Why Melchizedek?
Scripture
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 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. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Observation
The order of Melchizedek represented something completely new and different that the world had not yet experienced. The presence of Melchizedek in the Old Testament becomes a premonition of the one who is to come later. He represents God and the Son of Man in a way that no other priest could. He doesn't belong to the Levites, he stands outside the system, and yet, Abraham brought his sacrifice to him. For the Jews this was significant for no one on this earth was greater than Father Abraham. Jesus would come and change the whole system.
We are told that the system, or the law, could not bring about perfection. The Levites were humans and as they made their daily sacrifices for the sins of others, they had to make sacrifice for themselves as well. When Jesus died on the cross, that was changed. Now, Jesus became a priest for us in a new order. There was no longer any need for the priest himself to offer sacrifices for his own sin, but he could fully focus his time and attention on intercession. He is holy and blameless, set apart and pure! This new priest brings with him the hope of perfection, that is the hope that humanity can be restored into the image of God, for that is God's goal for all of humanity.
Application
Too often we feel comfortable living under the old system. I'm not sure why that is because it really is so much more difficult than what Christ has provided. However, it boils down to relationship vs. rules. The goal of humanity is a restored relationship with the Creator. Somehow it seems that we struggle with relationships these days. Why is that? Maybe because there is so much give and take involved in relationships. Our self-centered human nature doesn't like to give (but sure enjoys taking). The divorce rate ought to show us how much we struggle with relationships. Parent child relationships are becoming more and more complex as children have parents, and step-parents, and parents' boyfriends and girlfriends to contend with. It's no wonder that we love cuddling up with our latest electronic device and turn on the social media where we can have relationships at a safe distance where we don't have to put ourselves our there emotionally. The list of rules is looking safer and safer all the time! And yet, if we simply live within the rules we will completely miss out on the relationship, and this is the one relationship that's safe. God will never hurt us! He will restore us and help us to become everything he ever desired for us. There is no mores striving for perfection, for Christ draws us into perfection, which is Christ in us.
We have a High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek who wants to help us in every aspect of our lives. Maybe we ought to examine whether we are allowing him to be our Priest, or whether we maybe going to the Levites....in hopes that we may be doing the right thing. It's time to be set free frothy old system and make ourselves vulnerable to a personal relationship with the perfect High Priest.
Prayer
Lord, may I have no fear of you and the intimacy of a relationship with you. Amen.
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 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. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Observation
The order of Melchizedek represented something completely new and different that the world had not yet experienced. The presence of Melchizedek in the Old Testament becomes a premonition of the one who is to come later. He represents God and the Son of Man in a way that no other priest could. He doesn't belong to the Levites, he stands outside the system, and yet, Abraham brought his sacrifice to him. For the Jews this was significant for no one on this earth was greater than Father Abraham. Jesus would come and change the whole system.
We are told that the system, or the law, could not bring about perfection. The Levites were humans and as they made their daily sacrifices for the sins of others, they had to make sacrifice for themselves as well. When Jesus died on the cross, that was changed. Now, Jesus became a priest for us in a new order. There was no longer any need for the priest himself to offer sacrifices for his own sin, but he could fully focus his time and attention on intercession. He is holy and blameless, set apart and pure! This new priest brings with him the hope of perfection, that is the hope that humanity can be restored into the image of God, for that is God's goal for all of humanity.
Application
Too often we feel comfortable living under the old system. I'm not sure why that is because it really is so much more difficult than what Christ has provided. However, it boils down to relationship vs. rules. The goal of humanity is a restored relationship with the Creator. Somehow it seems that we struggle with relationships these days. Why is that? Maybe because there is so much give and take involved in relationships. Our self-centered human nature doesn't like to give (but sure enjoys taking). The divorce rate ought to show us how much we struggle with relationships. Parent child relationships are becoming more and more complex as children have parents, and step-parents, and parents' boyfriends and girlfriends to contend with. It's no wonder that we love cuddling up with our latest electronic device and turn on the social media where we can have relationships at a safe distance where we don't have to put ourselves our there emotionally. The list of rules is looking safer and safer all the time! And yet, if we simply live within the rules we will completely miss out on the relationship, and this is the one relationship that's safe. God will never hurt us! He will restore us and help us to become everything he ever desired for us. There is no mores striving for perfection, for Christ draws us into perfection, which is Christ in us.
We have a High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek who wants to help us in every aspect of our lives. Maybe we ought to examine whether we are allowing him to be our Priest, or whether we maybe going to the Levites....in hopes that we may be doing the right thing. It's time to be set free frothy old system and make ourselves vulnerable to a personal relationship with the perfect High Priest.
Prayer
Lord, may I have no fear of you and the intimacy of a relationship with you. Amen.
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