Day 161

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 7.

” Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the Unity of the Person, that which is proper to one nature, is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person denominated by the other nature.”

Scripture Lookup

John 3:13

Acts 20:28

Reflection

Understanding how Christ is the fully God and yet also fully human can be confusing. It is such confusion that groups like Jehovah Witnesses pounce on to deny Jesus’ divinity. “How can Jesus be God?” they say. “Didn’t Jesus die? God cannot die! Therefore Jesus is not God.”

We might be firmly committed to the doctrine of the hypostatic union, yet when presented with such Scriptures as the ones referenced in the “Scripture Lookup” we are thrown for a loop. How can the Son of Man descend from heaven? How can God obtain the church with His own blood?

It is important to remember that both the human nature and the divine nature of Jesus remain distinct in His work of Mediator. Red and blue do not mix to make purple here. However, these two natures are so inseparably united, that to not have one nature would be to not have Jesus. Thus Jesus can say “I thirst”, and it is true, although His divine nature does not thirst. Properties of one nature are sometimes attributed to the person named by the other nature.

Scripture uses many forms of language to convey truth. Sometimes idioms are used, as we see in the selected passages. Without such an understanding, it is easy to fall into error, and even heresy. Thankfully, those that are Christ’s will be guided into all truth because of the mediatorial work of the divine and human natures. Because of the mediatorial work of Jesus.

 

Questions to Consider

• Do you find yourself shrinking away from difficult passages?