Mediation

We all probably have played the role of mediator in one situation or another: breaking up a quarrel among children who are saying "she said this..........he said that...........she did this.........he did that" , among classmates in school, among our siblings, or maybe our parents!!, or even church friends arguing over various opinions on a committee. You can imagine your own scenario.

This morning I was reading in 1 Kings 17-19 about Elijah, the prophet to Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and was struck by the role he had to play as mediator between God and various people in Israel....... from a widow, to the king and queen, to the masses!!!

Recently I have become more familiar with the whole world of mediation, in a "professional sense". And there are some observations I made, that I see over and over in Scripture (not necessarily in order of importance).
1) the role of the mediator is to communicate each view to the other person or persons, impartially and accurately.
2) the necessity on the part of the mediator is to listen, being quick to listen and slow to speak
3) the goal of mediation IS NOT the happiness of the individuals who are in conflict
4) the goal of mediation IS to bring the parties involved to a decision they are willing to "live with" from then on
5) sometimes in mediation there is the need for an advocate, someone who knows my situation or position and can represent that to others for me
6) peace comes about through sacrifice
7) sometimes the mediation does not succeed because the opposing parties are not willing to see the true value of the required terms for peace

So, what has blessed me in all of this has been what I have seen in Scripture about how God is always revealing to us insights into Who He is through practical illustrations. 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is only one God and one Mediator Who can reconcile God and people. He is the Man Christ Jesus." So Jesus has the role of communicating back and forth both positions between the opposing parties, God and all of us.

The next thing I saw was 1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Now Jesus not only mediates for reconciliation, but also pleads for us before the Father.

And then this is what impressed me the most!! He not only communicates to me what the Father expects me to "live with" to be in harmony with Him and no longer at odds, and even pleads with the Father my condition.............but 2 Cor 5:21 "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ!" That is an astounding truth. He is the mediator, the advocate, and the agent of reconciliation or the actual terms of making the peace possible!!

Back to my experience of the mediation process..........there was the mediator, and there were advocates for the various people on either side of the issue, but the peace that was made was not done by the mediator nor the advocate. They were not willing, in and of themselves, to fulfill the terms necessary for peace. It would have been too costly for them. Peace is always achieved by the sacrifice of someone.

If the terms of peace are rejected, the cost for one or both parties could be a devastating decision.

Ephesians tells us that He Himself is our Peace!!! Now that is GRACE!! Hallelujah!! What a Savior!!