OT Mediation --> Christ <-- NT Mediation

“That's who Jesus Christ is. He became the final Priest and the final Sacrifice. Sinless, he did not offer sacrifices for himself. Immortal, he never has to be replaced. Human, he could bear human sins. Therefore he did not offer sacrifices for himself; he offered himself as the final sacrifice. There will never be the need for another. There is one mediator between us and God. One priest. We need no other. Oh, how happy are those who draw near to God through Christ alone.”                                         -John Piper

OT Mediation --> Christ

As I was reading through Genesis as part of my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year-plan with my college and career group, I came across this verse that just really stood out to me for several reasons. As I have been reflecting, I wanted to share some of what I have learned with you.

And Isaac went out to mediate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.
-Genesis 24:63

Even if I tried, I couldn't completely communicate 2 things: 1: How many times I have read this and missed the point. 2: How much this means when the light goes on that the point is Christ. Nonetheless, let me attempt to share and maybe, just maybe, it will make some sense to you as well.

But first, let's define mediation. Simply put, mediation is "The act of focusing one's thoughts."

In OT culture, men knew the importance of mediation for survival. Well after Isaac came David and imagine if David, as a shepherd was not focused while guarding the sheep. More than likely, his sheep would have run away or been killed, or both.

In addition, he too, would have been in great danger. Imagine if he wasn't alert and attentive to the attacks on his sheep by the wolves and bears he fought off. Had he not been focused, chances are that those consequences would have proven fatal to both the sheep and the shepherd.

But back to Isaac and the original context. It would be impossible to analyze this verse without mentioning marriage. Now I am single, so I do not know much about marriage, but I think both male and female can learn some lessons from this verse.

Reflecting Rebekah

As the saying goes, ladies first. But ultimately, the man is responsible, so this will be quick. Rebekah was rewarded for her obedience and willingness to serve (Genesis 24:19-20, 22, 60). Rebekah was also an answer to prayer for Abraham's servant (Genesis 24:15, 45).

Before we get to Isaac's action and reaction, we already see Rebekah willing to work hard and serve Abraham's servant. For both men and women, she is an example to go the extra mile without complaining because it is the right thing to do. For that, the reward comes.

Imitating Isaac

Likewise, the very first mention of Isaac here is that he was both waiting and working. He was looking forward to what was coming, but in the meantime, he was mediating. In the midst of tragedy, he still lifted up his eyes and looked forward. For that, he was rewarded with Rebekah.

Isaac did a couple of things with his eyes in this verse worth mentioning: He looked up and he looked forward. Too many guys look within themselves or at themselves to find the right girl, but Isaac didn't do that. He looked up for help and forward to the return and his reward.

Before even seeing Rebekah, Isaac was looking at what was to come, which included Rebekah, but is ultimately Christ. Here is the satisfaction of those who are single and the meaning for couples who are married--Christ conformity--and I am told it is easier single.

Christ <-- NT Mediation

While the OT portrays people as pictures of mediation pointing forward to Christ, the NT portrays people as pictures of mediation pointing back to Christ. Another way to say that is we are the imperfect reflection of the perfection of the mediation of Christ.

Mediation mandates focus. The greatest focus for both men and women, single and married, is Christ, but if you are a married man, the focus is supposed to be on your wife before yourself. This is why so many men have made a mess in maintaining marriages.

Since Adam, we have failed miserably in leadership, myself included. A good male leader protects and provides for his followers, particularly his wife. Adam didn't protect his wife, Eve, from danger. She provided him with the apple and He provided death.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
Romans 5:12

Thankfully though, the first Adam is a broken picture of the beautiful picture of the Second Adam, Christ. Adam failed to provide for his bride and protect from her evil, but Christ provides eternal protection from evil for His bride through His death and resurrection. 

Fact of the matter is, before we can lead, we must follow. The question is, who or what are we following? If we follow culture, we are likely to have more victims of prostitution, rape, and divorce. But if we follow Christ, we learn to lead faithfully, lovingly, and gently.

Culture tells us women are here for our pleasure, but Christ tells us we are here for their protection. Christ and culture clash, but Christ conquers. Our greatest identity is not in being a leader, but a follower and as we follow, we are equipped to lead more effectively.

It goes without saying that the world is full of boys, but there is a shortage of men. The practice for being a husband starts while you are single and sadly, here males are failing miserably, too. Isaac was working while he was waiting, but too many boys would rather do neither.

As a single guy, too many single guys (myself included) are selfish and impatient. To be honest, we'd rather live in our own way and in our own time than work and wait for God. We'd rather take the most convenient girl we can find than the one God has planned.

Roughly 80% of slaves are women. That means that out of the approximately 27 million slaves, 21 million 600,000 thousand are women. Clearly, men have failed miserably when it comes to leadership. We are supposed to protect women not use them for profit.

Again, we are a reflection of the perfection of mediation. To me, this means we need to be focused on Christ, the founder of freedom, as we fight for freedom. We look up for His help and forward to freedom with great anticipation of our reward both on this earth and for eternity.

Bottom line: OT Mediation --> Christ <-- NT Mediation. 

It all points to Christ!

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 that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:15

Making pens and making a difference!

Daniel Patrick

Identity --> Activity

For one thing, Mark Driscoll is much smarter than I am and I listen, look up to, and learn from him. Having said that and now that you have hopefully watched the video, the only preface to this post is that cultural thought and Biblical wisdom are not the same nor are they similar. To put it a different way, culture and Christ continually clash.

