The only mediator we need

Jesus..."The one final, sufficient Priest, surpassing and replacing all other orders of priests. Jesus the High Priest comes from the presence of God and brings us into the presence of God. Jesus is the only priest we need. Jesus is the only mediator we need. Thus, right at the beginning, the author of Hebrews preaches the good news. 'Jesus has become as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs'(1:4)" (119).

     This passage reminds me of a week on Shasta last summer. In my quiet time with God I kept hearing 'Anneliese you need to know Jesus' And I was like God, I know who Jesus is. and all week God was pushing me to Jesus - 'You need to KNOW Jesus'. You need to start with Jesus - you are missing out on who JESUS is. And then I went into panic mode "What does it mean that You are pushing me toward Jesus - do I really not know Jesus - whats happening? What does that make me?"
     So from that point on it was a humbling process of starting at the beginning - which though it felt humbling at the time when I think about it- it was/is an amazing blessing to explore and try to comprehend the significance of Jesus in my life with God's encouragement and challenge. And the biggest revelation was Jesus is the mediator! I realized I had been reading about Jesus and asking about Jesus but praying to God the Father and I had this bizarre, or limited, perception of the role Jesus was to play in my life. Its this life-transforming realization - what Jesus truly is to me - the intimacy I can truly feel with Jesus - that Jesus is the mediator because he understands! Its another reason why I love this book because i am constantly being pushed to the cross - to the concepts that I glazed over as a child - as a teenager - as a college student - I didn't know how to experience that truth. I couldn't be vulnerable until God taught me how to be authentic. So what is it that keeps people (kept me) from exploring the truth about Jesus in an emotional way? From exploring true intimacy with Christ? Is this the fear of having to understand something so outside of our comfort zones? Is it the fear of being trapped in a glass case of emotion [because that will happen]?
     God,  this summer when I am returning laundry, shopping at Costco and teaching staff to inventory - how are you going to use me to show how transforming it is to be in a relationship with Jesus? I can't wait to live it and I can't wait to see it. I experience daily the difference that it makes to be willing to ask about Jesus - to be willing to ask Jesus - and to be willing to listen. Jesus, I am excited to see hearts transformed in your name this summer, among campers, staff, Lodi, Shasta Lake, Larson Marine, the offices, Paradise Point staff. Push us closer to you Jesus and let that excitement shine through us. Everything is about to get crayzay