Jesus: The Only Mediator Between God and Humanity
Summary
The reality of our lives is that we are separated from God by a vast gulf—our sinfulness on one side, God’s infinite holiness on the other. There is no common ground between us and God, no way for us to negotiate or bargain our way into His presence. Our best efforts, our “righteous deeds,” are like polluted garments before Him. Yet, in His mercy, God has provided a mediator—Jesus Christ—who bridges that infinite divide. Jesus is not just a mediator among many; He is the only mediator, the one who stands between a holy God and sinful humanity, not to find a compromise, but to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice, fully satisfying God’s justice and extending God’s grace.
Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant. The old covenant, given by God, was good, but humanity failed to keep it. The law revealed our sin and our inability to save ourselves. But Jesus, through His death, inaugurated a new covenant—one based not on our works, but on His finished work. His blood purifies, His death redeems, and His resurrection secures an eternal inheritance for all who trust in Him. He is both God and man, the only one who can truly represent both sides and bring reconciliation.
This mediation is not just a theological concept; it is deeply personal and practical. Jesus’ work as mediator means we have access to God, assurance of salvation, ongoing advocacy, and the power for real transformation. He is our prophet, priest, and king—speaking truth, offering sacrifice, and ruling with love and authority. To know Jesus as mediator is to know the only way to the Father, the only source of forgiveness, and the only hope for eternal life.
The call is simple and urgent: come to Jesus. Recognize your need for a mediator, trust in His finished work, and live in the freedom and joy of reconciliation with God. If you have come to Jesus, let your life reflect His kingship—order your priorities, your time, your resources, and your obedience around Him. And let the reality of His mediation move you to share this hope with others, urging them to be reconciled to God.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus Is the Only Mediator Between God and Man
There is no common ground between a holy God and sinful humanity; our best efforts cannot bridge the gap. Jesus alone, fully God and fully man, stands as the perfect mediator—not to negotiate a compromise, but to offer Himself as the sacrifice that satisfies God’s justice and extends His mercy. This is not a role we can fill ourselves or assign to anyone else; Christ alone is sufficient and necessary for our reconciliation with God. [14:15]
- The New Covenant Is Superior Because of Christ’s Finished Work
The old covenant revealed our inability to keep God’s law and our desperate need for grace. Jesus, as mediator of the new covenant, accomplished what we could not—He fulfilled the law, bore our punishment, and secured forgiveness and eternal inheritance for all who believe. The new covenant is not based on our performance, but on Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, making it a covenant of better promises and lasting hope. [25:22]
- Jesus’ Mediation Is Personal, Transformative, and Ongoing
Christ’s work as mediator is not just a past event; it grants us present access to God, assurance of salvation, and ongoing advocacy before the Father. Because of Jesus, we can draw near to God with confidence, knowing we are accepted and loved. This relationship is meant to transform us, motivating us to extend reconciliation and compassion to others as we have received from Him. [46:27]
- Jesus Is Prophet, Priest, and King—We Must Embrace All His Roles
To truly follow Jesus means to receive Him as the one who speaks truth (prophet), intercedes and sacrifices for us (priest), and rules our lives (king). We cannot pick and choose which aspect of His lordship we prefer; His words, His mediation, and His rule are inseparable. Our lives—our priorities, obedience, and affections—reveal whether we truly honor Him as King. [44:33]
- The Call to Respond: Examine, Trust, and Proclaim
The reality of Christ’s mediation demands a response. We are called to examine ourselves—do we truly trust in Jesus as our mediator, or are we relying on our own efforts? If we have received Him, we are urged to live out our faith, to “do something about it,” and to share the hope of reconciliation with others. The invitation remains: come to Jesus, and live. [48:45]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:24] - Singing Truths: Worship and the Higher Throne
[05:40] - Three Points: Jesus Is Our Mediator
[06:43] - Understanding Mediation and the Covenants
[08:11] - Jesus, the High Priest and the New Covenant
[09:33] - What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Mediator?
[11:41] - The Infinite Divide: No Common Ground
[14:15] - The Necessity and Nature of Christ’s Mediation
[16:25] - Our Hopelessness Without a Mediator
[18:07] - Application: Do You See Your Need?
[19:33] - The Samaritan Woman: Meeting the Mediator
[21:44] - The Two Covenants: Our Failure, Christ’s Success
[25:22] - The Better Covenant and Its Implications
[28:18] - The Last Supper: Jesus Explains His Death
[30:34] - Jesus: The Perfect Mediator, God and Man
[33:12] - Forgiveness, Pardon, and the Work of Christ
[38:56] - The Promise of Christ’s Return
[41:03] - Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
[44:33] - Practical Implications: Who Is King in Your Life?
[46:27] - Access, Assurance, Advocacy, and Transformation
[48:45] - Examine Yourself and Respond
[50:10] - The Lord’s Table: Celebrating the New Covenant
[51:32] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Jesus Our Mediator
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### Bible Reading
Hebrews 9:15-28 (ESV)
> 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
> 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
> 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
> 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
> 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
> 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”
> 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.
> 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
> 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
> 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
> 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,
> 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
> 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
> 28 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.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)
> 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
> 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
John 14:6 (ESV)
> Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 9:15, what did Jesus’ death accomplish for those who are called?
