Melchizedek

In Genesis 14:17, Melchizedek comes onto the scene, literally out of nowhere. His name is synonymous with permanent. Other than once in the Psalms, he is mentioned only in Hebrews. We will not hear about him again.

I always thought it was strange that Jesus didn't come from the line of Levi. In Ephesians 4, gifts and roles are detailed out for God's people:
preachers
teachers
evangelists
prophets
apostles

While Jesus was a great preacher (see Matthew 5-7, the most powerful sermon ever preached) and teacher, he didn't come from a long line of them. The prophets came before him, the apostles after him. He commanded us to evangelize, each in our own way. Jesus is something completely other.

Yesterday in worship I said this after the confession, "Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all of our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life." Jesus doesn't have to use the word "us".

"So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself. Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice."

Thanks be to God!