We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 6:19-20
It’s amazing how God weaves his Word and his plan of salvation together so perfectly.
The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the great high priest we need. Unlike those who came before him, Jesus can bring us into God’s presence and intercede for us forever, because he died and rose again.
To make his case, Hebrews points us to Melchizedek: an obscure character in Genesis 14 who appears for just three verses before disappearing from the story, seemingly without explanation. Jesus is able to be our great high priest, Hebrews contends, because Melchizedek sets a precedent; an order; that supersedes the Levites and the temple, and means Jesus is both King and Priest.
We’re going to be looking at that obscure story this Sunday, tucked near the end of an action-packed chapter. I wanted to flag its significance in advance, so we can appreciate just how interconnected God’s story really is.
The Bible tells the true story of our world, and its story finds its fulfilment in Jesus. By God’s grace, our lives are woven into that same unfolding story. How comforting it is to know that the Author of this story doesn’t waste a single line!
Blessings,
Geoff