Hebrews 5:5–6 (ESV)
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed
by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also
in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus
did not declare himself a high priest... he was born into it. But let’s talk about being born. Jesus did not begin at his birth, but Jesus has always been around. He has no beginning and no end. He was with the Father at creation. But today’s reading
calls Jesus a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. Who is Melchizedek? That is a good question. Many Bible scholars have different ideas about Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a mysterious biblical personality that first shows up with Abraham. He is
also mentioned in Psalm 110 and in the New Testament letter Hebrews. What makes him mysterious is that he is the King of Salem, his name means King of Righteousness, Abraham recognizes him as a priest and pays a tithe to him, He is not a Levite (neither was
Jesus), he seems to have no lineage, and he serves as a high priest continually. Some say that he is Jesus, some say he was a king/priest, and there are differing opinions. I like to keep it mysterious, yet in today’s reading, Jesus is compared to be
a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. I could write on, but it is mysterious.
I pray: O Lord Jesus, you are the High Priest, who was raised from the dead. You are of the order of
Melchizedek, for you are Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Help me to always remember that you are God, not just a man. Amen.