John 1:29

Behold, the Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John the Baptist is credited with being the forerunner spirit of Elijah.

• Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
• Matthew 11:10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

John fit the prophecy given by Malachi. There is only one about John but when it comes to the Christ there are more than 300 according to some scholars. Some are very specific while others are vague in meaning. What ties them all together with complete understanding is the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.

Now comes our problem, how do we get to hear the testimony of the Holy Spirit?

John 14

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

Do you love Jesus?

I apologize for the accusation but given that Jesus said to those who did signs and wonders in His name that He did not know them, then signs and wonders (works) are not signs of love.

In the same way that obeying the law is not a sign of loving the law we must find a way to love Jesus that is not a part of doing works.

• Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
• Galatians 3:5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Mediation is a process wherein the parties meet with a mutually selected impartial and neutral person who assists them in the negotiation of their differences. Source jamsadr.com

That is a worldly definition of mediation but it is not spiritual. Jesus is not neutral nor is He impartial. He gave His life for us, He is very invested.

We use language, words and definitions to make our position known. God uses His Spirit. What we need in this understanding is someone who speaks in both terms. The one defining method of the mediator that meets both a worldly definition and a spiritual definition is this one issue, a mutually selected mediator.

If someone does not have Jesus to speak for them, they do not have anyone that can explain our side of our experiences. God would then have no way to interpret our lives other than the acts we performed. That person would not have an opportunity to listen to God and understand His way of looking at things, all things.

Now we, who serve Christ, use all the languages, words and definitions is a quest to help those in need of a mediator, to select the right mediator. We are not mediators, we are clients who are making recommendations to them about His abilities to negotiate our position to our God.

What qualifies us as clients to advise others of their needs? Experience, we were once where they are in this life. Our experience is our witness, our witness is our truth but unique to us but similar to others. Our words may not ring true to everyone. The best part of being in a body of believers is the vast source of experiences available to draw from. In order to draw on those resources we have to make ourselves available to a diverse number of experiences, not hanging out with only those that share our past.

If my past is not relatable, perhaps yours will. We are unique and yet all the same, in need of a mediator who understands us.

Matthew 7:23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

His words tell me that the people He is talking about never opened their heart and let Him in to get to know them intimately. That is my understanding, what is yours?