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Jesus is our Mediator: Our life should show the results of that
We are God’s field, and Jesus is the cultivator of that field. It’s up to us to bear useful fruit that Jesus can take and present to God for us.
The work that Jesus has to do with us after we have been reconciled by His blood is expressed in the following words:
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…” 1 Corinthians 3:9
“For the earth which drinks in the rain which often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, who end is to be burned.” Hebrews 6:7-8.
A fruitful field
By being reconciled in Jesus’ blood, we have become a field that God cares for, and Jesus, our heavenly High Priest has been given the task of cultivating it. God works those things in us that please Him, through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Here we see Jesus’ work as the Mediator. He stands before God’s face and communicates what He is working to us, because we are in dire need of His intercession.
Jesus, too, has fellow workers in those whom He has molded. The ones He has put in the church in the various ministries are God’s fellow workers. Jesus is our High Priest, but He also has a priesthood to assist Him.
“That I might be a sacrificial priest of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, by being a priestly steward of the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might be an acceptable sacrifice, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:16.
“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5.
The spiritual sacrifices that are to be pleasing to God are the fruit of what grows in His field; for example, sacrifices of praise and sharing with the others. God is well pleased with such sacrifices. Hebrews 13:15-16. God’s Word is the seed. Thus God’s Word translated into works become spiritual sacrifices. Therefore, the entire body has to be presented as a well-pleasing sacrifice to God. Then the earth will bear useful fruit. This is when Jesus, again, enters in as our Mediator. Jesus, who is to communicate to us what God is working, will also bear these sacrifices and gifts back to God.
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“I know your works”
“Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens … For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore; it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.” Hebrews 8:1-3.
However, if the field bears thorns and thistles, that is, if we sin, Jesus cannot present that to the Father. God always asks for the fruit. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit …” John 15:8. The first thing Jesus says to the seven churches is: “I know your works.” And He judged them according to their works. Jesus says that He will confess the name of him who overcomes before His Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)
Let us therefore always highly esteem our heavenly High Priest and Mediator, Jesus Christ, and be a good field for God’s Word and His workings. Then our fellowship with the Father will become more meaningful through Jesus our Mediator, and when He bears the fruit of God’s work back to Him, we are known by God. (Galatians 4:9) Then the Father and the Son will come to us and make their home with us. (John 14:23)
This is an excerpt from an article titled “Our Heavenly High Priest,” first published in Norwegian in BCC’s periodical Skjulte Skatter (Hidden Treasures) in July 1952.
© Copyright Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, unless otherwise specified. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.