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Pastor Nathaniel's Blog August 28, 2024
"Jesus As the Administer of the New Covenant"
It's common to think of the humanity of Jesus when considering his death for us. But have you ever thought that Jesus' humanity is what qualifies him to administer the benefits of the new covenant to us? Hebrews 9:15 states, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant" (NIV). This passage is making three points, all of which hinge on the humanity of Jesus.
First, Jesus' humanity is the reason why he is "the mediator of a new covenant." The words "for this reason" in Hebrews 9:15 indicate that what has been said in the previous verse is the cause for what is being concluded about Jesus and his work in this verse. In Hebrews 9:14, what was stressed was that the blood of Jesus - this human death of Jesus - is what provides us with cleansing from a guilty conscience and instead living for and serving the true God. Consequently, that same human death is the reason why Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant in Hebrews 9:15.
Second, it is the humanity of Jesus that enables people to "receive the promised eternal inheritance." The Greek grammar of this verse associates Jesus' death, rather than his role as mediator, with the reason why we receive the promised eternal inheritance - which means that it is Jesus' own humanity that serves as the reason for him being our mediator and the cause for our reception of an eternal prize.
Finally, Jesus' death results in freedom from transgressions for people. In fact, the Greek phrase for "to set them free" can also be translated as "to destroy from them," indicating that the human death Jesus died for us is responsible for our freedom from sin as well as the death of those sins! At his resurrection, Jesus left sin behind him, dead in his tomb! All three points are the product of Jesus' humanity: Jesus' human death has qualified him to be our mediator, has enabled us to receive the eternal inheritance meant for us, and has simultaneously freed us from sin and destroyed those sins.
Friends, when you are troubled about your relationship with sin or your standing with God, think on the death of the Man who has already provided for these needs.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
