A mediator is someone who represents two parties to one another in order to bring reconciliation. This idea of a mediator is how the writer of Hebrews and Paul talks about Jesus.
But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
- Hebrews 8:6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. This makes Him the only uniquely qualified person to bring true, eternal reconciliation between God and man. He has achieved the highest level of divinity and humanity; this allows Him to represent God to man and represent man to God. By Jesus becoming incarnated in the flesh the idea that God is so far away He can’t be reached was destroyed, and the idea that man could never satisfy the wrath of God against sin was settled. Jesus is the God-Man and He represents both sides with authority and meekness.
Jesus was fully man.
Jesus was a man who submitted himself to a family, teaching, and His local place of worship. He honored the 10 commandments and served in His community as a son of a carpenter. He had a physical body that felt joy and pain. He knew what it was like to be a baby, a toddler, and a young man. He experienced friendship in ministry as well as betrayal. He was tempted by Satan to use His authority, prove His power, and become an earthly King before the Father’s ordained time. He was 100% human.
Jesus was fully God.
Jesus was also fully God. He had power over storms, performed miracles, cast out demons, turned water to wine, raised the dead, and walked on water. He knew peoples’ thoughts and His own disciples declared that He knew all things. He displayed authority to forgive sins, proclaimed that the eternal state of every person depended on their belief in Him, and exercised authority to judge the nations. He even demonstrated the power to lay down His life and take it back up again. He was 100% God.
After living as the God-Man, He ascended into heaven to be seated at the righthand of God.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
- Romans 8:34
This means that our king knows exactly what it feels like to cry. He understand a smile. He knows what pain feels like, and He knows about betrayal. He also knows what it’s like to create life, forgive sin, and execute righteous judgement. He has the authority to bring reconciliation between you and God, and He has the power to make you an adopted son or daughter. He is the perfect mediator of the new covenant between God and man.
This is great news, and this is just scratching the surface of what we are studying in our new message series, The Excellent King. This week we are going to look at how the incarnation reveals God’s zeal for His people and what the meekness of Jesus looked like. If you would like to read ahead check out Isaiah 9:2-7 and Matthew 5:5.
-Marshall Ochs