Christ in the Old Testament

Genesis 14:18-19a

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram … (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Genesis 14:17-20, Luke 22:7-20 and Revelation 19:6-9

I’d like to spend one more day with Melchizedek. He’s such a fascinating character who seems to come out of nowhere. But the importance of his existence can’t be overlooked. The seemingly small amount of Scripture devoted to him doesn’t reflect his incredible significance. The focus of today will be the bread and wine that he offers. But let’s review real quick.

Melchizedek was a Christ-like figure in the following ways:

1. he was both a king and a priest of the God Most High (Gen 14:18)
2. he was a king of righteousness and peace (Heb 7:2)
3. he had no beginning of days or end of life (Heb 7:3)
4. he is a priest forever (Heb 7:3)
5. he brought bread and wine (Gen 14:18)
6. he blessed Abraham (Gen 14:19)
7. he was greater than Abraham (Heb 7:7)
8. he received a tithe offering from Abraham (Gen 14:20)

Jesus is our priest in the order of Melchizedek in the following ways:

1. he is both king and priest (Rev 19:16, Heb 7:24)
2. he is king of righteousness and peace (I John 2:29, Isa 9:6)
3. he has no beginning or end (John 1:1-2, Luke 1:33)
4. his priesthood is eternal (Psalm 110:4, Heb 7:24)
5. he offered bread and wine at the Last Supper (Matt 26:26-29)
6. he blesses the world (Acts 3:25)
7. he is greater than Abraham (John 8:58)
8. he receives an offering from us (Rom 12:1)

There is more we could explore about the priesthood of Jesus and how it replaced the Aaronic priesthood when Jesus established the new covenant. But I’d like to end today by discussing the significance of the bread and wine that Melchizedek brought to Abraham. Bread and wine will be a major topic of discussion all throughout our study this year. Let’s look at two aspects today.

First, this bread and wine that Melchizedek offered was a precursor to the bread and wine Jesus would offer that we now call “communion.” This was essentially the first communion. When Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples at the Last Supper, he said to them to “do this in remembrance of me.” Please don’t miss this. For nearly 2000 years, the meal was done in remembrance of Moses and Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Jesus changed the focus to himself and the meal was to be done in remembrance of Jesus and our deliverance from sin.

So again please don’t miss this! Jesus in this moment established a new covenant (contract) between God and us. For nearly 2,000 years a lamb had been slain on the day of Passover to remember what God did for them in Egypt. Now Jesus said you are to do it to remember what he did for us. Jesus rewrote history in this moment and claimed to have the authority to write a new contract for God. He was not only claiming to be the Messiah here but he was also claiming equality with God. This is such a significant moment!

Second, this was a victory celebration! There was a major battle prior to this where nations were plundered and many of their people were taken captive including Abraham’s nephew Lot. Abraham led a rebellion and brought back all of those people and their possessions from captivity. This was a celebration! When Jesus offered the bread and wine at the Last Supper, he said that he wouldn’t eat the bread or drink the wine again until “it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Much like Melchizedek and Abraham celebrated their victory, the bread and wine Jesus offered was a celebration in advance of his victory over Satan. Jesus was victorious over sin and death on the cross which is worthy of a celebration! But ultimately God’s church (the bride) will celebrate a wedding feast in heaven with the bridegroom Jesus where he will again eat the bread and wine. What a feast that will be!

Today’s Prayer: Celebrate Jesus for who he is – Messiah, Lamb of God, Bread of Life, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega!