Wednesday, November 26, 2003 (39)
MELCHISEDEC IS A THEOPHANY OF CHRIST. There can be no question but what this very special High Priest is the Son of God. It is not the policy of the Lord to have those who are not of a righteous nature perform His work. Abram recognized and paid honor to Him as one who was truly sent of the Lord. An incident of this nature is also known as a Christophany or a preincarnate appearance of Christ in human form. The statements of the Word are too strong and straightforward for one to doubt the person and magnitude of Melchisedec.
THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC. A very special rank, reserved for one man, the man Christ Jesus. He and He alone could satisfy the needs and necessities for this high and holy office. The order of Aaron required that the priesthood be passed from father to son. The order of Melchisedec involves just the one person. There are none who could ever take His place. With the voice of prophecy, the LORD [Jehovah], by an oath and will not, under any circumstance altar His intentions, has proclaimed that this is an eternal office. Ps. 110:4 As is the office, so is the individual fulfilling the office. He is the high priest, eternally. Heb. 5:6 The priesthood of Aaron was one of succession. In the priesthood of Melchisedec, there is no one who is the first or the last, no succession. Jesus was called of God to be the high priest of the order of Melchisedec. Heb. 5:10 As the true high priest and in accomplishing His duty, Jesus has entered into the most holy place. The ministry of the Aaronic was earthly. The ministry of Melchisedec is in the very presence of the throne of God and is heavenly. Heb. 6:19-20 The failure of the Levitical made it necessary that it be replaced with a better priest, one called after the order of Melchisedec. Heb. 7:11 Under ordinary circumstances it was not possible that any outside the tribe of Levi become priests. Jesus, our Melchisedec was born of the tribe of Judah. We have then, an entirely new order, setting aside the old Levitical succession. This man, did not continue the law of the carnal commandment but demonstrated and introduced the power of an endless life. Heb. 7:16 His priesthood is eternal, everlasting, forever and forever. Heb. 7:17 This man, Jesus has established an unchangeable priesthood. One which cannot fade away. It cannot cease, for any reason. The priests under the order of Aaron, all died. This Melchisedec, Jesus, continues for time And eternity, because He has the power of an endless life. The highest order of the priesthood is that of Melchisedec and there is but one person who can match all the divine requirements for that specific activity as a high priest, that is the Lord Jesus Christ. For all its religious activity and its millions of animal sacrifices the Aaronic priesthood was utterly dependent on the coming of one who would be a priest after the order of Melchisedec. It is absolutely impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to produce a cleansing from sin. Heb. 10:4 The entire process and activity of the Aaronic priesthood depended entirely on the priesthood of Melchisedec.