Our Mediator – Part 2
September 9, 2001
Dear Friends,
Last week we began to answer the question “what is Jesus doing now?” We looked at some of the common ideas associated with the subject. We also gave several reasons why Jesus does not act as passer of prayers. The first reason is that he states that he will not do it in John 16:27-27. He also heard the prayer of Cornelius who had not heard the Gospel yet and could not therefore avail himself of Christ in that capacity.
Another suggestion you will hear is that Jesus pleads with God on our behalf. This suggestion has several problems. Why does Jesus need to ask God to forgive us? First of all, Jesus himself has the authority to do so. “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”(Matt. 28:18) We also have to recognize that Jesus had the power to forgive sins during his earthly ministry. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Matt. 9:6) If he had the power when on earth, how much more would he have this authority now when God “put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things.” (Eph. 1:22) If then, Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, why would he need to lobby for our forgiveness with his Father?
This brings up the next problem with the Jesus pleading for us scenario. Does it strike us as true that Jesus is either more strict or more lenient than his Father. Although Jesus did have a separate will from his Father on his earthly ministry (Luke 22:42), he is completely in tune with the will of God now that he is in heaven. The proof of this is found in the Lord’s prayer: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)
There is one verse in the New Testament that would seem to give us the idea that Jesus is more merciful. Heb. 2:17 reads “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” The idea is put forward that since God cannot sin or be tempted, Jesus had to be created mortal and subject to temptation so that he might be merciful. In other words, Jesus knows what its like to be human while God does not. Therefore, Jesus is more merciful. The vision of Jesus appeasing an angry God is one that is quite popular but completely foreign to the Bible. Does not the Creator of heaven and earth who knows all things understand His creation perfectly? Jesus was made like his brethren to be a “merciful and faithful high priest”, but we can be fairly certain that it was for our benefit rather than to make up for something missing with God.
When come face to face with the issue time and time again that most of these theories come back to an untenable position; namely that the real problem is with God. In this instance, God’s “problem” would be that He cannot understand us and thereupon needs His son to do so for Him. This is certainly not a position that we want to take. If there is a problem, we can rest assured that the problem is with us and not God. Hebrews 2:17-18 are teaching that Jesus came to atone for sinful man, not to provide mercy. It was God’s mercy and understanding of what we needed that provided Christ in the first place.
There are several verses in the New Testament that give the impression that Jesus is pleading with God on our behalf, but we will have to wait for next week to take a look at these.
Have a great week!
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