Before Jesus. Before the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the nation of Israel was established, there was a single character who walked as a King and Priest of God Most High.
He was a man of mystery, a character who leaves us with more questions than answers.
His name was Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was the King of Salem. He blessed Abram and served him a meal of bread and wine.
Abram wasn’t sure what to make of this guy, but we know something he didn’t...
We’re going through a series on Christophanies— the startling appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament.
Through them, we see how Jesus guided the entire biblical narrative long before Bethlehem’s star lit the sky.
If you didn’t catch a glimpse of Jesus in Genesis 1-3, go back and take a look.
Melchizedek is kingdom is Salem, a word rooted in “shalom,” meaning "peace." So how fitting is it that Jesus, long foretold by the prophets, would one day be proclaimed “the Prince of Peace”?
It’s almost as if the stage was set for Jesus’ identity even in Abraham’s time.
In the ancient world, kings typically received homage, tribute, and adoration, but the King of Salem did something unexpected: He humbly served.
By offering bread and wine to Abram, Melchizedek foreshadows another sacred meal we know all too well: communion.
Centuries later, Jesus would break bread and pour wine, symbolizing His own body and blood offered on behalf of the world. Coincidence? Hardly.
But there’s more.
Scripture tells us Melchizedek was “priest of God Most High,” and yet he had no recorded genealogy, no birth or death.
Hebrews 7 takes this mystery to new heights, connecting Melchizedek’s perpetual priesthood to Jesus, our eternal High Priest. The parallels are uncanny—both stand outside the usual lines of the priesthood, both serve as mediators, and both point to a higher covenant.
This is more than an interesting Biblical Easter Egg. There's a message of humility and hope embedded in this story.
Melchizedek was a king who didn't demand service but rather provided it. He served Abram.
Matthew 20:28 tells us that The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” The King of Kings stooped to wash dusty feet, heal leprous bodies, and ultimately hang on a cross. It’s enough to make your mind spin with awe: the supreme Ruler of all creation stepping down into the muck of life to serve His people.
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