THERE is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. 2:5. It is He that “maketh intercession for us.”
“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one.” Where mediation is, there must be two parties—usually at variance. And the mediator always seeks to reconcile; never the opposite.
Says the Holy Spirit: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you.” Isa. 59:2. “The carnal [natural] mind is enmity against God.” Rom. 8:7. Hence the need of mediation.
Our Mediator is our “Advocate,” our “Intercessor.” He condemns no one (John 3:17); accuses none (John 5:45). Another party has that matter in charge.
A Priesthood
Christ, in His office as mediator between God and men, is the “Apostle and High Priest of our profession.” A detailed account of this priesthood may be found in the book of Hebrews—mostly in chapters two to ten.
In this narrative two priesthoods are found, the priesthood of Melchizedek, and the Levitical order. And while Christ was made a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, yet all the Aaronic priests served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.”
Melchizedek was a priest-king. So also is Christ. In his priesthood, Melchizedek had no predecessor or successor. Neither has Christ; for “He ever liveth to make intercession for us.”
In none of these particulars did the Levitical order represent Christ; yet the minutest detail of their service was “a shadow of good things to come.”
That He might be adapted to His work, Christ partook of human nature; “for verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved 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. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:16-18. “And He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa. 53:12.
A Friend of Sinners
On earth, He was sneeringly called a “Friend of sinners;” was crucified “between two thieves;” and “made His grave with the wicked.” All this, “that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest.”
And so it is written that “every high priest being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.” Heb. 5:1, 2, A. R. V. The authorized version says: “Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way.” The marginal reading is “can reasonably bear with,” etc.
Nothing short of this can fitly represent a compassionate Redeemer, our Advocate at the Court of Final Appeal. Nothing less could possibly be the priesthood in type.
A Great Human Type
Such an advocate was Moses. Throughout that forty years they were murmuring, transgressing, accusing him of perfidy; and yet his patience never failed but once.
After the idolatry at Sinai, “Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, O, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin;—and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Ex. 32:31, 32. Here was a typical advocate.
Such also was the work of Aaron and his sons when they had been installed as priests. Such was the office of the family priest; as Abraham, who erected his altar wherever he pitched his tents; as Job, who continually sacrificed and interceded in behalf of his children. Such is the attitude of every converted parent toward his family, and sinners in general. “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.” Without this, no one can plead; with it, who can refrain from pleading?
Lacking the Spirit, priesthood becomes priestcraft, and all their ministry a hollow form, a blasphemous mockery. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s day (Jer. 5:31); so also it was to be when Christ first appeared: “And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.” Isa. 59:16.
“There is one God,” means there is only one. “One Mediator between God and men,” as naturally means, there is one only. The Spirit intercedes, mediates; and He is the source of the Spirit. It is therefore the Spirit of Christ in men which pleads for sinners, and that is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” “There is one Mediator.”
Such was Abel. Not so was Cain.
In Israel
At Sinai the twelve tribes were offered the priesthood; but only one received it. Said the Lord, “If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, . . . ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”
Every man among them might have been a priest, a mediator between God and the heathen; but they were not fitted for such a place. Therefore one tribe, and one family in that tribe, alone must act. Aaron and his sons, interceding for the rest of Israel, when all might have been, should have been, priests for the rest of mankind.
So of Christians: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), just as Israel might have been. Every real Christian is this, because Christ is; for “Christian” means like Christ. Wherein we lack the Spirit of mediation and intercession, we lack the Spirit of Christ. Wherein we have the spirit of condemnation and censure, we have the spirit of Satan, and can be no part of the royal priesthood.
Those who shall inherit the earth redeemed are recorded as saying to Christ: “Thou . . . hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9, 10.
“Unto Him [then] that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 1:5, 6.
