THE WORD (Jesus) AS HIGH PRIEST
Apr
25
Written by:
Monday, April 25, 2011 8:49 PM
THE WORD AS HIGH PRIEST
Another feature of the redemptive plan is the priesthood. Because of sin a mediator between God and men became necessary. This is the office of the priesthood, vested in Melchisedec, of whom
we read that he was
"KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and also KING OF PEACE; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD"; he "ABIDETH A PRIEST CONTINUALLY" (Heb.7:1-3).
King of righteousness and King of peace!
Compare this with the following:
· "I will raise unto David a RIGTEOUS Branch, and a KING. shall reign and prosper . . . and this is His name whereby He shall be called, JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU - THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:5,6);
· "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulder :.' and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father (Heb., Father of Eternity), THE PRINCE OF PEACE" (Isa. 9: 6).
Concerning Jesus in the days of His flesh it is written,
· "The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb. 7:21).
· Now there is only "one mediator (or priest) between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).
Who then was this Melchisedec who abides a priest continually, and has all the attributes of Christ ascribed to him?
Beyond a doubt He was Jehovah, the Word, before His appearing in flesh to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:26).
Jesus said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day" (John 8:56).
When did Abraham see Christ's day?
Why, when Melchisedec brought forth bread and wine and blessed Abraham!
Abraham recognized that this prefigured the day when Jesus would establish the New Covenant in His own blood, and he acknowledged Melchisedec's true identity when he paid tithes to Him (Gen. 14: 18-20).
It is interesting to note that this took place while Abraham was uncircumcised - a clear indication of God's intention to include the Gentiles under the New Covenant, even as stated in Gal. 3:14, "that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".
Referring to this very incident, Jesus said, "Before Abraham was (Greek, was born), I AM" (John 8: 58) . According to Genesis 3:14,15, this is the basic meaning of the great Name "Jehovah". Abraham knew His true identity; do you?