Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one 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,
- according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:5-10)
This lesson from Hebrews is the Epistle for the 5th Sunday in Lent. Father Tim did an excellent job explaining the order of Melchizedek and what the priestly role of Jesus is all about (and in turn, what our priestly role as Christ’s body is all about).
Sermon notes:
*There are only a few references in the Bible to Melchizedek- Genesis 14:17 ff., Psalm 110:4, and in Hebrews 5-7. There is no explanation where Melchizedek comes from, or who is family is, and there is no record of where he goes. He is in some senses an eternal character.
*The letter to the Hebrews is the only place in the Bible where Jesus is referred to as a priest. His priesthood can’t come by heredity since he is not of the family of Levi, so it has to come from an eternal order–like Melchizedek.
*The priest is a mediator, an advocate of God’s love and compassion in the world. Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection mediates for us once and for all. He makes it possible for all of us to be priests, mediators, advocates of God’s love and compassion (the priesthood of believers).
*We mediate God’s love by our living out the Great Commandment- loving God/loving neighbor. When we feed the hungry, heal the sick, give shelter to the homeless, show compassion to the needy, and offer God’s love to the world–we are carrying out our ministry of the priesthood.