We're turning to the book of Hebrews and the chapter number 12. Hebrews chapter 12. Let's begin reading at the verse 18 of the chapter. Hebrews chapter 12, the verse number 18. The word of God says, for ye are not come on to the mount that might be touched, burned with fire, nor on to blackness and darkness and tempest. And the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which voice, they that heard entreated that the words should not be spoken to them any more, for they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with a dart. And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. But ye are come on to Mount Zion, on to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Amen, and we'll conclude there for sake of time. Let's just briefly unite in prayer. Our loving Father and our gracious God, bless, Lord, now the preaching of the Word. Come and strengthen, O God, the body, we pray. And yet, dear Father, we thank Thee that even in weakness Thou canst take that which is of Thine and use it, Lord, to the encouragement and the help of Thy people. Lord, that's simply what we want to be. Lord, one that encourages and helps the people of God, yes, to challenge and yes, Lord, at times to rebuke and to reprove. But Lord, oh, to be a helper along the road to glory. For Lord, this world is no friend to God or grace. We find no friends in the world. They do not inspire us to go on with God. Lord, now as we sit under thy word, bless our souls, fill me with thy spirit, and give us all an attentiveness today. We pray this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. In the epistle to the Hebrews, the epistle from which we have just read, we are exhorted in this chapter, in the verse number three, to consider him. To consider Jesus Christ, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. A meditation on Christ is really God's remedy for flagging faith and the answer for the fainting fits that we so often succumb to in our Christian lives. Reflection on Christ, who he is, and what he has done for us will renew our energies, revigorate our souls, and revive our hearts. And therefore, every opportunity to hear Christ preached ought to be seized upon by every child of God. Maybe you wonder today why you're not going on with God as you once did in your Christian life. Maybe you're wondering, well, why am I not in the place where I should be as a Christian? Maybe you're thinking, why am I so depressed? Why do I lack the joy that I once had as a believer? Well, the answer is very obvious. You've starved your soul of the spiritual food that would have enabled you to grow as a Christian. If it doesn't thrill your heart to hear Christ preach, I question whether or not you truly know Him. Now, that might offend you, and that might anger you, that might even infuriate some in this meeting, but I fear that there are those who simply profess to know God, but they lack the reality of the new birth. When Christ is preached, it thrills the heart of every child of God, and it encourages our souls no end. Now if you're visiting with us today, either in person or online, over the last few months we've been considering together in our afternoon services the Lord Jesus Christ as He is revealed to us by the titles and the names that are attributed to Him in Holy Scripture. And this afternoon we continue that series in the hope that I trust it is bringing us to a greater appreciation of who Jesus Christ is and the work that He has been entrusted with as the Son of God. Today we come to consider the title attributed to the Son of God here in Hebrews chapter 12. It is the title Mediator. Writing in verse 24, God's servant wrote that we are coming to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. As we think about Christ as mediator, there are a number of matters that are then worth our consideration today. The first of them being the scripture's employment of the title mediator. Now compared to other titles of the Lord Jesus Christ in Scripture, the title Mediator is not one that appears frequently in Holy Writ. Saying that does not mean in any way that Christ's role as Mediator is a lesser role than any of his other roles. Say the role of Lord or Savior or Redeemer. It matters not the frequency of the word, With regard to this title, Mediator, this title appears only seven times in the Word of God, in six separate verses, and each time it is found only in the New Testament Scriptures. Three times it appears without any reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, on those occasions, they're found in Galatians 3 verses 19 and 20. The reference is referring to Moses, who was the mediator as he played the mediator in his days with regard to his role as the leader of Israel as he led the children of Israel out of Egypt and to the eventually the borders of the promised land. However, I must hasten to add that there are some, like John Calvin no less, who do believe those references refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. But contextually, they sit in a position that speaks of Moses being a mediator, small m. But let me read those other references that we have in the Word of God. I'll read them to you. Those references that speak of this mediator and speaking of Christ, you'll know the first one. It's found in 1 Timothy 2 verse 5, for there is one God and one mediator. between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. But if you turn back to Hebrews chapter 8 and the verse number 6, we'll find another reference here. Hebrews chapter 8 and the verse number 6. Now, the writer of the Hebrews is speaking here about our great high priest, verse number 1. We have such a high priest who is set at the right hand of the throne of majesty, in the heavens, that's speaking of Jesus Christ. Now this is what he says on about this high