Mediator of the New Covenant

(Hebrews 9:15-17 – Mediator of the New Covenant)

There were many things achieved by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was by His death that we had our sins and trespasses removed. His death also sets us free from the laws of Moses. And it was through His death that we enter God’s kingdom in the spirit now.

In addition to those things, it was the death of Jesus and shedding of His blood that established the New Covenant. The Old Covenant of the law is now gone and the New Covenant of grace is in effect. But only for those who enter the New Covenant through baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who do not enter through baptism are still living under the Old Covenant of the law and will b judged by the law.

All covenants have a mediator. A covenant is a will, and this is no different. Jesus became the mediator of the New Covenant in His death. The New Covenant is His last will and testament, written down for us to be His beneficiaries. And just like a human will, it does not come into effect unless and until the one making the will or covenant dies. So, when Jesus died, the New Covenant came into effect and Jesus became the mediator of the New Covenant.

What this verse says about the mediator of the New Covenant

Before going into a discussion of these verses, look at what they have to say.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. (Hebrews 9:15-17)

We see in these words the processes of this transaction that occurred in His death and resurrection. Just as a human will establishes and brings into effect the wishes, decisions, and desires of what happens to a person’s effect after death, so too the death of Jesus does the same. There are promises and benefits and it is the risen Jesus who is the mediator of the New Covenant. It is His will and He mediates between man and God on our behalf as the elements of the New Covenant are brought into effect.

Invoking the New Covenant

We see in these words that a human will does not come into force until the person dies. Prior to that time it has no effect and no power. It cannot be established until the death occurs, and proof of that death must be established. You can imagine the issues then that surround situations where people go missing and there is no proof of death. Their last will and testament cannot be brought into effect as we don’t know whether or not they are still alive.

But in the case of Jesus, His death was publicly portrayed and witnessed by many. There was no question as to whether He died. His body was recovered after He died and buried in a tomb hewn from rock. Nothing was done in secret and it was certain that He died.

Now, when a person has a will, they also establish an executor to mediate and manage the requirements of the will. Likewise, there had to be a mediator of the New Covenant or the will of Jesus.

But unlike men, Jesus was raised from the dead by the Father. He did not remain dead and buried, even though He had truly died. So, He was able to be the mediator of the New Covenant, and because it was His will, there would and could be no mistake in the way His will was delivered to those who would be the beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries of the New Covenant

We are the beneficiaries of the New Covenant. All of the benefits and promises of the New Covenant are given to those who come to God in faith and follow the words of Christ.

Unlike a human will, we do not just receive part of the inheritance. Under a human will, an inheritance is divided among those who are to inherit. It is rare that anyone gets everything, and where there are multiple inheritors, the inheritance is divided. Even where there is just a single person named in a will, it some jurisdictions the government takes an inheritance or a death tax that reduces the inheritance.

This is not the case with the inheritance we receive from Jesus. Every person who comes to Him inherits a full portion of the promises of the New Covenant. We all inherit eternal life, and a place in God’s eternal kingdom with Jesus Christ. Everyone inherits the promises of the New Covenant now. We are set free from our sins, released from the old law, and when we receive the Holy Spirit, we are given the teachings of life to bring us to perfection in Christ. Every person that comes to Him receives the same inheritance. Whether they take it all and use it to receive the fullness of what is offered is a different story, but it is there for everyone.

The Mediator of the New Covenant

The role of the executor of a will is to mediate the instructions of that will. Their job is to ensure everything is done in accordance with the wishes and desires of the one who made the will.

In our case, because Jesus was raised from the dead, He was the best person to be the mediator of the New Covenant. It was His will and so He knows best what every nuance of the New Covenant includes, and how it should be executed. No one could possible do a better job.

And in this role, Jesus stands between man and God as the sole mediator to ensure there is no variation of the terms of His covenant. As the scripture tells us:

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

As the mediator of the New Covenant, we can be assured that there will be no variation or change to the terms of the will of God. There will be no one else who can intervene to change the terms of God’s will through Jesus Christ.

It is a sad fact that there are some who try to change the terms of the New Covenant through error, lack of understanding, or devious teachings. But the truth of the New Covenant will be preserved for all who come to Christ because Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. Others who attempt to change it to suit their wants are following false paths that do not lead to receiving the promises of the New Covenant established by God in and through Jesus.

A Covenant or will cannot be changed once the death of the one who made the will is established. Although we often hear of human wills being disputed, God’s will in Jesus Christ cannot be disputed, argued, changed or varied. His covenant is solid as the Rock upon which it sits and His will shall be done.

So, seek out the truth of the New Covenant. Come to Jesus who is the mediator of the New Covenant and learn the provisions of His covenant from Him. He wants His people to know and understand the truth, which is why Jesus Christ Himself is the mediator of the New Covenant.

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