Melchizedek and Jesus: Righteous, Peace, Blessed
WHAT I LEARNED WHEN I READ THE BIBLE
After rescuing his nephew, Lot, Abraham meets Melchizedek, who gives him, bread, wine, and a blessing.
“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.” (Gen. 14:18-20 NIV)
We’ve already learned that Melchizedek was either Christ Incarnate, or he was a symbol of what was to come. The key words to pay attention to in Genesis 14 are: Melchizedek; Salem; priest; blessed.
We know the name Melchizedek means righteousness. “First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’;” (Hebrews 7:2 NIV). There are at least 100 verses in the Bible where we learn it is God who is righteous.
The word Salem means peace. Melchizedek was described as the king of “peace,” but we know Jesus comes as the one true Prince of Peace. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
We learn Melchizedek was a priest. Yet, “Jesus…has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:20 NIV). We know Jesus is the one, true priest that intercedes on our behalf with the Father. “Christ Jesus who died…is at the right hand of God…interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34 NIV).
Melchizedek brought out bread and wine. Yet, at no other time in the Old Testament do we find a priest described as presenting bread and wine. Melchizedek’s displaying of bread and wine points to Jesus using bread and wine to represent his body and blood to those that believe in Him. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’” (Mark 14:22 NIV).
The connection between Melchizedek and Jesus is one of the many questions I will ask God when I get to heaven. Was Melchizedek Jesus Incarnate, or was his purpose to point us to the coming Messiah? All we need in life is God’s guidance through His Holy Spirit, but guiding us does not mean He reveals everything to us? 😊