Title: Melchizedek's Relationship with Christ
(39) Melchizedek's relationship with Christ
(Hebrews 7:1-10)
Last time we looked at the meaning of the character Melchizedek in the text. Today, from his name to his position, let's take a look at how Mexico's relationship with Christ is.
1. The Messianic Meaning of the Name Melchizedek
The name Melchizedek is associated with Christ because it has a messianic meaning. Just as the name Melchizedek is the king of righteousness, Isaiah 32:1 speaks of Christ as “the king who reigns in righteousness.” “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and his princes shall rule with justice.” The ‘king who will rule in righteousness’ prophesied here is a prophecy of the future where Christ will rule over the world as King of all kings. This prophecy will be fulfilled in the Messianic Kingdom (millennial kingdom) that the Jews hope for. Therefore, the name Melchizedek itself has a prophetic meaning of the Messianic office of Jesus Christ.
Also, his office was said to be King of Salem. Salem means peace. Therefore, the king of Salem means the king of peace. Jesus is the one who came to this earth as the Prince of Peace. In Isaiah 53:5 it says, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and with his wounds we are healed.” Also, in Isaiah 9, in the prophecy of the Lord's birth, it appears in the name of the 'Prince of Peace'. In this way, Jesus is the Prince of Peace who allowed us to enjoy peace, and he came to this world as the Prince of Peace.
2. Melchizedek testifies to the exaltation of Christ.
Here we can find the fact that God showed how high Jesus Christ is through Melchizedek. Although the Israelites had expectations and hopes for the Messiah, their position was evaluated as Abraham, David, or Moses.
One day Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What do you think of Christ, whose descendants are you?” To this they replied, 'You are the son of David.' But Jesus continued to ask them another question. “How then, then, that David, moved by the Holy Spirit, called Christ Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet’? Will it be possible?' They said nothing.
Although God made Abraham the father of Israel, Melchizedek existed higher than Abraham, and Jesus, the Messiah, is testifying that he is the one who became king and priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Look at verse 3 in today's text. Melchizedek's identity is emerging as a mystery. He said that he was like the Son of God. Reminiscent does not mean that they are the same, but that they are similar.
He said that he had no father and no mother. We need to be able to understand what these words mean. This does not mean that Melchizedek was not a descendant of Adam. There is no human being in this world that is not a descendant of Adam. Then, if Melchizedek was an angel, it is not. It is unimaginable in the Bible for an angel to rule over people as a king and to offer sacrifices to God as a disciple. The meaning of this word is that there is no human lineage of Melchizedek at all.
For Melchizedek to appear as a type of Christ, there must be no genealogy for him. Because he is a symbolic figure of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal God, his existence must be recorded in the Bible as an eternal being with no beginning or end. God did not record the genealogy of this Melchizedek from the time he appeared in the Bible.
Conclusion: Melchizedek's priesthood is biblically handed over to Christ, fulfilling the biblical mission of being a type person of Christ, our High Priest. By having a deep knowledge of this Melchizedek, we have a wonderful knowledge of the priesthood of our Lord, and our faith grows.