The Superiority of Christ as Mediator: Exploring the New Covenant

Christ, the Mediator of a Better Covenant

Have you ever wondered what it means that Christ is the Mediator of a new covenant? In the book of Hebrews, we are told that Christ's ministry is as much more excellent than the old covenant as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). This statement reveals the significance of Christ's role as the Mediator and the superiority of the new covenant over the old.

But what does it mean for Christ to be the Mediator of a new covenant? To understand this, we need to explore the concept of a covenant and the role of a mediator in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, a covenant was a binding agreement between God and His people. The Mosaic covenant, also known as the Old Covenant, was established between God and the Israelites through Moses. This covenant was characterized by the law, sacrifices, and rituals that the people had to follow in order to maintain their relationship with God.

However, this old covenant was not able to bring about true transformation in the hearts of the people. It was external and temporary, serving as a shadow of the reality to come (Hebrews 10:1). The sacrifices offered under the old covenant could not cleanse the conscience of the worshipers (Hebrews 9:9).

But Christ, as the Mediator of a new covenant, has obtained a ministry that is far superior to the old. The new covenant, established through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, brings about true and lasting transformation in the hearts of believers.

The new covenant is enacted on better promises. These promises are fulfilled through Christ and include forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the new covenant, God works in us by the Spirit of Christ to bring about our inner transformation.

This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own. It is a work of God in us, made possible through faith in Christ. The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ.

To see Christ working as the Mediator of the new covenant, we can turn to Hebrews 13:20–21:

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

In these verses, we see the connection between Christ's sacrificial death and the new covenant. By his blood, Christ has brought us peace with God and secured the fulfillment of the promises of the new covenant. He is described as the great shepherd of the sheep, guiding and caring for his people.

The passage also highlights the role of Christ in equipping us with everything good to do God's will. Through the new covenant, God works in us to transform our desires and empower us to live in a way that is pleasing to him. This work of transformation is done through Jesus Christ, who is the Mediator of the new covenant.

The significance of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with reality through Christ, but also that he takes this reality and makes it real to us. He writes the law of the new covenant on our hearts, transforming us from the inside out. This is not a gift that we receive and then have to figure out on our own; it is a gift that God himself works in us, giving us the assurance that we are his children.

As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, let us remember the role of Christ as the Mediator of a better covenant. Through his sacrificial death, he has secured the fulfillment of God's promises for us. Through the new covenant, God works in us to transform our hearts and empower us to live in a way that is pleasing to him. Let us embrace this gift of salvation and transformation, and give glory to Jesus Christ, the Mediator of a better covenant.