A Great High Priest

 

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:1-6 ESV).

 

Jesus is greater. He is greater than the angels; He is greater than Moses; He is greater than Melchizedek. The latter is a new addition in the list proving the great worth of Jesus. And, rather than being merely an example of creative license, the author of Hebrews highlights Melchizedek because of his importance in Genesis and Psalm 110. Melchizedek is an early signpost in the Hebrew Bible that there is still hope. A priest-king who will fulfill all of God's intended design––the Messiah––has come in the person of Jesus.

 

We should note the qualifications for becoming the high priest. The high priest was chosen from God’s people, from the descendants of Aaron (cf. Exodus 40:12-15), and was able to “deal gently” with those who did not know God and were going astray. This person was also called by God rather than taking the honor on himself. Jesus did not come to appoint himself as the great high priest. But he met the qualifications of this role. As we have noted, he is fully human and can empathize with all our weaknesses. He understands all that we go through, even all our temptations, and yet he did not sin (cf. Hebrews 4:15).

 

So, God appointed him as the great High Priest. And because Jesus is the Son of God, from before the time of Aaron, God declared him “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek,” who served as a priest of God Most High (cf. Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-3) outside the time Aaron. It is also worth noting that Melchizedek was also the ruler of Salem (Jerusalem, before the time of David). Jesus does not take this on himself but is appointed by God. The office of the great High Priest is filled by Jesus, God’s Son, who is fully human and appointed by God himself. That is GREAT news for us! He knows us and is the only one who can bring forgiveness to us!