February 3 – LD 5, Day 6: What about a Mediator?
by Rev J. Kortering
Romans 8:3, “For what
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh.”
Under the judgment of
God, sin brings upon man a storm of wrath and human despair. From God’s point
of view, we cannot make this storm too black, God instructs us to view our sin
as it appears before His holy face. The lightning and thunder of
Then there is the
question of a mediator.
From a biblical point of
view, the possibility of a mediator introduces sunshine and favor against the
background of hopeless despair.
A mediator is more than a
substitute, though he is that for sure. His function is more than a HUMAN
mediator. We enjoy the function of a mediator in many human situations.
Marriage problems – a mediator functions as a counselor, a neutral person who
listens to all issues and renders advice which can help solve problems.
Countries need mediators to come between warring nations to help solve issues
and reconcile offended parties to each other. Here, the mediator takes on a
very different function. He does not simply treat God and man as equals, stays
neutral, works towards reconciliation for both parties. Rather, his function is
to take the side of the sinner and reconcile him to God. God is the offended
one and His holy law has been willingly violated by sinful man.
Even then, to raise the
possibility of a mediator is to open the door to hope and reconciliation.
Hence the passage quoted
above, “the law could not do….. God sending his own Son….condemned sin in the
flesh.”
God is right in His judgment
of the sinner. In justice, He sentences the entire fallen human race to
everlasting perdition and hell.
Only God is able to
produce a mediator, one who can come from God’s side and meet the requirements
of His holy law and bring about reconciliation.
Mediate upon the
sweetness of these words.
With man it is
impossible, but what is impossible with man is possible with God. There
is a mediator whom God provides.