Read Job Chapter 9
“For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both.” Job 9:32, 33.
Disputes can quickly turn ugly. It can happen in labour talks, on the baseball diamond, or in a marriage. When you have two parties, each with legitimate “beefs”, or at an impasse because neither side will compromise, you need outside help.
The form this outside help takes is important. You don’t want someone who is vulnerable to accepting a bribe, one who can be threatened or coerced, or one who starts out with a bias toward one side or the other.
He must be trustworthy, fair and blameless. Moreover, he must have a clear understanding of both sides in order to bring them together in reconciliation. How difficult to find such a peacemaker!
In this passage, Job laments his situation. He has some serious questions for God; namely, ‘Why am I suffering?’ Yet he knows he is dealing with the God of the universe, and one does not just saunter into His presence and demand answers.
Job knows he needs an advocate. An umpire. A mediator. Someone who will put one hand on him, and one on God, and find a peaceful solution. Oh Job, if you only knew that such a One would come!
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5
As sinners, we are in such a predicament, as well. We are rebels against the King of the universe. R.C. Sproul says we have committed “cosmic treason”. We are guilty before the Judge of all the earth. There is nothing we can do to fix our situation. Moreover, we have no right to even approach this Holy God to appeal for mercy.
Enter: the God-Man, Jesus. He is the Eternal Son of God, and yet He took on flesh. As a man, He could understand our predicament; as God He could do something about it. While it’s nice that someone understands our trouble, unless they can do something about it, we’re still in peril.
If I was drowning and someone jumped into the water beside me, started flailing their arms and swallowing water, it wouldn’t mean much to me for them to say, “I know just how you feel!” I don’t need sympathy alone, I need help! I need a hero to save me!
That’s why Jesus is the best Mediator. As a man, He understands how sin has ruined us, although He Himself was sinless. He knew pain, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, rejection and oppression. But as God, He could also do something to relieve our situation.
That situation was our broken relationship with God. We stood condemned. He took the punishment, satisfying the wrath of a holy God. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, we can now approach this Holy God, and appeal for mercy based on the finished work of Christ.
Christ is the mediator that Job could only dream about. We who live after the Cross can see how our sympathetic High Priest is also our Deliverer.
“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.” Heb. 4:15
“…and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:10
As a mediator between two opponents, he brings about reconciliation.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18
He doesn’t just say, “Why can’t we all just get along?” or “Let’s let bygones be bygones,” or “Boys will be boys.” He provides a real solution, not just platitudes. He truly solves our sin problem. A Holy God will not just overlook our offences. At the cross, Mercy and Peace have kissed each other.
“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1: 18, 19
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Prayer– “Lord you know how obstinate and unforgiving I can be. You know I’m not the first to apologize after an argument. Break down my pride. Make me willing to humble myself in order to bring about reconciliation in my relationships. Thank you most of all for reconciling me to God through the sacrifice of Yourself.”
Questions– How do you deal with disputes? Are you an instigator, an agitator, or a peacemaker? Do you realize that before you were saved, you were an enemy of God?
“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement. He is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor—that is the only way out of a hole. This process of surrender—this movement full speed astern—is repentance.” C.S. Lewis
“I’m glad at the way it came out, but at the conversion moment, what I heard was God saying, ‘Put down your gun and we’ll talk’.” C.S. Lewis
Response– Do you need to make peace with someone? Do it before the day is over.
The Scarlet Thread 