Names Offices-Temple, Circumcision

Jesus is the Temple:

John 2:19, “Destroy this temple in three days I will raise it up.”

Jesus is speaking of the temple of His physical body. Veiled by this physical body, is the glory of the eternal Word. In the day of the Levitical priests, God’s glory, would be visible on the day of atonement, in the inner sanctuary, or the holy of holies of Solomon’s Temple. This glory is called the “Shekinah,” or the Dwelling. It is the glory Isaiah the prophet saw in a vision.

Isaiah 6:1-5 “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. .. Woe is me! for I am undone = (destroyed); because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

What Isaiah saw was the glory of Christ Jesus. John 12:41, “These things said E-sa-ias, when he saw His glory.”

The Jews saw the coming of the Shekinah glory = (Jesus), veiled in flesh.

Malachi 3:1, speaks of Jesus: “Behold, I will send my messenger = (John the Baptist), and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord = (Jesus the Christ) whom ye seek, shall suddenly come in His temple, (fleshly body) even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Jesus did not appear to the Jews as a bright cloud, or a flame of fire, or a burning bush, but in a physical body. This body, He called His Temple.

Psalms 29:9, “In His = (Jesus) temple doth every one speak of His glory.” He sits as King for ever.

The Jewish temple was erected for religious worship. Only two Jewish temples have ever been built. The first was erected by Solomon, the second by Zerubbabel and Joshua the high-priest. Herod repaired, enlarged, and beautified the second temple. This second temple is referred to as Herod’s temple. These two temples were symbolic of the temple in heaven.

Compare the following, Hebrews 8:5, and Hebrews 9:11.

Hebrews 8:5, Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: “See, saith He = (God), that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”

Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands that is to say, not of this building = (creation).”

A more perfect tabernacle refers to Christ’s human nature, in which dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. In His human form, the fullness of the glory of God dwells.

When the Jewish high priest passed through the anterior tabernacle = (that which was in front of) into the holiest place, so Christ passed through heaven into the inner abode of the unseen and unapproachable God = (the Father).

Therefore, the tabernacle here is the heavens through which Jesus passed. But the tabernacle is also the glorified body of Christ. It is not the mere natural creation, but the spiritual and heavenly, the new creation = (His glorified resurrected body) who is the Head of the mystical body, or, the Church.

With this new and glorified body, Jesus ascended into the heavenly holiest place, and now stands in the presence of the Father, where He intercedes for us. His glorified body is that meeting place of the Father, and the saved. This is the temple of His body.

Psalms 29:9, “In His = (Father’s) temple doth every one speak of His = (Jesus) glory.” Here Jesus sits, King forever.

Psalms 5:7, David writes, “But as for me, I will come into thy = (God’s) house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward the holy temple.”

In the temple in Jerusalem, God’s residence was in the Holy of Holies. This was the inner part of the tabernacle. Notice David said, “I worship toward the holy temple.”

Notice, it reads, “toward,” and not “in.” David, even as king, could not enter into the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest was allowed to enter in the Holy of Holies.

Revelation 21:22, John writes, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

1 Corinthians 3:17, “If any man defile = (destroy) the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are = (Christians.)”

The destroyer shall himself be destroyed. If any man, injure, corrupt, or attempts to destroy the church of God with false doctrine, God will destroy him; taking away his part from the book of life.

Physical death was the penalty for marring the literal temple, and eternal death is the penalty for marring the spiritual temple, which is the Church. The destroyers spoken of here, assail, with false teaching the foundation, and so subvert the temple itself.

Jesus is our Sanctuary. The people of God find safety in the Sanctuary.

Isaiah 8:14, “And He = (Jesus) shall be for a sanctuary;”

This sanctuary, his body, is not to be profaned. It is an asylum, to which His children = (Christians) can flee for safety. The following verses give the idea of the safety given to those who fled to Solomon’s temple.

1 Kings 1:50, “And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.” Adonijah ran from fear of Solomon, seeking safety in the temple.

1 Kings 2:28, “And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.” Joab also ran into the temple for safety.

Ezekiel 11:16, “Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary = (Holy place) in the countries where they shall come.”

Jesus is the Minister of the Sanctuary

The Greek word Minister is leitourgos. It is where we get our English word, Liturgy. It means the established formula, or rituals for public work and/or, worship. In the Jewish sense it refers to a priest.

Hebrews 8:1-2, “We have such an High Priest, = (Jesus) who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty = (the Father) in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary.”

