Christ the Needed One
Life In His Name
January 12, 2025
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
Because humanity is sinful and separated from God, we need a mediator like Jesus—God who became man—who represents us, brings grace and truth, advocates for us, and sustains us through the sacraments until the new creation.
Summary
Beginning with a personal anecdote about corporate politics and the value of having the right advocate, the sermon draws on John to show that since the Fall people need a mediator who is truly like us yet not merely human: Jesus, the Word made flesh, who remains fully God and is uniquely the Father’s Son whose glory is full of grace and truth. Jesus represents us before the Father and brings God to us; because we are born in sin and continue to sin, we cannot be our own mediators, so Christ’s mediating work is constant until the new heavens and the new earth. The law given through Moses is contrasted with the grace and truth that have come in Christ, and in our weakness and hardship we are sustained and renewed by faith and by the church’s tangible sacraments—the bread and cup—inviting believers to come and receive renewing grace.
Key Points
- Anecdote: corporate politics illustrates the importance of having a strategic advocate.
- Since the Fall, humans need a mediator between sinful people and a holy God.
- The mediator must be like us: Jesus became truly human (the Word became flesh) while remaining fully God.
- John describes Jesus as the only begotten Son, full of grace and truth, greater than Moses.
- Jesus’ primary role is representative—bringing us to God and bringing God to us.
- We cannot mediate for ourselves because of ongoing sin; Christ’s mediation is constant until the new creation.
- The law (Moses) gave structure, but Christ brings grace and truth and life with God.
- In hardship and weakness we rely on faith and the church’s sacraments as means of renewing and sustaining grace.
- Invitation: believers are called to partake of the bread and cup to receive renewing, sustaining grace.
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