How can I help you?

“I’m going to be your waiter today. May I help you?” No, thank you. We know the cook ourselves and can place our order directly to the cook.

“But sir, it doesn’t work that way. I’m the official mediator between you and the cook.”

Mediation was God’s idea. He knew we had a problem trusting him. But he could not ignore what we were doing. So God offered mediation to resolve the differences that had come between us. He sent someone who could understand and be sympathetic to our condition, while at the same time representing the interests of heaven.

This mediator identified with us and became so involved in our problems that he ended up crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark. 15:34).

Yet, three days after that inexpressible moment, it became clear that the mediator had been victorious. Through his great sacrifice, our mediator had removed the barrier that had disrupted our relationship with God.

We would still sin. We would still be blinded by our own desires and stubborn pride. We would still find ourselves filled with regret. We would still become confused about what God was doing in our lives. But never again would we have reason to doubt the Father’s love for us. Never again could it be persuasively argued that the Father didn’t care, that he wasn’t touched by our problems, or that he had left us to die in our circumstances. Never again would we have to approach God without the assurance that he wanted to talk with us far more than we wanted to talk to him.

Without this divine “may I help you” work, we might have wondered if God would even listen to us when we prayed. We might assume from our circumstances that he didn’t care. But memory of what happened to the mediator’s cross can restore confidence in us whenever we approach God in our own sin-stained reputation.

We don’t go to him in the merits of the one who paid for all of our sins with his own blood. We go to God in the name and interest of his own and dearly loved son, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Michael East is minister of Agape Baptist Church. Sermon notes is a column by ministers in the Patterson Ministerial Association.