In the fourteenth chapter of Genesis, we find Abram encountering
Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18–20).
In this passage, we find a typological precedent being set for Christ, namely, that He is both King and High Priest. To better understand the significance of this typology, we’ll need to look at the seventh chapter of Hebrews. Here we find that Christ, as our High Priest, is superior to all who preceded Him: "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?" (Hebrews 7:11). The answer to this question is that perfection could not be attained through the Levitical priesthood, because it was made up of men who suffered from a sin condition themselves. While their duties in serving God and His people were not insignificant, they could not propitiate for their own sins, let alone the sins of God's people.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18–20).
In this passage, we find a typological precedent being set for Christ, namely, that He is both King and High Priest. To better understand the significance of this typology, we’ll need to look at the seventh chapter of Hebrews. Here we find that Christ, as our High Priest, is superior to all who preceded Him: "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?" (Hebrews 7:11). The answer to this question is that perfection could not be attained through the Levitical priesthood, because it was made up of men who suffered from a sin condition themselves. While their duties in serving God and His people were not insignificant, they could not propitiate for their own sins, let alone the sins of God's people.
The system of sacrifice God had put in place was a means by
which the Hebrews could come to understand their complete and total
need for Him. They offered animal sacrifices as an expression of their
understanding that they were born of a sinful nature and needed God's
redemption. They needed God to deal with what they themselves could
not. The system of sacrifice brought home the reality that sin is costly.
An individual's time and resources were required to raise a suitable
sacrifice to offer for one's own sin. Bringing the living sacrifice to the
tabernacle, participating in the actual act of sacrifice, and witnessing
the immense bloodshed of the sacrifices would have been a sobering
experience, a significant reminder of the price to be paid for sin.
The opportunity to experience humility as a result of sacrifice is a key factor in our walk with Christ. It affords a sense of humility with respect to our place within the Father's creation. Such a sense allows for the opportunity to drop our pride and submit to the ways of God. Through submission, we come to more clearly understand the significance of God's grace and mercy. We are then able to experience greater degrees of our Father's love, joy, and peace. When we experience His love on deeper levels, pathologies—the manifestations of disease—are diminished. As we rest more upon God and submit to His will, we sin less and become reflections of His love to a world in desperate need of such light.
Don't miss the opportunity to go deeper with your High Priest, purchase a copy of my book, The Conditioned Mind, and save 30%!
The opportunity to experience humility as a result of sacrifice is a key factor in our walk with Christ. It affords a sense of humility with respect to our place within the Father's creation. Such a sense allows for the opportunity to drop our pride and submit to the ways of God. Through submission, we come to more clearly understand the significance of God's grace and mercy. We are then able to experience greater degrees of our Father's love, joy, and peace. When we experience His love on deeper levels, pathologies—the manifestations of disease—are diminished. As we rest more upon God and submit to His will, we sin less and become reflections of His love to a world in desperate need of such light.
Don't miss the opportunity to go deeper with your High Priest, purchase a copy of my book, The Conditioned Mind, and save 30%!
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