It would have been a struggle for devout Jews to consider . . . a concept that, in it’s most fundamental nature, didn’t line up. The idea that Jesus could be their forever High Priest before God wasn’t on their radar. The priesthood they knew had been ordained through Aaron of the tribe of Levi . . . it was the Levitical priesthood. Jesus descended from Judah . . . “and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests” (Hebrews 7:14). The dots didn’t connect for them. How come? Because they didn’t go back far enough . . . the inception of the order of priesthood, of which Jesus was the fulfillment, preceded Moses . . . it went back to Abraham . . . founded after the order of Melchizedek.

Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek is barely a blip in the Genesis story (Gen. 14:17-20) . . . a “chance” encounter after Abraham’s rescue of Lot . . . no real explanation as to why Melchizedek blesses Abraham and why Abraham, in return, gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything. And then, except for an isolated verse in the Psalms (110:4), you don’t hear about Melchizedek again . . . that is, until the book of Hebrews . . . and then things get lined up . . . the dots are connected . . . the relationship becomes clear . . . and the awe factor sets in . . . Jesus, “a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, 7:17).

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:1-3 ESV)

Melchizedek was “pre-release trailer” for Jesus. He is a “type” or a foreshadowing . . . a mystery introduced in the Old Testament, then revealed and explained in the new. He was a priest of the Most High God . . . so is Jesus. His name means “king of righteousness” . . . Jesus is THE King of Righteousness. He was the king of Salem, the king of peace . . . Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). There’s no genealogical record associated with Melchizedek, he has no beginning or end of days . . . Jesus is “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13).

But here’s the kicker . . . the connection that, for me, tops all other connections . . . drum roll please . . . let the orchestra hit a mighty crescendo . . .

“This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 7:15-16 ESV)

The power of an indestructible life . . . that’s what qualifies Jesus for this order. It is because He is, and was, and forever more shall be . . . because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever . . . because He has gone head to head with death and conquered it, rising again from the tomb on the third day . . . that Jesus has become “the guarantor of a better covenant” . . . that Jesus has introduced “a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (7:19) . . . that Jesus can make once-for-all atonement for sin by offering offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice (7:27) . . . that Jesus is “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (7:25).

How powerful is Jesus’ priesthood? . . . how enduring? . . . how amazing? . . . Pretty!!! How sufficient? . . . ALL!!!

A priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. And, by His grace alone, He is my priest . . . present here and now, . . . knowing my need and the needs of my family . . . drawing near through His blessed Holy Spirit . . . speaking words of intercession before the Father on our behalf . . . for our blessing . . . for His glory. Amen.