For there is one God, and there is one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
This verse covers
one of the basics of the Gospel. There is someone who stands between us and
God. And it's good that He does, because He fulfills the role of a mediator, an
advocate for sinners like us before the Father. Here, something from 1 John
fits.
My
little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And
if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous… 1 John 2:1
Basic stuff, right?
But here's something
to ponder. Paul describes our mediator as 'the
man Christ Jesus'. Why does he refer to Jesus in this way? Why even
include any of that at all? It would make perfect sense for Paul to have
written, 'between God and men, Christ Jesus'. What difference does it make to
have those other two words added?
Here's one thought
that I think fits.
It can help us
immensely if we know that the person who represents us to the Father is one of
us. He is someone who understands life here. He has experienced the
frustrations of daily living. He has felt the power of temptations and has
wrestled with them. He has been disappointed by His friends. He's walked this
earth, with all of the ups and downs, like the rest of us. He really
understands our situation well.
A lawyer who comes
from an upper class family, who attended the elite schools (starting from
kindergarten) and landed a cushy job in some highfalutin law firm in New York
City - how can someone like that understand some kid from the poorest part of
town who stole a candy bar because he was desperately hungry? Jesus understands
life here as He represents us in the Father's courtroom. This man is our
mediator.