Embracing the Christmas Message: Jesus as Our Mediator

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Season to Share Christ's Love

The Christmas season is a unique time when hearts are more open to the message of Jesus. This period offers a special opportunity to share the gospel and demonstrate God's love in tangible ways. As the world becomes more attuned to the story of Christ, believers are called to seize these moments to spread His truth and love. This is not just about words but also about actions that reflect the heart of Jesus. By embracing the opportunities God places before us, we can be vessels of His grace and truth in a world that desperately needs it. [00:44]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is more open to hearing about Jesus during this season? How can you intentionally share His love with them today?

Day 2: Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant

Jesus' death was essential to establish the New Covenant, fulfilling the promises made under the Old Covenant. His sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith, offering redemption and an eternal inheritance to all who believe. This New Covenant, unlike the old, is not based on repeated sacrifices but on the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. As the mediator, Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and God, providing a way for us to enter into a relationship with the Father. This profound truth calls us to live in the reality of His grace and redemption. [03:17]

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as your mediator change the way you approach God in prayer and daily life?

Day 3: The Power of Jesus' Sacrificial Blood

The blood of Jesus is not a mere symbol but represents His life given for us. Through His sacrifice, we find the remission of sins, highlighting the profound power of His death and resurrection. This is not about the literal blood but about the life He laid down willingly. His sacrifice was planned and executed as a conscious substitute for our sins, offering us forgiveness and new life. Understanding this truth helps us grasp the depth of God's love and the extent of His grace toward us. [10:31]

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." (Ephesians 1:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the reality of being forgiven and redeemed by Jesus' sacrifice today?

Day 4: The Uniqueness of Jesus' Sacrifice

Jesus' sacrifice is unique because of who He is—the Son of God—and the conscious choice He made to die as our substitute. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, which had to be repeated, His was once for all, perfect and complete. This sacrifice offers eternal salvation and calls us to live in the light of His finished work. Understanding the uniqueness of His sacrifice challenges us to reject any notion of earning our salvation and instead rest in the assurance of His grace. [14:20]

"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet." (Hebrews 10:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: How does the completeness of Jesus' sacrifice impact your understanding of grace and your daily walk with Him?

Day 5: The Urgency of Accepting Jesus' Sacrifice

We have one life to accept Jesus' sacrifice, as we die once and then face judgment. This life is our opportunity to make things right with God, emphasizing the importance of living in readiness for His second coming. The urgency of this truth calls us to examine our hearts and ensure we are living in alignment with His will. As we await His return, we are encouraged to live in eager anticipation, grounded in the assurance of His first coming and the salvation it brings. [31:10]

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27-28, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure you are living in readiness for Jesus' return? How can you align your life more closely with His will?

Sermon Summary

The Christmas season is upon us, and while it can be a challenging time for many, it also presents a unique opportunity to focus on Jesus. This time of year, our culture is more attuned to the message of Christ than at any other time, making it a perfect moment to share the gospel and embrace the opportunities God places before us. As we delve into Hebrews 9, we are reminded of the profound significance of Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant, established through His sacrificial death. This New Covenant, prophesied under the Old Covenant, is now a reality for all who believe.

The passage in Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus had to die to institute this New Covenant, much like a testament or will only comes into effect upon the death of the testator. This concept is foundational to understanding the power and necessity of Jesus' sacrifice. The Old Covenant required the shedding of blood for purification, and similarly, the New Covenant was inaugurated through the blood of Jesus. This is not a mere cliche or superstition; it is the profound truth that Jesus' life and death provide the remission of sins.

The blood of Jesus is not about the literal blood that flowed through His veins but about His life laid down in death. His sacrifice is unique because of who He is—the Son of God—and because it was planned, predicted, and executed as a conscious substitute for our sins. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, which had to be repeated, Jesus' sacrifice was once for all, perfect and complete.

This truth challenges various theological misconceptions, such as the idea of continual sacrifice in the Mass or the concept of reincarnation. The Bible makes it clear that we die once and then face judgment, underscoring the urgency of accepting Jesus' sacrifice in this life. As we await His second coming, we are called to live in eager anticipation, grounded in the assurance of His first coming and the salvation it brings.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace the Christmas Season as an Opportunity: The Christmas season is a time when our culture is more open to the message of Jesus. It's a chance to share the gospel and embrace the opportunities God gives us to spread His love and truth. [00:44]
2. Jesus as the Mediator of the New Covenant: Jesus' death was necessary to establish the New Covenant, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Covenant. His sacrifice is the foundation of our faith, offering redemption and eternal inheritance to all who believe. [03:17]
3. The Significance of Jesus' Blood: The blood of Jesus is not a cliche or superstition but represents His life laid down for us. It is through His sacrifice that we find remission of sins, highlighting the profound power of His death and resurrection. [10:31]
4. The Uniqueness of Jesus' Sacrifice: Jesus' sacrifice is unique because of who He is and the conscious choice He made to die as our substitute. Unlike other sacrifices, His was once for all, perfect and complete, offering eternal salvation. [14:20]
5. Urgency of Accepting Jesus' Sacrifice: We have one life to accept Jesus' sacrifice, as we die once and then face judgment. This life is our opportunity to make things right with God, emphasizing the importance of living in readiness for His second coming. [31:10]
** [31:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Embracing the Christmas Season
[01:37] - Opening Prayer and Scripture
[02:13] - Jesus as the Mediator
[03:32] - The Necessity of Jesus' Death
[04:24] - Testament and Covenant
[06:42] - Old Testament and New Testament
[08:29] - The Blood of Jesus
[10:17] - Understanding the Blood
[12:34] - The Uniqueness of Jesus' Sacrifice
[15:28] - Without Shedding of Blood
[20:57] - The Perfect Sacrifice
[22:01] - Jesus Appears for Us
[23:34] - Once for All Sacrifice
[27:26] - The Reality of Hell
[30:17] - Appointed to Die Once
[32:12] - Awaiting His Second Coming
[35:39] - Call to Trust in Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 9:15-28
- Genesis 3:21
- Romans 8:31

