“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”…”
Genesis 14:18-20
Melchizedek is a mysterious guy. Usually major characters are introduced by their fathers name or some type of geneology, Melchizedek seems to be an exception. He just shows up out of nowhere and blesses Abram. The same thing happens to us when we spend ourselves on behalf of others for the work of salvation, we get blessed. When I tell someone about Jesus, and share hope with them, somehow it solidifies my own faith and I come out blessed.
Here’s where I think it gets really cool…Melchizedek is a priest and a king, not just any priest or any king, he’s a priest of God Most High (before there was an official position of priest mind you), and the king of Salem. Now check this out…Melchizedek means “My King is Righteous” and Salem means “Peace”.
Righteous King and King of Peace, um… is this ringing any bells yet?
You guessed it; this guy is a picture of Jesus Christ, the King of Righteousness and King of Peace. Jesus is both a Priest (Heb.7) ministering on behalf of man to God and on behalf of God to man, as well as a King of kings(Rev.17:14). What is even more fascinating is where good ol’ Mel ruled. Salem happens to be the shortened and much older name for what we today know as Jeru-Salem. Jerusalem would be the place where Jesus Christ would be crucified and three days later rise again, establishing not only righteousness for all, but assuring peace between mankind and God.
Did you notice what Mel brought out for the blessing? Bread and Wine
What was it that Jesus broke and poured out at the last supper?
That’s right, bread and wine. Bread represents the body of Jesus, which would satisfy the hunger of death. The wine represents the blood which was poured out on the cross which quenched the thirst of sin. Blessing us with a very similar blessing:
Possession of heaven and earth and Victory over our enemies (the flesh, the world, Satan, sin and death)
I’ve heard some silly people say that the Old Testament is obsolete…They are sadly mistaken.