Hebrews 8, speaks of a public minister = (High Priest) of the holy things or places. Jesus is that person, who officiated for the public. He guaranteed that both Jew and Gentile have a right to the things of God through His blood. The work of prayer and praise, designed for the people at large, the children of God having a right to attend, and each having an equal interest in it.

The Jewish priest was the servant of the public, he transacting the business of the people with God. Jesus Christ is that last High Priest, and mediator, transacting the business of the Christian community with the Father. The duties of this office, are transacted in the True tabernacle of heaven.

Jesus is the True Tabernacle

Hebrews 8:2, “the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

The Tabernacle here refers to Jesus glorified body. The Jewish tabernacle was man’s work, though directed, by God. The tabernacle was a type of the human nature of Christ.

John 1:14, “And the Word = (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us;”

as the Divine presence dwelt in the literal temple, so the fullness of the Godhead, bodily, dwelt in the man Christ Jesus. His human body was the work of God Himself. It did not come by way of natural generation. The True Tabernacle, in which the Word of God dwells, is where God in Christ meet Christians who are,

Ephesians 5:30, “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”

This body answers to the heavenly Jerusalem, where God’s visible presence is to be manifested to His saints, those, who are united in Christ, who is the head: This being opposite to the Father’s personal invisible presence in the Holy of holies, in Heaven, which is unapproachable to all but Christ.

Jesus is the Minister of the Circumcision: 

Romans 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.”

The circumcision is in reference to the Jews. This verse implies that Jesus, the Servant of His Father, came for the salvation of the circumcision, or the Jewish people. As a man Jesus confined His ministry to the Jews. He allowed the claim of the Jews, that being, they had first right to the blessing of the Gospel.

By confining His ministry to the Jews = (the circumcised) He confirmed the truth of God, contained in the promises made to the patriarchs. God had declared this, and Jesus Christ by His coming had fulfilled this truth, by making good God’s promise. Therefore, salvation is of the Jews, as a kind of right, conveyed to them through the promises make to their fathers. This salvation was not exclusively designed for the Jewish people, as God by the prophets had repeatedly declared.

He is called the Veil: 

Hebrews 10:20, “By a new and living way, which he (Jesus) hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”

The Jewish high-priest lifted up, or drew aside the veil that separated the holy from the most Holy place, this done in order to have access to the Divine Majesty of God. Upon the death of Jesus, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. This laid open the way to the Holiest of Holies in God’s Heavenly throne. Through the vail of Jesus flesh, Christians have access to the Father, this through Christ’s sacrificial death, and mediation.

Christ’s humanity veiled His Glory. He had to pass through humanity, in order to enter the heavenly holiest place. His torn flesh, like the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. His flesh was the veil, His body was the temple. The body was torn, but the Temple of His body was raised on the third day.

John 2:19, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, (His body) and in three days I will raise it up.” After the crucification Jesus entered into His Father’s presence, as our High Priest. He was thus, the first born from the dead. We are to be like Him; our bodies being the temple of God will pass through this weak suffering flesh, into eternity.

Jesus is our Altar:

Hebrews 13:10, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.”

The High Priest and those who serve at the Jewish tabernacle, have no right to eat the Christians’ spiritual Gospel meat. Those who serve the tabernacle and partake in the Levitical sacrifices, have no right to trust their own sacrifices for the remission of sin. The literal temple and the sacrifices, have been put away by God; replaced by the Jesus.

The altar, spoken of in Hebrews 13, is for the sacrifices that were to be put on the altar. The Christian Altar is the Christian Sacrifice which is, Christ Jesus, with all the benefits of His passion and death. This Altar provides a feast for true believers.

He is called the Offering:

Hebrews 7:27, Jesus, our High Priest needed not offer up a daily sacrifices as did the temple high priests. Daily sacrifices were first for the priest’s own sin, and then for the people.

“For this He (Jesus) did once, when he offered up Himself.”

Why and how could Jesus do that? Because He was Holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Only a sinless person can make an offering for the sinner. Jesus being without spot, and without blemish, did this once for all. The sufficiency of the one sacrifice was to atone for all sin, for ever. This resulted from Jesus being absolutely spotless. He became the Offering, for our sins, the only acceptable Offering that the Father acknowledged.

Ephesians 5:2, “Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God = (the Father) for a sweet smelling savour.”

He who offered and the Offering that He = (Jesus) offered, were one and the same.

John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (He became our Offering).”

He is the Ransom.

Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The word ransom means, to let go free for a price, to redeem, to deliver by paying a price.

Jesus Christ the server of all came to be the Servant of all. His last act was the greatest service ever, “He gave His life a ransom for many.” He laid down His life as a ransom for the lives and souls of the children of men.

