The contrast in tone in this Watchtower with the church service we've just attended is incredible. The theme of the sermon at church was "A Different Class" and it covered Luke 8:40-46. The preacher said, "The greatest thing about Christianity is Jesus". The message, as it was in the 1st C, was very simple; Jesus.
Yet, this WT article is cloudy and muddy on the issues of Christ's primary role. The WTS say Christ's primary purpose in living and dying on earth was to 'vindicate Jehovah's universal sovereignty', yet not one single scripture can be produced which Biblically backs this core teaching up. The Bible does, however, speak about Christ demonstrating God's love for people by dying for them, dying so that they aren't condemned for their sins. How much of the WT article is taken up with that? Not much. The reason? That would be too much like what 'Christendom' teaches in her churches.
And where in the Bible does it explain two classes of people; one class who have Christ as mediator and are forgiven as a result, and another class who don't have Christ as mediator but are forgiven due to being 'friends of God'. No, sorry, it doesn't work like that. The 'friends of God' are those who have Christ as mediator and are forgiven in God's sight as a result.
I'm pretty surprised the WTS are, in such a bald way, outlining that the R&F don't have Christ as their mediator. They don't usually talk about that much. I wonder how many JWs today at the meeting will be thinking, "Whaaaaaa'? Christ isn't my mediator??!". For example, I didn't learn that until March 2008 and it contributed to my eventual exit from the WTS.