priest, verse 6, And then in the next chapter we find something similar, verse 15, Hebrews 9, 15, for this cause, He is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions which were under the First Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. This banner, this new covenant, this New Testament that the writer to the Hebrews speaks of is the covenant of grace. the terms of which have been satisfied by the eternal Son of God. In order for that covenant to be ratified, such required the services, the function of a suitable mediator. And such was found in the commissioned, the divinely commissioned mediator of the new covenant, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I've said that the title mediator does not appear in the Old Testament Scriptures as in our English word. But there is one reference that we find in the Old Testament in which the function of a mediator is clearly set forth. Turn to Job chapter 9. Job is the speaker here in the chapter. And you'll know that all that Job has been going through, you can understand really the despair and the suspense that is filling this man's heart at this particular time. All that he has loved and all that he held dear to was taken quickly away from him in a moment of time. And notice now as Job, he comes to speak here, notice his lament and we'll read from the verse 30 to give context. He says, if I wash myself with snow water, The word days man is the word mediator. In fact, the Simtuatant, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. When you read that particular translation, this word, days, man, is translated word mediator, and you maybe see that in the margin of your copy of the Scriptures. And so we find here that this term, this mediator, is mentioned in the Old Testament. Job is so disconsolate that he wonders why there is no days man. Now the word days man there, it means one that should argue or an umpire. an arbiter, a mediator, a reconciler. And notice that he brings both parties together. That's his role. He is laying his hand upon both in order to bring both parties together, in order for reconciliation to take place. And thus, here we find that Job is so despairing that he wonders that there is no day's man. And yet, he forgot about the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the mediator between God and men. And so today, we're speaking about a scriptural term. That's simply what I'm trying to enforce upon our minds in this very first point. This use of the term mediator, it is a biblical term. We're looking at something biblical today, and that's a good thing. when you find yourself in God's house that you're looking at things that are biblical things that are found in the scripture but let's move on to think about the meaning the meaning of the title mediator the greek word Translated mediator in our English Bibles means a go-between, a go-between. In Thayer's Greek definitions, we find the following entry for the term 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. If you're wanting a succinct definition for mediator, it would be something like this. A mediator is one that comes between two parties who are at variance with each other in order to reconcile them. Dr. Cairns, he gave a definition of the mediator. He says, one who goes between differing or contending parties to reconcile them and who represents each part to the other. While C. H. Spurgeon, he said, a mediator is a middle man, a go-between. One who comes in between two parties who otherwise could not commune with each other. And so a mediator is really an arbiter. One who comes in between two warring factions in order to make peace. Now the concept of mediator and the concept of mediation, that which a mediator does, has found its way into modern society. We know what a mediator is or we know what mediation is. For example, when discussions between an employer and their employees has broken down maybe over the renewal of contracts or maybe over pay conditions, often a mediation body is brought into that situation in order to bring the two parties to the table together and to resolve the outstanding sticking points around such issues. Or we also find the services of a mediation or a mediator being employed in marriage. Sometimes when a marriage breaks down, there is the cause for a mediator to come between husband and wife, hoping that an impartial arbiter will in some way be able to affect a sort of future reconciliation between an estranged husband and between an estranged wife. However, we need to remember that Christ's mediation goes much further than the mediation of man. Often in the mediation of men, there is, as it were, common ground that is found. That's the attempt of the mediator. They try to find common ground. And on that ground, then progress can be made. But let me say, when it comes to the alienation that exists between sinful man and holy God, there is no common ground to be found. In other words, we cannot bring, as it were, our terms to the table, and God brings His terms to the table, and the mediator, He finds, as it were, a middle road. No, in the mediation of Christ, it is meeting God on His terms. Peace is only effected on the terms that are set down in the covenant of redemption. And unless those terms are met, then no peace can be effected and certainly no reconciliation between God and man can ever take place. You see, the Scriptures teach us that Christ mediates between God and man, not merely, now don't miss this, not merely to encourage reconciliation and to persuade the parties to be at peace with one another, but rather, brethren and sisters, He intervenes not to encourage reconciliation, but to effect reconciliation, to accomplish all that is needed. to bring reconciliation and for that reconciliation to take place. You see, man in his sin can never meet