Jesus: The Greater Fulfillment
Greater Than: A Study in Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsIn the time of Abraham, there was a high priest, Melchizedek, that served as one who pointed others toward the Lord. He served as a priest not on his genealogy but rather was recognized based on who he was. Christ is the greater fulfillment of this position. He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart and exalted above all. His strength is not rooted in His ability, but rather is found in the promise of God and the very nature of His deity. Jesus is the fulfillment of the perfect high priest, the One who is not limited to hiding our sins but can wash them away and restore our relationship with the Father.
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The Order of Melchizedek
The Order of Melchizedek
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Hebrews 7:1-
Through the past few chapters, the writer of Hebrews has drawn special attention to the priesthood of this Old Testament character, Melchizedek. Melchizedek is only mentioned for a moment in the Old Testament, but the writer of Hebrews sees his role as a type of Christ, a foreshadowing of who Jesus is.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis
Abraham has just been shown favor by the Lord in defeating the four kings who had risen up and captured the people of Sodom and Gomorrah after their kings had fled leaving their citizens.
Melchizedek is described as both a king and a priest. Priest was the go between for the king and his people. Here the King and Priest together serves as his own authority.
Abraham viewed him as someone who was to be revered and honored. He gives to Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils as one honored to deserve the spoils of war. In the same token, Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek even after he was blessed by God.
This is who Jesus is he is our priest and king.
Jesus Our Priest
Jesus Our Priest
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’ ”
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
The Old Testament law and worship was designed to show us our need for God and could not make us righteous.
Once and For All
Once and For All
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.