The Names of the Mediator (3)

Beloved

“Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; MyBeloved, in whom My soul is well pleased” (Matthew 12:18a).

In Scripture we find many names for the Mediator recorded from the mouths of God’s children. Those names teach us who Christ is for true believers. Our text, however, contains a name by which God the Father names the Mediator. Such names teach us who the Mediator is in the sight of His Father. Later, we will see that in naming Him the Beloved, the Father and the Church are in complete agreement. Here the evangelist quotes Isaiah 42:1: “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth.” Christ is the Beloved, the Beloved of His Father. In Him the Father is well pleased. This resounded openly from heaven at Christ’s baptism in Jordan, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Servant is also the Son, and the Son is also the Servant. There lies the depth of the Father’s love for the Servant. That love cannot be explained. The Servant was the Beloved of His Father from eternity. He did not become so when He assumed the form of a servant. He was the Beloved when the Father elected Him to His mediatorial work, and He remained the Beloved.

He also remained the Beloved throughout the entire time of His sojourn on earth; however, that did not always appear to be the case. If He is the Father’s Beloved, why did the Father forsake Him on Golgotha? He seemed to be an outcast. The wrath of the Father was directed at the sins that His Beloved bore as Substitute. Therefore, the Father could no longer comfort His Beloved. Justice had to take its course. The good pleasure could only prosper in this manner. That He remained the Beloved is again shown so clearly in His exaltation.

God’s children are also called beloved in Scripture. That they are also beloved is evident in the electing love of God the Father, the purchasing love of God the Son, and the gathering love of the Holy Spirit. The Father so loved them that He did not spare even His own Son, and the Son so loved them that He was willing to give His life for them. Is it any wonder then that the Mediator also becomes the Beloved of His Church? Isaiah wrote, “Now will I sing to my Wellbeloved a song of my Beloved.” Oh, we love Him because He first loved us. Has He also become your Beloved? I even hear Peter say, “Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

—February 4, 2010, Rev. A. Schot

Bishop

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd andBishopof your souls ” (1 Peter 2:25).

In the last verse of this chapter, Peter contrasts the past and present of his readers. First, they were like straying sheep without a Shepherd. They were without guidance, without care, and without protection. This is the sad picture of an unconverted sinner. It is the existence of all of us, by nature. Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” At some point in the lives of these scattered strangers and elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, a reversal took place. Christ joined them to His flock through true conversion and placed them under His loving care.

The Mediator is not only the Shepherd, a name in this verse which we will dwell on later, but He is also the Bishop. That means that He has oversight and supervision over His sheep. The guidance comes from Him. This guidance concerns not only their bodies but also their souls. The writer of the marginal notes wrote of this Bishop: “Greek episcopon; that is, Superintendent or Overseer, that is, who takes care for the salvation of your souls, although your bodies are oftentimes ill-treated here.”

Ah, if this Bishop’s sheep had to take care of their souls themselves, nothing would come of it, but this Bishop takes care of those souls whom He bought with such a high price. His soul has been exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. He knows how to deal with souls. Souls are in good hands with this Bishop. He does not lose sight of one, for they are precious in His sight. No, the guidance of this Bishop is by no means always understood, but the sheep may safely leave it in His hands.

By nature, we miss the comfort of this Bishop. Straying sheep without guidance—what will become of them? We do not even realize that we have a soul. Without this Bishop we will soon fall into eternal destruction. We are so often concerned for our bodies. Rather, “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He also admonishes His disciples themselves to take heed of their souls, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26a).

Can you also no longer do without this Bishop? The poet of Psalm 142 says, “Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” He no longer trusted himself. Then this Bishop takes on such value. God’s children begin to seek Him in all their soul’s sorrow. Take courage. “Your heart shall live that seek God.”

—August 26, 2010, Rev. A. Schot

(To be continued)

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