A Disney film, called “The Kid,” is about the story of a successful, high-powered image consultant named Russ (played by Bruce Willis). Russ lives an empty life, but one day, Rusty (played by Spencer Breslin) is transported and shows up at his home. Over time Russ comes to realize that this kid is actually Russ himself when he was eight-years-old.
While Russ struggles to figure out what is going on, Rusty begins to explore the house.
“Chester, Chester. Come here boy,” Rusty calls excitedly.
“Stop that yelling,” says Russ.
“Where’s Chester?” Rusty asks.
“Who is Chester?”
“My dog,” Rusty replies. “The dog I’m going to get when I grow up. He’s the world’s greatest dog.”
“Sorry, no dog here,” answers Russ.
“No dog! I grow up to be a guy with no dog. Why?” the boy says in disgust.
“I don’t have time to take care of a dog. I travel all the time for work.”
“I knew it,” says Rusty with renewed zeal. “I grow up to fly jets!”
“No, I’m not a pilot,” Russ answers sadly.
“Then what do you do?”
“I’m an image consultant.”
“Shouldn’t there be a lady here,” asks Rusty.
“You mean my wife? No, I’m not married,” replies Russ.
“So, you’re almost 40, and you have no dog, you don’t fly jets, and you’re not married.” The kid flops down on the couch, concluding, “I grow up to be a loser.” (The Kid, Disney, 2000, directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Audrey Wells, 00:40:13 to 00:42:33; www.PreachingToday.com)
The point is that some people grow older, but just don’t grow up. As we have been learning in our study of the Book of Hebrews It is not good for a believer in Jesus Christ to never grow.
The writer of Hebrew’s overall goal for his readers was for them to have the hope and endurance to continue to spiritually grow. This hope is found in Jesus Christ’s exalted status. Jesus is “a forerunner on our behalf.” That is to say: Jesus goes before us with the expectation that we would follow Him, that we would be with Him, and be like Him. I invite you to turn with me to Hebrews 6, where the Bible describes Jesus as “a forerunner.”
Hebrews 6:20 “…the forerunner has entered for us Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek is a very meaningful contribution of the writer to the Hebrews because they understood this very well. Behind this contribution are ways of thinking and using Scripture that are foreign to non-Jewish readers. So let us start to learn…
Jesus is unlike any high priest with whom the Hebrew readers were familiar, those in Aaron’s order. Aaronic high priests were NOT forerunners. No one could follow them into the most holy place of the temple without being struck dead. Jesus, however, is a very different kind of High Priest. He is a forerunner with the expectation that others would follow Him. They would not follow him into an earthly temple, but into the most holy place of heaven itself, and into the very presence of God Himself!
The writer of Hebrews tells them that Jesus became a High Priest of a different order than Israel’s Old Testament priests – a priest “after the order of Melchizedek”
Let’s take a look at the next chapter of Hebrews 7, where the author describes who Melchizedek is and why He is necessary for believers to be encouraged to “go on to maturity.” Here we are introduced to the order of the High Priest of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:1 “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,”
Melchizedek is a unique person who foreshadowed Jesus. Only Melchizedek and Jesus held the offices of both priest and king combined.
Hebrews 7:1 brings in the account in Genesis 14, where four kings and their armies ended up capturing Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Abraham gathers up 318 of his men and goes after those four armies and defeats them. He rescues Lot and is returning home when Melchizedek meets Abraham and blesses him.
Hebrews 7:2 “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness,” but in Abraham’s day, Melchizedek was also personified as the “king of Salem”, Salem is the root for the word “shalom,” the Hebrew word for peace or wholeness. But it’s also important to know where Salem is located. The book of Psalms helps with that.
In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion.” (Psalm 76:1-2)
The name Salem refers to the royal city of Melchizedek and is traditionally identified with Jerusalem. This information tells us that the city of Jerusalem from as far back as history can tell us was God’s city. Jerusalem was important even before Abraham settled in Canaan.
Let’s return to the account in Genesis. After Abram defeated the four kings, another king approached Him as Abraham brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
In Genesis 14:21-23 reads: “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, “that I will take nothing,”
This is an important conclusion. The Genesis account informs us that Abraham found peace and prosperity, because he followed after righteousness and God blessed him. This is important information because a believer is to follow after righteousness in order to spiritually grow. Abram honored the king of Salem and not the king of Sodom.
The writer of Hebrews is writing that in the same way, a believer will not find peace or wholeness until we submit to the King of Righteousness.
Hebrews 7:3 “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.”
The priests from Aaron’s order died, all of them. Nothing is said in the Old Testament about Melchizedek’s parents, his ancestors, his birth, or his death. He appears on the scene like he never had a beginning or an end.
First, this verse is conveying
information about Melchizedek. Secondly the phrase “without genealogy” is translated from the Greek agenealogetos. This word does not mean
the absence of ancestors, but the absence of a traced genealogy. Agenealogetos
is not he who has no descent, no genealogy, but he whose descent and pedigree
is nowhere entered or recorded.
To the Jews, a traceable genealogy was of utmost
importance, especially for the priesthood. If one could not prove his lineage
he was barred from being a priest (Nehemiah 7:64).
However, there is no recorded biblical or
historical genealogy of Melchizedek. His ancestry was not part of His High
Priestly role because his priesthood was not dependent on it and his lineage
did not affect his right to the priesthood.
The point is that God directly appointed Melchizedek, “he was the priest of the Most High God.”
(Genesis 14:18). This was before the appointment of Aaronic priests to represent Israel.
Likewise, the phrase “having neither beginning of days, nor end of life”
simply means that the day of Melchizedek’s birth and death are not recorded.
Yet, like other humans, Melchizedek was born,
and he died. However, the names of his father and mother are not given, his
ancestry and posterity are not disclosed, and the Scriptures contain no
information about the beginning of his days or the end of his life.
This Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus Christ, as
Melchizedek who had no recorded predecessor and no successor in his priesthood
except Jesus Christ because it was never an appointment by man. Importantly, since Melchizedek did not have a
recorded death, he has an unending priesthood.
Melchizedek is only a shadow of “a priest forever.” Yet, there is one priest from Melchizedek’s order that does live forever, and that priest is Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, Himself who is the Eternal High Priest.
Jesus Christ is preceded by no other high priest and the Bible shows that none will ever succeed Him. Like Melchizedek, He was appointed by God.
Here is the amazing Good News: The writer of Hebrews will come to the main point in verses 25-28. “Jesus is able for all time to save those who approach God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
The writer of Hebrews ultimate goal is for believers to live righteously and spiritually grow in this ungodly world because we can trust Jesus to intercede and rescue us. That Peace and wholeness will guard our hearts as we live for Jesus and trust Him!
Before we celebrate by remembering Jesus work, I want to disclose a similar activity that Melchizedek had done.
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the Most High God.” (Genesis 14:18)
Would the servers come forward at this time please … and as they come I would remind you that the elements on this table, the bread and the cup that you will soon hold in your own hands, is a tangible reminder, both of our forgiveness found in Jesus and God’s grace, because Jesus was holy, harmless and offered up Himself as our sacrifice for sin.
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:26-27