Jesus in GenesisНамуна

HIGH PRIEST (Genesis 14)

Abraham won a huge battle in Genesis 14, pursuing invading kings and restoring all that had been lost to them. As he was returning from his victory, he was met by a mysterious priest-king who had no clear origin and a highly symbolic name: Melchizedek, king of Salem. Or, literally translated, King of Righteousness, king of peace (shalom). This royal priest offered Abraham a meal of bread and wine, blessed him, and received his offering. And then he disappeared from the scene, never to appear in Hebrew Scripture again, except in reference to this event.

When New Testament believers began identifying Jesus as our high priest, many Jewish Christians objected. How could Jesus be a priest if He wasn’t even a Levite? He was born from the tribe of Judah, and only the tribe of Levi could serve in the priesthood. But the writer of Hebrews, drawing from a messianic psalm about the Messiah being a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), explained how Jesus fit this higher, prior priesthood. After all, Melchizedek appeared centuries before the law at Sinai, which designated Levites as priests. He entered the scene without beginning or end, just like Jesus. He seemed to be a man, but also something more, just like Jesus. He came with a meal of bread and wine, just like Jesus. He received an offering and offered a blessing, just like Jesus. He was symbolic of an everlasting priesthood that would never end, apart from the law of Moses—just like Jesus. This king of righteousness and prince of peace was a startling portrait of the Messiah who would come.

It’s difficult to know both the story of Melchizedek and the story of Jesus and not associate the two. In fact, many people believe that Melchizedek was actually a vision of the preincarnate Christ. At the very least, we can say that centuries before Jesus came, God gave us a picture of His ministry in this incident from the life of Abraham, who had just recovered what was stolen by thieves. Jesus promises to restore all that has been lost and intercedes for us as a priest. And His priesthood lasts forever.