The Mediator of the New Covenant

In Exodus 19:16 we read “on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightning’s, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled”. It would be at this time God would make a covenant with Israel. According to Exodus and Deuteronomy Israel heard an audible voice from the Mount speaking the words of the Covenant. Deu 4:12,13 “And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone”. Deu 5:4 “The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire” Heb 12:19 “. . . and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more”. Israel overcome by fear drew back from the mountain. Moses then spoke to Israel Ex 20:20 “Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not”. At this time Israel requested, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die”. Asking Moses to deliver the Law placed Moses between the nation of Israel and the Lord. Deu 5:5 “… I stood between the LORD and you at that time to show you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason for the fire”. At this point Moses became a mediator between God and man for the purpose of delivering the words of the covenant. By drawing back Israel had cut short the process. After Moses had fully conveyed the covenant, animals were slain and blood was sprinkled on both the book and the people. The sprinkling of blood placed Israel in covenant relation with God. Heb 9:19,20 “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you”. The sprinkling of the blood on both the book and the people made it clear that the words spoken by Moses were agreed upon as the terms of the covenant. Though Israel did not have the ability to keep the covenant, provisions were made within the covenant for their fallen state. (Sacrifices and a high priest) It would be this covenant that would guide the nation until a greater covenant would be established based on better sacrifices.

The request made by Israel to have Moses bring the words of God to them was used by Moses as the basis of a prophesy which pointed forward to Jesus. Deu 18:15-19 “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him”. As Moses stood between God and Israel to deliver the words of the law covenant, Jesus would stand between or mediate between God and Israel to deliver the words of the new covenant.

Jesus could mediate the new covenant having qualities in common with both parties. Jesus could appear before God at Jordon and for 40 days receive the words of the covenant directly from God without intersession. Then Jesus could appear before Israel as a man and deliver the words of the covenant without error being perfect. These two qualities being perfect and also a man made it possible for Jesus to come between both parties.

The message Jesus would deliver would be different from that which Moses delivered. Jesus would bring a more perfect representation of God’s character. Not only his words but his conduct would declare a message from God. Heb 1:3 “Who being in the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” John 14:9 “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” The message Jesus delivered would be the basis of salvation for both Israel and the world of mankind. John 8:51 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” John 6: 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

It was critical that the message be delivered in perfection before the blood of the covenant was shed. The teachings and pattern that Jesus set would become a measuring stick for all times where by all men could be judged. John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”. Notice that in both Exodus 24:7,8 and Hebrews 9:19,20 all the words of the covenant were spoke before the blood was shed. Ex 24: 7,8 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. Heb 9: 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

After returning from 40 days in the wilderness Jesus spent three and a half years methodically covering the nation, teaching in every city. At the close of his ministry Jesus made this statement John 17:8 “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me”. Jesus’ own blood would ratify the covenant, his very life being an expression of God and his word, his blood sealing the pattern of his life as a covenant. Luke 22:20 “. . . This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you”. Never again would a mediator be needed to ascend the mount and appear before God receive the covenant and descend to ratify the covenant with his blood. Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) The covenant has been delivered and ratified this work Jesus completed it is for us to only believe.