the terms of God that he has set for reconciliation with God. Such requires one who is both God and man to meet those terms and then to gift man in an act of grace what he has accomplished on their behalf and thus he becomes our peace. In the case of Jesus Christ, unlike man's mediation attempts, sometimes those mediation processes, what happens? They break down. Those mediation processes, simply grounds cannot be found. Mediation sometimes breaks apart. But as in the case of Jesus Christ's mediation, His mediation is always successful for those who seek His help. He's always successful in bringing man to God and God to man when his services, his mediation services are sought for. Considering the third instance, this is the meaning of the term mediator, a go-between, an arbiter, an umpire, we would suggest, one that goes in between, one who intervenes in order to secure and effect peace. Let's think about the requirement or the need of the mediator. And I'm speaking here of Jesus Christ now. Before the fall in the Garden of Eden, there was no need for a mediator between God and man. Though there was an infinite distance between God and man, yet there was no variance, there was no hostility between both parties. That's why God could come down into the garden, walk in the cool of the day, and Adam and Eve could have unbroken, unfettered access to God, communion and fellowship with God. But all that changed when man's representative, Adam, partook of the fruit from the forbidden tree. In that act, God was Dishonored. God was highly offended. Man, because of his sin, was now alienated from God. A great distance now existed between God and man. There was a breach. A breach had taken place. A great gulf was now fixed between holy God and sinful man. Man is now subjected to God's divine displeasure as a fallen man. Adam was unable to satisfy the claims of the divine law which he had violated, and so in order for him to be restored to the favor of God, the intervention of another, one who was related to both the offended party, God, and the offending party, man, was necessary in order for man to be reconciled to God. James Smith asked the question, how can man Such a vile being in such a dreadful state be admitted into the presence of thrice holy God. How can such a holy God and such vile creatures meet and embrace and love each other? And then he comes to answer the question that he asks, only through a mediator, one who can lay his hand upon both. Our estrangement from God, our alienation from God, our separation from God requires, necessitates the services of the Mediator. It needs to be settled in our minds that there is no way of communion, no way of fellowship between God and man but through a Mediator. There is no way of fellowship or communion with God but through the Mediator. William Whitaker said, the only way of friendly intercourse between God and man is through a mediator. Jesus Christ is that mediator. He mediates on our behalf. He becomes the arbiter, the umpire between us and God. He reconciles us to God through his blood, and therefore he is called the mediator of the new covenant. By his sacrifice, he removes the enmity in us and the wrath of God upon us, Because by His sacrifice, and our faith in that sacrifice, that sacrifice has put away our sins, and thereby He has made peace. It is on the basis of the sacrifice of the Son of God, then that God brings man and God together. As we think about the title Mediator, consider in the fourth instance the identity of the Mediator, the identity of the Mediator. One of the titles that The Pope of Rome takes to himself is the title Pontiff. Pontiff. The term Pontiff comes from a Latin word Pontifex. And it means bridge builder, bridge builder. Historically, the title was used for the high priests of ancient Rome. But today, the term is used by the Roman Catholic Church to signify their belief that the Pope of Rome is a mediator who bridges the gap between God and man. As Bible-believing Christians, we strongly repudiate such a claim. Instead, we believe the record of Holy Scripture that identifies to us the only mediator between God and man, that man, Christ Jesus. This is what Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2, verse 5. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Now mark that word one. It's important. Because Jesus Christ is not one mediator among many. He's not one mediator among many, but He is exclusively the only mediator, the one and only mediator between God and man. There is no way of access to God but except and through and by Him. Now in human affairs, there are many individuals who are competent in settling a difficulty and removing a cause of alienation which exists between man and his neighbor. However, when it comes to securing man's reconciliation to God, there is only one, only one who can secure such, and that is the God-man, the God-man Christ Jesus. As one related to both the offended party, God, He is God, and man, for He is truly man, He, now accepted by both parties when it comes to the matter of reconciliation, Christ as God-man, is the one who can carry out the function of the mediator to the satisfaction of God. In Christ, and in Christ alone, there is a singular suitableness to be the mediator. And so I've done with any of the thoughts that you might have in your mind, that you can approach God yourself, even as a believer. We come through Christ the mediator. We come in his name, we come through him, that's what we're saying. We're approaching God's throne in prayer, through Christ, through our mediator. So get it out of your mind that you, as an individual, can simply approach God, simply yourself. And as with regard to those who know not Christ as Saviour, get it out of your mind that you could come to Christ by some dead saint, some old dead saint, I