Thursday, July 27, 2017

The Best Mediator

UV 2732/10000 The Best Mediator
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 8 v 6

Just as Moses was the mediator between God and the nation of Israel, Jesus is the mediator between God and mankind. The reason that we need a mediator or a Saviour to stand in our place is that there can be no negotiation between holiness and unholiness, between righteousness and unrighteousness. Even the most righteous of us have traces of unrighteousness in us that make us unacceptable in the presence of the Most Holy or absolutely holy God. Moses then was a freedom fighter for the Jews while Jesus is the freedom fighter for all mankind. Moses fought Egypt’s might under Pharaoh on behalf of the generationally enslaved Jews. He stood in the place of God before Pharaoh and invoked the authority and judgement of God. He stood between Israel and the anger of God when the former sinned provocatively making a golden calf to worship. Moses was an imperfect mediator for he had human failings and he himself provoked God to anger on some occasions. He had little control of his anger and as a young man, he smote an Egyptian in anger for oppressing a fellow Jew. He even hesitated to obey the call of the Lord to lead the freedom struggle of the Jews. He struck the rock for water instead of speaking to it while in the wilderness, disobeying the voice of the Lord.

Jesus is the perfect mediator in contrast to Moses. The parallels are there in their ministry right from the time of birth. Both were under the threat of death by state power at the time of their birth. Their births were accompanied by the genocide of Hebrew infants. Moses brought down the stone tablets given by the Lord from Mount Sinai. The ten commandments and the basis of human law across the globe is largely based on these commandments. But the observance and the obedience to these laws given by Jehovah was imperfect and incomplete. A greater mediator and a better one was needed. He Himself is the Word or the command and promise of the Lord. He is to write the laws of God on the tablet of our hearts and minds. He did not strike any rock for He Himself is the Rock, the source of strength, the strong unshakeable foundation of a life of faith and love. He did not strike the ground with a staff to execute miracles but He just spoke and the needed miracle of salvation, healing, deliverance happened. He ministered to all He encountered or who sought His help to overcome disease, challenges, difficulties. He forgave people and set them free from sin. In His willing submission to an unjust death, He promised salvation and resurrection to all who believed and obeyed His call. He laid His body down as a bridge across the eternal chasm separating man and God. Moses was asked to remove his sandals as he stepped on Sinai as it was holy ground, ground hallowed by the presence of God. Today, every step we take we are standing and walking on holy ground. We are set free from the ruler of this world, set free from the bondages of sin, death, disease, curses, fear, darkness, spiritual oppression.
Today, we have a ministry that is better, more excellent, more effective, purposeful and impactful than the ministry under the old covenant. Each of us can stand in the gap between God and man. We are not ourselves mediators but in the name of the Mediator Jesus we can take up the case of other people, we can intercede. For our own need of salvation, enablement, healing and deliverance, Jesus is our Advocate and Intercessor. We are no longer part of the problem but part of the solution, no longer part of the darkness but part of the light.

Prateep V Philip

1 comment:

  1. Thanks .. was so blessed by this uni-verse
    Alex Florent Pereira

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