Day 137

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 2.

“…So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person: without conversion, composition, or confusion: which person is very God and very man; yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.“

Scripture Lookup

Luke 1:27,31,35

Romans 9:5

1 Timothy 2:5

Reflection

Jesus is unique. This can make it confusing when trying to explain who He is, especially to those who are convinced that He was just a man, or just a spirit, but never both. From Scripture, however, we see that Jesus is man and God. So, how exactly does that work?

There is a mystery to how Jesus is both God and man, but there are things we can clearly say about Him. We know that He has a human nature, and we also know that He has a divine nature. There is nothing limiting Him from being fully man, and nothing that keeps Him from being fully God. We also know that as a man, He is perfect. This also is true of His divinity. There is no mingling of the two natures that would lessen His being a man or lessen His being God.

However, despite there being two natures, there is only one person: Christ. While the two natures are distinct, you can’t separate them: Jesus can’t be Jesus without His human nature, and He can’t be Jesus without His divine nature. To be Jesus is to be fully God and fully man. This is the only mediator between God and men. Any other Jesus will not do.

Such thinking about who Christ is may be new to you. It can be difficult! It sure is a lot easier to simply let people believe what they want about Jesus, and not have to work to explain the “hypostatic union” (the union of the two natures in the person of Jesus).  But if you don’t grow in your knowledge of Christ, how can you grow in your love for Him? And how will you give a defense against those who redefine Jesus? May we echo the hymn:

More about Jesus would I know,
More of his grace to others show,
More of his saving fullness see,
More of his love who died for me.

Questions to Consider

• How does the hypostatic union affect your salvation?