February 5 – LD 6, Day 1: The Mediator must be a Righteous Man

Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

The catechism reiterates here that if someone is going to take the place of sinful man, he has to be not only a man, but even more than a man; he has to be a sinless or righteous man.

The catechism says, “the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned should likewise make satisfaction for sin.”

What does it mean that the same human nature must bear the consequences of sin?

Adam’s sin was a willful act on his part. God did not force Adam to sin or trick him into sin. When Eve came to Adam with the fruit of the forbidden tree, it was desirable and something they both wanted. Hence when they disobeyed God, they did it freely, they chose to do this, knowing full well it was against God’s clear instruction. “The day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die.”

If sinful man is going to make payment for this act of disobedience, the sinner in his own human nature must do so as an act of obedience. He must freely desire to do this and take the consequence of his sin willingly. The price for sin is everlasting separation from God’s favor and instead of that, doomed to the torments of His hellish wrath. To make atonement, man has to say to God, you are right. I deserve this punishment. Now as an act of love I will bear this punishment because I want to return to your fellowship and favor.

Nowhere in the human race is there a man qualified to do this for himself or for other sinners. No one WANTS to bear God’s hellish wrath, much less be able. The reason for this is that fallen man is not righteous before God. His will is captured by the power of sin. He is content to revel in his sin, make excuses for them, and even blame God for everything that goes wrong in his life.

The good news of the gospel is that there is a RIGHTEOUS man. Isaiah calls Him, “my righteous servant”. That is Jesus, “He shall justify many and bear their iniquities.”

Blessed be God Who provides a Righteous Man for us.