The mediatorial office of “the man Christ Jesus” consists of two parts, sacrifice and intercession. They are equally important, and mutually dependent. Without sacrifice, there is no ground of intercession; without intercession, there is no benefit in sacrifice. The former renders the latter influential with God; the latter renders the former available to man. The one removes the obstacles to reconciliation, the other brings the adverse parties together.
The first part of the mediatorial office is sacrifice. In order to understand this aright, we must have correct views of God, of man, and of sin. We must consider God as the lawgiver and governor of the universe, eternally hostile to all iniquity, and determined to sustain his just administration. We must consider man as a guilty and polluted creature, a rebel in arms against his Maker, a prisoner under sentence and deserving punishment. We must consider sin as an inexcusable omission of duty, and a flagrant transgression of the law, under circumstances of peculiar aggravation. The debt must be paid, or the sinner must perish. An atonement must be made, of merit equal to the turpitude of our crimes. The stain which we have cast upon the law, must be washed out by blood of infinite preciousness. This is the work of our Mediator. He “gave himself a ransom for all.” He made a perfect satisfaction for our sins. “He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” It is not by blood of bulls and goats, slain on Jewish altars, but by a nobler and costlier sacrifice—the paschal “Lamb of God,” that heaven and earth are reconciled—God and man united.
The second part of the mediatorial office is intercession. It was through the High-priest, the typical mediator, that God communicated with Israel, and Israel communicated with God; it is through “the man Christ Jesus,” the real Mediator, that God speaks to the world, and receives the prayers of his people. Having “borne the sins of many,” he “maketh intercession for the transgressors.” “He hath entered into heaven himself, there to appear in the presence of God for us.” He has gone into the holy of holies, with “the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel.” “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” “Through him we both”—that is, both Jews and Gentiles—“have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” He holds in his hand the golden censer, and offers much incense before the throne. It is this that perfumes our prayers, and renders them acceptable to God. He pleaded for his murderers when he hung upon the cross, and now he pleads in heaven for those who crucify him afresh. And what is the ground of his plea? Not the merit of our works, but the merit of his own sufferings. Not the infinitude of the Father’s mercy, but the sufficiency of his own sacrifice. This is the sure foundation of a sinner’s hope. If Satan suggests that his crimes are too great to be forgiven, he may reply: “The man Christ Jesus” is my advocate, the advocate of “the chief of sinners;
And should I die with mercy sought,
When I his grace have tried,
I sure should die—delightful thought!—
Where sinner never died!”
“One Mediator.” There is no choice. You must accept of him, or remain unreconciled, and be cast into hell. Israel found but one path through the Red Sea; the church shall never find more than one way to the heavenly Canaan. It is only by faith in the “One Mediator,” that you can obtain the favor of the “One God.” He is the elect and beloved of the Father, the appointed medium of man’s approach, the designated channel of God’s communication. “Neither is there salvation in any other.” No other has been provided. No other is suited to our necessities. O sinner! come through this “new and living way!” Christ invites your confidence.
“Venture on him; venture freely;
Let no other trust intrude!
None but Jesus, none but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good.”
These glorious truths, we cannot read too often, or meditate too much. They represent to us the great evil of sin, the infinite mercy of God, the inflexible character of the law, and the incalculable preciousness of the gospel. Such is the Father’s estimate of the Mediator, that he will be reconciled to sinners only through his blood. He is well pleased with his Son, and well pleased with all who seek him through his Son, and nothing is more offensive to him than the rejection of his Son. May these remarks preserve you from despair under a sense of your guilt and wretchedness; drive you from all false refuges to the cross, with a penitent and grateful heart; induce you to trust; not in your own strength, or wisdom, or righteousness, but in the adorable name of Jesus; to live a life of faith in him, of love towards him, and of patient waiting for his mercy unto eternal salvation!
If you are already partakers of these blessings, how transcendent is your privilege! “Ye are come unto mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels; and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven; and to God, the judge of all; and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Follow the Captain of your salvation. Cleave to him in the fire and the flood. Turn not aside to the lying vanities of the world, lest you drink the cup of its eternal sorrows. Remember that those who suffer with the crucified shall reign with the glorified; that such as are faithful unto death shall receive the crown of life. Be careful to “keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” Endure unto the end, and ye shall be saved.
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever.” Amen.