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Observation Questions:

What does Hebrews 9:15-17 say about the necessity of Jesus' death in establishing the New Covenant? How is this similar to the concept of a will or testament? [03:49]
According to the sermon, how does the Old Covenant's requirement for blood sacrifice relate to the New Covenant established by Jesus? [08:29]
What are the key differences between the sacrifices of the Old Covenant and Jesus' sacrifice as described in Hebrews 9? [13:32]
How does the sermon describe the significance of Jesus' blood, and why is it not considered a cliche or superstition? [10:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why is it important to understand Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant, and how does this role impact our relationship with God? [03:17]
How does the sermon challenge the idea of continual sacrifice, such as in the Mass, and what does it suggest about the completeness of Jesus' sacrifice? [25:31]
In what ways does the sermon address common misconceptions about sin and forgiveness, particularly regarding the idea that good works or time can erase sin? [20:28]
How does the sermon use the concept of judgment after death to emphasize the urgency of accepting Jesus' sacrifice in this life? [31:10]

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Application Questions:

The Christmas season is seen as a unique opportunity to share the gospel. How can you personally embrace this season to share Jesus' message with those around you? [00:44]
Reflect on the idea that Jesus' sacrifice was once for all, perfect and complete. How does this understanding affect your view of forgiveness and your relationship with God? [14:20]
The sermon emphasizes the urgency of accepting Jesus' sacrifice in this life. What steps can you take to ensure you are living in readiness for His second coming? [31:10]
Consider the significance of Jesus' blood as described in the sermon. How can this understanding deepen your appreciation for the sacrifice He made for you? [10:31]
The sermon challenges the idea of reincarnation and emphasizes the finality of life and judgment. How does this perspective influence your priorities and decisions in life? [30:49]
How can you actively live in eager anticipation of Jesus' second coming, and what changes might you need to make in your daily life to reflect this anticipation? [32:12]
Identify one person in your life who may be open to hearing about Jesus during this Christmas season. What specific action can you take to engage them in a spiritual conversation this week? [00:44]

Sermon Clips

What we have in front of us now until the end of the month is a time of the year when our culture is more focused on Jesus than ever before. What can this be for us other than the most wonderful of opportunities? And so I want you to know all the things that we do. [00:49:33]

Jesus is the mediator of a new arrangement that God makes with his people. It was prophesied under the Old Covenant, but now it's made real unto us and to all who will believe under the terms of the New Covenant. But notice what it says there in verse 15. [00:03:17]

He's emphasizing the fact that Jesus had to die in order to make this covenant effective, in order to put it into action. And now he's just drawing out a very basic principle there in verse 16 where he says for where there is a testament. [00:04:24]

When we talk about the blood of Jesus, we talk about it in that biblical idea that the blood represents the life, and when life is poured out, it represents death. The life is in the blood, the scriptures say, and when life is poured out, that means death has come. [00:10:31]

Jesus is different than any other man; therefore, his life, his death, his blood was different. Secondly, his death was different because it was both planned and predicted by God centuries before. Isn't that awesome that it was all planned, that it was all set in motion? [00:14:20]

Without shedding of blood, there is no remission. Now, what does he mean by remission? Isn't that sort of a strange word to use? Do you understand what I mean? Now, in our modern day, when we use the word remission, what do we always use it in connection with? [00:15:28]

The Bible makes it very plain. Matter of fact, I find fascinating in verse 27 his point isn't to review reincarnation. That's only a side point for him. It is such a given that we die once and face judgment that goes we'll just as much as that's true. [00:31:10]

The reason why the suffering of Hell goes on forever is because in Hell, imperfect people are making an imperfect payment for their sins. And if a payment is imperfect, how long does it have to continue? Let me put it to you this way. [00:27:26]

The focus of Jesus's first appearance was to pay the penalty of sin, to live a sinless life, to make a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin on our behalf. But when he appears a second time, he's gonna appear apart from sin to rescue his people. [00:32:12]

The death of the men who died on the right and the left of Jesus, it was a tragedy for them and everybody who knew them, but it makes no difference to us today. But the life of Jesus was different because the transforming power of the risen Christ is here today. [00:23:34]

If a perfect payment could ever be made, then the Justice of God could be satisfied and a person could be released from hell's torment. But when a person says no, I don't want the cross, no, I don't want Jesus's work for me to count on the cross. [00:30:17]

The blood of bulls and goats and such as that, it might have been fine for an earthly Tabernacle, for an earthly temple, but you're not gonna find anything for God by taking the blood of a bull or goat to heaven and satisfying him. [00:22:01]

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