Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Fifty Two Weeks / Hebrews 7


Miraculous

The Bible is such a wonderful  surprising book. As most of you know the Bible is actually a collection of books written by some 40+ authors over a period of 1200+ years. Were it a single book written by a single human author it would be a marvel of intricate coordination. Since it was written over such a long period by so many different writers from such diverse backgrounds and circumstances the coordination of its themes and teachings is nothing short of miraculous. 

Melchizedek

This passage before us today brings together three separate passages from widely different streams as it talks about a little known character named Melchizedek. 

Genesis 14 was written by Moses (c. 1500-1200 B.C.) and it describes Abraham’s rescue of his nephew Lot. The end of Genesis 14 tells how Abraham was met after the battle by a priest named Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and brought out bread and wine. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of all that he had.

Psalm 110 was written by King David (c. 1000 B.C.). It is considered to be a psalm about the Messiah and it contains one of the most unexpected prophecies imaginable. The Lord tells Messiah that He will make Him a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Understand that Melchizedek is mentioned no where else in the Old Testament except for these two passages written some 200-500 years apart. In the interim the Priesthood of Aaron was established by the Law of Moses. 

Why would David declare that Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Aaron? This is especially perplexing when you consider that Melchizedek was a very minor character (in the theatre the role would be considered a “walk on”) and a character who was not only not an Israelite but not even descended from Abraham!

Hebrews 7 unravels this mystery that was so deep it hadn’t really even been seriously considered by the teachers of the Law.

Mystery Revealed

The answer is actually quite simple once it is explained.

Messiah could not be a priest after the order of Aaron because: 

  • The order of Aaron already had men serving as priests. They were all mortal and as such subject to sin and more importantly, to death. Therefore, there were regulations for succession set down for this priestly order.
  • The order of Aaron served as priests for the Law of Moses which did not really have the power to cleanse from sin.
  • Those who served after the order of Aaron were from the tribe of Levi; however, Messiah was to come from the line of David which meant that He would be from the tribe of Judah.

Melchizedek was the perfect archetype of the priesthood of Messiah because:

  • We know nothing about the origins of Melchizedek, nor about his death. Therefore, if not literally, he is certainly theoretically immortal.
  • Because he blessed Abraham he was actually considered to be greater than Abraham. This could not be said of Abraham’s decedents from the tribe of Abraham’s great grandson Levi.
  • Because he came before the Law of Moses he could also be said to supersede the Law.

Jesus is the answer to the puzzle. He was from the line of David but He was also to serve as a priest. Though His mother’s line is known He had no biological earthly father. Moreover, having been raised from the dead He lives forever. From everlasting to everlasting He is eternal. (Some actually believe that Melchizedek was in fact a pre incarnate appearance of Christ.) He Himself claimed this when the Jews sneered in John 8, “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?… You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!” To this Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!”

Moses wrote this seeming footnote to the rescue of Lot by his uncle Abraham. Over 200 years later David wrote a truly puzzling prophecy connecting Melchizedek to Messiah. Over 1,000 years later the writer of Hebrews explains the mystery in the light of Jesus’ life. Miraculous!

(A note to those who claim the tithe is not for Christians. No, we are not bound by the tithe as a law; however, we are children of Abraham since he is the father of all who believe (Romans 4:16). Melchizedek is the archetype of Christ in the worship context; even going so far as to introduce the elements of the Lord’s Table in the bread and the wine. Abraham, who represented us, tithed to Melchizedek, who represented Christ. Ignore it if you want but it looks pretty plain to me.)

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