So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. Hebrews 9:11
There is a mystery concerning just exactly who Melchizedek was. We know very little of him. We are told in Genesis 14 that after Abram won the battle of Kedorlaomer, Abram gave a tenth of all the recovered goods to Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abram. We are told that the one who has the power to bless is always greater than the one receiving the blessing. Hebrews 7:7 So we can know that Melchizedek was more important than Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.
Many years later David mentions Melchizedek in Psalms 110, “The Lord has sworn a solemn pledge and won’t change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever in line with Melchizedek.’” Then many years later yet we are given a beautiful analogy of Melchizedek by the unknown author of Hebrews. We are told that there is no record of a mother or father, and that his story has no beginning or ending. He was the priest of the Most High, yet not of the priestly tribe of Levi. He was the king of Salem and was known as the king of justice, and the king of peace. Hebrews 7:2
Then the author of Hebrews goes on to compare Christ to Melchizedek. Before Christ, the old law through the priesthood of Levi was weak. God had a plan for a new perfect/unflawed covenant. Had the old law been the perfect solution for our salvation, there would be no need for a new law. His new plan would change everything. This new plan would replace the laws on tablets made of stone, to place the laws in the hearts and minds of people. God through this plan would not only forgive, but forget our sins. This would all be accomplished through His son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, like Melchizedek, is referred to as priest of the Most High, the prince of peace, and the king of justice. Melchizedek’s story is mysteriously incomplete with no beginning or end; he will remain a priest forever through the story. We know John states that Jesus was in the beginning with God, and that even through Christ died, He also came back to life. Jesus, just like Melchizedek has no beginning or ending.
Melchizedek was not from the priestly tribe of Levi, neither was Jesus. Levi was incapable of achieving God’s true purposes through the law. Blood was sprinkled for a purification process, but it could only do so much and it had to be repeated, year after year. The blood of Christ was the final blood sacrifice to make all things right forever. God brought about his perfect plan through the line of Judah, not Levi. Melchizedek, from an unknown line, was the power of life that cannot be destroyed. Jesus the high priest also could not be destroyed, even by death on the cross. He was the fulfillment of the perfect law of forgiveness and redemption.
Jesus was the blameless, spotless sacrificial lamb, who took the sins of the world on his shoulders. He is the priest of the Most High God, who sits at the right hand of God, and intercedes for us. God has placed everything under His subjection. God’s oath was that Christ would always remain a priest. This was His vow, and because of this we can be guaranteed of the effectiveness of Christs’ sacrifice. The temple where blood sacrifices were performed over and over again, has been destroyed. It is no longer needed because of the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus.
Who was Melchizedek? The mystery may never be solved and we can only speculate. Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to offer to Abram. Jesus Christ, the son of God, the one true priest eternal, bids us to come to His table of bread and wine to remember the body that was broken and the blood that was shed for us. We now have obtained true forgiveness for our sins, and a union with God.
Dear Father, Thank you for your perfect covenant fulfilled through the High Priest, Jesus Christ. Amen
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