Christ and Melchizedek pt 3. Stop trying. Resist the temptation to fall back into those ways.

These are difficult passages to read because they are not part of our culture nor the time we are living in. However, before we read the next verses, remember that this community of believers were facing pressure from within their own hearts and from persecution to return to Judaism. It would seem the authenticity of Jesus was something they were finding hard to defend. And even the important foundations of the gospel were being trampled upon. Are you really acceptable to God? Where is the ongoing sacrificial system that proves that to be so? Can you ever come close to God? How do you really know you are? Don’t you need a priest to be that mediator for you and a priest who is alive and practicing?

The answer to the above is this Judaism no longer works. In fact it was created not to work. It is weak, useless and calls out for something greater.

Let me put it another way. You working for your acceptance, striving to be as best you can by following the duties laid out by man, is pointless. Who do you think you are impressing? God? You needing someone, a Pastor, a spiritual guru, to bring you into the presence of God is a lie. Do you honestly think another human being no matter what their title can stand before God so innocent and pure and have the authority to bring you close to God?

Okay, let’s read:

“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” ¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7 v 11-19)

So let us unpack these verses:-

• The try harder system doesn’t work, our priest needed to be different to that culture, v11. The Levitical priesthood was broken. With its many laws it was impossible to be good enough. It called for something new to come.
• The different culture was the tribe of Judah, of which Christ came from, but interestingly whose men were forbidden to be priests, v12-15. His priesthood broke the law. He was out of the box, different, not only of a different culture but it could never have been imagined. Instead of saying that is the proof Jesus was not the Priest of the Most High, it is the evidence that He is because nothing else was working.
• You cannot take your Christian experience and return to Judaism/try harder culture. It doesn’t work, the law never makes anyone complete and it never brings them into the presence of God, v18-19.

So today praise God that you are accepted by Him and then come before Him drawing near into His presence for the door is wide open.