Jesus the Perfect Mediator
October 12, 2023
Jesus the Perfect Mediator
By Brooke Holt
"Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, 'You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.' Moses said to the people, 'Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.' The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was." Exodus 20:18-21
Many years ago, my oldest son, then a typical 5-year-old, rambunctious boy, was the ringbearer at my sister’s wedding. The wedding took place at a beautiful beach resort. Despite the beautiful day and beach right there, I had to get Chase clean and dressed in a tuxedo – actually the easy part. Keeping Chase clean and presentable for the next two hours was the challenge! Everything in him wanted to explore and play, to do the things which would not have resulted in the pictures my sister and brother-in-law were aiming to get with their nephew.
At this point in the Israelites journey to the Promised Land, they also have had to work through their own cleanliness ritual. The Lord summoned them to come and meet with him at Mt. Sinai. Thus, he told them to consecrate themselves to prepare. On the third day, Moses led them to the base of the mountain where they beheld the glory of God. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and smoke wrapped around the mountain (see Ex. 19:16-20). It was a powerful, glorious, and fearful sight! Overwhelmed, the Israelites cried out to Moses to meet with the Lord on their behalf. They needed a mediator for they could not stand before a holy and righteous God.
Assuming this role as mediator, Moses traveled up the mountain to meet with the Lord and then back down to share the words of the Lord with the people. As the mediator between God and the nation of Israel, Moses did not share his own great thoughts about God or his own ideas. No twisting, changing, or altering God’s message to make it more palatable or understandable took place. Moses simply spoke the word of the Lord as it had been given to him.
In the book of Hebrews, the writer reminds his readers of this meeting on Mt. Sinai. With the giving of the Ten Commandments, God set up a covenant with his people through Moses. Even greater than Moses and the Old Covenant is the mediation of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. Jesus, too, spoke the very word of God. In fact, he not only spoke the word of God, he was the incarnate Word made manifest. The book of Hebrews begins, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). If it was imperative for the Israelites to listen to their earthly leader, how much more important is it for you to listen to your Lord?
Jesus stepped into mediate between you and the Lord. He faithfully spoke the words of his Father during his earthly ministry. Then, he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice on behalf of your sins making the way for you to have relationship with him, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father.
Reflection:
Are you faithfully listening to the words of your perfect mediator? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resources:
Awaken the awe and the wonder of Advent! “The King Is Coming” is a 4-week Advent devotional especially written with a child’s heart in mind. It takes families through the salvation story by focusing on who God is, the gift of Jesus, and the importance of celebrating and sharing that miraculous gift! Bring your family together this Advent season for a journey exploring God’s big love for you.
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