was going to say. Get it out of your mind that you can come through the preacher. I'm not the mediator. You can't come to him through a priest, or through a pope, or through a prelate, or through a bishop. Only one way to God, through Jesus Christ the mediator. Jesus Christ said in John 14 verse 6, no man, let me repeat that, no man, cometh on to the Father but by me. Attempt to come to God through some other person, through some human mediator, you'll be running into a dead end. And therefore, you can only but approach God through Christ, and we have His identity. Sure, we read it in our scripture reading today, in the verse number 24, and to Jesus, the mediator. Note the definite article, He's not a mediator, He is the mediator of the new covenant. There's His identity. Considering the fifth instance, the work of the mediator, the work of the mediator, as I've already said, the primary task of a mediator or any kind of mediator, I'm speaking in general terms here, is to secure peace between two warring parties, two warring factions. Well, such is the work of Christ the mediator. Because of our alienation from God, because of our sin, There is a requirement for God to be reconciled, or for man to be reconciled to God. Unless that takes place, you can forget about heaven. You can forget about heaven. A breach has taken place. A gulf between you and God. He holy, you sinful man. And thus this breach has taken place, and thus there is a requirement that a reconciliation takes place. But how does this reconciliation come about? God is infinitely holy, man is indisputably sinful, and it appears that the twain shall never meet. Holy God, sinful man, how will they ever be reconciled? And yet, folks, God and grace devised a means that his banished be not expelled from him." God devised a means whereby sinners could be reconciled to God. And that means it centers all upon the work of Christ as mediator. The Bible is very clear. The Bible is so clear about this matter, it is God. It is God who takes the initiative when it comes to reconciling God to man and man to God. How marvelous to think that the mediator who was tasked with the responsibility of bringing together the offended and the offending parties, in order for him to effect that reconciliation, do you know what he does? He offers up his life at the place called Calvary. The mediator, the one who is trying to effect this peace, understanding the gravity of the situation, understanding the tremendous gulf that exists between man and God. He now comes as meteor, and he now steps into the situation, and he offers himself as a sacrifice. He himself sheds his precious blood. He himself offers up his life in order to effect that reconciliation. It goes on to say there in Hebrews in that verse that Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all to be testified in due time. It's through the cross work that we are reconciled to God. Now, what makes the work of the mediator even more wonderful and even more thrilling and even more glorious is the fact he's not dealing here with two equal parties when it comes to his mediation between God and man. You think about an umpire in a tennis match. You think about a referee in a football match. You think about an adjudicator in a quiz. Well, they are mediating in terms of parties of equal standing, or equal ability, equal qualities. But that is not the case with Christ's mediation. He is mediating between God and little man. He is mediating on behalf of the Creator with the creature, the rightful sovereign with the rebellious subject, the kind Father with the ungrateful child. And yet Christ, in his work of mediation, is able to reconcile God and man, meeting God's terms for that reconciliation. As one preacher came to explain the work of mediator, he said the following, his work was first to lay a foundation for bringing God and man together upon just and honorable principles. This he did by his obedience, by his death. Then he must actually bring the parties together into friendship and agreement. This he does by his gospel and his spirit. Then he must keep together the parties in peace and love. This he does by his intercession, constantly pleading his blood for sinners and the holiest, and sending down the Holy Spirit to sanctify, teach, and to guide them. As the mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ in his priestly work has done all that he has needed to not only affect peace, but also to maintain peace between us and God. It is there for us then, simply to accept what He has done for us and to rest upon His finished work. As I close, let me say a few words about the comfort we derive from the mediator. The comfort that we derive from the mediator is derived from his work. the work off the mediator, that's where we get our comfort from. That's where we draw our comfort down from when we think about his work. There is firstly in his work as mediator the aspect of reconciliation. Christ as mediator, the day's man, has by his death brought around the circumstances that reconciliation with God can take place on a sure and solid footing. What is that footing? It is His work at Calvary's Cross. having put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That which caused our estrangement from God, our sin, is erased, blotted out, when we trust in His sacrifice. And thus, we are reconciled to God. When sin is dealt with, then we are justified, and therefore we are then reconciled to God. As mediator, Christ made peace through the blood of His cross, and He maintains that peace, and in that we are comforted. The second aspect of Christ's work from which we can derive comfort from as a mediator is that of intercession. Reconciliation and intercession. In his vocation as mediator, Christ not only sacrifices himself to God, but he also lives to make