Melchizedek 2 Hebrews 7:15-28

-Jesus is the priest who offers us a better way to God.

In 1886, Karl Benz drove his first automobile through the streets of Munich, Germany. He named his car the Mercedes Benz, after his daughter, Mercedes. The machine angered the citizens, because it was noisy and scared the children and horses. Pressured by the citizens, the local officials immediately established a speed limit for "horseless carriages" of 3.5 miles an hour in the city limits and 7 miles an hour outside. Benz knew he could never develop a market for his car and compete against horses if he had to creep along at those speeds, so he invited the mayor of the town for a ride. The mayor accepted. Benz then arranged for a milkman to park his horse and wagon on a certain street and, as Benz and the mayor drove by, to whip up his old horse and pass them--and as he did so to give the German equivalent of the Bronx cheer. The plan worked. The mayor was furious and demanded that Benz overtake the milk wagon. Benz apologized but said that because of the ridiculous speed law he was not permitted to go any faster. Very soon after that the law was changed. 

I. Jesus is a Powerful Priest vv. 15-17

In our passage, we are continuing an argument about the inferiority of the Old Covenant and the need for a new one with an exploration of the character of Jesus and His priesthood

It turns out, the foundations of Jesus’s ministry are far greater than those of the Levitical priests

The priestly system in Israel was founded on a legal requirement: It was genealogical

In this system, responsibility passed from one man to another, based on descent

If your father was a priest, you would become the next priest

However, there is a problem here: It says nothing about the fitness of the priest!

Jesus has become a priest for us on a different foundation: the power of an indestructible life

I think that this is critical for us to understand. Jesus has a power that no human priest could possibly have

He has the power over life and death and has demonstrated victory over the grave itself

This is an invitation to certainty:

Jesus is a priest who cannot be overwhelmed and He makes a way to God that will not be closed!

We can trust Him with our lives and our salvation because of the power He has demonstrated

Romans 8:33–39

[33] Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

II. Jesus is a Preferred Priest vv. 18-21

This observation of the power of Jesus ought to quickly lead us to a second observation: If Jesus is a greater priest, He must be our preferred priest

There was a system of worship that was in place before the coming of Christ

It was based on the work of those human priests

But, there was a problem: It was “weak and useless”

This seems terribly harsh, but I think we need to listen: It didn’t really change anything!

Nothing was made perfect by the Law

We have a better hope that will make us perfect.

It is transformational for us

Our hope (Jesus) makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God where sin is completely forgiven and we are made new!

How do we know this?

The priesthood of Jesus is founded on an oath

We saw this in the old covenant. Every human priest had to swear an oath to enter service

In this case, however, it is God who makes the oath!

If we can trust God, we can trust Jesus!

John 14:1–6

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

III. Jesus is a Permanent Priest vv. 23-25

Next, the author makes another argument that leans back into the uniqueness of Jesus and His eternal life

He is a permanent priest!

In the old covenant, there was a need for many priests

This was because death prevented them from continuing in their office

The priesthood could only last as long as the viability of the priest

Jesus’s priesthood has no end, because He has no end

The permanence of Jesus’s priestly ministry has a couple of important implications for us:

First, we see that He is able to save us to the uttermost. He saves us completely and forever

Second, we see that He always intercedes for us. He does not simply save us, but He also is working to sustain us in the process

We can rely on Him as a priest who will not fail us!

IV. Jesus is a Perfect Priest vv. 26-28

Finally, we see that the priesthood of Jesus is founded on His righteousness, the perfection of His moral character

He is holy and innocent, unstained

Though He was among us, He is now separated from sinners, forever in heaven

This stands in stark contrast to the Levitical priests who are marked by their own sin

They make sacrifices daily

They make animal sacrifices

They need the sacrifice for themselves before they can make an offering for anyone else

Jesus is completely different

He made His sacrifice once

He did not need a sacrifice

He became the sacrifice

The way that Jesus offers us is as much better than the old way as He is greater than the old priests; we must trust Him for our salvation!

There is an old legend of a swan and a crane. A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails. For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in stupid wonder and then inquired: "Where do you come from?"

"I come from heaven!" replied the swan.

"And where is heaven?" asked the crane.

"Heaven!" said the swan, "Heaven! have you never heard of heaven?" And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City. She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the hosts who live in the other world, but without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane.

Finally the crane asked: "Are there any snails there?"

"Snails!" repeated the swan; "no! Of course there are not."

"Then," said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, "you can have your heaven. I want snails!"