Mediation

Meditation is "an attempt by an individual to effect a peaceful settlement between disputing parties."  Mediation, therefore, involves both a dispute of some kind, and an outside party stepping in to help resolve that dispute.

A couple of nights ago on Lost (I know, I know, but you only have to listen to seven more weeks of Lost illustrations), Richard Alpert was asked to become a "representative" or "ambassador" between the inhabitants of the island and Jacob (God).  The idea was that he would speak for Jacob and help resolve disputes.  He was to be Jacob's mediator.

Ironically, a few scenes before this job offer, Richard was seen kneeling before a priest confessing his sin.  One of these sins was the murder of a doctor who was withholding medicine from Richard's dying wife.  After confessing that he had murdered the doctor, the priest said that this particular sin could not be forgiven.  There was a "loophole," however.  Forgiveness would require "penance," which, in Catholicism, is a stronger form of confession.  Richard was scheduled to be hung the following day, and therefore did not have time to work through penance, meaning, he would die and go to hell.  In fact, the priest said something to the effect of, "There is nothing you can do, you will die and be with the devil."  The dialogue was interesting, and it advocated at least two claims: First, man has the power to forgive sins (or act as a mediator between God and man) and second, some sins require extra effort on our part in order to be forgiven.

Regarding claim one, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."  The word "mediator" is used here, and it contains the same meaning as stated above: "[It] refers to someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or ratify a covenant" (MacArthur Study Bible).  The text is clear that Jesus is the only qualified individual to ratify the dispute between God and man.  This means that ultimately, confessing sins to a priest (or any other clergyman) doesn't result in forgiveness from God.  Man is not qualified to act in this office, except for "the man Christ Jesus."

Regarding claim two, it is important to know that first, in terms of penalty, all sin is equal in God's eyes.  Paul wrote that, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23).  Regardless of how big or small the encroachment, sin causes a "dispute" between God and man.  Second, it is also important to know that when it comes to forgiveness, there is nothing that we can do to help the process along.  That is, extra efforts (good works) do not result in building a stronger case before God.  We are only righteous because of Christ, and nothing of ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9).

Today, I encourage you to both know that Jesus is the only reason we have forgiveness, and also that this forgiveness comes only through His atoning work on the cross.  No amount of good works can pad our case before God.  Sin caused a rift between God and man and Jesus is the mediator to appease the relationship.  John wrote that, "He Himself (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."  Let us rest in this peace today, knowing that all we need to do is have faith in Him, as opposed to earning His forgiveness through trivial attempts toward mortal righteousness.