With Christmas celebrations coming up soon, our thoughts turn to the Nativity with the baby Jesus at the centre, and many of us ponder the reason for His birth. Who is Jesus?
Psalm 110 has some important things to say about Jesus and His role. David, the Psalmist talked about the risen Jesus. He said, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4 NKJ). Here he was looking ahead to a time when Jesus would be crowned King of Kings and take up His role as High Priest.
So, who is Melchizedek and what is his biblical significance?
Melchizedek is only mentioned 3 times in the bible, and the scriptures are requoted twice showing their significance:
Melchizedek first appears in Genesis 14:18. Remember Abraham’s nephew Lot, who chose to live in Sodom and Gomorrah? The region suffered a massive war in the Valley of Siddim, between four kings in one alliance and five kings in an opposing alliance and Lot was kidnapped together with all his goods. One person escaped and told Abraham what had happened. So, Abraham mobilised his servants and gave chase, and rescued Lot. On the way back, Abraham has an encounter with Melchizedek, the King of Salem (Jerusalem). The Bible tells us, “he was the priest of God Most High.” (Genesis 14:18-24 NJK). Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham as a follower of God, and then blessed God for Abraham’s success in battle. Abraham responds by giving Melchizedek a tithe or a tenth of his goods.
We next hear of Melchizedek in Psalms when David gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ role as High Priest from an order far greater than that of the Levites and Aaron. He says that Jesus is a Priest of the order of Melchizedek. Here David gives us an image of Jesus – clues us into God’s plan and purpose for the first Christmas.
We know that the Psalmist is talking about Jesus because the first few verses of this Psalm are requoted by Jesus himself in Matthew 22:41-46. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and asks them what they think about the Christ. They answer what they were taught, but Jesus points out that David had a revelation through the Spirit, revealing Christ’s true identity as a Priest, higher in rank than even Melchizedek. We’ll talk more about this role later.
Peter also quotes this scripture in Acts 2:34. He addresses the crowd after they have accused the disciples of being drunk because they were speaking in foreign languages through the Spirit (Tongues). He reminds the crowd that when the Israelite King David spoke about Christ being raised to sit on a throne, he was referring to the risen Jesus who is exalted to sit at the right hand of God. He continues telling them that what they are witnessing is the promise of the Holy Spirit and quotes from Psalm 110. He concludes by saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36 NKJ)
The only other time Melchizedek is mentioned in the bible is in Hebrews 7. Here we are given a better description of how he illustrates Jesus:
- Like Jesus, he has no beginning and no end. “This Melchizedek has no father or mother, and no record of any of his ancestors. He was never born and he never died, but his life is like a picture of the Son of God, a King-Priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:3 TPT)
- He is also called the King of Righteousness
- He is the King of Salem, meaning peace
- He is a priest of God Most High.
“Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness.” He was the King of Peace because the name of the city he ruled as king was Salem, which means “peace.” And, he was also a priest of the Most High God. (Hebrews 7:1-2 TPT)
However, Jesus trumps Melchizedek because He is the Son of God. Jesus is the one who is a far better hope, giving us the confidence to experience intimacy with God (Hebrews 7:18 – 19). Jesus is a King-Priest forever. (Hebrews 7:21)
So how is all of this significant to us?
- Just as Melchizedek offered bread and wine to Abraham, so Jesus served His chosen Disciples bread and wine on the last night before He died. We as believers and followers of Jesus are also urged to share bread and wine often, to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus and all that it achieved on our behalf – forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.
- An example was set for us to pay a tithe from our earnings.
- Jesus takes the office of the High Priest once and for all. The Levite priests had to continually offer sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people. However, since Jesus gave up His life and died as an atonement for our sins, no other sacrifice is needed. Not only did He die as a sacrifice but He also rose again conquering death once and for all. Jesus provides a superior covenant with God on our behalf because He is the guarantor. (Hebrews 7:22).
- Jesus holds His priestly office forever by conquering death and living forevermore. (Hebrews 7:25)
- Jesus is able to save fully because He fits our need for a pure and holy sacrifice. When He died on the cross, He cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
So, next time you look at a Nativity scene on a Christmas card or display, remember that the tiny baby Jesus in the centre of the scene is not just a helpless baby but that He is the risen Jesus and Saviour who acts as High Priest on your behalf and deserves your worship as the King of Kings.
– Louise Struwig