We’ll never get bored throughout eternity. There is always something wonderfully new to learn about our precious Lord Jesus, the uplifting Holy Spirit, and our good heavenly Father. Even now, as we read passages of Scripture that we’ve repeatedly studied, we still find new nuggets for living. At this time of year, we are prompted to turn our focus to the Lord Jesus…and what we learn about Him is always astounding.
While attending Moody Bible Institute, fellow students and I would have lengthy discussions on a new subject or intriguing Bible passages. For instance, in Matthew 1:22-23 we are given the first New Testament confirmation of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus: “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Here’s an interesting question: What was accomplished when the Creator of the universe became a real human? No theologian can fully comprehend this extensive truth. But we can always fill in our understanding with additional biblical awareness.
One passage conveying important insights about the incarnation of Lord Jesus is 1 Timothy 2:5-6, which says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Thus, the incarnation provides a perfect intermediary between God the Father and humanity. This means that Jesus can facilitate a totally new relationship with humanity that is better than it’s been since Adam’s sin—perhaps even better than Adam’s pre-Fall relationship. We were in desperate need of a mediator, and the Lord Jesus came to the rescue.
Why Mediators and Interfaces Are Vital
A publication from ICR might be the only place where a reader would get a Christ-honoring discussion of His role as a mediator from a scientific perspective—which has some interesting theological parallels. For instance, a common problem facing all types of engineers is this: How do you get two independent entities to work together? Whether the entities are radically different or quite similar, they both have distinct boundaries and unique characteristics. Simply trying to force them together doesn’t work. The solution is to design a mediating device (or perhaps a system) that is known as an interface. The necessity of an interface to enable distinct entities to work together is a basic principle of engineering.
Interface design can be extremely complex. For one thing, the designers have to know vital details about how each independent entity operates. They will then select a feasible common medium where a certain trait of each entity can relate to the medium in some way (e.g., physically, electronically, chemically, etc.). The engineers then develop rules called protocols that govern the relationship, such as the exchange of information or products. One example is when your computer connects to a company’s computer by an engineered interface that uses electricity as the common medium.
When we look at creatures, we see all different kinds relating to each other in innumerable ways. If biologists did research like engineers, they would find that interfaces are ubiquitous. Many evolutionary biologists are ignorant of even basic engineering principles. So, their investigations rarely look for the protocols, authentication systems (a specialized type of protocol), or common medium that must exist. Instead, their peer-reviewed papers unfailingly invoke a crude, imagination-based explanation for how two creatures can work together so closely. They simply assert that they “co-evolved.” This really shortchanges scientific research.
What the reality of biological interfaces does exceedingly well is showcase the astounding breadth of knowledge of the Lord Jesus about His creatures. One evidence for His omniscience is that He created a myriad of essential interfaces—altogether—right from the beginning.
Even more astounding is that the infinitely wise first Inventor of interfaces became an interface. Christ Himself—as the God-man—is the common medium that both we and our heavenly Father can relate to. Let’s consider three ways in which “the Man Christ Jesus” is the perfect “Mediator between God and men.”
Representing Our Heavenly Father to Us
The truth that Jesus is “God with us” is incredibly rich. Other remarkable passages attest to our personal knowledge of God’s nature through Christ. Paul said of Christ, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery [an unlawful taking of something] to be equal with God” but emptied Himself and came “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). Of the Lord Jesus, John said, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him,” adding that “we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, 18).
Many people wonder what God is like. Christians could invest hours reading good commentaries about knowing God. Yet, if you want to see, hear, and experience what God is truly like, then consider Jesus as God with “us.” That is, experience Him as those who saw Him in action. Thus, if you want to know what God is like, then embrace the forthright claim of the Lord Jesus that “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
So, if you want to know how God feels about masses of people—lost without a shepherd, anxious over sick loved ones, or deeply ashamed of sinful behaviors—then look to the actions of Christ. If you want to know what God thinks of religious hypocrisy, hardened hearts fixated on worldly fulfillment, or just plain cool indifference toward Him, then look to the words of the Lord Jesus. Do you want to know if God cares for children, widows, poor old people, rich young rulers, foreigners, adulterers, tax collectors, centurions, people struggling with doubt, the death of those whom He loves (e.g., Lazarus, Stephen), and even yourself? Then look to the heart of Jesus!
The Lord Jesus is the perfect representation of our heavenly Father to us. He let all know, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), and no one can honor the Father unless they honor the Son (John 5:23). Studying Christ is very personal and so practical. He’s the gateway to know God.
