In Part 1 [Click HERE.], we highlighted the amazing life of Squanto, the Native
American of the Patuxent tribe who resided in what is now Massachusetts. God providentially prepared Squanto with knowledge
of European culture and character qualities that suited him to become a mediator
between his native people and the Pilgrims who were struggling to survive at Plymouth Rock.
God used Squanto’s mediation to literally save the lives of the Pilgrims. However, as amazing as Squanto’s life was, his mediation was
limited in scope and lasting effects, especially when compared to the mediation of Jesus Christ that we discussed in Part 1.
Thanksgiving
Meditations: Squanto and Jesus Christ
The declaration of Scripture in 1 Timothy 2: 5-6a, that there is “one Mediator…the
Man Christ Jesus,” is supported by dozens of other Scriptures affirming that
God’s Messiah was fully human and fully God. It is clear that Christ is far superior to any human mediator. Indeed, how can we wrap our finite minds around the
claim in John 1: 14 that “the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh and dwelt among
us…?” However, we have found it helpful to compare Christ's mediation with that of a "human mediator" like Squanto.
In order to make the comparison of Christ's mediation with that of Squanto, let's return to our account of
Squanto and utilize the five qualities of an effective
human mediator we listed in Part 1. Each of the qualities include Scriptures and
commentary suitable for a daily meditation leading up to Thanksgiving. Please allow each Scripture to
stimulate further study. We hope your study will inspire you to reverent worship and adoration of Christ,
our divine Mediator.
1)
Knowledge of the Language and Cultures
Long
before the Pilgrims desperately needed help, God was preparing Squanto to be
their mediator. By the time the Pilgrims
needed Squanto’s mediation, he had become equipped with knowledge of the
language and culture of both Native Americans and of the Pilgrims. On a much grander scale, God planned and sent
His Son, Jesus Christ as divine Mediator between a Holy God and sinful man:
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory
as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:
14
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His
stripes we are healed. -- Isaiah 53: 5
God made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that
in Him we might become the righteousness of God. -- 2 Corinthians 5: 21
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me. -- John
14:6
Other Scriptures: John 3: 16-17; Hebrews 2:14: 1 Peter 3: 18
Application: Do you believe Jesus IS God in human flesh? Why is the incarnation of Jesus Christ [the
Word made flesh] so essential to His role as Mediator between God and
mankind?
2)
Vision of a “Higher Purpose”
Squanto’s
international experience, delivery from bondage, experience of human kindness by
people of God, and his opportunity to learn the English language and culture must
certainly have transformed him. What’s
more, he was invited to experience Christian worship and to learn from God’s
Word. It is likely that he grasped a
sense of the larger purpose to which God (or the “Great Spirit”) had called him. The same was true of Jesus Christ:
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born
under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our
adoption as sons. - Galatians 4: 4-5
Jesus, anticipating the Cross: Now My
soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No,
it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” -- John 12:27-28
Other Scriptures: Isaiah 50: 5-7;
Hebrews 5: 8-9
Application: Do you believe God
is a God of purpose? Have you discovered
His purpose(s) for your life? What are
ways we can identify God’s purposes for us?
3) Shows
Empathy and Compassion
Like the patriarch Joseph in the Old Testament, Squanto was
forcibly torn away from his own people and culture, and made to live and labor
in a strange, far away land. This traumatic
experience happened twice; and each time, Squanto was set free by the kindness
of people of faith in God. Perhaps God
used these experiences to help Squanto become a compassionate mediator. The following Scriptures describe the
preparation of Jesus as a compassionate Mediator:
[He] emptied
Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He
humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. – Philippians 2: 7-8
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for
them because they were like sheep without a shepherd…. – Mark 6: 34a
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able
to come to the aid of those who are tempted. – Hebrews 2: 18
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was
without sin. Let us then approach the
throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4: 15-16
Other Scripture: Hebrews 5: 2
Application: How have
experiences of pain and suffering in your life helped you to become more compassionate
toward others? How have these
experiences drawn you closer to Christ?
