Christ Our Mediator
Christ Our Mediator.
John 6:25-26-27, When the crowd had found Christ, "They said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?" Jesus replied, "Verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him God the Father sealed."
Strong words for today's earthy minded Christians who are NOT bent on spiritual excellence as found in Christ; nor is it for the love of Christ, but for the bread to fill their own bellies. Instead of making service to Jesus their meat and drink, they only serve Him that they might eat and drink.
Self can creep into the best of desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, hearts, minds and actions. But self only exerts controlling power or influence in the hypocrite.
When the crowd asked, "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?" Christ reply is partly to dissuade them from putting the secondary and subordinate (eating and drinking) in the place of the principal and unlimited end. His warning for them is not to prefer your bodies to your souls, your fleshly needs to the glory of God. "Labour not in the meat that perisheth."
A large majority of the Christian community today has made religion a pretence for sensual gratification. We are to labor and strive for that which will bring us into eternal life.
Where can we find this food for eternal life? The Son of man shall give it to us. "For him hath God the Father sealed." Christ has been given the authority and power from His Father on high.
There is an order observed among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father sends the Son, the Son comes to fulfill the Father's will, the Holy Ghost is sent by both, and acts upon that which He hears from above.
Is Jesus our only Mediator?
Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Also,
Isa.9:6, "The government is upon His shoulders."
What was the way and the manner in which the Father sealed His Son? There is both a metonymy. This is a figure of speech in which the name of one thing is used for the name of another associated with or related to it. When the symbol of authority is put for the authority itself; Also,
A metaphor, as sealing, which is a human act for ratifying and confirming an instrument or grant, being here applied to God. American ambassadors are sealed by the President, he giving them the credentials (seal,) this confirming the ambassadors authority. So it is with the Lord Jesus.
The heart of our Lord was as fully and ardently engaged in the work of redemption as is the Father's heart.
Ps.40:7-8, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God; thy law is in my heart." Jesus came with a due call and full commission from the Father.
John 8:42, Jesus said, "I proceeded and came from God (the Father;) thy law is in my heart."
Heb.5:4-5, "No man taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron: so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art my Son."
Christ was sealed for the whole work of mediation. Sent to recover and save all that the Father had given Him.
John 17:2, "To give eternal life to as many as were given him." and
Isa.49:5, "To bring Jacob (Israel) back to Him"
The high priests of the O.T. were made without an oath; but the Priesthood of Jesus was with an oath.
Heb.7:21, "The LORD sware and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Because Jesus was sealed by the Father, whatever He did was fully ratified by the Father.
Now there are the false mediators, false priests, the liars. Their acts are done without a commission and without the authority of God. Regardless of their work, the supposed miracles, wonders and signs or whatever that a false priest or prophet performs, it and they are in and of themselves null and void. Without authority, without power, without mercy and love, without Gods knowledge and wisdom. "broken vessels."
Jesus alone! Faithful in His work, sealed from above.
John 9:4, Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him that sent me."
John 5:30, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." He is the faithful servant.
Men who fit and appoint those that are not qualified and not ratified by the Holy Spirit are found unfit and incapable of performing the work of God.
Their shall never be one as faithful as our Lord, He being the cornerstone. The apostiles are the foundation stones. And those that come to Christ are that Which are built upon the cornerstone and the foundation stone.
Heb.3:6, He (Jesus) "Is the faithful and true witness.
For zeal there is none like Him,
John 2:16-17, "The zeal of God's house did eat him up."
Jesus counted His work as food and drink. All He did was done in love. For wisdom, there was none like him. He was most wise, He sought not His own glory.
Today as in the past we have the pretenders. Pretending to have been called and given a commission. They are counterfeit Christ's, that produce more counterfeits.
John 10:7-8, Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers," as are all who come after.
Matt.24:24, "There shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch, that if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect."
Matt.23:14, To our modern day Scribes and Pharisees Jesus would say, "Woe unto you, --- hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
And for those who follow these false teachers is this warning if you have become one of their victims,
Matt.23:15, "Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass (travel) sea and land to make one proselyte (a convert,) and when he is made, ye make him (convert) twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."
The Lord was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure. The Father hath,
Ps. 45:7, "Anointed Him with the oil of gladness above his fellows."
True Christians are co-partners of this Spirit, not without measure as was Christ, but according to measure.
It is amazing to me when I see how so many embrace imposters. False Christ's arise as locust from the dust of the ground, leading many astray.
Christ said, John 5:43, "I come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another come in his own name, him will ye receive."
Tending not to believe Christ, but believing every deceiver, every pitiful cheat that entertains, is witty, and expounds the lie that the Lord hath sent him. It is only his word, a single word, yet he will get disciples. These do not, and will not receive the true Saviour and High Priest.
Evil as it intrudes into the office of mediator is without a proper call from God. These are false Christ's who come to honor themselves.
Each of us must cry out as it is written in,
Cant.8:6, "Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame."
Jesus Christ was fitted with the body of a man, and authorized by a commission from the Father. He now devotes and sets Himself apart to and for this work: This work is for the further advancement of the glorious design of our salvation. He sanctified Himself for our sakes. He has given us His word in writing. It is up to each and every individual to study that word in order to find yourself approved. Amen.
Thank you,
Phillip LaSpino