Jesus, Our Only Intercessor

Jesus, Our Only Intercessor
...the Way, the Truth, the Life

Aubrey L Duncan

Aug 23





In oppossition to God

Several years ago I read, with amazement, deep concern and, heartfelt disappointment, an article in a major magazine entitled Mary’s Role in Salvation History. As a Bible-believing Christian, I felt that the ideas presented were bold attacks on the God of all creation, His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, and His plan of Salvation for men’s souls. When compared with the Bible, those ideas reveal that they are patently false. The writer reiteriated a fabricated narrative that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is our co-mediator. Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians are unwittingly, but warmly and increasingly embracing that perverse doctrine.

First, the writer pointed out that one is unable to properly understand the Scripture with a mere 4th or 5th grade education. The Scripture and Salvation history, which it teaches, refutes that notion. Most Bible writers were not at all highly educated. In fact, the Bible is clear that many of them were ordinary men. Some were farmers. Others were peasants. Yet others were herdsmen, shepherds, fishermen, and men of low estate. Their pronouncements on the things of God were not based upon theological exegesis, intellectual philosophy, or institutional training. Their work was based solely on the inspiration of God. The apostle Peter declares: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men; but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The apostle Paul agrees: “ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness… that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” ( 2 Timothy 3:16,17).

God’s plan of Redemption is understood by the very same means it is given, i.e. through the inspiration of God by the Holy Ghost. Thus we find Jesus admonishing the Jewish leaders, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”(John 5:39). He continues, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” ( John17:7). James, the Lord’s brother, advises us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him” (James 1:5)

The work of the Holy Spirit is to lead all men, regardless of age, educational background, or social status, to an understanding of God’s love for fallen humanity. Jesus teaches,“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16L13). No age restrictions here. The very young was attracted to Jesus. When His disciples attempted to prevent them from coming to Him, The Lord rebuked them, “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Here’s the polar opposite of having some higher level of education in order to understand the love of God.

And yes, God also used men of scholarly repute and higher learning to advance His program of redemption. However, God had to purge their minds of their much learning and scholarly endowments so that He may teach them the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation. One of those men was the learned Pharisee Saul who became the apostle Paul. He then writes,“But God had chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God had chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Likewise, the Patriarch Moses was given a period of forty years to be rid of the best military and philosophical education the Egyptian monachy could have offered. Called by Jehovah to deliver His people from Eqyptian bondage, Moses forfeited the seat of high learning and governmental power to become a shepherd and herdsman.

Most of our foreparents had very little, if any, education. Yet they were able to pick up the Bible and, with a humble heart submitted to the Holy Spirit, were able to clearly discern the Plan of Redemption. Incarcerated criminals and society’s castaways, unable to read and write, continue to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by merely allowing their minds to be led by the Holy Spirit. Little children, barely old enough to read, are daily led to by the Holy Spirit to the redeeming grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is not the educational level that saves a sinner from sin. Rather, it is the divine influence of God’s grace moving upon the heart and revealing His love, without Mary as an intersessor, that transforms the life.

Setting the record straight

This brings me to the second point of the article which exalted Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the holy office of man’s mediator. This popular and pervasive Roman Catholic doctrine has no basis in Biblical fact. To attempt to extrapolate from the story of Jesus changing water into wine [John, chapter 2] that Mary is our intercessor is a gross misuse and perversion of Scripture. The writer’s reasoning is a clear attempt to make Scripture fit her church’s theological credo. That’s in opposition to Creator God.

This erroneous teaching is based solely on the traditions of Roman Catholicism, adopted from pagan religions of antiquity, and not at all on the Word of God. Mary’s only role in the Plan of Redemption was that she was chosen by Almighty God to carry, give birth, and nurture (as any good mother would) her son, Jesus. She was merely God’s chosen vessel through whom the Divine Savior would come as a man to live among men. Creator God did not accord Mary any other office. The Plan of Salvation is solely about Jesus and what He has done and is doing to save us from sin. It is not about Mary or any other human instrumentality.

