Who Is Speaking For You?

Text: Exodus 19:16-25

Introduction

The King was coming to meet with them once again. Once again, there was a need of mediation for this experience to be personal to all of God’s chosen people; they needed a mediator!

What is a mediator? = A mediator is a go-between, an intermediary, someone who bridges the gap between two parties who are at a distance. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 508). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.]

Remember, God’s desire was to make them His people and to make Himself their God. There was great distance between them. He is holy and transcendent while they were finite and sinful people. Moses was once again God’s instrument to mediate between Him and His people. He was the means to allow God to become immanent to His people.

What I want to propose this evening is the fact WE NEED today is actually something similar but someone greater than Israel had.

1) The Blessing Of Moses’ Mediation

God called out Moses from this same mountain from a burning bush.

The desire of God was to reach into the lives of these people in such a way that His person and His purposes would be communicated to them.

God gave Moses unique access; an amazing privilege to directly communicate with God.

When God had something to say, He spoke directly too Moses.

Moses was the means of keeping a two-way communication open between God and His people.

Let’s think for a moment of how the mediation of Moses was a blessings to the Israelites:

Moses brought the message of hope of deliverance.

Moses brought the message of repentance to a nation.

Moses carried on in spite of God’s elect people resisting him.

He was God’s instrument to demonstrate His great ability to deliver them (plagues, Red Sea, pillar of cloud and fire, qual, manna.....)

Moses also represented the people (needing water)

When God considered destroying the people, Moses spoke with compassion to God for them.

Moses interceded for them in time of battle.

God also sent Moses to consecrate His people before they were permitted to approach the mountain. (some kind of sacrifice probably)

(Chapter 19) God made sure to authenticate Moses as His prophet (v9)

2) The Power Of Jesus’ Mediation

Turn to: Hebrews 3:1-6 “1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

First — This mediation was decreed before the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-20 “18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

Moses’ mediatory office was at best temporary.

As were the children of Israel not worthy, so are NON OF US WORTH of such perfect mediation through Jesus Christ.

Second — It was a greater covenant

Hebrews 9:15-18 “15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.”

Testator = a person who has made a will or given a legacy.

The Old covenant was written in the blood of lambs.

The New covenant was written in the blood of THE LAMB OF GOD! — This is called the covenant of GRACE!!!

The lamb of the NEW Covenant died and yet HE LIVES!!!

Third — Jesus was publicly approved by the Father and Spirit.

Matthew 3:16-17 “16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2 Peter 1:17 “17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Fourthly — Jesus came as the LIVING BREAD & LIVING WATER

John 6:47-51 “47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

The woman at the well was never the same after receiving the LIVING WATER; Jesus Christ!

Fifthly — Jesus spoke on behalf of the needs of people

blind, lame, wine, lunch, storms, etc.....

He becomes the mediator for the believer.

1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

Quote: He is the mediator who goes and speaks with God for us and who makes us pure enough for God. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 509). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.]

Conclusion

Hebrews 8:6 “6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Jesus is the answer for God’s immanence and transcendence! He is God WITH US!!!

WHO IS SPEAKING FOR YOU???

Jesus possesses all of the divine kingly majesty while at the same time sharing in our humanity.

Jesus Christ had temporarily ascended into Heaven. However, we wait for the LOUD VOICE & TRUMPET to sound.

Revelation 21:3 “3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”