Jesus is our Mediator

By Carol Graves January 3, 2017 Devotion, Inspirational, Scripture

Mediator: one that works to effect reconciliation, settlement or compromise between parties at variance; peacemaker; intercessor; a go-between

Reconcile: to make friendly again; to settle a difference; to make consistent or compatible; to bring into harmony

As I was reading the book of Job this passage caught my attention: “God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.” Job 9:32-34 (NLT) Here Job recognizes the greatness, the power and the authority of God. In his despair he longs for a mediator – someone to plead his case. Someone to bring back the peace he had once known.

The moment I read the word “mediator” I realized that God already had that in place. God made this provision as stated in John 1:1-2, 14 (NLT): “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” Jesus stretched out His hands as they were nailed to the cross. With one hand He held the hand of God and with the other He held the hand of mankind. His shed blood fulfilled the justice God demands for our sin and through Him, we are reconciled. When we acknowledge that it is His sacrifice that closes the chasm between ourselves and God, and receive it personally, our relationship is reconciled and we become friends with God. Jesus Christ is our mediator.

This may be a fact that you already know – but there is more. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NLT) we read “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.”

I am sure that many have received gifts this Christmas that were so special you couldn’t wait to tell someone about them. It is human nature to want to share unexpected joy. Yet what greater joy could there be than the joy of our salvation? In the verse above we are given a task. Our task is to share the “wonderful message of reconciliation.”

Recently I had the opportunity to share the gospel message with a young woman who did not know about the gift of salvation. She was seeking. She said that even as a child she knew that there was something that she longed for, yet never did she hear the Good News until that day that we visited together. I simply shared my salvation experience and scriptures that explain that salvation is a gift that we cannot earn and do not deserve. She responded to everything I told her with eager anticipation. She was amazed that God loved her so much and offered her the gift of salvation. She commented that what she sought for so long now seemed so simple. When she looked at me and said, “I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior” I cannot describe the joy that filled my entire being. It is a day – a moment I will never forget. So let us not keep this message of reconciliation inside. Let us speak it out with love and bold faith that the Holy Spirit will do His work in the hearts of those who hear.

We make all sorts of resolutions as the new year begins. Every day we encounter those who are seeking. Resolve to tell someone about the One Mediator who offers peace between God and man. Experience the unspeakable joy as you see them shed the burden of sin and put on the salvation of God.

There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity

—the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)