"to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant"
Hebrews 12:24
What is a covenant? The Bible is rich with this word. Well, it is a promise but not like a promise you and I keep. Humanly promises can be easily broken. We see that everyday I'm sure. A covenant is a promise that God makes and we can be sure that God never breaks His promises (Numbers 23:19). God doesn't sin so He doesn't lie. When He gives His Word, He will always deliver! That's wonderful news.
Now we need to establish the old and new covenant. God gave Mose the Old Covenant in Exodus. The people needed a high priest to offer animal sacrifices for their sins frequently. They also had four other offering to the Lord. They needed to remain faithful and follow all the rules that God had given them through Moses. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant because he was given the information by God and then gave it to the people. God realized that the people couldn't keep this covenant so He put into action the plans for the new one (although He would've already known this from the beginning of time but I think this is when He revealed it to His people!). (Hebrews 8:1-13)
In the new covenant, the laws of God will be written on the hearts of people, all wickedness will be forgiven and sins no longer remembered (Hebrews 8:10-12). Wow these are better promises than the Old Covenant of animal sacrifice that didn't fully satisfy God. Where does Jesus come into this New Covenant? He was the fulfillment of the Covenant! He came to deliver the promise because He died for us, our sins and wickedness can fully be forgiven and forgotten!!!!
Jesus fulfills and mediates this New Covenant because He brought down the news about it from God the Father to us on Earth. Therefore, He now mediates the Covenant like He intercedes for us to God the Father. God didn't make a mistake with the First covenant but the people needed to realize that they needed something more because on our own we will never be able to cleanse ourselves from sin. The animal sacrifices only covered our sins but didn't deal with the problem. Now since Jesus was our sacrifice we can be cleansed to a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
How does the understanding of these covenants change your perspective of Jesus? Are you allowing Jesus to be the mediator of your life? What can you do to allow Him into your life more? Is there someone you would like to share Jesus with but are too afraid? I encourage you to ask the Spirit for the boldness to talk to them :)
With His Love,
A
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