Melchizedek

Scott Harman March 24, 2021 0 0

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Hebrews 5: 5-10 (NIV)

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest.But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek is one of those little known Bible characters around whom an Indiana Jones movie is formed. Nobody really knows who he is, so Hollywood invents some grand story around him, and we all love it, and we’re like, “Wait, is that true? Who was this guy?”

It’s actually not that complicated. Melchizedek appears in the book of Genesis chapter 14. Abraham (a much more prominent and influential Bible character than Melchizedek) meets him after rescuing his nephew Lot, who was taken captive during war (totally should be a Hollywood movie of this). Anyway, Melchizedek comes to bless Abraham, and the passage says that Melchizedek was the King of Salem, and a Priest of God Most High.

He was a King and a Priest. 

In Hebrews 5 it says that Jesus, by his suffering, became the source of salvation and a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. So not only is he the King, but he is also a priest. The concept of a priest in the Ancient Near East was that a priest could commune with God in ways that no one else could. It conjures images of priests entering the Temple offering animal sacrifices. The theology of Ancient Near Eastern People was that something had to suffer and die for the good of the people. 

Could you imagine if the king himself was the sacrifice? The idea of kings conjure images of fancy clothing and castles and feasts. Yet, Jesus' kingship is about self-sacrifice. The King, God’s own Son suffered and died for our salvation. That’s even better than a Hollywood movie!

PRAYER:

Dear Jesus we worship the King of Glory, and the Priest who made intercession by your suffering. We gladly go out into the world as members of the Kingdom of self-sacrifice. May we have the opportunity to share the burdens of our families, friends, and neighbours today.