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1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:1-10 NIV)
A most joyous of Tuesdays be yours, ConCafe People! And may you, Friend, lead the charge against the devil and his ways of making people sad, sorrowful, and desperate; ours is a God of hope and power! Friends, in what brought great joy to my heart today was this email from Ms. Thelma R. Cantu regarding a sad situation about a mother with Covid and her not being able to hold that newborn baby; read these news with joy:
"Hi Pastor, I wanted to let you know that we are praising God for the miracles that He has granted Amara Rodriguez, who has battled COVID-19 after giving birth to her baby boy months ago. Thanks to you and your listeners for prayers because she was released last week despite her prognosis. She has a long road of recovery but having her baby in her arms, even for a few minutes gives her the motivation to get well. He is truly a Miracle Worker!" Indeed, and amen! Friends, I can't begin to thank you for your faith in the power of God to answer prayer; this is truly an answered miracle prayer! May we continue to pray for Amara and her recovery that she and her baby have long lives together in blessed health and peace. Please continue to pray in faith for all the needs that have come across our hearts today. Yes, use Kleenex! Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.
Friends, I have told you before about my Old Testament professor who lamented that we, as Americans, did not have full understanding of a monarchy like our British brothers and sisters, and I would add that we don't have full understanding of the office of a Jewish high priest and their role in worship, prayer life, and all things spiritual for the people of Israel. While many of the components of that faith are meant to be practiced and observed at home, the gathered corporate community needed the office and person of the high priest. His was the most holy of all tasks before the presence of God. The word priest comes from the Latin pontifex, which means bridge, and the whole idea of a priest was for them to truly be the bridge between the people and God. As verse one explains, the high priest came out from among the people and was appointed to represent the people in matters related to God such as offering gifts and sacrifices for sins. Being from among the people, a high priest knows to treat all people with gentleness, especially those who may have wandered away, being that he himself is subject to weakness, and thus not sin-free. As he worshiped and asked for God to remove sin, he was asking for himself as well as for the sins of the people. The writer of Hebrews knows that this is both an honor and a huge responsibilty before God, because it is God Himself Who calls these persons into that role of high priest. This writer says that Jesus, during His ministry among us, was truly our high priest because of all that He did; He offered prayers and petitions on our behalf with "fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission." Jesus was God's Son, and He learned obedience from what He suffered, and through that discipline, He achieved perfection and through His perfection became the source of our eternal salvation for all who obey Him. God designated Jesus to be our high priest in the order of Malchizedek.
The whole person of Malchizedek is an interesting one, and one with much debate as to who he really was or is. He first appears in the first book of the Bible when Abraham has won a decisive victory against one of God's enemies, the people of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (Genesis 14:18–20). It is also interesting to note that Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tithe (a tenth) of all the items he had gathered. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than he. And, later in Hebrews 7:3 we will learn that "that Melchizedek was 'without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.' The question is whether the author of Hebrews means this actually or figuratively." If the writer of Hebrews meant it actually, then it makes sense to say it was Christ Jesus Himself who makes this appearance in Genesis in this mysterious way. Who else could it have been? No mere earthly king “remains a priest forever,” and no mere human is “without father or mother.” If Genesis 14 describes a theophany, then God the Son came to give Abraham His blessing (Genesis 14:17–19), appearing as the King of Righteousness (Revelation 19:11,16), the King of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the Mediator between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5).
If the writer meant it figuratively then the details of having no genealogy, no beginning or ending, and a ceaseless ministry are simply statements accentuating the mysterious nature of the person who met Abraham. In this case, the silence in the Genesis account concerning these details is purposeful and better serves to link Melchizedek with Christ.
Are Melchizedek and Jesus the same person? A case can be made either way. At the very least, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, prefiguring the Lord’s ministry. But it is also possible that Abraham, after his weary battle, met and gave honor to the Lord Jesus Himself. But we still make this affirmation based on this passage; when we needed a high priest, there is no one greater than Jesus to be our high priest. His strength, connection to God, His humanity and divinity, are key to our salvation. The only true bridge between you and me to God can be Jesus, Who intercedes, even today, on our behalf. This becomes yet another asset in our daily walk with Him; Who better to hear our prayers, to guide our path, and to grant us eternal forgiveness? No one, just Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for Jesus. May we take great comfort in knowing Him as our Lord, as our Savior, as our Friend, as our Brother, and as our High Priest. Help us know that In Him we can find all that we may need in our relationship with You, Father. Let it be a deeper, more fuller understanding of the power we can find in Him, for our needs as Your disciples. Grant to us new opportunities in which to more fully serve You.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! The Lord Jesus as our High Priest may need you to be His acolyte today!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