2. In 1 Timothy 2:5, how is Jesus described in relation to God and humanity?
3. What does the sermon say about our own “righteous deeds” and their value before God? [[15:31]]
4. What is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant, as explained in the sermon? [[23:01]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus is described as the only mediator between God and man? What does this mean for people who try to approach God in other ways? [[14:15]]
2. The sermon says there is “no common ground” between a holy God and sinful humanity. How does this shape our understanding of our need for Jesus? [[11:41]]
3. The new covenant is described as “better” because of Christ’s finished work. In what ways does this new covenant change our relationship with God compared to the old covenant? [[25:22]]
4. The sermon talks about Jesus as prophet, priest, and king. Why is it important to embrace all of these roles, and not just one or two? [[44:33]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to “recognize your need for a mediator.” Are there ways you still try to earn God’s favor or approach Him on your own terms? What would it look like to fully trust Jesus as your only mediator? [[18:07]]
2. Jesus’ mediation gives us “access to God, assurance of salvation, ongoing advocacy, and the power for real transformation.” Which of these do you struggle to believe or experience most, and why? [[46:27]]
3. The sermon says our lives—our priorities, time, resources, and obedience—reveal whether we truly honor Jesus as King. What is one area of your life that needs to be reordered to reflect His kingship? [[44:33]]
4. The call is to “come to Jesus” and “live in the freedom and joy of reconciliation with God.” What is one practical way you can remind yourself of this reconciliation during your week? [[18:45]]
5. The sermon urges us to “share this hope with others.” Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus as the mediator? What is one step you can take to share this message with them? [[48:45]]
6. Jesus is our mediator not just in the past, but right now. How can you draw near to God with confidence this week, knowing you are accepted and loved because of Jesus? [[46:27]]
7. The sermon says, “If you have come to Jesus, let your life reflect His kingship.” What is one specific act of obedience you feel prompted to take as a response to this truth? [[44:33]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for sending Jesus as our mediator. Ask for help to trust Him fully, to live under His kingship, and to share the hope of reconciliation with others.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Is the Only Mediator Between God and Humanity
There is no common ground between a holy God and sinful humanity; only Jesus, fully God and fully man, can stand in the gap as our mediator, reconciling us to God through His sacrificial death. We bring nothing to the table but our sin, and all our efforts and good works are insufficient to bridge the infinite gulf between us and God. Jesus, agreeing with the Father about the seriousness of our sin and the necessity of a perfect sacrifice, willingly became that sacrifice, offering Himself to secure our redemption. He is not one mediator among many, but the only one who can truly reconcile us to God, for God's holiness will not be compromised. In Christ alone, we find the way to the Father, the truth about our condition, and the life we desperately need. [15:31]
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)
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.
Reflection: In what ways have you tried to earn God’s favor or bridge the gap yourself, and how can you surrender those efforts today to trust in Jesus alone as your mediator?
Day 2: The New Covenant—A Better Promise Through Christ
The old covenant revealed our inability to keep God’s law, but Jesus mediates a new and better covenant, established on His perfect sacrifice and secured by His blood, offering forgiveness and a restored relationship with God. The old covenant, though good, was broken by humanity’s sinfulness, but God promised through the prophets a new covenant that would not depend on our ability but on Christ’s finished work. Jesus entered the holy place once for all, not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood, making atonement for all who believe. This new covenant is not just a shadow or copy, but the reality that brings us into God’s presence, cleansed and accepted. Worship the One who initiated this better covenant and live in the freedom and assurance it brings. [25:22]
Hebrews 9:15 (ESV)
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Reflection: How does knowing you are part of a new and better covenant through Jesus change the way you approach God in prayer and worship today?
Day 3: Christ’s Sacrifice Brings Complete Forgiveness and Cleansing
Jesus’ death was necessary to execute God’s will, and His blood purifies us from all sin, offering both legal pardon and personal forgiveness, restoring our relationship with God and making us flawless in His sight. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice covers all our sins—past, present, and future. His blood is the means by which we are cleansed, and His forgiveness is not just a legal declaration but a personal restoration, removing guilt and healing our hearts. The cross is the mighty gulf God spanned to bring us home, and in Christ, we are not only pardoned but welcomed as beloved children. [34:21]
Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV)
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Reflection: Is there a sin or burden you still carry that you need to bring to Jesus today, trusting that His blood has truly made you flawless and forgiven?
Day 4: Jesus Is Prophet, Priest, and King—Our Complete Mediator
Jesus fulfills all the roles needed for our salvation: as Prophet, He proclaims truth; as Priest, He reconciles us to God; as King, He rules with love and justice—calling us to submit every area of our lives to His good and gracious reign. We cannot pick and choose which role of Christ we want; He is all three, and His words, mediation, and rule all matter. Life under King Jesus is the best life possible, for He is the Good Shepherd who cares for His people. Our priorities, choices, and obedience reveal whether we truly honor Him as King. Building our lives on His truth is the only secure foundation, and following Him means letting His authority shape every part of who we are. [43:02]
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have resisted Jesus’ authority as King, and how can you surrender that area to His loving rule today?
Day 5: Living Out the Reality of Christ’s Mediation
Because Jesus is our mediator, we have confident access to God, assurance of salvation, ongoing advocacy, and the power to be transformed—so we are called not only to receive these blessings but to share the message of reconciliation with others. Christ’s mediation means we can draw near to God’s throne for mercy and grace, know we are accepted, and experience continual help and transformation. This gift is not for us alone; we are urged to examine ourselves, live out our faith, and invite others to know the only mediator who can bring them to God. If we love Jesus, we are called to feed His sheep and extend His reconciliation to a world in need. [48:45]
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus the mediator, and how can you take a step today to share His love and message of reconciliation with them?
Quotes
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