The Israelites had left Egypt and had come to Mount Sinai. The Lord promised to come down upon the mountain in the sight of all the people. But He cautioned in Exodus 19:12 “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” They were to be ready on the third day. Exodus 19:16-20 “Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” God proceeded to give the Israelites the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:18-19 “Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’” Our God is an awesome God. His awesomeness inspires a feeling of both fear and amazement. The people were terrified in the presence of God; they trembled with fear when they saw the lightning, heard the thunder and the sound of the trumpet, saw the mountain smoking, and felt the great shaking of the mountain. They didn’t want to be in God’s presence lest they should be consumed. They told Moses that he should meet with God and tell them what God said rather than have God speaking directly to them. They wanted Moses to be the mediator. The Israelite priests also served as mediators for the people.
God is holy. He is distinct, separate, and no one is like Him. He is almighty and terrifying. He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). He is righteous and pure. We are all sinners. We are but lowly human beings. How can any of us stand in His presence? We need a mediator between us and God. The Israelites had Moses as their mediator. As Christians, we have Christ Jesus as our mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” A mediator is one who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. We need Jesus to serve as our mediator before God.
Jesus is our perfect mediator because He is the son of God and yet he lived His life upon this earth as a man. Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 7:23-25 “Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He (Jesus), because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
An intercessor is one who entreats on the behalf of another. When you pray to God and confess your sin and weakness or you make a request of God, Jesus is your intercessor. He entreats God on your behalf. It is as if Jesus says to God “Here is one of your children. He is confessing his sin and weakness. His heart is humble before you. Remember that I died on the cross and took his sins upon me that day. Listen to his request and be merciful and gracious to his plea.” Romans 8:34 “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is also your intercessor. Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” The Spirit who dwells within you knows your thoughts, knows your heart, and knows your needs. He knows both what you need and how to present your request before God.
Jesus is also spoken about as your Advocate. 1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” An advocate is one who speaks for you, who presents your case to gain a favorable outcome. Jesus is your advocate. He is also the propitiation for your sins, which means he is your atoning sacrifice, your substitute. He paid the price for your sins and made peace for you with God.
Jesus is your mediator, your intercessor, your advocate and the propitiation for your sins. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for you. What amazing help you have in approaching your Holy Heavenly Father! Since we have Jesus to help us as we approach God, we can come boldly to God’s throne. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)