Jesus Became the Mediator of a New Covenant: Hebrews 9:15
“15) For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15
This is a beautiful stand alone verse describing how Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. His death on the cross was for the redemption of all those who had transgressed under the first covenant. He died for sinners.
In the next several verse the author is going to describe how a covenant is ratified by the shedding of blood. It was often referred to as a “blood covenant.” The work of Jesus Christ on the cross fulfilled all the terms of a blood covenant. He atoned for and redeemed all humanity with His substitutionary death.
We can therefore conclude that He is the mediator of a new covenant, and a better one. His death inaugurated the blood covenant, but His resurrection placed Him in the role of a living mediator. Hence He ever lives to make intercession for us.
The bulls, goats and sheep offered under the old covenant did not come back to life. It was a covenant of death. Because Jesus rose from the dead, He established a covenant of life. The giving of the Holy Spirit for all believers further sealed the covenant. (See Ephesians 1:13-14)
When the two are compared, the new covenant is far more wonderful and glorious that the old covenant. This is the point the author is arguing in chapters 8-10. Jesus inaugurated a new covenant by giving His own life in our place on the cross.
Hebrews 9:15 is very closely related to John 3:9-21. Nicodemus as the teacher of Israel needed his eyes opened to what the Messiah was about to do. He was about to establish the new covenant by dying on the cross for the sins of humanity.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
