We hear a lot of attributes associated with Jesus – mediator, advocate, physician, etc. – but what do those mean? This devotion will look at what those attributes of His character mean for us.
Nuggets
- Just as Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, Jesus is a Mediator of the new covenant.
- The Son of God, the Savior or the world, is going to be concerned enough with us individually to ask God for what we need.
- Right now, Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us.
- Jesus’ mission was healing the spiritual ills.
- Jesus isn’t ashamed of us because we became children of God by ABCDing.
- Jesus is a Forerunner because He is already up in heaven interceding for us.
This year, we are looking at self-discipline. We are using Vincent’s The Lesson of Ripeness sermon to look at the need to grow in our relationship with God. We morphed learning enough to be a teacher into determining some areas we need to grow so we can be mature disciples.
Resource
Currently, we are looking into solidifying what we believe. When we witness, we need to be prepared to explain what we believe and why we believe it.
We’re starting to look at the category focusing on Jesus. It is going to take a couple of devotions to look at Who He is. Let’s take a look at a list of names associated with Jesus – mediator, advocate, physician, etc.
Mediator
“Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Heb. 9: 15 CSB)
Just as Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, Jesus is a Mediator of the new covenant. A mediator, according to the Holman Bible Dictionary, is “a person midway between two parties who establishes an agreement or relationship between the parties and may act as a guarantor of that relationship.” I see it as kind of a manager to take care of making sure the agreement is moving along as it should.
One of the differences between the two is Moses was talking to the nation of Israel. Jesus comes to us individually.
Another difference is Moses was presenting the law to the people. The law pointed to Jesus, showing us our need for a Savior because we can’t do all the do’s and not do all the don’ts.
Jesus, on the other hand, wanted us to be in position to “… receive the promise of the eternal inheritance …” (Heb. 9: 15 CSB). Where the law couldn’t save us, Jesus could, changing us from spiritually dead to spiritually alive. That provides us the assurance that, when this life is over, we will spent eternity with Him.
Talk about being in a leadership position! Jesus is this important Dude but is concerned with all the little guys — us.
It is really obvious these days that we need a Mediator. We also need an Advocate.
Advocate
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” (Jn. 14: 16 NIV)
I love how this verse starts out. “And I will ask the Father …” (Jn. 14: 16 NIV). Was the Holy Spirit as our Guide Jesus’ idea? Had He and God figured this out when God came to Him with the plan, and now, Jesus is just telling God it is time?
Either way, this verse shows us that Jesus will ask for us and speak for us. He is still asking for us and speaking for us.
Yes, the Son of God, the Savior or the world, is going to be concerned enough with us individually to ask God for what we need.
It is going to be in God’s Will, or Jesus wouldn’t be doing the asking. Since it is in God’s Will, it will be given to us.
Oh, yes. I do see that as two different things. In this instance, I see Him going to God and saying, “My friends and siblings are going to need help after I am gone. Can we sent the Holy Spirit as a guide after they ABCD.”
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
I can also see Jesus going to God and saying, “I am really concerned with Elaine having to do 100 meetings a month. She is going to wear herself out if this keeps up much longer. I am going to arrange it so she can put the devotions she writes online. That will help her, and it will also help Tom and Sally.”
We also have to put this verse into context. The is one of the things Jesus told the disciples after He had washed their feet at the last Passover meal. So, He not only is saying goodbye, but He is also preparing them for life without Him.
How caring is that? Jesus knew He was facing this horrific death, but He is thinking about the disciples — and us!
I don’t see this being interpreted as God doesn’t care for us, so Jesus has to step up. I see this as a demonstration of how we are supposed to go to God to ask for things. Yes, He probably already has things written into the plan, but we are expected to ask anyway.
Intercessor
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Rom. 8: 34 ESV)
Right now, Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us. Remember we said He was the Mediator — or manager — of the established agreement? This refers to the acts that He has to do to keep the agreement rolling.
Sometimes, Jesus (as Manager) has to step into a situation (intercede) and fight (advocate) for us. Other times, He approaches God and advocates.