intercession for us. You see, Christ in his offices, or as mediator, he exercises the offices of prophet, priest, and king. And you'll know that from your catechism. I would encourage you to read the chapter on Christ as mediator from the Confession of Faith. You'll get more truth if you do that even this afternoon. But in his vocation as mediator, Christ not only sacrifices himself to God, but he also lives to make intercession for us. On his ascension back to heaven, Christ entered into heaven itself. To do what? To appear in the presence of God for us. And what is he doing there? Well, Romans 8, 34 tells us that he's even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Just as the priest in the Old Testament was a mediator, going in between, going into God on behalf of men, and where was that peace, where was that Where was that reconciliation and where did it center? It centered upon the altar and the blood sacrifice. And thus the high priest could go into the holy place and sprinkle the blood and come out alive. Because as a result of that pointing away to Calvary's cross, reconciliation, a reconciliation between man and God had been made, but Christ is a great high priest on behalf of his people, and he intercedes on behalf of his people. He fulfills the role as mediator. He intercedes for us in heaven, and he's praying for us, and he's praying for a number of things. He's praying for our preservation in this world. He's praying that we might be kept in this world. He's praying for that today, your mediator. And he's not only praying for that, but he's praying for your progress in grace, that you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's praying for that. And he's praying for your eventual promotion to heaven, that they be with me where I am, and that they may behold the glory, my glory. He's praying for our eventual promotion to glory, and someday those prayers will be answered and will be taken beyond the starry skies. John Flavel said, as Christ's mediation by suffering has fully reconciled, so his mediation by intercession will maintain the state of peace between God and us. Child of God, is that not comforting? Is that not comforting to know that the state of peace between you and God is one that is maintained not by your prayers, not by your religious efforts, not by you coming to church, not by you living a moral life, but by the mediator's intercession on your behalf. What a blessing it is to live under Christ's mediation, that He is praying for me as my mediator. He is the one. He is the one that reconciles God and man in His person. He brings sinful man to God, and he brings God to that point where he can be at peace with sinful man all through the cross work of Jesus Christ. Unsaved one today, since the Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, then it is most dangerous for you, most dangerous indeed, to reject him as you repeatedly do, as the claims of God are brought to your attention in the gospel. He is the only one whereby you could ever be reconciled to God through him, and yet you still do not know him. You're still in your sin, in the gall of bitterness. Today finds you estranged from God, alienated from the life of God, living in this world with no hope, no hope for this life, no hope for the life that is to come. because you have continually rejected Christ as your mediator, as your Savior, and as your Redeemer. Take heed. Take heed, sinner. Don't despise Christ. For no, no sinner, no sinner can despise the mediation of Jesus Christ without exposing themselves to the wrath of God. rather than rejecting him, run to him. Receive him, as the only one who by his work as mediator can reconcile you, the sinner, to God. May you do that just now. May you receive him, believe in him, to the saving of your soul. There is but one God, and there is one mediator between God and man. the man, Christ Jesus. Thank God for our Mediator. Thank God for Christ. Thank God for His work and His mediation on our behalf. Thank God through Him we can be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless His Word to our hearts. Let's bow our heads in prayer, Maybe a message more devotional today, but I trust that your heart has been blessed and strengthened. I trust that as you've considered him, that your heart has been revived. And we encourage you to continue to read into this matter. Continue to read into the work of Christ on your behalf. May God, by his Spirit, so encourage your heart that you're thrilled at the thought of this thought, that there was one who stepped in between me and God and brought me to God. I've been drawn nigh, brought nigh to God through the work of Jesus Christ. And without him, I would be at a great distance. I'll be estranged from God, our loving Father and our gracious God in heaven. How glad we are that we have won in glory. We do have a mediator. We not only have a mediator, we have the mediator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We rejoice in his work of mediation. We thank thee that he reconciles us to God. And he has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. And therefore we are ambassadors, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Oh, may reconciliation take place on no other grounds, but on biblical grounds, God's grounds, God's terms, May there be a repenting of sin, a believing in Christ, the soul cleansed in Jesus' blood, and the sinner reconciled to God and made and brought to a place and a state of being at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Answer prayer. We pray, Lord, that the blessing of the triune God would be upon us. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, In the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit, be with all who know thee until you come or call. We offer prayer in Jesus' precious name.