Jesus our mediator and advocate

      Jesus Christ is both our mediator and advocate, playing a crucial role in our relationship with God. These two titles highlight His work in restoring our fellowship with God, interceding on our behalf, and ensuring that we receive mercy and grace. To fully grasp what this means, we need to understand the biblical foundation of these roles and how they impact our lives as believers.

Jesus as Our Mediator

      A mediator is someone who stands between two parties to resolve a conflict and bring reconciliation. In the case of humanity and God, sin created a great divide, making reconciliation impossible through human effort alone. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only mediator who bridges this gap: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

      This verse emphasizes that Jesus is the only mediator between humanity and God. Unlike human mediators, who may negotiate between two equal parties, Jesus mediates from a position of divine authority and perfect righteousness. He is uniquely qualified because He is both fully God and fully man.

How Jesus Mediates Between God and Humanity

1. By His Sacrificial Death – Sin separated us from God, but Jesus' death paid the penalty for sin. The Bible says: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

      His sacrifice removed the barrier of sin and made it possible for us to be reconciled with God.

2. By Establishing a New Covenant – The Old Testament system of mediation involved priests offering sacrifices repeatedly. However, Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, mediates a new and better covenant: “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15)

      This new covenant provides direct access to God through faith in Christ.

3. By Making Intercession for Believers – Even now, Jesus continues His mediating work by interceding for us before the Father: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

      His intercession ensures that believers remain in God’s grace despite their weaknesses.

Jesus as Our Advocate

      An advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of another, often in a legal sense, defending and representing them. Jesus fulfills this role by pleading our case before the Father when we fall into sin. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1

      This means that when we sin, Jesus does not condemn us; instead, He defends us before God. He does this not by excusing sin but by presenting His righteousness as the basis for our forgiveness.

How Jesus Advocates for Us

1. By Offering His Righteousness – Jesus does not plead our innocence, because we are all guilty of sin. Instead, He presents His perfect righteousness to cover our failures: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2. By Ensuring Our Forgiveness – Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10), but Jesus stands as our advocate, silencing every accusation with His atoning sacrifice.

3. By Giving Us Confidence Before God – Because Jesus is our advocate, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He sees us as forgiven and accepted: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

The Impact of Jesus’ Mediation and Advocacy in Our Lives

1. We Have Direct Access to God

      Because Jesus mediates for us, we no longer need a human priest to approach God on our behalf. We can come to God directly through prayer, knowing that Christ has made the way open (Hebrews 10:19-22).

2. We Have Assurance of Salvation

      Jesus’ advocacy means that our sins—past, present, and future—are covered. This gives us confidence that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

3. We Receive Grace and Mercy Daily

      Even when we fail, Jesus intercedes for us, reminding us that God’s grace is greater than our sins. This should lead us to repentance, not despair (Romans 5:20).

4. We Have Hope for Eternal Life

      Because Jesus is our mediator, we are part of a new covenant that guarantees eternal life. We don’t have to rely on our works, but on His finished work on the cross (John 14:6).

      Jesus as our mediator and advocate provides hope, assurance, and direct access to God. As a mediator, He has reconciled us to God through His sacrifice, making salvation possible. As an advocate, He continually intercedes for us, ensuring that we receive grace and forgiveness when we stumble. Because of His work, we can confidently approach God, knowing that we are loved, accepted, and secure in Him.