Many non-religious folks don't mind a bit of religion at this time of year. After all, what would Christmas be without nativity scenes on cards or at public displays on people's properties, churches, etc.? And let's not forget about the theology-laden Christmas carols. "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate Deity", from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Santa, Frosty, the Grinch and "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" aren't the only components to the Christmas season even among the religiously non-observant. Everyone wants some level of substance to the holidays and there's so much more to the story.
Time to step back a bit. Near the beginning of the Bible, we are introduced to a man named Melchizedek. He lived about 2000 years before Jesus and is first mentioned in the Book of Genesis, chapter 14. We first encounter him when he met with Abram (before he was called Abraham) and is described as the "king of Salem" and a "priest of God Most High". Salem, which means "peace", could've been the name of Jerusalem at the time.
Little is known about this mysterious figure but we know that he was both a king and priest, that he worshipped the Most High God and that he blessed Abram after Abram returned from battle victorious. We know that Melchizedek was greater than Abram because he blessed Abram. In Scripture, the one who blesses is always greater than the one who gets blessed. Abram also gave him a tenth of the plunder from battle. Melchizedek's name appears in just two other places in the Bible. A thousand years after he blessed Abram, King David uttered something that can only be described as inspired by the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 110:1 David wrote, "Yahweh says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand until I put your enemies a footstool for Your feet.'" And then in verse 4 of that same Psalm, "Yahweh has sworn and will not change His mind: 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'" Still, another thousand years later, the author of the Book of Hebrews wrote this about Melchizedek, "was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also, king of Salem which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually" (Heb. 7:2-3). (Note the parallels: Melchizedek was called the "king of peace" and we call Jesus the "Prince of Peace").
Scholars agree that Melchizedek was not a pre-human appearance of Christ but was someone who was like the Son of God. What is stated in places throughout the Bible is that the priestly order named after him is a superior priesthood to the order of Aaron, or the Levitical priesthood, that was brought in at the time of Moses. Melchizedek existed long before Moses, so why was he a priest? Because God said so. The Old Testament priestly line in the Jewish tribe of Levi was the only Jewish priesthood known at the time but would later be revealed as only transitory and it would end at the Crucifixion of Jesus. It was never meant to be permanent. If it was to be permanent, Jesus would likely have been of the priestly Jewish tribe of Levi (a Levite), but He wasn't. He was from the tribe of Judah, a non-priestly tribe. And this is the crux of the issue. His primacy as the Son of God was not contingent on any inherited worldly birthright or religious position. A closer look at the Old Testament reveals this and it's a mystery how the learned ancients missed it. They were more interested in religion as an end in itself rather than a relationship with the living God.
The priesthood that is eternal is the one ushered in by Jesus Himself. It is made permanent by the shed blood of the Lamb (Himself), pictured in the Passover and subsequent Levitical priesthood but validated long before that with the faith of Abraham who was counted righteous because he believed in the one true God. This is the priesthood that every believer in Christ belongs to, not because of pedigree, but by God's royal decree. Membership in this eternal priesthood is given freely to us by the grace of God just as it was given to Abraham and Melchizedek. It is the new and everlasting covenant, the last will and testament of God Himself authored in blood by Jesus Christ, sealed for all time with His death as with any will, for the purpose of our redemption and reconciliation with our Maker.
Genuine belief in the person and work of Jesus, a life-changing belief with the faith of Abraham, is all that is required of you to join this priesthood. And mere words and concepts in this life can't begin to describe the glorious inheritance of those who believe in the life to come. Merry Christmas.
"You were made by God and you were made for God; until you understand that, your life is never going to make sense." Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church.
