There are so many appropriate titles given to our Lord, and one of them found throughout the New Testament is that of High Priest. Jesus, our friend, is our High Priest. One of the primary roles of a priest under the Old Covenant was that of mediator, but because the priests of old were limited by their humanity (only being familiar with the condition of man), they could only fulfill this role symbolically.
A mediator is one who stands between two parties, able to affect a resolution. Ideally, the mediator should be one who shares in the nature of both parties. This is why Paul told Timothy, "There is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy. 2:5). Three times in the Hebrew letter, our greatest friend is referred to as "the mediator of a better covenant" In Hebrews 8, verse 6, the writer says, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
In Hebrews 9:15, he says, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” And in chapter 12, verse 24, he speaks of “Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Jesus is able to represent both sides: as man, understanding the needs of man, and as God, setting the terms and conditions of reconciliation.
Often, we only think of Him as an intercessor that goes to the Father on our behalf, but even in this specific role He is actually much more. Not only does He represent us before God, but, through His work and His word, He has revealed the Father to us. That is one of the reasons why He considers us to be friends, as He said in John 15:,verse 15: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made know to you” (John 15:15). When Jesus came into the world, man’s knowledge and understanding of the true God of heaven could have been summed up in the one word: ignorance.
Although the Jews had the law and had been given the collection of divine revelation, they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and had sought to establish their own, (See: Romans 10:1-4) The Gentiles, who had refused to have God in their knowledge and had abandoned themselves to idolatry and to the worship of creatures of their own imagination were also ignorant of God’s true nature and righteousness. (Romans 1:28, 18-23) This void of God’s righteousness and unity left all of mankind in need of a revelation of God; a revelation which they could see in action as He answered the needs of their hearts.
Philip voiced the cry of this universal need of the human heart when he said to Jesus, in John 14, verse 8, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” In verse 7 of that text, Jesus had said to the group as He was preparing them for His departure, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” In His reply to Philip, Jesus claimed that in Himself was a complete revelation of the Father when He said in verse 9, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (14:9).
Jesus claimed that He was the revelation of God - the revelation of deity in all its fullness. There could be no attribute of God that was not summed up in Him. There was no expression of the fullness of Godhood that was lacking. In the words He spoke and the works He did God was revealing Himself.
As one listened and beheld, he could see the righteousness of God finding expression in Christ’s love for the downtrodden, in His sacrifice for the lost, in His compassion for the suffering and despised, in His hatred and condemnation of sin, and in His disposition to restore men to their proper place with God.
There is no other friend who could ever fill this role that we so desperately needed. Jesus is our Mediator; He is our Intercessor. Building on the permanence of Christ's priesthood, the Hebrew writer assures us that “Jesus is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25; Emphasis mine: JH). The word “intercession” is used here in a very comprehensive sense – Jesus is always ready to plead for those who have been cleansed by His blood, always ready to defend us against all the assaults of our enemies, and always ready to make everything work together for our good.”
What friend in this world could ever do what our Lord does? What friend has ever stood up for you like Jesus and never failed you? Paul rhetorically asked in Romans chapter 8, in verse 33: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
No one can separate us from the love of Christ. Jesus intercedes on our behalf; He makes reconciliation possible. And only through Him do we have a way of reaching our Father in heaven. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one goes to the Father, except through Him! (John 14:6)