Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEDIATOR

A person who stands between two parties to reconcile their differences or to establish a relationship between them. A mediator may be either a neutral go-between who represents the interests of each party to the other, as in the case of an arbitrator in a legal dispute, or an agent for one party who intercedes on its behalf, negotiates a settlement, or personally guarantees an agreement.

This broad array of mediatorial roles may function within the secular realm of human relationships, but religious usage elevates mediation to relationships between deity and humanity. The concept of mediation pervades Scripture, but, surprisingly, the word itself is rarely used. In fact, the OT has no precise equivalent. Occasionally it employs the participle mēlîṣ, which properly refers to an interpreter (Gen. 42:23), for the mediatorial role of a spokesman (Isa. 43:27), envoy (2 Chr. 32:31), or angel (Job 33:23); or it may employ the verb pālal, “to intervene,” for praying or interceding (1 Sam. 2:25). The closest equivalent is found in Job 9:33, where the LXX translates Heb. môḵîaḥ (“arbitrator” or “umpire”) as mesítēs, which is used in the NT for a mediator (Gal. 3:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).

The biblical concept of mediation presupposes that we have been alienated from God by sin but that he desires to bridge the gulf separating us and restore harmonious relations (Isa. 59:1-2). Mediation may in principle be directed either towards God, as in intercessory prayer, or towards humans; but Scripture primarily represents it as God’s initiative in reaching down to us through revelation and redemption. Finding a suitable mediator posed a problem, however, in that God cannot properly mediate himself since he is one (1 Sam. 2:25; Gal. 3:20), and no sinful person can enter his holy presence. God used angels to convey divine messages and assist in handing down the Law (Deut. 33:2 LXX), but the thunder and smoke on Mt. Sinai were so terrifying that the Israelites could not bear to hear God’s voice and requested that Moses relay the message to them (Exod. 20:19). God also used specially chosen and anointed prophets, priests, and kings to mediate his revelation, provisional forgiveness, and theocratic rule until the true Messiah should come. Isaiah promised that the Servant of the Lord would vicariously bear God’s punishment for sin and extend the light of revelation to the Gentiles (Isa. 49:6; 53).

In Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son, the NT discovered the only one who is properly qualified to mediate between God and humanity because he is both fully human and fully divine (1 Tim. 2:5). He is the mediator and guarantor of a new covenant, which is “better” than the Mosaic covenant because it is founded upon his own blood (Luke 22:20; Heb. 7:22; 8:6). As the anointed Messiah, he fulfills all three mediatorial offices of prophet, priest, and king. In him, God has spoken his final, living, and incarnational word. By his atoning death, in which he became both high priest and sacrifice, Jesus has once and for all opened the way into God’s presence. He who now rules in believers’ hearts and is seated at the Father’s right hand, where he intercedes for us, will one day subjugate all his enemies and mediate God’s universal kingdom of righteousness and peace. During his present physical absence, the Holy Spirit mediates Christ’s presence and adds his own intercession.

Bibliography. A. Oepke, “mesítēs,” TDNT 4:598-624.

Dale F. Leschert

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEDIATOR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)