Sermon Central
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Jesus & Melchizedek Series
Contributed by Steve Salmon on Oct 9, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon explores Jesus’ connection with Melchizedeka and concludes that since Jesus is like Melchizedek, there is no reason not to submit to him.
Jesus & Melchizedek
Hebrews 7 (Text read: 7:26-28)
SICC 8/11/02 (Morning)
INTRODUCTION: It happened many years before God had even created a nation out of His people. His people were still a gleam in the eye of an aging man named Abram and his wife Sarai. Abram’s nephew Lot was taken captive by some enemies. When Abram heard of Lot’s predicament he immediately set out after their captors. They overtook them and rescued Lot and his family from their enemies. They even recovered all their possessions. On Abram’s return from the battle he met a man named Melchizedek. Melchizedek is described in Genesis with two titles. He is “priest of God Most High” and King of Salem. Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
Abram continues to be the main character of the Book of Genesis. God changes his name to Abraham. In his old age that gleam in his eye finally becomes a son and Isaac is born. Isaac has Jacob and Jacob has 12 sons who become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. God has brought forth a nation.
Meanwhile, Melchizedek disappears from the pages of the Bible for over a thousand years. Until, while being led by the Holy Spirit David reads or perhaps hears Genesis 14 read in the worship assembly. The Holy Spirit grabs hold of that name and plants it deeply into the heart of the David. He speaks to David. “One day there will be a Priest just like Melchizedek. He will be greater than any of Aaron’s sons, and sacrifice he offers will surpass the sacrifice of the Levites. He will be a priest forever. I promise it.”
Our author takes the words of David and applies them directly to Jesus. Jesus is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Let’s look at the person of Melchizedek. Who is he and what does he have to do with Jesus?
I. Melchizedek is an anomaly in the OT.
A. He has no ancestry or lineage. (7:3)(OT people are defined by their father and their sons.)
B. “Priest of God Most High” and King, but not a Hebrew.
C. Only non Hebrew whom Abraham respected on this level
1. Received a tithe from Abraham
2. Blessed Abraham
3. Melchizedek is greater than Abraham and Levitical priesthood.
ILLUSTRATION: Plymouth Voyager was an anomaly in automobile industry – a family car on a truck chassis. The minivan revolution that took place in the wake of the Voyager made the station wagon an antique and cleared the way form the popularity of the SUV today.
TRANSITION: Melchizedek is an anomaly in the OT. He blazes the trail for a departure from the norm in the NT. Jesus is that departure from the norm in the NT.
II. Jesus is like Melchizedek – That is why he is the greatest and final High Priest.
A. He is a priest by the power of an oath, not by the power of a commandment (20-22)
ILLUSTRATIONS: 1. Adoptive parents choose their child. 2. Business empire built by an entrepreneur. Everyone expects him to pass on the business to his son, instead he gives it to another leader in the business. There can be no doubters because he has chose one who would not naturally get the choice.
B. Jesus is a priest forever (23-25)
TRANSITION: So what? It’s like all those telemarketers. They may be selling a good item, but if you don’t need it you won’t buy it. We need Jesus to be our high priest and we need him just as he is described here in Hebrews 7.
III. We need Jesus to be our priest because he saves us to completely (v. 25)
A. Jesus’ character is greater than priests
1. Holy – The priest had to make himself holy by sacrificing for himself
2. Blameless – The priest had weakness and sin just like everyone else
3. Pure – The priest had purify himself by washing himself before he put on the sacred garments.
4. Set apart from sinners – The priest was chosen from among the people.
5. Exalted above the heavens – The priest was never to be worshiped.
TRANSITION: If I were all of these things, the last thing I would do is die for you.
B. He sacrificed for our sins once for all. (27)
CONCLUSION: There may be some things keeping you from trusting completely in God. You may feel like you have too many sins, etc to come to him. In OT they had sacrifices. He has done it for you through Jesus.
