The New Covenant Has a Better Mediator
Read Hebrews 8:1–6. Why is Jesus a better Mediator of the covenant?
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The Greek term mesitēs (mediator) derives from mesos (“middle”)
and denotes the one who walks or stands in the middle. It was a tech-
nical term that referred to a person who fulfilled one or more of the
following functions: (1) an arbiter between two or more parties, (2) a
negotiator or business broker, (3) a witness in the legal sense of the
word, or (4) one who stands as a surety and, thus, guarantees the execu-
tion of an agreement.
The English term “mediator” is too narrow a translation for mesitēs in
Hebrews because it focuses only on the first two or three uses of the Greek
term. Hebrews, however, emphasizes the fourth function. Jesus is not con-
ceived of as “mediator” in the sense that He settles a dispute between the
Father and humans or as a peacemaker who reconciles parties in disaffec-
tion or as a witness who certifies the existence of a contract or its satisfac-
tion. Instead, as Hebrews explains, Jesus is the Guarantor (or Surety) of the
new covenant (Heb. 7:22). In Hebrews, the term “mediator” is equivalent
to “guarantor.” He guarantees that the covenant promises will be fulfilled.
Christ’s death makes the institution of the new covenant possible
because it satisfies the claims of the first covenant with Israel (and even
with the first humans in Eden), which had been broken (Heb. 9:15–22).
In this sense, Jesus is the Guarantor who took upon Himself all the
legal obligations of the covenant that had been broken. In another
sense, Jesus’ exaltation in heaven guarantees that God’s promises to
human beings will be fulfilled (Heb. 6:19, 20). Jesus guarantees the
covenant because He has shown that God’s promises are true. By resur-
recting Jesus and seating Him at His right hand, the Father has shown
that He will resurrect us and also bring us to Him.
Jesus is a greater Mediator than Moses because He ministers in the
heavenly sanctuary and has offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for
us (Heb. 8:1–5, Heb. 10:5–10). Moses’ face reflected the glory of God
(Exod. 34:29–35), but Jesus is the glory of God (Heb. 1:3, John 1:14).
Moses spoke with God face to face (Exod. 33:11), but Jesus is God’s
Word personified (Heb. 4:12, 13; John 1:1–3, 14).
Yes, Christ has satisfied the demands of the covenant for obedi­
ence. In this light, what is the role of obedience in our life, and
why is it still so important?