After Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings in order to rescue his nephew Lot, a certain priest of the most high God met Abraham and blessed him and brought forth bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). This mysterious individual that Abraham encountered was Melchizedek, who the Bible says was not only a priest of the most high God, but also a king: a king of Salem. And this Salem where Melchizedek ruled as king and priest is believed to be ancient Jerusalem. Now in the Biblical narrative Melchizedek does not show up again in the Old Testament until he is once more and finally mentioned in Psalms 110. This Messianic Psalm of king David describes the Messiah as a priest who abides forever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110:4). Just as Jesus, the Word of God, has always resided in the bosom of God the Father, so too has the Melchizedek Priesthood been established from eternity past. So, let us turn now and compare the Melchizedek Priesthood with the Priesthood of Jesus the Ancient of Days.
Now according to the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews, Melchizedek is without father or mother and has no genealogy. However, in the Syriac/Peshitta translation of Hebrews 7:3 we find the following about Melchizedek, “…neither his father nor his mother are written in genealogies; nor the commencement of his days, nor the end of his life…” So from this translation it is revealed that Melchizedek is without mother and father and without descent simply because his genealogy was not written down nor were the dates of his birth and death recorded. Though Melchizedek may not in fact be an immortal being like Christ, the priesthood of Melchizedek does indeed remain forever, a priesthood that Jesus Christ has been initiated into by the call of God the Father. For as we find it written in the book of Hebrews 5:10, Jesus is called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
The Bible also informs us that Melchizedek was made like the Son of God. The important thing to note here is that Melchizedek was made whereas Jesus Christ is begotten. Going further scripture is clear that Jesus is the Word of God and that by Him all things were made, including the person of Melchizedek (John 1:3). As the scriptures tell us, Jesus Christ has been made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:20), and since the Lord Jesus is begotten of the Father before all ages then it would seem like the Melchizedek Priesthood has also been established from the very foundations of the universe. And this everlasting office of priesthood could well be connected with a person in the Bible known as the Ancient of Days. Let’s examine this a little closer.
When faced with the imagery found in the book of Daniel, the holy prophet describes a person who he identifies as the Ancient of Days, a person who also fits the description of the risen Lord Jesus in the book of Revelation. Both in Daniel’s and in John’s holy vision do we see a figure who has hair which is like pure wool and who also possesses the attributes of a fiery flame. In addition to these physical characteristics, the Ancient of Days in the book of Daniel and the Lamb of God in the book of Revelation are both given power and glory and an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:14, Revelation 5:11-12). So clearly we see that the Ancient of Days described by Daniel is none other than the resurrected Jesus of Revelation, Who identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending (Revelation 1:8). And since Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end of all things, then the office of the Melchizedek Priesthood must also be eternal and have its origins in eternity past and must extend forever unto the ages of ages.
In contrast to the Melchizedek Priesthood their is also the Aaronic Priesthood, which was established at Sinai shortly after the Exodus took place. Though God sanctioned the tribe of Levi (who are known as the sons of Aaron) to be the priestly tribe, the Melchizedek Priesthood is higher than that of the Aaronic Priesthood and also comes before it. For Aaron was yet in the loins of his father Abraham when Melchizedek met him (Hebrews 7:10). Also the Melchizedek Priesthood is eternal whereas the Aaronic Priesthood is temporal. Additionally, the Melchizedek Priesthood, of which Christ is the head, would combine the functions of the absolution of sins along with the kingly element of dominion and power. For it is written, “[Jesus] hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:6). So, just as Christ’s kingdom will last forever, so too will the Melchizedek Priesthood remain unto the ages of ages.
In conclusion, we see that in the Church age the body of Christ (the Christians) are a chosen generation, and a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9). It is also evident that the function of a priest is to stand as a mediator or as an intercessor between God and man; a person who sends up prayers and petitions for the penitent believer. Just as the Levitical Priesthood made blood sacrifices for the sins of the people year after year, so too did Jesus Christ our great high priest offer up to God a sacrifice that atoned for all of man’s sins once and for all. Christ being our king and our great high priest, is able to bring reconciliation between holy God and the repentant sinner. For as the Apostle Paul instructs us in I Timothy 2:5 – “…there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
References:
Magiera, J.M. Aramaic Peshitta New Testament. (La Mesa, CA: Light Of The Word Ministry, 2006).