ONE MEDIATOR ~ The MAN CHRIST JESUS

1 Timothy 2:5-6 - “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all men...the testimony given in its proper time." (NIV)

From the Diaglott: "For God is one, and there is One Mediator of God and Men, that Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a Ransom in behalf of all, the testimony in its own Seasons." .

Mediator - Greek. mesites (Strong - 3316): a go-between, a reconciler (intercessor) a mediator, one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; a medium of communication, arbitrator.

Paul tells us, in his letter to Timothy, very clearly that the one mediator is the man Christ Jesus. This fact of truth is supported by every translation available to this writer. Since the Man Christ Jesus died on the cross, we can correctly say that He became the Mediator at that point since He sacrificed His perfect manhood in death. When Jesus died on the cross, the man Christ Jesus mediated the ransoming of all mankind from sin and death. There He paid the price, the shedding of His blood, required for mankind’s redemption. By His sacrifice and shed blood He earned the title of Mediator, becoming the Mediator of the New Covenant to the church, which includes all believing Israelites and Gentiles, and extending that blessing to all of mankind in God’s earthly kingdom to come.

Blood was associated with only two covenants, namely, the Old Law covenant and the New Covenant. The church had to have the blood of Jesus applied on their behalf for "without the shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). In Matthew 26:26, 27 Jesus told His disciples to drink all in the cup, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for the remission of sins."

Hebrews 8:6 - "But the ministry Jesus has secured is as superior to theirs (Israel) as the covenant of which He IS the Mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises." We are told here that Jesus IS the Mediator of a superior Covenant, the New Covenant, because it is based on better promises with a better Mediator than Moses. Note that it does not say, "He will be," but that "he is."

Hebrews 9:15 - "For this reason Christ IS the MEDIATOR of a NEW COVENANT, (so) that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Christ being the Mediator of a new covenant, is the reason (basis) that the church class who is called, “in the one hope of their calling,” during the Gospel Age may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance (as joint-heirs with Christ Jesus). The Man Christ Jesus' death was the price paid and that mediated peace between God and men. This we find clearly taught in Ephesians 2:11-16: “Therefore remember, that formerly you, who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility."

Hebrews 12:24 - "To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Note once again that this Hebrews text likewise does not say that "He will be" but rather that “He IS the Mediator of the New Covenant." Jesus as now the Mediator of a new covenant whose sprinkled BLOOD has cleansed us from all sin and has provided the basis of justification to those who believe in him. Jesus mediated this New Covenant by His death on the cross and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church at Pentecost was proof that His sacrifice was acceptable to God and the mediation was fully finished, even as Jesus spoke from the Cross - “It is finished!”

Since the Scriptures tell us that it is the man Christ Jesus that is the Mediator for all mankind by virtue of His shed blood at Calvary, let us look to the role that Christ Jesus will play in God’s Kingdom. During the thousand years of His reign, will He be performing the role of a mediator? Let us see what the Scriptures say. Revelation 19:15 - "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He, Himself, treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The glorified church will be accorded similar power so that they can assist Jesus in this work. We find this promised in Revelation 2:26-28: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations -- He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery -- Just as I have received authority from my Father…”

God’s Kingdom is a time when Jesus Christ will be in total control of all earth's affairs as King. His rule will be supreme. The Father has delegated all authority to Him (Matthew 28:18). Do the Scriptures tell us that Jesus will be negotiating between God and men during those thousand years by means of arbitration? Not at all! On the contrary, the Scripture says, "He will rule them with a rod of iron." This certainly does not fit the job description of a mediator, whose duty is to have two parties reach agreement on their differing positions. There will be no compromise or lowering of the standards of righteousness in the Kingdom. All mankind will have to look back to what was accomplished on Calvary’s Cross, where the blood accomplished a complete mediation. Then, when the work of the kingdom has been accomplished, “the end will come, when He (Jesus) hands over the kingdom to God, the Father, after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He, (God), has put everything under His (Jesus) feet…” (1 Corinthians 15:24-27).

Does a mediator have this type of authority and power? No, a mediator merely has the power to negotiate, and arbitrate between two parties. Galatians 3:20 tells us, "A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one." A mediator does not have the power to "destroy all dominion, authority and power." Only a King or Ruler has that power. Only in a democracy does a mediator play a role, never in a Theocracy or Monarchy. Jesus' Kingdom will be a Theocratic government when He will be King with the Church, His Bride, by His side. Together they will rule, and teach mankind the principles of righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). There will be no negotiation or mediating going on, that having already been accomplished more than 2,000 years ago. Man will come under the rule of that Godly government and will in time, come to “learn righteousness.”

When Jesus has finished His role as King, He will relinquish the kingdom back to His Father. "Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God, the Father, after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power…" (1 Corinthians 15:24).

Let us praise our Father for sending His Beloved Son, to not only Ransom us, but to Mediate all the requirements God’s Justice demanded on Calvary’s Cross! Hallelujah, What a SAVIOR!

E. Weeks

“Guilty, vile, and helpless, we; Spotless Lamb of God was He.

Full Atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

Lifted up was He to die, “It is finished,” was His cry.

Now in Heaven exalted high, Hallelujah! What a Savior!”