4) Builds Trust Between Adversaries
By definition, a mediator must stand between
adversaries and encourage each side to fully trust him or her. Very likely, the knowledge and experiences
that Squanto gained through both harsh and affirming treatment had shaped him in
character as one who could be trusted by both sides that he was seeking to
reconcile. The following Scriptures
address the trustworthiness of God and His Son, our Mediator:
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me
has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over
from death to life. - John 5:24
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then,
having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God
through Him. For if while we were
enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more,
having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. – Romans 5: 8-10
Other Scripture: Jeremiah 31: 33-34; Colossians 1: 13-14
Application: Have you come to the point in your life where
you can trust that Jesus Christ is the only way to receive forgiveness and
salvation from your sin through “justification by faith” in Him? If so, on what does your faith rest? If not, what will it take?
5) Provides for Ongoing Mediation
Squanto not only mediated for peace between his own people and the Pilgrims,
but he showed the Pilgrims how to grow crops and obtain fish from the
ocean. Providentially, God had expanded Squanto’s
horizon both in space and time so that he could envision a coexistence of two
very different cultures there in what is now Massachusetts. God’s “vision” is infinitely greater based on
His knowledge, omnipresence, and omnipotence.
Most of all is God’s great covenant love which redeems all who believe
in Christ, our Mediator and makes them one with Him forever.
Who is there to condemn us? For
Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right
hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
-- Romans 8:34
For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all His fullness to dwell in Him [Christ],
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or
things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. Once you were alienated from God and were
hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s
physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in
His presence… -- Colossians 1: 19-22
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for
welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29: 11
Other Scripture: Romans 8: 1; Romans
8: 28; 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18
Application: We have examined five
marks of a mediator evident in the life of Squanto and which point us to the work
of Christ, our divine Mediator. While we
hope the comparisons have been helpful, there remains some glaring differences
between Squanto, a “human mediator,” and Christ, our divine Mediator. What differences can you identify? What is the significance to you personally of
the differences?
Christ: More Than a Human
Mediator
Unlike Squanto, Jesus Christ is divine, fully God and fully man. What’s more, Christ’s mediation between a holy
God and sinful man required His willing sacrifice as “the Lamb of God that takes
away the sin of the world (John 1: 29).”
Whereas, some human mediators may die to bring reconciliation, it was
preordained that Christ would die for our sin, the just for the unjust, so
that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made
alive in the spirit… (1 Peter 3: 18).
Because of His great love for mankind, God gave His greatest gift, His
much beloved Son, to take our punishment and die in our place for our sin—specifically,
to satisfy God’s holy wrath (propitiation; 1 John 2: 2) and to carry away our
sin and related guilt (expiation; Hebrews 1: 3; 1 John 1: 7). When Christ rose from death to eternal life,
He demonstrates His Father’s acceptance of His sacrifice. Romans 5 provides a wonderful summary:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the
good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more
then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath
of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. – Romans 5: 6-11
Mediation: “Place of One”
Michael A. Zeytoonian, Founder and Director of Dispute Resolution Counsel, LLC,
is a lawyer, mediator and ombudsman. He describes the goal of successful mediation
as follows:
“There is this ‘place of one’ in every dispute and it offers the most complete
resolution. It is different for each team of rivals and each situation. In order to fulfill the law, the Mediator’s
higher purpose is to transform the minds of the two sides, so that they can go
beyond just settling, to find, or perhaps rediscover, their “place of one.” [Read more HERE.]
Those who belong to Christ have been united with Him into a “place of one” through
the abiding Holy Spirit who reminds us through His Word (emphasis added): For all of you who were baptized into
Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are
all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3: 27-28).
Now “clothed with Christ” who is our Great High Priest, we are sustained by His
intercession at God’s holy throne on our behalf when we fall short of the mark
(sin) and confess our sin. Take time to
reflect on God’s Gift of salvation and provision of forgiveness (1 John 1: 8-9).
How about You? Have you accepted God’s Gift of salvation by faith? If so, do you regularly respond to His welcome
at the throne of grace for regular cleansing from sin? And remember, if you have been reconciled,
you have also been called to be an “ambassador of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians
5: 20). If you have questions, feel free
to use the “Comment” link below or write to us at silviusj@gmail.com.
Helpful Resources:
“Steps to Peace with God” Click HERE.
“Have You Made the Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” Cru Publication. Click HERE.
Oikonomia blog, August 25, 2025. “Winsome
Witness 2. Being Salt in Controversy. Click HERE.
