Message: Christ the Mediator
Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice.
What the Lord is Saying: I didn't realize this lesson would be on Christ the mediator as I was studying the last lesson because in that lesson I was noticing that the priests of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) were the mediator for God's chosen people. God had ordained the priests to be the mediators between their sin and atonement. They were the one's to offer the sacrifices on behalf of the people. I feel like I have known this, but perhaps in that lesson it came together more clearly in my mind.
And so now I come to this lesson and this passage from Paul to Timothy. In my bible, this passage is in the section of Paul giving charge of conduct and action concerning public worship. The passage starts in the first verse by Paul stating that "Prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men." In essence he is telling the people of God, the church, that they are to mediators for one another through the act of prayer. And so prayer is a way for each person to be a mediator between men and God. We pray because verse 4 states that "God our savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." And what is this truth? Verse 5 and 6 - "the man Christ Jesus." This is why Paul preaches and this is why we must pray.
A mediator is a go-between who can represent the interests of both parties. The old covenant priests served as mediators offering sacrifices for our transgressions. But sins were not taken away, simply blotted out. These sacrifices had to be repeated. Hebrews 10:3-4 states, "But in those [sacrifices] there is a reminder of sins year by year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats tot take away sins." Honestly, I am not sure why God set it up this way, starting with a temporary fix that would lead to a permanent fix of man's sins. In many ways, both speak of the same message - God providing the way to atone for sin. And both remind us that man cannot be the atoner of sin. Both reinforce that God provides atonement; man does not work for atonement.
Paul remarks in this passage that Christ Jesus is a man. He is emphasizing his manhood. And yet we remember Paul's words to the Philippians. Philippians 2:6 says, He (Jesus) existed in the form of God...taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. He existed in the form of God but became like men. And like a man he died and God highly exalted Him so that every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. So let's never forget, he is God and he is like man.
Christ is the only mediator. In the old covenant, people were chosen and the chosen had their sins passed over. In the new covenant, the chosen have faith. Christ as mediator is offered to people by their faith in Him.
Summary: The priests of the old covenant provided a temporary atonement for sin. Christ, one time is the ransom for all. And now man is a mediator for people through prayer.
Promise: Christ is the all-sufficient Mediator, and we can approach God in humble confidence when we go through Him to the Father.
Prayer: God, thank you for your perfect message and your complete message. As I speak to others in other faith systems, it is surprising that they must feel like this truth needs to be more. This truth is everything. You are the Holy God and in your Holiness and perfect way provide the only way for man to be truly saved - through the mediator Christ. Thank you for this message of mediator, showing me the priest of old, showing me Jesus and then also showing me myself as I am a mediator in my prayers between you and others. It reminds me to be focused on this in my life and how I need to continue in this endeavor and never give up on offering prayers for others.
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