Our Mediator

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Do you know what a mediator is? It’s a very important position if ever there’s a conflict. A mediator is a “go-between”—someone who goes between you and your enemy to bring peace to your conflict.

A man named Job in the Bible needed a mediator. Not for a court case. He needed a mediator between him and God. Listen to how Job described it: “If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more” (Job 9:33-34). To Job, it felt like God was his enemy. He needed a mediator.

You and I do too. Who are we to approach God? We’re mortal. God is immortal. We’re sinful. God is perfectly holy. We are weak and frail. God is almighty. Who will go between us and God?

Jesus. That’s exactly what Jesus came to do. “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). When our sins separated us from God, when our guilt earned God’s punishment, Jesus came for us.

Jesus did far more than any other mediator has ever done. He “gave himself as a ransom for all people.” Jesus didn’t just talk to God the Father on our behalf. Jesus died on the cross to remove the sin that separated us from God. Jesus suffered the punishment from God that we deserved. Jesus saved us!

How can we be sure that his ransom paid for us? There’s a little word that shows up again: “All.” Jesus gave himself for “all people.” Does that include you? Of course! Every sin you’ve ever committed was paid for by Jesus’ death on the cross. You are forgiven. Your debt has been paid in full.

Because you have a Mediator. When you sin, don’t try to hide it. Instead, take your sin to Jesus and hear him say, “It’s already forgiven. I died to take that sin away.” When it seems like God is against you, don’t despair. Go to Jesus and hear him say, “You have peace with God through me.” 

That’s just what we need: Our Mediator.

Dear Jesus, who am I to stand before God with all my sins? Thank you for being my Mediator! Fill my heart and life with the peace that comes from knowing that all my sins are forgiven. Amen.

Pastor Nathan