For instance, one of the more memorable quotes in Batman Begins (an awesome movie, just to be clear) is, “It’s not who you are underneath. It’s what you do that defines you.” For those of us who have seen the movie, we know and remember that quote because it proves a powerful, pivotal role in the rest of the film, but is it accurate?

Essentially, if we are defined by what we do, then we have the power and authority create our own identity. That kind of answer leads us to doubt daily. To be honest, that answer is the exact opposite of the Gospel. No amount of activity on our part can earn us salvation. In short, the Gospel is that we find our identity in Christ which leads us to activity.

What’s especially awesome about this is that God loved us despite us and the Cross is the picture we have of God the Father’s wrath poured out on Christ, His Son, and Christ’s love for the Father and for us. The Cross is when and where Christ bore our sins and God’s wrath, conquering sin. In other words, the Cross conquered sin because of Christ's sacrifice.

3 days later, we see God’s power to raise Christ from the dead, meaning Christ conquered sin on the Cross by bearing our sin and God’s wrath, but His power to conquer doesn’t cease there. In addition, Christ was raised showing God’s power over death, hell, and the grave. The Crucifixion leads to death but the Resurrection leads to life.

Baptism is a prime example of the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) at work and our identity being found in Christ. Growing up in Baptist Church, I’d hear the preachers say the phrase, "Buried with Christ in the likeness of His death and raised to walk in newness of life," but that ultimately goes back to Scripture itself.

We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

-Romans 6:4

Based on that, we find our identity which compels our activity. Despite various views on baptism, this verse illustrates that our identity is in Christ’s death and resurrection; we die so that Christ can live in and through us. Our old identity is lost and our new identity is our Lord Himself. This is what it means to be "Buried with Him in the likeness of His death."

But we cannot leave out the second part of that phrase lest we be left buried. God didn't leave Christ there and He doesn't leave us there, either. We are "Raised to walk in newness of life." This means that we have an appreciation that leads us to action. Before Christ, we naturally lived for ourselves, but because of Christ, we live for Christ and God’s glory.

The bottom line is: based on the death of ourselves and the life we have in Christ, we should act.

Identity --> Activity

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

-Galatians 2:19-21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2e5H-LSzkU

Making pens and making a difference!
Daniel Patrick

Awareness --> Action

Awareness leads to action but it all leads to adoring the Almighty, so before I begin, I want God to speak through His Word and His Spirit.

Awareness --> Action

Slavery is a bigger issue than I can wrap my heart or head around, which causes me to grieve but also to pray. Slavery is indeed gruesome, but my God is greater. So when I speak of awareness, I want to forecast that in two words: Slavery and Savior.

Having said that, the first step is worship which leads to work. One of the more than 10,000 reasons we have to worship Christ is our comfort in knowing that the Savior finished the work required for salvation. The challenge, however, is in the works we do as a result of that salvation.

Let me try to explain just a little: Christ was faithful to God in finishing the work necessary to provide salvation for those who trust in the Cross and Resurrection. Nonetheless, people around the world and across the street do not believe Christ conquered sin and death and others have not heard.

So, the work required for salvation was finished by Christ, but the works as a result of salvation are being fulfilled by Christ through us. To put it another way, the action is already completed, but what we are entrusted with is the reaction to that action and the communication of Christ to culture.

The A-21 Campaign communicated via twitter that, Before we can end slavery, every person in our nation must see the reality that slavery still exists. The first step to addressing a problem is to admit that there is a problem. Clearly, 27 million slaves and their stories is a problem.

The A-21 Campaign also tweeted that, Only 1% of victims are ever rescued. That leaves 99% who are depending on us. Take action now! http://a21.cta.gs/003 . Once we are aware of the problem, we are to act according to God's power because freedom is a priority. 

We all need to be aware of the problem, but we possess different passions which means how we act differs, but the demand is the same as we fight for freedom. Sadly, millions of stories are defined by slavery, but God writes the story and wants to use us to change the stories of captives.

Ultimately, the reason we can be used by God to change stories is that we are allowed access to the presence and power of God through Christ. Christ is the One who sets the captives free, but He uses us to point to His power. This is why we are confident in our identity but humble in our activity.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring Good News to the poor;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord that He may glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3)

There are 7 "To's" that Christ alone accomplished in these 3 verses through His Crucifixion and Resurrection. But the response to that work needs to be communicated to cultures and God is accomplishing that through Christ in us by His Spirit according to His power.

I say all that to say this before I leave you with a heart-breaking but hope-filled story: God's people fight for freedom from physical (primarily sexual) and spiritual slavery because of His power to save slaves of sin. I know He saved me slavery of sin and is saving me from sin for sanctification.

This earthly life is a struggle but eternal life is free from slavery, free from sin, and free from struggles. To put into perspective as Tenth Avenue North likes to put it, "Hallelujah! We are free to struggle, but we're not struggling to be free" ("The Struggle").

http://www.stellasvoice.org/watch/#mg_ld_2830

Awareness --> Action but both --> Adoring the Almighty. 

And here's the really cool part: we will adore the Almighty for eternity, worshiping Him because He is Worthy based on Who He is, which is why He does what He does. Reflecting on Revelation 5 creates the reason to rejoice and worship God who is both Worthy and Holy.