◄ What Does Hebrews 5:6 Mean? ►

During His sojourn on earth, Christ's main office was Prophet. He was 'The Prophet who was to come' about whom Moses spoke. He was the Builder and Son of the house in which Moses served. He was the fulfilment of the one about whom Moses witnessed, and He was the substance of Law which was given through Moses.

He also came as king David's greater Son and God's appointed King-Priest Who was to govern His people Israel. He was to be Mediator between God and man, while representing man to God as heaven's High Priest. The Lord Jesus Christ came to reconcile sinners back to a holy God. Although He was rejected by His people and His enthronement and kingdom reign was postponed, Christ was appointed God's King-Priest following His ascension where He was rewarded with the pledge, "You are My Son; TODAY I have become Your Father."

Today, a heavenly Man is seated on the throne of His Father in heaven. His main office is High Priest where He intercedes day and night on behalf of the saints (the Church). The Man, Christ Jesus, is the one and only Mediator between God and man, and although His High Priestly office is based on the Aaronic priesthood which was instituted by Moses, Christ's status and standing is pre-eminently superior: "For He is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." He is Jerusalem's King of Peace and Righteousness, and Priest of the most high God.

Only a sinless Man could qualify to become our Kinsman-Mediator representing fallen man before a holy God, and only if God became a Man could He act as Mediator between a perfect God and the sinful race of man. Despite the similarities, we discover many differences between Christ's priestly role and Israel's earthly priesthood.

Although Israel's high priest had to be a man appointed by God who was full of compassion, humility, mercy, and grace, and who acted as an intermediary between God and man while representing man to God - he was a sinner. Christ, however, is sinless. He has no need to offer continuous sacrifices like Israel. Although Aaron and his successors had to make a sacrifice for their own sin, Christ has no need to make such a sacrifice. 

Christ did not simply offer a lamb to the Lord as the atonement for sin, but became the holy Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and will one day be the Lamb that opens the scroll. He is the Man Who will one day restore the kingdom to God.

Christ is not required to make continuous offerings, year after year, like Israel's high priest. Jesus made atonement for sin once and for all at the Cross. The sinless Man Who willingly shed His blood to redeem His fallen creatures, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father as His anointed King-Priest according to the priestly order of Melchizedek.

Unlike the earthly pattern where no king could act as priest and no priest could be crowned as king, Jesus is both King of kings and our heavenly High Priest. He is Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, who was both King of Jerusalem and Priest of God. Unlike the earthly Aaronic priesthood which was transferred from one generation to the next, Christ's order is an everlasting order and His kingdom rules over all.

There are several references to Melchizedek in Scripture, and many indirect allusions to this unusual figure who brought out bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him and his descendants forever. Like the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, and so many Old Testament people, EVERYTHING point us to Christ the Prophet who was to come, the eternal King of kings from David's royal line, and a Priest forever, after the Priestly order of Melchizedek.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing book of Hebrews which offers so much insight into the Person, the Work, the Mission, and the Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and Your perfect plan of redemption. Thank You for the many 'pictures' You paint through the history and times of Israel which teach us so much about the Lord Jesus Christ; the Prophet who was spoken of by Moses, Your anointed Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and Your appointed King of kings and Lord of lords. Give me a teachable spirit I pray, and open the Scriptures to me day by day so I may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.