I'd like to consider the topic of Jesus our mediator in this issue. In order to do this I'd like to take some time and set the context of the first occurrence of this word mediator.
The word mediator occurs six times in the authorized version and is translated from the Greek word mesites {mes-ee'-tace}.
Mesites, or a mediator, is "one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant."
The word has been used as to intercede or pledge oneself for a sick debtor, to occupy the middle place.
A mediator or perhaps a negotiator in the sense that he would establish a relationship that otherwise would not exist.
The first occurrence is in Galatians 3:19 but lets look at a few preceding verses so we understand the context.
Galatians 3:16-20 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
So here is the first occurrence of the word mediator in the New Testament and we see that it's associated with the Christ and a covenant.
The Law was introduced because of sin, and thus it relates to sin, not holiness. The Law was to be a temporary method; to function only until Christ came.
Picture, if you will, a raging tiger trapped behind bars. The bars were introduced because the tiger's wild impulses make him dangerous to all. Does anyone reading this article believe that the bars will tame the tiger? Of course not! That is not the purpose of bars; they are not there to tame, they are there to restrain.
Now what would happen if someone did succeed in taming the tiger, using a different principle than putting him in a cage? The bars could then be removed! There is no longer any use for them.
The holiday season is upon us and already there are Christmas stories on the TV.
One of my favorite holiday stories growing up was, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
I can still remember sitting with my dad on the sofa watching Rudolph with him. Mom was too busy making cookies but dad and I would watch Rudolph. There was an abominable snow monster throughout the movie and I remember the first time I saw him. I screamed and jumped on my daddy's lap! He was a big hairy monster who wanted to eat Rudolph and his family. Well, when Yukon Cornelius pulled out all his teeth the Abominable was a changed monster.
You see putting bars around the monster could not tame the monster. Likewise with us the bars of the law never could change the heart of man. This, essentially, is Paul's argument. Now that faith has come and believers have been "clothed... with Christ" (v. 27), we have been truly tamed!
How foolish, then, to insist that the tamed beast continue to live behind bars! Especially when all along God had affirmed His intention of removing the bars as soon as the new and living way came.
KJV Romans 12:1-2 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When Jesus came he made it available for change from the inside to happen.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
What happens when people, still fearing the tiger in them and unable to grasp the fact that Christ really does tame and change.
They seek to hide behind the bars of legalism. Such legalism seems at first to promise a certain kind of security. However, its bars not only keep us in, they keep others out.
We as Christians were not purchased by the precious blood of Christ to cower in barred caves and cages! We have been shaped by God to live on the plains and in the mountains and in the jungles of the whole wide world. Jesus Himself set us the example. He entered the homes of publicans and sinners, enjoyed the wedding parties, reached out to touch and heal the hurting, and confronted the hardened Pharisees. Jesus was totally involved—yet uncontaminated.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Jesus rubbed shoulders with sinners and remained pure. He lived like other men, and revealed God. His whole life was an adventure.
It is just this kind of adventurous life that you and I are called today. Jesus did not come to bring a new set of bars for our cages. He came to tame the tiger in us and to release us, to live as He Himself lived in the world.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The meaning of our lives, the adventure of it, isn't to be found in the cages that Christians make for themselves and decorate so attractively. The true meaning and joy for us are to be found in stepping outside the old cages, believing what the Word of God declares you have and who Christ made you and setting out into the future to live as sons of God with power.
All too often, Christians draw back in fear.
We don't realize that as God's sons we now have His life. Like the Judaizers of Paul's day, we hurriedly try to shape new bars as fast as God tears them down.
In deepest agony Paul cried out to the cage–builders of his day, "How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?" Some people just can't accept the freedom that Christ came to bring. Some are to lazy to make the word their own so they rely on someone else to tell what God's will is for their life.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Every person is responsible to be a doer of this verse.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
There are thousands of cage builders out there if you're lazy. They will be more than glad to tell you how to live your life.
Jesus Christ came to set man free and still people run towards the prisons of religion every day.
John 8:31-32 31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
There is no longer any need for the bars of the law. Jesus has tamed the tiger in everyone who calls upon his name.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
With this background we will now begin to consider Jesus as our mediator in our next issue.ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NLT indicates the New Living Translation, NAS indicates the New American Standard version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, NJB means the New Jerusalem Bible, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.