Christians must seek to become humble in the presence of the great.

If you were invited to a ceremonial dinner, you should not sit in the place of honor. Why? If a more honorable man = (say the President) should come after you, the host who invited you, would come to you and say, please, this seat is for the President.

You would then be seated in another place of lesser honor. You may feel humiliated. But if you take a seat at the back of the hall, and the one who invited you thinks of you as having higher pre-eminence, he will say to you, “Come; sit in a higher place.” This would be a great blessing to you.

Jesus gave himself for us, serving us. As believers we should give freely our lives for Him who served us. In doing this, Jesus will reward us a seat of honor in His house of honor.

Jesus is the Lamb of God.

There are two words in the Greek for Lamb.

1. Amnos; this speaks of Christ, He being delivered over to death, as a lamb would be in the Jewish sacrifices.

John 1:29, “John (the Baptist) seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God = (Jesus), which taketh away the sin of the world.”

1 Peter 1:19, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Acts 8:32, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not His mouth.”

2. The second word is Arnion. It speaks of the followers of Christ, and of Christ Himself. The word does not give the idea of a weak helpless lamb that is ready to be sacrificed. This word speaks of a Lamb with power, and authority, standing at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

John 21:15; Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter responded, yes! Jesus then told Peter, “Feed my sheep” = (fellow Christians).

Rev.5:6, “In the midst of the throne (in heaven) and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb = (Jesus) as it had been slain” = (Jesus standing with the wounds of the crucifixion before the Father).

Revelation 5:8, “And when he = (John) had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb.”

Revelation 6:1, “And I = (John) saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals” (only Jesus could take the book from His Father, and only He can open its seals).”

Revelation 6:16, In the tribulation, kings, mighty men, captains, bondman, free men, will hid themselves, and will cry out, “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him = (Jesus) that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” = (Jesus is the avenger of His children).

Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This verse is supported by,

1 Peter 1:19-20, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

The blood of a lamb, one without spot or blemish was required for a sin offering from man to God. He Jesus, was that Lamb, perfectly pure in His soul, and righteous in His life. Jesus was appointed by the Father’s eternal counsels (1 Peter 1:19-20); this being the Divine purpose for Him being sent into the world.

Before Cain and Abel’s offerings, before the law was given to Moses, before the sacrificial system was given to the Jews, Jesus, the Lamb of God, was appointed by the Father before the foundation of the world, to be manifest in the world, to take away the sins of the world.

These sacrifices operate through Messiah’s death alone. Jesus was, Rev. 13:8, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Therefore, all the temple sacrifices ever made were only effectual by Christ’s death, and the shedding of His blood.

Revelation 5:6, “In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,”

The Greek arnion = (Lamb), expresses the idea of endearment. It is the endearing relation in which Christ now stands to us, as the consequence of His previous relation as the sacrificial Lamb. It also is our relationship to Him, for He is the precious Lamb, and we are His dear lambs; and we are one with Him.

This sacrificial offering of Christ, is so important, that He still stands in the midst of the throne of the Father. He is represented as being in the act of pouring out His blood for the offences of man. When Christians go before the throne in heaven, we will find a Sacrifice provided for us.

Revelation 5:8, “And when He = (Jesus) had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down = (worshipping) before the Lamb.” Jesus shares equal worship with the Father.

Romans 14:11, quoted from Isaiah 45:23, “As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Compare with,

Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things = (those) in heaven, and things = (those) in earth, and things = (those) under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Revelation 5:12, the angels of God, that stood around the throne, said, “With a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” These are seven gifts received from the Father. Seven being the number of perfection and completeness, the Eternal Father with our Lord, share co-equally in the completeness of the Godhead.

Revelation 7:9-10, “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred’s = (race, clan, tribe), and people, and tongues = (languages), stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes = (white robes indicative of light, joy, and victory over their foes) and palms in their hands.”

Verse 10, “And cried with a loud voice saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” This cry will be repeated by all people, in all nations, for all time, at the coming of the Lamb of God.

Revelation 7:17, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them = (those who came out of the great tribulation) and shall lead them unto living waters.”

Revelation 12:11, “And they = (each and every believer) overcame him = (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth = (earthly, in contrast to those who dwell in heaven) shall worship him, = (the beast, or anti-Christ) whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 14:1, “And I = (John) looked, and, lo, a Lamb = (Jesus) stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand = (These are Jews anointed by the Father, to preach the Gospel to the world, in the days of the tribulation), having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”

Revelation 14:4, “These = (the 144,000) are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins = (Spiritual virgins, not being led astray from Christian faithfulness) These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.”

