I really appreciate the struggle of the writer of the book of Hebrews. As you read his letter you sense something of an inner conflict. On the one hand he wants to share deep spiritual truths with the Hebrew Christians. But he is concerned that they might discard what he has to say and that they may harden their hearts, relegating his words to the realm of trivial or irrelevant.
Parents, you know the scenario. You are trying to impart a life lesson to your child. But your child, with just three to eighteen years of life experience, compared to your thirty or forty, knows so much more than you do. And your effort seems in vain. Or as one parent lamented, "Children are certain they will never be as stupid as their parents."
Ready to listen.
The very same thing happens in our relationship with God, only on a cosmic scale. Like children, we are sometimes quick to dismiss God's eternal perspective in favor of our limited life experiences. We don't always assign proper weight and gravity to what he reveals to us in his word.
In Hebrews 6 the writer is preparing his readers for what he is about to say. He reminds them that they should be tearing into solid spiritual meat with a voracious appetite, but as it stands, they are still being nursed on spiritual milk! They are mere babes, unready and even unwilling to receive the deeper things of Christ. They are in danger of hardening their hearts to the word of God.
Plan A, not B.
But what he has to say is too important, so he willingly risks their indifference and ours. In Hebrews 7 he digs deep into Jewish history, down to the very foundations of the Jewish faith to demonstrate that Jesus Christ has been God's Plan A from the very beginning. He tells us that Jesus didn't just come along and highjack the Jewish faith. He wants to demonstrate how the entire Old Testament system, which includes priests and kings, is in harmony with the person and work of Jesus Christ. He wants to demonstrate that God's plan has been slowly unfolding, and that now in Christ Jesus all men can be completely saved and draw near to God.
This week there has been a lot of buzz about whether the Pentagon has changed its strategy or plan for overcoming the evil of Saddam's regime. The accusation is that the Pentagon underestimated Saddam's power and that the American military has been left scratching its head, picking up the pieces, and trying to make the best of a situation gone sour.
This is the issue that the writer of Hebrews is addressing as well. Did God flippantly change his strategy in human history? Was Jesus Christ God's last minute quick fix for a failed creation? Did God underestimate Satan's power? The Hebrews author responds with an unequivocal answer. No! God is in control of history. God's plan continues to unfold just as he envisioned and with great success. Jesus Christ stands in the center of all creation, in all of human history, and is the centerpiece of God's continuing work to reconcile all men unto himself. Plan A is still on the table!
Who is Melchizedek?
In Hebrews 7 the writer first references a seemingly trivial account from the life of Abraham in which Abraham encounters a king and priest named Melchizedek. By way of summary, in Genesis 14 Abraham's nephew Lot is taken captive by several rogue kings and their armies. These evil kings plunder the land, murder hundreds, and commit unimaginable evils.
In Genesis 14 Abraham discovers that Lot has been captured by them. He quickly assembles three hundred eighteen of his trained men and pursues them. Abraham eventually catches the kings and gives them his sword for lunch. He slaughters them and takes back all the wealth they had stolen and he frees Lot. As Abraham is returning home he encounters a king and priest named Melchizedek. Here is the account of their meeting in Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV). "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. 'Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
Quick notes on Melchizedek, king of peace and righteousness.
In Hebrews 7 the writer makes a direct connection between Jesus and Melchizedek. Melchizedek foreshadows Jesus Christ in a number of ways. First, in Hebrews 7:1-2 (NIV) we learn Melchizedek's name means, "king of righteousness." We also learn that he was king of Salem or, "king of peace." Melchizedek was a defender, promoter, and representative of peace and righteousness in the ancient world. He embodied the peace and righteousness that God desires to establish for all men and women. He ruled with peace and righteousness.
Priest of God most high.
Second, Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High. He interceded between God and men like Abraham. In Genesis 14 Abraham offers Melchizedek his tithes and Melchizedek pronounces God's blessing on Abraham. In this way, Melchizedek is unique in all of Jewish history. Nowhere else in Jewish history does the office of king and priest come together in one person.
Appointed by God almighty.
