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Mediation

Wayne Galloway
07/21/24 - Sunday Evening Worship

Mediation

1 Tim. 2:5-6a

 

Introduction:

 

1.  I purchased this hat in Ibague, Colombia.  But I did so through a broker or mediator.  In Colombia, North Americans may be charged more than native Colombians.

2.  When I saw the hat, I knew I wanted it but I knew a North American in Colombia would be expected to pay a higher price.

3.  I told my friend, Carlos Mantilla that I wanted the hat,but I wanted him to buy it for me.

4.  He approached the merchant and asked for the price.  When the merchant told him the price, Carlos said, “Look at this face.  Is this the face of a “Gringo”?  (“Gringo” is a slang term for a North American.)  

5.  With that, a more reasonable price was negotiated.

6.  Carlos, acted as my broker or mediator to make the purchase.

7.  The concept of mediation is prominent in Scripture.  Of course, this passage identifies Christ Jesus as mediator between God and man.  In this study we will evaluate the concept, noting its prominence in both the O.T. and the N.T.  Our study will culminate in an evaluation of Jesus as our mediator and consider how we are to act as mediators in our relationships with others.

 

Discussion:

 

I.  The term used in 1 Tim. 2:5 is “mesít?s.”

 

A.  3316. μεσ?της mesít?s; gen. mesítou, masc. noun from mésos (3319), middle, in the         midst. A mediator, one who mediates between two parties (Gal. 3:20). Ascribed to Christ (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; Sept.: Job 9:33); to Moses (Gal. 3:19). In Paul’s language, mesít?s is one who unites parties or who mediates for peace (1 Tim. 2:5). Christ is thus called the “mediator” because in man’s behalf He satisfies the claims of God upon man (Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). It is he who, with reference to mankind, mediates or guarantees for them a new and better covenant, and with reference to God, appears as High Priest (Heb. 7:20–22). What the Epistle to the Hebrews divides into two elements, the high priesthood and the mediatorship of Christ, Paul represents as blended in the mediatorship (1 Tim. 2:5).

Deriv.: mesiteú? (3315), to mediate, intercede.

Syn.: prákt?r (4233), agent, officer.

 

   B.  This term is used in Gal. 3:19-20 most likelyreferring to Moses as a mediator of 

       the law between God and Israel.

       1.  It helps to define the term for us.

       2.  It involves three parties.  In this case: God  >   Moses  >   Israel.  It involves 

            a “middleman” rather than a direct relationship.  A good mediator often has 

            a special relationship with both the other parties.  The mediator acts to 

            bridge the relationship between the two parties.  Attorneys often act as 

            mediators and write contracts mentioning the party of the first part and the 

            party of the second part.

       3.  In my case:  Me > Carlos > Merchant.  I used the synonymous term “broker.”  

            “Broker” is a term referring to an economic exchange.  Cf. “stockbroker,” 

            “real estate broker.”  “Mediator” is a term referring to most any other 

            relationship.

 

II.  There are many examples of this kind of mediatorial relationship in Scripture.

 

     A.  In the O.T.

          1.  There is no specific term for a mediator in the O.T.

          2.  Gen. 23 gives an example of the function.

               a.  Sarah dies and Abraham wants to buy a burial place from Ephron the 

                    Hittite.  

               b.  He did not ask Ephron directly, but asked the sons of Heth to 

                    negotiate the purchase.

           3.  Gen. 13 presents Abraham as a mediator.

                a.  There is a quarrel between Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen.

                b.  You might think Abraham was the patriarch and owned all the flocks, 

                     but evidently this is not the case.  Lot’s herdsmen do not consider 

                     themselves under the economic thumb of Abraham.  There are two 

                     separate groups here, but they are interrelated.

                c.  Abraham mediates by working out an agreement with Lot so that the 

                     herdsmen are satisfied.

                d.  This example is a little more complicated than the first.  It might even 

                     be said that both Abraham and Lot operated as mediators between the 

                     herdsmen.

            4.  The story of Esther presents another example of mediatorial 

                  relationships.

                  a.  Haman works out a circumstance that is threatening to the lives of 

                       the Jews.

                  b.  The Jews go to Mordecai, who had raised Esther and whom he had 

                          adopted as his daughter.  Esther is now the queen.  Notice the 

                          relationships.  

                      c.  Mordecai asks Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jews.

                      d.  Mordecai and Esther had acted in a similar capacity once before.  

                           Two of the king’s officials had become angry with the king and 

                           sought to assassinate him.  Mordecai had told queen Esther and 

                           she had told the king (2:21-23).  The assassins were hanged.

                      e.  Esther interceded for the Jews and Haman was hanged.

                      f.  The role of mediator may be life threatening.  Esther risked her life 

                           in mediating for the Jews.  It is a difficult role and sometimes not all 

                           the parties are willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement.  

                           Mediators can die in their attempts to mediate. Sometimes the 

                           parties in the dispute die or go to war with one another.  

                           Sometimes brethren destroy each other.  Sometimes 

                           congregations divide.

                    5.  Can you think of other examples of mediation in the O.T.?  Job 

                         would like to have had a mediator between himself and God, but he 

                         had none.  The priesthood was a type of mediator between God and 

                         men.

   B.  Mediation in the N.T.

        1.  Lk. 7:2-10.  Here a centurion’s slave is sick and about to die.  The centurion 

             wants Jesus’ help.  He sends some elders of the Jews to make the request.  

             They have a connection with Jesus (they are Jews), but they also have a 

            connection with the centurion.  He had built their synagogue.  

       2.  Jn. 2:1-11.  Mary mediates between the wedding host (the bridegroom) and 

            Jesus.

       3.  Matt. 20:20ff.  The mother of James and John acts as mediator between 

            them and Jesus that they might sit in chief places in the kingdom.

       4.  Philemon.  Paul acts as mediator between Onesimus, the slave and 

            Philemon.

 

III.  Jesus is our mediator.

 

     A.  He is on our side as our brother.  He has become flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14-

          18).  He has come to our aid.  His role as High Priest is a role of mediation.  

          His role as sacrifice is a role of mediation (1 Tim. 2:5-6a).

     B.  He mediates a better covenant than the high priest of the O.T. (Heb. 8:6).

     C.  As mediator He died to secure redemption for us (Heb. 9:15-22).

     D.  His sprinkled blood speaks in our behalf (Heb. 12:24).

 

IV.  How should we serve as mediators?

 

     A.  There is a sense in which we act as mediatorswhen we communicate the 

           gospel to our friends and relatives (cf. Acts 10:24).

     B.  There is an element of mediation inherent in Matt. 18:15ff.

     C.  Barnabas mediated for Saul in Acts 9:26ff.

     D.  The meeting of Acts 15 is about mediating between the Gentiles and those 

           teaching circumcision and observance of the law of Moses.

     E.  How might we be called on as mediators today?  Jesus said, “Blessed are

           the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).  How is 

           peacemaking related to mediation?  Can mediating relationship between 

           family members be an application?  Parents mediating relationships between 

           children?  Countries mediating relationships between other countries?

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  Mediation is prominent in Scripture.

2.  Thank God we have a mediator like Jesus Christ, who gives Himself for us in 

    order to make peace.

3.  Are you willing to be a mediator?