Representing the Truth
We live surrounded by the world’s lies. News organizations, educational institutions, the entertainment industry, the government, and even religious leaders shamelessly promote lies. The rate at which the number and severity of lies is compounding could leave us wondering if we will ever again fully trust what we’re being told.
In utter contrast to the world, the Lord Jesus is “the Faithful and True Witness” (Revelation 3:14). Jesus represents truth perfectly. Anyone listening to Him speak heard the words of the Father (John 14:10). The Bible compares lies with darkness and truth with light. John said that Jesus “was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (John 1:9).
The Lord Jesus is always the antidote to a world full of lies. Recall that Pilate seems to have immersed himself in deceiving and being deceived. He had become so cynical from pervasive lying that he retorts, “What is truth?” when the Lord said, “I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37-38). Just imagine how liberating that would have been to hear trustworthy words from He who is Truth standing before you? Concerning the gospel, lost people are depicted as those “whose minds the god of this age has blinded,” but the Father shines “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
Knowing Jesus is to know a truth that will set you free (John 8:32). None other than Jesus could declare, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). The Lord Jesus is the only true way to finding life with the Father.
Representing Us to Our Heavenly Father
The truth of Christ’s humanity is equally as important as His deity. This fact has important theological implications. Yet, that Jesus left the glory that He shared with the Father (John 17:5) is quite personal for us as well. We are told that “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” (Hebrews 4:15). We can be assured that the Father knows what we are feeling because He is one with the Son and the Son is one of us.
Years ago, I was assigned to a Naval Air Station in Sicily. My family went north to visit the ruins of Pompeii, Italy. While there we noticed an idol niche in a wall in every room of every home. We witnessed a city wholly given over to idolatry—the destiny that follows rejection of the true Creator God. In addition, it’s hard to envision the bleak uncertainty that inhabitants must have felt praying to lifeless figurines. People today still revere idols—including the equally idolatrous worldview of Darwinian selectionism that venerates nature itself as a creative agent.
Christians, however, beseech their omnipotent Savior. We are greatly blessed that we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) fully confident that the God-man Jesus Christ truly hears prayers and is touched with our feelings.
Not only does Christ hear our prayers, He “is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). We are certain that His prayers prevail. Since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” and “has an unchangeable priesthood,” 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” (Hebrews 13:8, 7:24-25). How precious is that? Knowing Him is a blessing beyond comparison in both this life and the one that is to come.
Have a joyous Christmas reassured that the Man Christ Jesus is the perfect Mediator between God and men.
Information for our Acts & Facts Family as 2021 Comes to a Close
You may recall my September article “A New Commitment to Deep Research,” where I reaffirmed ICR’s responsibility to original scientific investigations related to creation. Two main areas will occupy much of our effort. First, a voluminous body of published information will be reframed within the biblically consistent theories of Flood geology and engineered biology. These will point toward clear and concise explanations of natural phenomena that Christians can communicate. Currently, we are laboring on crafting a theory of biological design—a basis to advance hypothetical models explaining key biological functions like adaptation, metabolism, etc. Second, we will fiercely oppose the deification of nature by exposing Darwinian selectionism as an idolatrous worldview. In September I also detailed how the amount of time (not money) it took to produce Acts & Facts greatly constrained our scientists in doing new research and our communications team from getting that material to Christians. I asked for your feedback on the suggestion that we consider reducing to 10, 9, or 8 issues per year.
As I write this, you have contributed over 1,750 thoughtful emails and letters. Since everyone likes to know the raw numbers, here they are: 0.03% recommended keeping 12 issues, and the rest recommended a reduced number with a great majority urging that we go to a predictable bimonthly schedule of six issues per year. In addition, we were encouraged that in numerous messages you discussed our finances. You recognized the risk that we are taking in decreased support with reduced issues of Acts & Facts in exchange for more research…and affirmed your continued backing. Thank you.
So, starting in January 2022 we will transition to a bimonthly schedule. Next year will enable us to collect data to assess results and, if time allows, produce a “special issue.” Thank you again for your deep and abiding love for ICR!
* Dr. Guliuzza is President of the Institute for Creation Research. He earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Minnesota, his Master of Public Health from Harvard University, and served in the U.S. Air Force as 28th Bomb Wing Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Guliuzza is also a registered Professional Engineer and holds a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute.