Third, Melchizedek was appointed by God to serve as king and priest. Notice in Hebrews 7:2 that he is without father or mother, without genealogy. This verse isn't suggesting that he was divine or had super-human characteristics. This verse simply emphasizes the point that Melchizedek's appointment wasn't based on biology or on some genealogical connection, but that he was truly chosen and appointed as an instrument of God to serve God's purposes.
Appointed forever.
Fourth, Melchizedek was appointed as king and priest forever. Hebrews 7:3 (NIV) suggests that he was, "without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever."
Again, this verse isn't suggesting Melchizedek was never born or never died. It is establishing the fact that his office and his ministry represents an eternal, everlasting ministry that is unlike anything this world has ever known. In this sense Melchizedek was like the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Greater than Abraham.
Fifth, Hebrews 7:4-10 tells us Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. This is evidenced by the fact that Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek and by the fact that Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Hebrews 7:7 points out that the lesser person is always blessed by the greater. For example, a father who blesses his son is greater than his son. By extension this means that Melchizedek is greater than all of Abraham's descendants, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, King David, and the prophets. This also means that Melchizedek's priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood that was established under Aaron, Moses's brother.
Let's just take a moment and summarize these five points about Melchizedek. He was king of righteousness and king of peace. He was a priest of the most high God. He was appointed by God to serve as king and priest. There is no beginning or end to his ministry as king and priest. It is forever. Last, Melchizedek is greater than Abraham and greater than the entire Jewish system of faith.
Jesus is like Melchizedek.
Now why is this important to us? What does this tell us about Jesus Christ? Starting back in Hebrews 5:6 the Hebrews writer has been telling us that Jesus is a priest and king in the order of Melchizedek. In other words, Melchizedek's life and ministry foreshadows that of Jesus Christ.
First, Jesus Christ is our king of righteousness and peace. By virtue of his broken body and shed blood, Jesus washes away our sin and gives us a righteous standing before God. It is also worth noting that when Melchizedek met Abraham, he offered Abraham bread and wine. This is yet another way Jesus' ministry was foreshadowed by Melchizedek.
Second, Jesus Christ is priest of the Most High God not by virtue of genealogy, but by virtue of God's appointment. God appointed Jesus to represent us in his presence and to intercede on our behalf as we pray and seek God.
Third, Jesus Christ's ministry has no beginning and no end. He is able to establish an eternal, everlasting relationship between us and God. Hebrews 7:17 mentions that Jesus has an indestructible life.
Fourth, Jesus is greater than anyone and anything in all the earth and in heaven. He is the Son of God. He is God. He is someone who shouldn't be ignored. Okay, you have taken in a lot of good information this morning. What's it all mean? What will you be taking out the door to use Monday morning?
Jesus must become your king.
Melchizedek was a king of righteousness and a king of peace. Jesus is a king of righteousness and a king of peace. We cannot have peace with God until we resolve our problem with sin. Our sin problem is rooted in an attitude of rebelliousness. We defy the decree of God. We play by our own rules. We flaunt our freedom before God, disregarding his holiness and living as if there will be no consequences or judgment. Our sins create enmity between God and us. Our sins destroy any hope of peace.
The remedy to your sin problem is to have every aspect of your life brought under Jesus' kingship. He must reign on the throne of your life. He must be your king, steppingyou into ever deepening levels of obedience to the will of God. With Jesus as your king leading the way, you are guaranteed a righteous standing before God and an eternal peace that cannot be broken. Without Jesus as your king it will be more of the same. Your sins will continually separate you from God and shatter your peace.
Jesus must become your priest.
Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God. Jesus is the priest of the Most High God. Because of our weaknesses we cannot relate to God on our own terms. Because of our sin we need someone to intercede on our behalf before God. We need someone to minister across the great divide separating us from God. We need someone who is perfect enough to relate to God, but who is human enough to understand us in our weakness. No human being can effectively represent us before God. We need a priest of the order of Melchizedek. This priest is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Consider Hebrews 7:23-26 (NIV). "Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."
Hebrews 7:27-28 (NIV) continues, "Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever."
Jesus must become your savior.
Let me end with Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)."Therefore he (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." This is the whole thrust of the book of Hebrews. There is no hope apart from Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God's chosen vehicle for our salvation. We can only draw near to God through his priestly and kingly ministry. Jesus must become our Melchizedek.