What Jesus is doing is trying to get us all on the same page. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I Jn. 2: 1 ESV).
Now, don’t read this as Jesus is trying to get us out of trouble for sinning. What I see Jesus doing here is advocating for us so we can grow. See, what Jesus is trying to do here is to bring us closer to a God, not Him closer to us.
I see what Jesus is doing as discussing with God where we are at on our roads to sanctification. How is what we are doing affecting our sanctification? What do we we need to work on next? What corrections for sins we’ve committed do we need to help us grow?
Hubbard believed that Jesus collects the “prayers of the saints on earth, to commend and present them to God, and to secure acceptance for them (1 Peter 1:5; Revelation 8:3; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:21, 22; Hebrews 13:15; Colossians 3:17).”
Why does Jesus intercede for us? Ferme believed it was based on atonement.
Well, atonement is about repayment for a wrong. Since Jesus has made the repayment, He has a vested interest in us.
Where is Jesus at? Paul said that He was “… at the right hand of God …” (Rom. 8: 34 ESV). He is in a place of honor. He has constant access to God so that He is always available when He needs to intercede for us.
But remember, God and Jesus aren’t as concerned about this world and life as we are. I bet Jesus is interceding that He be able to bring us home. As the song says, He doesn’t want heaven without us.
What a Beautiful Name
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Pianist: Chris Vieth
Physician
“Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor — sick people do’” (Lk. 5: 31 NLT)
Yes, Jesus is known as the Great Physician. I wonder if He ever winces at that nickname.
I know Jesus healed a lot of people in the three years of His ministry. I know that — and the free food — is what drew a lot of people.
That wasn’t what Jesus was about. Remember? We talked about it once.
Remember, Jesus called the crowd out for coming to hear Him just because they wanted to be fed (Jn. 6: 22-59). Don’t we do that?
We focus on this world, thinking God is going to fix all that is broken in our lives. We don’t always hear Jesus’ words to us because we are either focusing on physical issues or coming to him for ulterior motives.
Jesus was okay with healing the physical — but He never fixed the world. There was poor people when He came — and when He ascended to heaven. He wasn’t a Social Savior.
Jesus’ mission, though, was healing the spiritual ills. Adeney wrote, “Christ is most concerned with those who need Him most.” He will always remain our spiritual Redeemer and Savior.
And Jesus is a dedicated Physician. We are promised that, if we seek God, we will find Him.
Elder Brother
“So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Heb. 2: 11 NLT)
Here is Jesus. Son of God. Savior. Redeemer.
Our Brother.
Jesus wants to call us brothers and sister. We mean that much to Him.
Ooo, baby. Is Jesus going to think of me as the poor relation? I know I am going to mess up and embarrass Him.
No, we don’t have to worry. Jesus loves us. He will love us as we are. He will love us through our sins — as long as we fear Him. Fear of the Lord means love and revere Him.
Look at why Jesus isn’t ashamed of us. “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Heb. 2: 11 NLT emphasis added).
Jesus isn’t ashamed of us because we became children of God by ABCDing. If we are children of God, we are His brothers and sisters.
To read a related devotion, click on the appropriate button below.
Forerunner
“where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6: 20 NLT)
Because I didn’t put Hebrews 6: 19 as the verse, we missed that the writer of Hebrews is talking about Jesus going to heaven as a forerunner. He is already up in heaven interceding for us.
This goes along with John 14: 2. “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (Jn. 14: 2 NIV).
Pastor Chad preached on this Sunday. Yeah, Jesus was a carpenter, but he wasn’t talking about breaking out hammer and nails to physically build a mansion for us. Pastor Chad said, “Heaven was already ready for us. It was the going that mattered. It was His death on the cross and His resurrection that prepared for us to be in heaven with him.”
In the next devotion, we will look at the remaining attributes associated with Jesus.
Father God. Because of Your love, You sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins. Thank You. Help us to grow closer to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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