The apostle Paul refers to God’s Pan of Redemption as a great mystery: “And without any controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). In order for Mary to be the mother of God she must also be the mother of the Holy Spirit and the mother of God the Father. Such a notion is simply preposterous and is not found in Holy Writ.

Mary was and is not divine. Though Jesus, with inherent divinity, was manifested in the flesh through Mary, that does not make her divine nor our intercessor. She never claimed that office nor sought nor sought worship. Neither Jesus nor any of God’s prophets ever taught or even vaguely suggested that Mary is our intercessor and should be worshipped. She was, like the rest of us, mortal. Amazingly, not much is mentioned of Mary in the Holy Scriptures after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Only Intecessor.

Mary is dead and can do nothing for anyone. God’s word teaches: “For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten, also their love and their hatred and their envy, is perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun…whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, no device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave wither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10). The patriarch Job concurs, “As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more… he shall return no more to his house neither shall his place know him any more”
(Job 7:9,10).

Such is the case with Mary, the saints of old and all our dead loved ones. There is no record of Mary was resurrecting from the dead to serve as our intercessor in heaven or on earth. The mother of the man Jesus, like all of us sinners saved by the grace of God, is awaiting the return of Jesus, the Life Giver. We are assured, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord…Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Until that day when He returns as Lord of Lords and King of kings, we have the great honor and privelege of speaking through Him to His and our Father. The record is very clear, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin…let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, and find mercy and grace to help in a time of need”(Hebrews 4:15, 16).



Our Only Intercessor

The unmistakable fact that Jesus Christ is our Only Mediator and Intercessor is the irremovable underpinning of the reality of life. Whether in types and symbols of the Old Testament, or the living reality of the New, it is Jesus Christ and Him Only that serve as the intercessor for all men in all ages. He admonishes us, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Neither Mary nor any other dead saint cannot suffice. The apostle John encourages us, “My little children, these things I write unto you: that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 1:1).

To suggest that Mary is our intercessor is both ludicrous and unbiblical. Advocating such a doctrine it to assert to be able to speak to the dead and have them speak back to you. Contrary to popular belief, the dead are incapable of speaking to us. In fact, God refers to such doctrines and teachings as abominations. He speaks through Moses, “There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard or a necromancer…for all these things are an abomination unto the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Claiming Mary, who is dead, to be your intercessor is to practice necromancy and the consulting with familiar spirits. The modern term is spiritualism-the idea that one can speak with the dead. God specifically forbids and abhors it.

Ultimately, one must decide whether he or she will believe the Word of God or trust in the traditions of men. There is no middle ground. If you choose to follow men’s traditions, then anything and everything will suffice. If, however, you choose to follow the Word of God, then the Bible and the Bible only will satisfy. For the Christian, it must always be ‘Sola Scriptura’ – the Bible and the Bible only.

The proclamation of the prophet Elijah should be instructive to all who call themselves Christians. “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Ba-al, then follow him.”(1 Kings 18:21).

Finally, the ideas presented in the article, Mary’s Role in Salvation History and any other such teachings are demonstrations of religious concoctions void of the Holy Spirit’s leading. They are anti-Scripture and therefore dangerous. I find it disturbing to think that untold millions believe and subscribe to such teachings, despite the clear admonitions from the Word of God to the contrary.

Salvation, which hopefully we all seek, does not come by the traditions of men or by the pronouncements of ecclesiastical councils. This precious gift comes only by Jesus and Jesus alone, who educates us, “And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). The apostle Peter, unlearned and ignorant, but inspired by the Holy Spirit declares, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Contrary to what that article presented and many today believe, Mary is not now, nor ever can be our mediator and intercessor. No Bible believing Christian can accept this dogma. To do so is to reject the plain teachings of the Bible, which is the only rule of faith for the Christian.

May the reader harken to the inspired word which teaches us, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). There you will find that Jesus Christ is your Only Inteccessor.

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