me when I read the words “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9, NKJV). Let’s put our attention on Christ as our Mediator, as set forth in the Scriptures. Though there are many starting places, we have chosen to begin our consideration with Hebrews 8:6: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (NKJV).

One of the older gospel preachers in my early days of my preaching spoke of the seven-word curse of the Law found in Ezekiel 18:20: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (King James Version). Years later, I would graphically illustrate that principle by taking a brand new bright yellow painted pencil and purposely break it in half in front of a class of preachers in India.  I would hold up the two parts that were fractured from one another and point out that it could not be mended, repaired, or fixed so that it would be like it was in the first place.  So also, with the law of Moses, when you violated it, it condemned you. Christ was able to bring to mankind a message that would show how to return a man to God’s favor and make him whole through His new covenant (see Hebrews 8:6 above; and Hebrews 10:5-10).  The sacrifice He offered (Himself); the blood that He shed (Matthew 26:28) the new covenant that He brought in by His death (Hebrews 7:12) are all associated with the earthen visit of the Son of God.  It was the Heavenly Father (through Jeremiah the prophet) Who made known the new covenant that would be brought in by Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12). After showing the frustration and failure of the Law of Moses in Romans 7, Paul advanced to show the great blessings through Christ in the New Covenant in Romans 8.  In fact, the very first two verses of that chapter state: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (NKJV).  In and through the covenant that was brought to us by Christ (see Hebrews 10:5-10) we can find this glorious freedom from sin and the curse of the Law of Moses. And, then in verse 3, Paul stated: “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3, NKJV).  The Book of Hebrews speaks often contrasting the sacrifices under the Law of Moses and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ’s life and blood. At Hebrews 9:11-14, we are given background on the importance of Christ to our salvation and hope. “11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-15; NKJV) Through Christ we can cleanse our “conscience from dead works to serve the living God”.  What about that person who faithfully attempted to serve God under the Old Covenant? Listen carefully to what the Hebrew writer tells us in Hebrews 9:15: “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” (Hebrews 9:15; NKJV). He is “the Mediator of the new covenant” and “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”.  As Mediator, Christ’s sacrifice and shed blood was available to cleanse our sins and iniquities when we responded to the gospel (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16) and even more than that, He became the means by which the person who had tried to the best of their ability to live faithfully under Old Law (Law of Moses) in their day to find cleansing through His blood that would allow them to be counted among the saved and look forward to receiving “the promises of the eternal inheritance. We can conclude that if anyone of any time is going to be saved it will be through the willing sacrifice of Christ and the shedding of His blood and through that blood alone. That helps us understand why God was concerned about blood from the earliest days of man’s existence, and why it always seemed to have a special value and place before God (see Genesis 9:4-6).

The work of a Mediator is that of bringing about peace where there was a fractured relationship. The ideal Mediator is someone who is familiar with both parties in a matter.  We (mankind) by our own choice entered into sin and separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; John 8:31-36; James 1:12-16).  Jesus as described before His earth-life in John 1:1-3 was completely acquainted with the Father’s desires, hopes, and aspirations for man (Acts 17:27; Colossians 2:9).  When He took on flesh and walked here on earth (John 1:14; Hebrews 10:5-10), He was acquainted with the challenges, temptations (Hebrews 4:15), and matters that affect man.  What better One could be a Mediator between the two parties than He?  Before we close, we want to give a prime example of what He did and what resulted from His work as it is laid out in Ephesians 2:14-18: “14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (NKJV).  Picture if you will a simple hand-drawn cross.  Above it put “GOD”.  On the upright pole write the words “The Law of Moses”.  On each side of the cross-arm write “Sin”.  Now at the bottom on one side below the crossbar put the word “Jews” and on the other side below the crossbar put “Gentiles”.  Now, let’s see what a Mediator can do for us by His death and shed blood.  He (Jesus) took away the Law that separated the Jews and Gentiles (Colossians 2:14-17), He through His sacrifice provided the means by which the sin that separated the Jews from God could be removed and forgiven, and by the same sacrifice provided the means by which the sin that separated the Gentile from God could be forgiven.  The result for those who responded to the gospel was that they could be ONE, at peace with God, at peace with self, and at peace with their fellowman, rejoicing in the glorious freedom made possible by Christ.  Thank you, Father, for such a glorious plan and for Jesus our Mediator. He who could resolve the conflict of the ages, can resolve whatever it is that comes between you and Your God if you will seek His help through prayer, and live in harmony with His will day-by-day.

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January 2025 | GROW magazine