Revelation 19:19, with Revelation 17:14, “And I = (John) saw the beast = (anti-Christ), and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him = (the Lamb) that sat on the horse, and against His army.”

Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

This verse is a summary anticipation of,

Revelation 19:19. This shall not happen until Jesus has first executed judgment on the harlot = (false church).

Let’s summarize the following verses, Revelation 21:9-14-22-23- 27, with, Revelation 22:1-3.

John sees, a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away. He sees the new city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. He sees 12 foundations, and the name of the 12 apostles of the Lamb written in them. There is no temple in this city, for the Lord God Almighty = (the Father) and the Lamb = Jesus) are its’ temple.

There was no sun, or moon to give their light, but the glory of God = (the Father) and the Lamb were its light. Nothing evil, or anything that can cause evil, shall ever enter into this place, only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

John sees a pure river of water coming from the throne, and a tree of life, having 12 harvests of fruit. The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. There will be no more curse; for the Father and the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.

Jesus is called the forerunner, for us entered, even Jesus.

Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.” This word, “forerunner” does not merely signify one that goes or runs before another, but also one who shows the way, thus the “firstfruits.” For in our behalf, entered Jesus for us. Why, this next office gives us the answer.

Jesus as our High Priest and Apostle:

Heb.3:1, “Wherefore, holy brethren = (Christians), partakers of the heavenly calling, = (the Holy Spirit coming to us, from heaven) consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession = (Confession) Christ Jesus.”

In the above, we have two nouns, “Apostle” = (revealer of our faith) and “High Priest,” both with one definite article, “the.” Both nouns take the article, this gives the idea there is no other Apostle, or High Priest, He and He alone fulfills both offices. As Apostle and High Priest, He pleads our cause, and reveals His Father’s will to us.

His Apostleship and High Priesthood are comprehended in the one office, that of Mediator. Paul compares Jesus to Aaron the Jewish high priest, and Moses as Apostle. Jesus alone holds both offices. Among the Jews, the high-priest was considered to be also the apostle of God. Both the Jews of that day, and Christian’s today are exhorted to consider Jesus to be both our High-Priest, and Apostle, also to expect both offices to be filled by Him alone.

The Christian community is to understand that the whole system of the Mosaic economy is finished, and the New Covenant and its’ system to be in place. The New Covenant coming from, and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest.

The Jews used the term, apostle to designate those who were sent to foreign countries, and to collect tribute from Jewish residents. Therefore it is applied to Jesus, who was the Delegate of the Father, to this world.

Matthew 21:37, Jesus said, “But last of all He = (speaking of His Father) sent unto them = (both Jews and Christians) His son, = (Jesus) saying, They will reverence my son.” So what applies to Jesus, applies to His people, and the twelve who were designated as His apostles.

John 20:21, “As my Father hath sent me, even so I send you.”

Jesus is delegated to intercede, as Apostle and High Priest for the Church before His Father. The words,

Hebrews 3:1, “of our profession,” imply that it is not of the legal ritual = (Mosaic law) and ceremony, but the profession is of our Christian faith; that Jesus is our High Priest. What God proclaims, Christians are to profess.

Hebrews 5:6, “Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Here, Jesus is simply called, “Priest.” He is a Priest absolutely, because He stands alone in that office, without equal. As long as things continue in their present state, Jesus will continue to be our High Priest, to all generations. He is the High Priest forever, there will be no succession of priests, as was in the line of Aaron.

No man, no group of men, no Church, or Denomination, no proclamations, can act in Jesus place: He has been given all power and all authority in heaven, and in earth. He is present when two or three are gathered together in his name. He will not be replaced for He fills all places, and is every where present. This nullifies all claims, from any powers, and all impostors.

Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” The apostle is attempting to prove one point, it being that Jesus is greater than Aaron, and any other claim to High Priest that may come after him.

Aaron and his successors were the only ones designated to pass into the holy of holies; this, but once a year: But our High Priest = (Jesus) has passed into the heavens, going before His Father’s throne, this being the object, Aaron’s Levitical priesthood, being the type.

There is an allusion here to the high-priest going into the holies, on the great day of atonement.

A. They left the congregation of the people.

B. They passed through the veil into the holy place, and were not seen even by the priests.

C. They entered through the second veil into the holy of holies, which was the symbol of the Majesty of the Father.

Compare this to Jesus our High Priest.

A. Jesus left the people at large.

B. Jesus in His resurrection passed from death to life: passed through the veil of death, overcoming death, ascending through the heavens unto His Father’s throne.

C. He went immediately to be our Intercessor, passing through the heavens, into the presence of the Divine Majesty of His Father. Both now rule and govern from the throne of power.

