Lesson 3
FINDING JESUS AS HIGH PRIEST
Genesis 14
A Chosen Family
A good overview of the content of the book of Genesis is to remember four events followed
by four people. The four events are 1) Creation 2) Fall 3) Flood, 4) Dividing of Nations at the Tower
of Babel. The four people are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
Mankind had fallen from being sons of God to being sons of men. God’s plan is to rescue His
creation from the effects of the fall and to establish His Kingdom rule on Earth. The trajectory of the
plan is headed toward centuries later the birth of Jesus Christ in a town named Bethlehem. God will
enter His fallen creation as the Son of God and the Son of Man. John Calvin said, “The Son of God
became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God.” through the
descendants of God chose to enter His creation.
This magnificent story begins in Genesis 12 as God chooses a childless couple named Abram
and Sarai. God will eventually change their names to Abraham and Sarah. The descendants of
Abraham become the central focus of the rest of the book of Genesis. God comes to Abraham and
introduced Himself by offering to him a “forever promise”. We call it a covenant.
A covenant is the strongest and highest form of relationship known to mankind. Even higher
than flesh and blood family. What makes covenant so strong is its core value of unearned and
undeserved love for each member. Initially, God promised Abraham 5 things: He would bless
Abraham, make him a blessing, make him a great nation, bless those who bless him and curse those
who curse Him (See Genesis 12:2-3). Later, God specifically promised to give the land of Canaan to
Abraham’s descendants (See Genesis 12:7), and to give him and Sarah a child (See Genesis 15:4).
Abraham agreed to enter this covenant with God and to trust Him by faith. When he did the
course of history was changed, not to mention his life.
Through the remainder of the stories in the books of the Old Testament (Covenant) we will
see God introduce himself to Abraham and His descendants and reveal His character to them and to
us. In one of those stories, God reveals that He intends for Jesus to be a mediator or a priest
between God and man.
1Timothy 2:5,
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”
Priesthood
Later in the book of Exodus God established a priesthood through the Law of Moses. These
priests were descendants from Abraham’s great-grandson Levi who lived centuries after Abraham.
They represented God before men and men before God. But, did you know that the very first priest
of the Most High God is found right here in Genesis 14. Here’s the story.
Abraham was living in the land of Canaan and is nephew Lot lived in Sodom. A war broke
out and the inhabitants of Sodom were taken captive. Lot and his family included. Abraham would
have none of this. He and 318 of his trained people went out to rescue Lot and were successful.
During the aftermath of the battle a mysterious priest-king appears. He blessed Abraham and
served him bread and wine and received his tithe from the spoils. The wine and bread were the
very elements served at the Lord’s last supper. Who is this royal priest?
His name is Melchizedek, king of Salem. Interesting name and title. It literally means in the
Hebrew language, King of Righteousness, King of Peace (shalom). Some believe this was Shem the
son of Noah. Some believe it was preincarnate Jesus. No one knows for sure. All agree that he is a
type of Christ. He was a prophetic picture of what the ministry of Christ would be like. What is
interesting, though, is Melchizedek had no linage mentioned. No beginning, nor end of days. Just like
Jesus Christ.
A Glimpse of Our High Priest
Let’s fast forward 900 years and read the words of the sweet psalmist of Israel King David
as he looks forward to the coming of the Jesus the Messiah.
Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the
order of Melchizedek."
King David declared that the Messiah would be a priest forever. An eternal, everlasting
priesthood. Jesus could not legally be a priest under the Law of Moses. He was of the tribe of Judah
not the priestly tribe of Levi. Human priests would die and have to be replaced by new descendants
of Levi. Jesus’ priesthood transcended the priesthood of men. Jesus was a priest forever according
to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:24, 26.
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.
He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.
He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in
heaven.
Jesus Our Great High Priest
It’s difficult to know the story of Melchizedek and the story of Jesus and not associate the
two. Melchizedek is the King of Righteousness and of Peace. Jesus is our King of Righteousness and
Prince of Peace. He is our Great High Priest/Mediator (See 1 Timothy 2:5) Melchizedek offered
bread and wine to Abraham. Likewise, Jesus offered His body and blood for the remission of sin.
(See John 6:55-56; Matthew 26:26-28) Melchizedek interceded for Abraham and blessed him after
the victory over the thief that stole from Abraham’s family. Jesus stands as our great intercessor
that never ceases to pray for us and blessed us as we battle against principalities and enforce the
victory He has won for us.
Our Role as Royal Priests
Imagine the joy Jesus felt as he gave the disciples His Great Commission (See Matthew
28:18-20) to go into all the earth and bring good news to the nations knowing that He was sending
us as Royal Ambassadors, representatives of the Kingdom of God, fully empowered to rule as kings
and intercede as priests. In 1 Peter 2:9 the Apostle Peter identifies those of us who believe that
Jesus is Messiah as a royal priesthood. Also in Revelation 1:6 the Apostle John refers to us as Kings
and Priests unto our Father. We are commissioned to bring full impact of the Kingdom of Heaven to
a fallen world. And as we do, Jesus stands behind us as our Great High Priest, in the order of
Melchizedek. We are privileged to bring His blessing to the earth, and offer to them the bread of life,
Jesus, and the wine of His forgiveness (See 2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
Group Questions:
How does it affect you to know that Jesus is interceding for you as great High Priest?
Read 1 Peter 2:9
Describe how different it is knowing that you are part of a royal priesthood.