Church bulletin:
As I write the devotionals for this month’s church bulletin, Australians are preparing to vote on “The Voice.” It is a contentious issue and as I have indicated previously, Christians see it differently. Should indigenous people have specific representation before the parliament – the voice being a constitutionally recognised body without legal power but acting in an advisory capacity. On the yes side are those who feel aboriginals are not adequately represented, and their concerns and needs overlooked. On the no side are those who believe aboriginals are represented like everyone else. They believe The Voice will do more to divide than unify and furthermore, there remains many unanswered questions as to where it will lead.
Wherever we stand on this issue, the need to be heard and to have representation before a ruling power is an important one. The Bible draws our attention to another representative voice – the voice of Jesus Christ. 1 Tim 2:5, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Christ is our mediator in that He is our high priest. The role of the Old Covenant high priest was to sacrifice and to intercede on behalf of the people. He stood between God and man – representing God to the people and the people to God. Christ is the fulfillment of that office. He is our sacrifice having made atonement for sin. He continues to intercede.
Because we are united to the perfect man – the Godman, we can come boldly to the throne of heaven with our concerns. In His name we offer our prayers, and He prays on our behalf. The book of Hebrews particularly draws attention to the present mediatorial ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 2:17-18, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
Heb 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Heb 7:25, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
The voice that everyone desperately needs (more than a voice in parliament – as important as that is), is a voice in heaven. Apart from Christ we have no voice. We cannot come to God on our terms. Christ is the voice for all people – black and white, male and female, rich and poor, young and old. He bears the concerns of all people – spiritual, emotional, physical. He understands the troubles we experience because He has experienced them. He is the sinless Son of God and through Him we can approach the Father as sons, and He will lovingly receive us.
Let us labour toward and pray that more and more people from every tribe, nation, and tongue would come to the true and eternal voice – the voice that heals, the voice that unifies, the voice that brings us to God.