May 1

From Pastor Gary…
 
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Timothy 2: 6)
 
The Old Testament high priest was the mediator between God and Israel. He offered sacrifices and prayers to God on the behalf of the people.  He interceded for them.
 
Jesus is forever our great High Priest. He no longer needs to offer sacrifices for our sins because He has given Himself as the perfect sacrifice.  Paul wrote that Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all”.  A ransom is the price paid to free captives. His death was the ransom paid to set us free from the captivity of sin. Only through his sacrifice is the relationship with our heavenly Father restored. As mediator He reconciled us to God and stands as our advocate, our defender, and intercessor. St. Paul wrote, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – and more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).  How comforting to know that Jesus died for us, rose for us, and intercedes on our behalf.
 
Thank you, Jesus, for being our mediator. Thank you for restoring our relationship with our Father in heaven, and for continuing to intercede for us. Give us the strength to share what you have done, and continue to do, for us with the people you place in our lives. Amen. 
 
Verse for today:
If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2: 1-2)