Day 310

Ezekiel 10:1-12:28, Hebrews 7:11-28, Psalm 119:169-176

You might be forgiven for asking why it is important that Jesus is like Melchizedek, it does seem a bit of an odd comparison. First we need to look at what the priest did then take a look at Melchizedek. It is then we see what amazing thing Christ did for us.

First then the priest and what they do. A priest is a person who stands in the gap between God and the people, they intercede for the people and they speak on behalf of God. In the sacraments (such as communion) they quite literally stand in that gap, they bring God to the people and bring the people before God. Christ is referred to as a priest because he takes on that place in the ultimate sense, he dies for us. His standing in the gap takes our sins upon himself and dies on the cross.

Melchizedek was the first of the priests that the Bible refers to. In Jewish custom the priests of the temple must come from the tribe of Levi but Melchizedek pre-dates this. Abraham also pays a tithe to Melchizedek showing that the priest is far greater than Abraham, and we all know the place that Abraham takes in the Jewish faith. For Jesus to take on this order of priesthood shows that he is greater than the father of the faith, he is greater than the Levite priests and he is greater than the temple. Paul is telling the church the place that Christ holds above the temple.

So Jesus comes and abolishes the old order of religion, he brings to the people a new priesthood. He stands in the gap between a God who wants justice for sin, and he takes that sin upon himself.

That is our Lord, that is our priest. Know him as your mediator with God today.