Our Forever Priest

In late September to early October, many of us get excited for football season, pumpkin spice lattes, and for the Texas heat to finally dip into the 80s. But for our Jewish neighbors, this time of year marks preparation for their most holy day, Yom Kippur. The term means “Day of Atonement” and originates from when Israel sinned by worshiping the golden calf. Moses ascended Mount Sinai again to intercede on behalf of the people for another forty days. When he came down, his face shone, and he carried the Ten Commandments in his hands.
Historically, the Jewish people have commemorated that day each year by fasting for twenty-five hours, while the high priest changes into white garments to perform the sacred service and obtain forgiveness for all of Israel. Yet this was only a glimpse of what our Great High Priest does for us today.

Who Is Melchizedek?

Scripture says little about the mysterious priestly king, but what we do know begins in Genesis 14:18–20. Abram encounters Melchizedek, who is both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Melchizedek blesses Abram, and in response, Abram gives him a tenth of everything.
The author of Hebrews acknowledges how unusual this is in chapter 7. Melchizedek was not a descendant of Levi. In fact, he is presented as having no genealogy at all. Yet Abraham still gave him a tithe, because the inferior is blessed by the superior. This means Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, the father of Israel.

Melchizedek appears again in Psalm 110:4:
“The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.’” (ESV)

Here King David declares that the coming Messiah will be both priest and king. Our Lord Jesus, therefore, is not a son of Levi like the priests, but the promised Son of David and a priest from the order of Melchizedek.

Theologians have long debated whether Melchizedek was a Christophany, an appearance of the preincarnate Christ. Whether that is true or not, the author of Hebrews makes it clear that Melchizedek foreshadowed the true and better High Priest. Our High Priest has neither beginning nor end and is the guarantor of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22).

What Does Our High Priest Do?

Our Jewish friends continually rely on their high priest to make intercession and offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. But our High Priest, Jesus, was the sacrifice once for all. He does not need to clothe Himself in garments of righteousness to serve before God. Instead, He covers us in His own righteousness.

The author of Hebrews summarizes it beautifully:
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered himself up. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:26–28, ESV)
 
Praise God for such great assurance in our salvation!

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