Office of Mediator:

1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The word Mediator, means literally, a middle person, one whose office it is to reconcile two parties at odds with each other, in other words, a peace-maker. The one Mediator Jesus is mediator between man and the Father.

A. Romans 3:29, “Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yea, of the Gentiles also.”

B. Ephesians 4:5-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

C. Hebrews 8:6, “He (Jesus) is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

D. Hebrews 9:15, “And for this cause, he =(Jesus) is the mediator of the new testament.”

E. Hebrews 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling.”

Those who do not have the one true God, by one Mediator, have none. There is a legitimate, Holy order in the exercise of God’s will, and we Christians had better receive it. Christ’s mediation affects the whole of the human race, and Jesus as the one Mediator, is the Representative Man for all men.

A. Romans 5:15, “For if through the offence of one = (Adam) many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

B. 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

C. Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting = (certificate of debt with its decrees) of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

Jesus became a man of flesh and blood, this necessary for His being a Mediator. Why? From His own experience of development, that is, from His birth to His death, He became personally aware of the things that men had to endure in a life-time. Therefore, through this experience, He understood and therefore sympathized with us, so became a mediator for us.

A. Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in a season to him that is weary.”

B. Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He = (Jesus) also Himself likewise took part of the same.”

C. Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Even in nature, all blessings are conveyed to us from God, not always immediately, but through the mediation of different agents.

A. Moses a mediator for Israel.

B. Abraham for Abimelech.

C. Job for his friends. The mediation being prescribed by God while declaring His purpose of forgiveness, all this prefiguring the great mediation for all, by the One Mediator, Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:16, asserts that Jesus is also God. “God was manifest in the flesh.”

Job 9:33, “Neither is there any daysman = (Mediator) betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” The word “daysman” is mediator, or, umpire. The prophet Job is speaking of one who would have the power to adjudicate between two persons. Job knew of no mediator to go between himself, he being one party, and God the other party.

1 Samuel 2:25, “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat = (Mediate) for him?” Christians know , and now have such a Mediator, His name is Jesus the Christ.

Job 33-23, “If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter = (a mediator) one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness.”

Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession = (Mediate) for them.”

1 John 2:1, “We have an advocate = (Mediator) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety = (bondsman) of a better testament.”

Jesus is called the Gift:

John 4:10, At Jacob’s well, Jesus find’s a woman, an asked her for a drink, the woman responded, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” Jesus responds, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

The answer to the woman’s question is found in,

John 3:16, when Jesus said, “For God =(the Father) so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

This gift that the Lord speaks of in John 4 is a free gift, something that was given to the world. This gift was Jesus Christ, thus, He is called the gift. Through Him comes the gift of the Holy Spirit, this is given for those who believe on the name of the Lord, and believe on all that He has done, and continues to do.

No man has ever asked for this gift, so the Father moved by his own eternal mercy, and freely gave His Son Jesus, to this dying world. Jesus is the living waters. This was a common expression in that day. This always meant spring water, in opposition to dead, stagnant water, which was contained in ponds, pools, and cisterns.

What the Lord means by “living waters” is Himself, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This can be seen in,

John 7:38-39, Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart) shall flow rivers of living water.”

2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be unto God =(the Father) for his unspeakable gift,” Jesus Christ is that gift from the Father, both showing their endless love to mankind. What this verse is implying, is not Jesus Christ Himself, but the works of Christ in these Christians, as seen in verse 14.

It speaks of the merciful and charitable disposition these Christians had toward those who suffered. These Christians had the means for charity, God having given them these means. They understood this, and had a charitable heart to those who suffered or in need. God is always the author of these things, He furnishing the inclination in a person, then the opportunity, and last of all the means, by which this frame of mind, directed by the Holy Spirit is made manifest.

No man can conceive, much less declare, how great this gift is; for these things the angels desire to look into. Therefore, He may be called the unspeakable gift, as Jesus is the greatest gift that the Father ever gave, or can give to man.

Matthew 12:18, “Behold my servant, whom I (the Father) have chosen; My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.”

Acts 4:27, “Thy Holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed.”

Jesus is the: Temple, Sanctuary, Minister of the True Sanctuary, True tabernacle, Minister of the Circumcision, Veil, Alter, He who offered, He is the Offering, Ransom, Lamb of God, forerunner, our High Priest and apostle, Mediator, and Gift. Why? Every person born of a woman is a sinner; separated from the Father because of sin, needing someone to fill the great void that stood between man and God: This is the reason for the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Phillip LaSpino  www.seekfirstwisdom.com